Do property management companies let you customize the lease?

[Paige Laughton]

My husband and I are starting work with a property management company to rent out our first property (was our first home that we just moved out of). Based on all the research we've done, they seem like a great company, and we're in talks to officially sign the contract. However, we found they have a standard lease agreement for tenants that we cannot modify due to them keeping it standard for their volume of properties. We read their standard lease agreement and are satisfied with it, but we're concerned in case we want to make any changes in the future. But I'm also not sure how common this is.

Do property management companies typically not do custom leases? Are there any cons we might not be thinking of for having a fixed standard agreement?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Paige Laughton:

My husband and I are starting work with a property management company to rent out our first property (was our first home that we just moved out of). Based on all the research we've done, they seem like a great company, and we're in talks to officially sign the contract. However, we found they have a standard lease agreement for tenants that we cannot modify due to them keeping it standard for their volume of properties. We read their standard lease agreement and are satisfied with it, but we're concerned in case we want to make any changes in the future. But I'm also not sure how common this is.

Do property management companies typically not do custom leases? Are there any cons we might not be thinking of for having a fixed standard agreement?

No, they will not let you modify their lease agreement. Professional property managers have built their leases based on a lot of experience, state and local laws, and advice from their attorneys. Either you trust them to manage your property, or you do not.

I occasionally get a landlord that wants to edit my lease or be involved in the application screening process. My response is that I have more experience in one month than most owners have in years. They can hire me for my knowledge and experience or they can do it themselves. I have no problem with an owner verifying my work, but I will not be micromanaged.