Property Management questions

[Judy J.]

Do property managers typically

-send a team of people out to go over a house that is new to them? Or have a handyman or plumber sent over for each issue? 

-send itemized bills for what each worker did? or just one fee for total labor for the team and one fee for total materials? 

-give you the receipts for what they bought? Do you need this for tax purposes?

-ask you before they incur charges over a certain amount?

I asked for a few things to be fixed, they sent out a team of people, including a plumber, found and fixed some things other than what I asked for, and I now have a bill for over $700.  

[William Murrell]

They're supposed to send one person out to survey the new property when they take it under management.  That person will outline the things that need to be fixed and then you make the call as to which things get repaired.  All bills should be itemized.  If not, how would you know when to be able to make a warranty call?  If they send a plumber to fix my toilet, I want to know which one in the house.  That way when it still leaks three weeks later, the plumber can't charge me for fixing what he should have done during the first visit.

As for the charges over a certain amount, that is usually stipulated in the management agreement.  You should be able to say "as long as it's not over x dollars, just do it and don't ask."   But $700 would certainly raise a flag to me.  For something that expensive, they'll call me with an estimate and ask for my approval.