Duplex / Small apartments - Who cuts the grass? PM?

[Adam Bradley]

Newbie here. If I own a 10 unit apartment complex and it is managed by a local property management company; normally, whose responsibility is it to cut the grass?

Is lawncare/landscaping usually included in a PM's 10% fee or would the owner have to find someone to maintain the yard outside of the PM?

Thanks for your input!

[Tracy Streich]

As a PM we handle the coordination of the lawn care on multi family units and vacant single family units.   This is not included in the cost of the property management.   I am not sure if you are asking if the PM should cover the cost or if they should charge you for coordination of the mowing.   We pass through the cost of the mowing to the owner.   It really does not cost me anything to manage this because we use the same crew to do that work all over town.   I just add or remove it from the list.  

I do think it is best to let your PM coordinate it.  That way you know it is getting done.  Also it keeps all of your expense centralized on one statement instead of you having to track additional expenses separate from what you are spending through the PM.  I personally do not like having a tenant mowing on the multi family units, even a duplex.   If they don't get it done in a timely manner or do a poor job then everyone else complains.   In addition, we make sure everyone has GL insurance and workers comp if they are working for us.