Frequently Asked Questions

As your property Manager we act in the following capacity: 

• The collection of rent and any outstanding arrears. 
• Banking of rental payments.
• Paying all agreed-upon bills ( T&TEC, WASA, MORTGAGE, INSURANCE, TAXES) Etc.
• Transfer of Utilities when applicable.
• Readily accessible to the tenant at any time of the day especially in the event of an emergency on the premises. 
• Arrange and supervise repairs and maintenance work.
• Hand over the property to new tenants.
• Send appropriate notices to the tenant for late or nonpayment of rent, or violations of the rules, etc.
• Carry out or oversee evictions.
• Get your approval for major expenses.
• Inspect the property occasionally to keep the property at its maximum market value, in order to allow you to get the best returns. 
• Provide you with an accounting of all monies received and disbursed monthly or quarterly, as well as keep a client trust account for the owner/s monies.
• Available 24 hours 7 days a week should the nature of a situation demand such. 

• Property Managers are up to date on rules and regulations in respect to Tenant/Landlord requirements and responsibilities. You won’t risk a “violation” putting your property and finances at risk by not knowing these requirements.
• Property Management will establish the current market rental rate for your property. The rental market is a fluid market, rates can change from month to month and though you will have a set contract usually for the first year, the company will be able to assess the rents at the end of each contract to ensure you are getting the highest rent possible based on real estate markers.
• Property Managers will do all the communication for you with the tenant. This includes the interview process and managing any complaints or emergencies that may arise day or night. There is nothing worse than having to respond to a tenant at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. 
• Property Management companies will find the best tenants. It’s not only frustrating but financial suicide to allow an irresponsible tenant into a unit. A quality company has developed a process of screening out risky tenants to ensure a steady monthly income on your property as expected.
• Property Management companies have connections. Gives lenders more confidence in your deal when they see a professional management company is in charge, especially if you have zero experience managing a multi-unit property. If your property has written maintenance agreements, such as lawn care and gutter cleaning, management companies can refer service companies usually at discounted prices. Due to the volume of these service providers as they work in connection with the company, they can pass on some savings to you. Their reputation and dependability have already been tested through the management company so you can rest easy knowing they will get the job done without your supervision.
• Property Managers handle the transitions of one tenant moving out and another moving in. This includes walk-through inspections, security deposits, returns, and new applications.

To be fair, there are always two sides to a situation or a position and as there are advantages to anything there must also be disadvantages. Frankly, the only disadvantage to retaining a property management company is its effect on your profit margin. The average company will require the first month’s rent for any new tenant as its first payment and then 10% to 15% of each month’s rent thereafter, this first month’s payment requirement covers their expense for any advertising, showing the property, processing an applicant, credit administrative costs, and other general expenses that come with setting up a new tenant.

If your goal is to have the tenant pay your mortgage with the rent, you will need to factor in the costs of the management company to determine feasibility.

Property managers maintain your property, look for tenants to lease your real estate, collects the rent, and even decide who should stay or not.  If you think about it, they are your cushion against the headaches and migraines of looking after one of the best investments you can ever get into.
The decision to use a professional property management system is a simple cost-efficient one. Not only are professional property managers experts at handling properties and tenants, they generally take only a small percentage of your property’s monthly rent in exchange for their services. In return, you would get a hassle-free, essentially passive income stream, the decision to employ a professional property management is a no-brainer for the majority of rental property owners.

As the owner of a small-scale rental property, you may be on the fence about whether or not to use a property management company. Especially if you’ve never managed an income property, it can be tempting to assume that property management duties amount to “finding tenants, signing leases, receiving rent” along with handling some minor maintenance issues from time to time.

In reality, managing tenant relations, staying on the right side of the law, being on call for any emergencies that may arise, staying on top of home maintenance, conducting periodic property inspections, and handling the accounting and taxes can be a time-consuming effort.

Professional property managers have developed systems that allow them to manage all of the above with maximum efficiency. Their expertise allows them to prevent problems before they arise, as well as handle any issues that may arise with minimum disruption to your revenue stream.

The following is a list of some of the questions that you should ask:

• 1. Are you a registered company?
  2. How old is the company?
  3. What are the responsibilities of the property manager?
  4. How many properties do you manage?
  5. What type of marketing is done?
  6. Approximately how much would it cost to have the property managed and maintained by a property manager?
  7. What happens if my property needs some urgent maintenance?
  8. How do you screen Tenants?
  9. How many inspections do you do annually?
  10. Do you have a list of References?