Property Manager Search Lansing

[Skyler Heimer]

Hello,

I'm looking to start my real estate investment journey in the next couple of months and, with the high market in CA, am looking to invest out of state in East Lansing, Michigan. Based off my budget I would be more than happy to be anywhere in Lansing where the neighborhood is decent enough and the numbers work.

If you or anyone you know can help with property management I would really appreciate some input.

[Melanie Thomas]

I suggest initiating your search by visiting the NARPM website (https://www.narpm.org/find/property-managers/). They provide a convenient PM locator tool designed to assist you in locating Property Management professionals within your preferred area. NARPM serves as an excellent resource for all matters related to Property Management, offering valuable benefits to property managers of any scale or individual investors alike. In my role as the Vice President of the SAMAC Chapter of NARPM, I'm here to provide guidance and address any inquiries you might have. Feel free to reach out at your convenience. Good luck and happy investing!

[Michael Smythe]

@Skyler Heimer

Encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.

Even if someone give you a referral, don’t make the mistake of assuming that PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.

We also can’t believe how many owners hire the first PMC they speak with!

Then they complain their expectations aren’t being met!

In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.

It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

Owners mistakenly ASSUME all PMCs offer the exact SAME SERVICES and PERFORM those services EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, so price is the only differentiator – and they often select the first PMC they call!

So, the first question they usually ask a PMC is about fees - instead of asking about services and HOW those services are executed.

EXAMPLE: PMC states they will handle tenant screening – what does that specifically mean? What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.? You’d be shocked by how little actual screening many PMC’s do!

This also leads owners to ASSUME simpler is better when it comes to management contracts.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

We have a 14-page management contract that we've added our real experiences to over the years, with the intent of protecting both us AND the landlord. Beyond the Monthly Management, Placement & Maintenance fees, all other fees in our contract are IF EVENT -> THEN fees.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processes

We recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

P.S. If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general. Take ownership of your mistake and learn to do the proper due diligence recommended above😊

[Troy DeLong]

@Skyler Heimer Hey Skyler. I'm a local agent / investor myself and would recommend you reach out to any of these three for Property Management help. 

Sandy Bailey Bristol (Sandy’s Property Management)
(517) 285-5509

Bree Garrett (Good Company Realty)
(517) 706-9294

David Johnson (Simply Live Property Management)
(517) 927-5003

[Skyler Heimer]

Quote from @Troy DeLong:

@Skyler Heimer Hey Skyler. I'm a local agent / investor myself and would recommend you reach out to any of these three for Property Management help. 

Sandy Bailey Bristol (Sandy’s Property Management)
(517) 285-5509

Bree Garrett (Good Company Realty)
(517) 706-9294

David Johnson (Simply Live Property Management)
(517) 927-5003

 thank you!

[Tim VandenToorn]

Skyler, I am an investor, a broker and also own a Property management company primarily focusing on the Grand Rapids market but I do have investments in Lansing that we manage.  I am happy to share any knowledge I have learned about that market if you are interested.  

[Charles Kao]

Quote from @Skyler Heimer:

Hello,

I'm looking to start my real estate investment journey in the next couple of months and, with the high market in CA, am looking to invest out of state in East Lansing, Michigan. Based off my budget I would be more than happy to be anywhere in Lansing where the neighborhood is decent enough and the numbers work.

If you or anyone you know can help with property management I would really appreciate some input.

Given all the building there has been in downtown East Lansing, I would be very careful on where you invest.  Vacancies have increased, and you got a ton of huge apartment complexes over in Bath township sitting empty from all the overbuilding.  I am highest on old town lansing which has not had alot of inventory built yet seeing a surge in nightlife with affordability still solid.