How to renovate out of state

[David Kuhlke]

Hello, 

I am going to be investing out of state for my first rental property. What's the best way to go about renovating a property when I can't physically be there? Should I hire a property management company first so they can let the contractors into the house? 

Thanks, 

David 

[John Warren]

@David Kuhlke I have had the best success when I have a property manager and a separate company renovating. The interests are well aligned in that case as the construction company knows there is over site, and the PM is working for you. I have several out of state investors who have done renovations locally here in Berwyn or Cicero, and I have always offered to drop in to check the work at the back end to make sure it was done right. Even good contractors miss things, and if someone is checking the work they will come back and touch things up that would have gone unnoticed otherwise.