Showing property from out of town without having a PM

[Kim N.]

Hi BP experts, 

I am close to buying a out of town 2/2 condo 5 hours away from where I live. I'm looking for alternative ideas specifically on how to show the property without keeping a PM. I do understand the advantages of having a PM, however it will not work with my numbers at the moment. I read somewhere on BP forum that you can negotiate a deal with local contractors to do the showing, at least for the very first tenant, and pay them per hour. I would appreciate any input and recommendations for contractors in Gainesville, FL area. 

I thank you in advance for your wisdom as I'm navigating through buying my first rental properties.

[Joe Norman]

To reiterate @Chris Seveney's point, if the numbers don't support a PM then your margins are probably too tight to make this a good first investment. At least not from a cash flow perspective.

To answer your actual question, I would contact a few Realtors in the area who have experience with tenant placement and sign a listing agreement with one of them. That way if anything does happen its their license (and insurance) on the line.