Bypassing property manager and contacting tenants

[Carolyn Keller]

My pm, has created messes. As he would call them "miscommunications" between everyone involved with my property. some examples: He let tenant move in 7 days before lease started, to "bring in larger furniture' and create good will so they pay rent on time. My handyman noted grass extremely long. My pm hasn't been by the home since tenant moved in. I have to mail my handyman a spare key for landlord closet if i don't my pm will charge me for key hand off a percentage of the said project. I also have find my own handyman and other project people or pm takes 15 % off the top. He has stressed my tenant, on and on... I have only been with the pm company for 4 months. they have a clause if i terminate agreement and sign with another pm in three months i have to pay them 1800, 2 months full rent. Alternatively i can terminate and only pay reminder of their pm fees or 6 months whichever is less, and still cannot hire another pm co. Its a living nightmare to say the least. 

so fast forward to today. I am doing everything for the home myself, except for contacting tenant. I am planning a retaining wall project for summer and want small things done in the fall. (gutters etc) I would like to just have handyman or myself notify tenants when someone is coming at least 48 hrs in advance, and sort of reach out to tenant see if their happy with the pm services. Not really to discuss details, but more to get their satisfaction rate. Is this contact something frowned upon? Could i create problems? anyone out there have a pm and contact tenants directly?

[Colleen F.]

@Carolyn Keller  I was very neutral, I asked what was your contact with PM  number and type of contacts (phone, email, etc). Issue type/resolved or not and overall satisfaction with the PM (1-10 scale).  Also asked the name of the contact they spoke with/ were rating since there were a couple of people in the office. I also asked if they dropped off checks was the office open. I left and open space for them to comment too.