Property Manager Review

[Kenneth P Ford]

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

[Michael Smythe]

@Kenneth P Ford they are a national franchise with great marketing.

They also have some national support for their individual franchises, but it all depends on the local team.

Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.

Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.

Also, 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 gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.

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 – so, they often select the first PMC they call or that calls them back!

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!

A well written management contract should clearly spell out what is expected of both the PMC and the owner, to PROTECT both and avoid misunderstandings. Why do you think purchase contracts are so long and have such small print?

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😊

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

I'm a bit uncertain about Dayton. In Columbus, Ohio, they acquired a local property management company and ran it into the ground. I checked in with some of my clients who I had referred to S4RE (the company that was sold) to ask about how Poplar was doing. They reported that it had been a difficult transition. I provided them with other property management referrals, and then Poplar sent me a demand letter. Subsequently, they lost all of their local employees (I even hired one for my personal properties). Now, one of my clients is attempting to sell a 4-unit property that Poplar manages. I've been collaborating with what I believe is a virtual assistant to coordinate the appraisal and inspections for a few months. However, we're unable to gain access because they lack a local team.

Poplar, if you are seeing this message, please address the situation in Columbus, Ohio. My clients are suffering due to the issues caused by your team's negligence.

[Kenneth P Ford]

Thank you for the replies! Check your inbox!

[Marc Rice]

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

 I mainly use 3 other ones in Dayton, OH.

[Danielle Hake]

I can only speak to Poplar's management in Columbus after they acquired S4RE, but they were about as bad as they come. I moved my properties over to Roost in March (who also operates in Dayton) and have been very happy with them. They turned the properties back around in record time and have overall just been great to work with.

[James Wise]

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

I'm a bit uncertain about Dayton. In Columbus, Ohio, they acquired a local property management company and ran it into the ground. I checked in with some of my clients who I had referred to S4RE (the company that was sold) to ask about how Poplar was doing. They reported that it had been a difficult transition. I provided them with other property management referrals, and then Poplar sent me a demand letter. Subsequently, they lost all of their local employees (I even hired one for my personal properties). Now, one of my clients is attempting to sell a 4-unit property that Poplar manages. I've been collaborating with what I believe is a virtual assistant to coordinate the appraisal and inspections for a few months. However, we're unable to gain access because they lack a local team.

Poplar, if you are seeing this message, please address the situation in Columbus, Ohio. My clients are suffering due to the issues caused by your team's negligence.

 Why don't you do PM in Columbus Remi? I may be inclined to throw some referrals your way big dawg.

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

I'm a bit uncertain about Dayton. In Columbus, Ohio, they acquired a local property management company and ran it into the ground. I checked in with some of my clients who I had referred to S4RE (the company that was sold) to ask about how Poplar was doing. They reported that it had been a difficult transition. I provided them with other property management referrals, and then Poplar sent me a demand letter. Subsequently, they lost all of their local employees (I even hired one for my personal properties). Now, one of my clients is attempting to sell a 4-unit property that Poplar manages. I've been collaborating with what I believe is a virtual assistant to coordinate the appraisal and inspections for a few months. However, we're unable to gain access because they lack a local team.

Poplar, if you are seeing this message, please address the situation in Columbus, Ohio. My clients are suffering due to the issues caused by your team's negligence.

 Why don't you do PM in Columbus Remi? I may be inclined to throw some referrals your way big dawg.

I've tried that before, but I didn't enjoy it because it doesn't play to my strengths. Instead, my colleague @Kyle Tom handles it. I usually refer people to him or a couple of others here in Columbus.

[James Wise]

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

I'm a bit uncertain about Dayton. In Columbus, Ohio, they acquired a local property management company and ran it into the ground. I checked in with some of my clients who I had referred to S4RE (the company that was sold) to ask about how Poplar was doing. They reported that it had been a difficult transition. I provided them with other property management referrals, and then Poplar sent me a demand letter. Subsequently, they lost all of their local employees (I even hired one for my personal properties). Now, one of my clients is attempting to sell a 4-unit property that Poplar manages. I've been collaborating with what I believe is a virtual assistant to coordinate the appraisal and inspections for a few months. However, we're unable to gain access because they lack a local team.

Poplar, if you are seeing this message, please address the situation in Columbus, Ohio. My clients are suffering due to the issues caused by your team's negligence.

 Why don't you do PM in Columbus Remi? I may be inclined to throw some referrals your way big dawg.

I've tried that before, but I didn't enjoy it because it doesn't play to my strengths. Instead, my colleague @Kyle Tom handles it. I usually refer people to him or a couple of others here in Columbus.

 Gotta have basketballs in your pants to be a good PM.

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @Kenneth P Ford:

Does anyone have any experience using Poplar Homes as a property manager in the Dayton, Ohio area? What is your experience? What level of management did you select? Would you recommend them?

I'm a bit uncertain about Dayton. In Columbus, Ohio, they acquired a local property management company and ran it into the ground. I checked in with some of my clients who I had referred to S4RE (the company that was sold) to ask about how Poplar was doing. They reported that it had been a difficult transition. I provided them with other property management referrals, and then Poplar sent me a demand letter. Subsequently, they lost all of their local employees (I even hired one for my personal properties). Now, one of my clients is attempting to sell a 4-unit property that Poplar manages. I've been collaborating with what I believe is a virtual assistant to coordinate the appraisal and inspections for a few months. However, we're unable to gain access because they lack a local team.

Poplar, if you are seeing this message, please address the situation in Columbus, Ohio. My clients are suffering due to the issues caused by your team's negligence.

 Why don't you do PM in Columbus Remi? I may be inclined to throw some referrals your way big dawg.

I've tried that before, but I didn't enjoy it because it doesn't play to my strengths. Instead, my colleague @Kyle Tom handles it. I usually refer people to him or a couple of others here in Columbus.

 Gotta have basketballs in your pants to be a good PM.

I agree, which is why I prefer to just focus on sales.