Should I use a real estate agent who works for the PM?

[Phillip Vaughan]

Hello, I have interviewed a couple of property management companies who also seem to have real estate agents on staff or as a part of the business. Are there any issues to using a PM's agent or is that more beneficial?

[Brad Larsen]

To add to this discussion - we do in house sales and the transition to either put them into the system, or sell their home out of the system comes at a turnover time that is critical.

Buying and on-boarding:  If you were to turn to a PM company and ask them to help you BUY a home - you would without a doubt want them to manage the home.  Knowing this will lead them to find you a winner of a deal that they will rent quickly and look like all stars.  

On the alternative side - if you go to another outside agency that does not manage your home - they will tell you whatever it takes to get the sale as they know they are done at that point.  My company would not sell you a dog because we have to turn around and manage it!!!

Selling and transition:  When you say it's time to sell - you again want that PM company who has been handling the management to do the sale.  Handoffs are very costly to an investor and why would you not want the manager who is familiar with that home to sell it for you?  

If that's not enough incentive, we offer a discount to management customers (up-front in the management agreement) to allow us to sell their homes.  

Should they NOT want to sell the home with us - we have to cut ties or wait until the tenant vacates before turning it over to another outside agency.  We contractually are not allowed to have two brokers touch the same home at the end of a lease (with a tenant involved).  

Hope this helps!