Practical Questions for Small Multifamily

[Kristin Boekhoff]

I am about to purchase my first small multifamily (5-unit) property and plan on initially managing it myself. I have some practical questions:

1) How often do you clean the common areas?

2) How often do you do pest control treatments?

3) What are the rules around snow removal? (I live in Florida, we don't have that here! :) )

4) Do you heat/ air condition the common area? (Which is just a hallway/ staircase plus the basement where the laundry is as it is a 3-story rowhouse walkup; right now there is no HVAC at all - it is a large rehab project.)

5) Are there any discounts for leasing fees usually if the agent is leasing multiple units? (The tradition here is one month's rent for the fee.)

6) How does trash normally work? Does each tenant keep their own garbage can and then put it out every week? Do you have a common dumpster? (And if so, how do you prevent everyone in the neighborhood from using it?)

Thanks!!