Any Good PM's In Pottstown, PA or surrounding?

Question

It's that time... time to choose a new property manager. My PM has merged with another company replete with the kind of fees that make no sense to me... you know, ones like a fee equal to 10% of a repair and a fee for doing anything other than collecting rent, etc. Meh.

Does anyone have a good PM to refer my way?

Percy N. · Answer

@Raquel L., though this thread is a few months old, I wanted to thank you for the info.

Interestingly, I spoke to Del Val regarding a property I have in West Chester and they were very responsive. Like most large-ish organizations, it must be who you get.

Still speaking to a few more PMs and may reach out to the ones you listed.

Marc Oister · Answer

@Raquel L.

Im a fairly new investor from Pottstown.  Purchased my first duplex a few months ago and planning on expanding fairly rapidly.  Trying to stay towards the north end area of town, and I was wondering what pm you have chosen and how they have been working for you.

Raquel L. · Answer

The property is in Pottstown... don't really like to give specifics on a forum.  :0

Tenant screening is simple, when I'm in town, but I'm not... which means hiring someone in my stead.

Here's what I've discovered so far, of who I've interviewed:

Buxmont- Small, Mom & Pop, but responsive, with the lowest commission (50% of one month's rent) and lowest % (6%/month).  One of the first to respond back, both to email/phone.  This company doesn't have the doodads (Appfolio/ACH, etc) but they seem to get it done nonetheless.

Local Leasing Company- Bigger company, very professional, used to dealing with A class properties, and offers A class management, with the fees to go with it.  $250 initial inspection fee, $125 first year fee, 1 month's commission for 1 year lease, more if it's a longer lease, 10% monthly management fee, $500 eviction fee.  I did the math, and in the first year, I'd be paying $1093 more than Buxmont.  The problem is, my property is B class, and can't afford A class management... doesn't make much sense.  That being said, I do appreciate customer service.  They were also quick/responsive, helpful, and have all the doodads.

Del Val- Had trouble answering my questions, didn't email back, weren't very helpful.  They actually became quite defensive and started asking ME questions.  I requested a PM agreement/fee schedule and never received them.  They took themselves quickly out of the running.

Onyx- Answered the questions, polite, but never responded to emails/were similar to Del Val.

Big Realty- this is my current management company, who I inherited, which means I had to re-interview them.  I emailed, since they are usually very adept at email, and here's the response I received, verbatim:

"There is no way I am taking an hour to answer all those questions.  I have clients with 50+ units who have never asked me for something like that.  Thanks."  That is what the OWNER said.  So, obviously... I had to pass on them.  They also have the exorbitant fees-- 10% monthly, 10% of any repairs must be paid to them, 1 month's commission fee, renewal fees, fees fees fees.

I hope this is helpful to people in Pottstown/surrounding areas.  These guys operate in the greater Philly area/outskirts.

Raquel L. · Answer

I found an interesting website, www.allpropertymanagement.com -- it links you up to the property managers in your area, or nearby, and contacts all of them at once.  I'll be interviewing 5 companies that came up for near/in Pottstown.

They are:Buxmont

Local Leasing

Del Val

Onyx

Big Realty

I'm currently with Big Realty, but only because my property manager moved from her old company to Big... so I haven't interviewed Big before.  They want to force me into their contract instead of the old contract I had with my PM, but the fees are so incredibly high and unpredictable (10% of any maintenance call additional--imagine a $5000 plumbing bill PLUS $500 for the management company)... that I've simply got to find someone new.  So that's the update, folks...