How to Interview a Property Manager. What questions to ask?

[David Hanson]

I am new here and tried to search this topic, but just found 600+ pages of people asking for certain Area recommendations. That is all well and good, but I want to know how to interview them myself. I live in the Chattanooga area and if someone recommends someone who is great that is awesome and I would love to interview them. 

I currently don't own any rental property in the area yet, but I'm selling a 5 unit in Maryland in a couple weeks and I want to get started locally. I have managed my own rentals for the past 8 years and it was a great learning experience, but going forward I want highest and best use of time. I want to acquire and grow quickly so if I can put the processes in place right out of the gate, scaling should be easier. 

I am looking for a management company who will be proactive and schedule painters and contractors prior to a tenant moving out. I want someone who will line up new renters so we never have more than a 30 day vacancy EVER. I am looking for someone that will care about my properties as I do and not just collect rent each month. I would like to have zero tolerance policies and keep me in the loop with possible issues. Someone to handle all of the maintenance requests and have a Rolodex of great contractors and handymans to make small repairs when needed. I don't know what a good manager costs. What is normal for their services? What is a deal? Individual or company? Should I get a multi unit discount and how much?

Is there a write up that anyone knows of or a recording or a blog posts of what a great interview should sound like. Even a questionnaire template that I could email to someone to get a good background vetting before we meet face to face.

Thank you everyone for any input you may have on this matter.