Property Management is the direct oversight of commercial, residential, or industrial real estate by an independent third-party property manager. Property managers are typically responsible for the day-to-day operations of the real estate, from interviewing new tenants to arranging maintenance and repairs. In larger real estate markets, property managers may oversee entire portfolios of real estate holdings. They also have broad managerial authority to oversell and market the property portfolio to maximize returns. They are also involved in maintaining the contracts between tenants and owners and collecting rents.
Property Management provides general accounting and budgeting services and interviews tenants and related vendors. Property managers often contract with leasing attorneys to handle lease negotiations, escrow administration, property assessments, property repairs, maintenance, and advertising. They can also be called on for talks with tenants during the renewal of lease terms. In real estate jargon, property managers can be termed the lessee’s landlord, but they usually report to and receive instructions from the main property owner. The manager will prepare all reports and keep them on file for administrative review.
Tenants can be difficult recipients of rental income. In most cases they are hard working individuals who value their homes and would not choose to let them go for lack of rent. Property management companies usually work out deals with tenants where they agree to rent at a reduced rate for a specified duration, pay late rent fees, clean and mow the lawn, and do other things to keep the property in good condition. To attract tenants, property management companies may offer discounts to qualified people, provide incentives for prompt payments and maintain a low turnover rate.
For property managers, reducing costs involves many factors. In some areas property maintenance is expensive, and property managers may have to incur additional costs to retain tenants. In some areas, rent prices are regulated by law to avoid vacancies; in other areas it is the responsibility of the landlord to cover vacancy costs. It is important to analyze the income statement and balance sheets of the business and compare them to the rent received to get an accurate picture of the effect of tenant retention costs on profits.
A major advantage of contract property management companies over short-term rentals is their ability to provide stable, predictable cash flows. A property manager has the experience and expertise to ensure payments are received every month and that there is no appreciable increase in expenditure due to day-to-day repairs. They will also be able to provide budgeted budgets for maintenance and operational expenses. They will know what the appropriate rental rates should be given each quarter and will adjust them accordingly.
Property Management firms can provide an invaluable service to the real estate industry. They can help owners keep rental units under lease by offering services to address issues that arise. This includes scheduling a time to visit each unit on a scheduled basis. This helps the rental owner focus on making the units attractive to tenants, rather than spending time dealing with maintenance and issues that do not relate to the tenants.
Some owners find it beneficial to hire a Property Management firm to assist in the preparation and submission of their year-end books. They are responsible for collecting rent arrears and ensuring the lease renewal is conducted on schedule. When property managers perform these functions on behalf of their client, the owner realizes that the time they spend is efficiently used to maximize returns. The more property managers that a real estate agency handles at one time, the more effective the rental marketing campaign can be.
Real estate agencies will find it beneficial to contract with property management companies to handle the turnover and management of their rental properties. Property Management companies will assist the real estate agency in collecting rents, cleaning and repairing damage and furniture inside the unit. They will also handle the interviewing process of tenants. This allows the real estate agency to focus on what they do best-selling units.