Property Manager Question - List of Work to be Done Before Showing Property

[Mark S.]

For the last two rental properties I've acquired, my property manager gave me a list of items of work that I should have done to the property before showing the property (e.g., small repairs, full repaint, change out blinds, have handyman check property, etc.).  Obviously all these items add to my acquisition costs.

How do I know if my property really needs these items or whether the property manager is just trying to make it easier on themselves to find a tenant? Upon finding a tenant, the property manager gets paid a certain percentage of the first month's rent.

My lack of trust is due to the fact that the people who sold me the house lived there happily with their 3 year old paint or other non-critical items that may need a repair.

Thanks for any input!

[Mindy Jensen]

Do you trust your property manager? If the answer is yes, then do the repairs. If the answer is no, get a new property manager.