Choosing a Property Management Company - Cleveland, OH

[John T.]

Hey All,

As I continue my career in real estate, I am learning more and more each day. As business increases, I am finding out that some things work that I didn't expect to and conversely some things aren't going as smoothly as I'd hoped. With 6 tenants I am fielding about 1 call per week. It could be anything from my pilot isn't lit on the stove, or an email from the water company saying that they have noticed a potential leak. I work a full time job in addition to managing my 3 duplexes. This doesn't leave much time to do the things I enjoy.

I am hoping that a property management company is the solution. I would like them to be a liaison that fields all calls from tenants and carries out any necessary evictions. It would also be nice if they are able to carry out small repairs in the event that I am unavailable. The flexibility is crucial. I would still like to find my own tenants, as well as prep the units for rentals during vacancies. I just want to be sure not to let them know that I am the owner of the property. I will probably say that I am a representative from the management company or something.

Are their management companies that are flexible and affordable? Please help me get ahead of the learning curve here and inform me of some of the pros and cons of working with a management company.

Thanks,

John

[Nancy Curran]

I have an arrangement with a handyman. He is great, trustworthy, etc. My only advice is, at least at first, perhaps manage the calls yourself, then go dispatch the handyman. I just get a lot of "nonsense calls" that tenants should be able to manage themselves or, it's not an emergency. For instance, one tenant told me his toilet wouldn't flush. I asked him if he plunged it. He told me he didn't have a plunger. I told him to go out, get one, plunge it, and if it still doesn't work call me. The plunging worked. Another tenant told me his hot water didn't work. I asked him if he paid his gas bill. He said he shut off his gas to save money in the summer. He didn't understand the gas heated his water tank. It goes on and on...