Property investors will soon discover that property management fees are one of their highest financial expenses.
While this expense is tax deductible and investors aren’t legally required to engage a property manager, interstate or overseas investors in particular will find their lives far easier with one.
Here’s why.
Property manager tasks
Property managers ensure investors – aka landlords – receive the best possible rental price and the most responsible tenants.
Property managers also act as mediators between landlords and tenants, ensuring tenants pay their rent on time and organising regular inspections of the property, including taking photos to send to the landlord.
Property managers also organise emergency, and other repair requests and organise and handle all tenancy documentation.
What makes a great property manager
A great property manager needs to offer the following:
Excellent communication skills.
Fast problem-solving ability.
High level of proactivity and organisation.
Knowledge of tenancy, industry and rental laws and regulations including local, state and national.
An excellent mediator who can work for the investor while looking after tenant needs and concerns, professionally, helpfully and swiftly.
How to find a great property manager
As with many real-estate related issues, recommendations from family and friends are a great way to find a property manager.
Talk to state-based industry bodies, local real estate agencies and check agency reviews, aiming whenever possible to find a local manager.
Just remember that when it comes to management fees, cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Also remember that a property management agreement can be cancelled at any time during a lease with little disruption to the tenant.