The Hidden Cost of Cheap Property Management: Are You Losing Thousands?

[Pedro Andrade]

Many landlords don't realize that keeping a rental off the MLS can be a massive disservice. Some property managers avoid listing on the MLS just so they can keep 100% of the leasing service fee, but this often leads to longer vacancy periods and lost rental income. A few extra weeks of vacancy can cost landlords thousands—far more than they thought they were saving.

this is exactly what happened to a new client who reached out after having his property managed by an ultra-low management firm (5%) who was using only Zillow to Advertise the house and stay vacant for 199 days. They have to make up for that lost revenue somewhere, and it’s often in ways that hurt you—higher leasing fees, excessive renewal charges, or subpar marketing that leads to longer vacancies.

Have you ever hired a “budget” property manager thinking it would save you money, only to regret it later? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear how it turned out.