others?

       Can you keep your emotions in check and out of your business decisions?

       Are you a patient and reasonably tolerant person?

       Do you have the temperament to handle problems and respond to complaints and service requests in a positive, rational manner?

       Are you well organized in your daily routine?

       Do you have strong time-management skills?

       Are you computer-literate?

       Are you meticulous about your paperwork?

       Can you write well enough to communicate effectively?

       Do you have basic accounting skills?

       Do you have maintenance and repair abilities?

       Are you willing to work and receive phone calls, emails, or texts on evenings and weekends?

       Do you have sales skills? Can you be creative in attracting rental applicants?

       Are you a good negotiator?

       Are you willing to commit the time and effort required to determine the right rent for your rental unit?

       Will you be persistent in collecting the rent?

       Are you familiar with (or willing to find out) about the ever-changing laws that affect property management in your area?

       Are you able and willing to visit your residential rental property regularly?

       Are you willing to enforce all property rules and rental policies consistently and fairly?

       Are you interested in finding out more about property management?

       Are you willing to make the commitment to be your own property manager?

      Ideally, you answered each question with “yes.” This assessment isn’t scientific, of course, but it does raise some important issues, particularly the level of commitment that you need to succeed as a residential rental property manager.

      You need to be fair, firm, and friendly to all rental prospects and tenants. Treat everyone impartially, and remain patient and calm under stress. Be determined and unemotional in enforcing rent collection and your policies and rules. Maintain a positive attitude through it all. The job isn’t as simple as it seems, is it?

Even if you didn’t answer all the questions in this section with an enthusiastic “yes,” you may still make a good rental property manager if you’re prepared to be flexible and to learn from your property management experiences. Some of the best property managers graduated from the school of hard knocks.

      

If your assessment revealed that your skills may be better used for something other than managing your own property, see Chapter 3 for some alternatives. Owning rental property can still be a great investment, even if you don’t manage it yourself.

      

If you’re impatient or easily manipulated, you aren’t suited to be a property manager. Conveying a professional demeanor to your tenants is important, because you want them to see you as someone who’ll take responsibility for the rental property’s condition. You must also insist that tenants live up to their part of the deal; pay their rent regularly; and refrain from causing unreasonable wear, tear, or damage to your property. If you don’t like confrontation, managing your own rental property may not be the wisest choice.

Chapter 3

      Managing Your Residential Property Yourself or Hiring a Pro

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      

Assessing the pros and cons of residential property self-management

      

Understanding the benefits of working with a pro

      

Knowing what to look for in a property management firm

      The late-night cable and online real estate gurus can make real estate investing sound so simple. But a prime location at the right price isn’t all you need. The other key to success in real estate is having a well-managed property.

      Initially, you may try to manage your residential rental property yourself, particularly if you have a single-family rental home or condo or even a small, multifamily rental property such as a duplex, triplex, or fourplex. That’s why I spend time in this chapter guiding you through the pros and cons of managing your own property (as opposed to hiring a pro to do it for you).

      If you’re like most owners, though, at some point you’ll consider hiring a professional property management firm, which is why I also give you some tools for evaluating property management companies, from the services they offer to the fees they charge. I explain the importance of the big three traits to look for — experience, qualifications, and credentials — and reveal some of the common tricks management companies use to generate additional income that aren’t in your best interest.

Deciding how your rental property is managed is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a residential rental property owner, so take the time to look at all your options.

Managing Your Rental Yourself

      With your first rental, you’ll probably do all the work yourself: painting, cleaning, making repairs, advertising, fielding all inquiries, showing the unit, screening the applicants, completing all the paperwork, collecting rent, handling any complaints or concerns, and paying bills. This scenario certainly has its advantages, but it has its disadvantages too. Use the information in the following sections to help you decide whether you want to go it alone or hire a pro. (If you decide to do the latter, check out “Exploring Professional Management” later in this chapter for the scoop on working with a professional management company.)

      The advantages

      If you have the right traits for managing property (see Chapter 2 to help determine whether you do), if you have the time, and if you live reasonably close to your property, you should definitely manage it yourself. Here are some advantages of keeping direct control of the management of your rental property:

       You save on a monthly management fee. If you purchase a single-family rental home or condo as an investment property, you most likely won’t be able to generate enough money to pay for a professional property manager and make a profit — at least not right away.

       You save on maintenance costs. You decide who does the repair work and who mows the lawn. Doing your own maintenance or yard work is usually a good idea; if you hire someone else to do it for you, the cost can devour your monthly cash flow in a hurry.

       No one cares as much about your investment as you do. You are always going to be the one who’s most dedicated to achieving the best results from your rental investment efforts. Property managers are professionals, but their retirement and future wealth aren’t riding on the success of your investment.

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