So I have been using the same property manager for almost 2 years now on one property I have a few states over from me. From the get go it was a rocky relationship. They did work to the house without my consent, and blamed it on email not getting to me so they assumed it was OK (needless to say words were exchanged, they paid half).

I am more on the Laissez-faire style of management when it comes to my management skills being at work or in business. It has worked out well for me, granted there comes a time when one needs to step in.

There has come a time when I have felt I needed to say "let's not forget who is working for who here now." Lets just say their professionalism is sub par and there communication never even makes it to the tee. (see what I did there?) I have to go to them to see what the updates are, instead of them letting me know first hand.

I have stayed because one, their turn over fee is cheap $150 and two, they charge 8% of monthly rent.

What almost put me over the edge with this company was a tenant left half way through the lease, they didn't even bother to tell me why. Just that he had put in a notice. I didn't even question it, I had just rented out another place and was aggressively looking for another property (which is under contract now). A little voice in my head told me to give it time see how it plays out.

I sent them an email asking for an update. "Oh,we have had quite the traffic we even have someone interested who is an insurance relocation, they will pay 200 dollars more but it is only a 6 month lease...don't worry though you will come out on top with the extra 200" This really got to me (in a bad way) I didn't even write back. Again the voice in my head you had a plan stick it to (got that mentality from trading stocks)

Needless to say, that didn't happen. I stepped in again. They had the price listed to high, so I sent them an email, telling them to lower the price. Which they did but they didn't notify me of receiving the email and taking action.

Again the ideas of how I would draft up the FIRE email ran through my head. Also, who else would I get to do the job. Another deciding factor.

Few days went by, I checked the website and to my surprise it showed that someone had put in an application. I waited again a few days.

I again asked for a update. Then I got the email every landlord wants to hear. "We have your place re-rented they moved in yesterday on a one year lease for $40 dollars more then the previous tenant."

Which is amazing because the other tenant moved out 4 days ago and they moved in yesterday so there was a total of 3 day turn over, which I have never even heard of. I was preparing for a month or two of vacancy and I got 3 days #winning.

So with that all said I the PM is slightly off the chopping block. But it's interesting how if I had acted irrational I may have had the place vacant for a while. Because I would of had to fire them then get a new PM to take over

I suppose the moral of this story is:

Weigh your pros and cons

Try not to panic and think rationally

Step in when needed (it is your business) if you don't feel something is right inquire

Know your market, they have the title of property manager, but that doesn't mean you have to take their word on everything, in this case it helped because I told them to drop the price.

Not sure if there was anything to take from this, but I hope you may of took something from my experience

Thanks for reading!

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One Email Short of Firing the Property Manager

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