Property Manager Recommendation - Jacksonville, FL & Central FL

[Vessi Kapoulian]

Dear BP Community,

Central FL: I'm in the process of purchasing two single family homes in Ocklawaha, FL 32179 (target close date of 5/31/2021) and looking for local property management firm references.

[Background: I was originally referred to The Realty Medics. However, I have concerns with how the communication was handled (or rather mishandled) at this early stage. I was told by the particular sales agent I worked with that I ask too many and too detailed questions and that it is ok to enter into contract with a known misstatement of certain facts on my behalf (such as possession of title, etc.) as I am doing so in good faith… This is unusual and certainly not consistent with prior business transactions I have experienced. As I do not know if it is truly a cultural misfit with that firm or an isolated incident with that particular PM sales agent or simply normal business practice for this particular sub-market, the issue was elevated to the owner of the firm. However, in the interim, while awaiting a response, I am choosing to take a lesson learned from this experience and want to explore other PM options in Ocala, FL/Central Florida. That will also help me better understand, if having a disengaged owner who will simply enter into contracts no questions asked is typical for that particular market.]

I should have asked for references and explored more than one PM option earlier on (vs. relying on a sole reference) and I should have requested a copy of the property management agreement upfront. But I take my recent experience as a learning lesson and not a deterrent to moving forward with the intended purchase.

I am looking for a PM firm that is transparent, open to having a dialogue, does not get irritated by owner asking as many and as detailed questions as needed or by requests for accommodating owner’s requests (to the extent possible), whether it is at the onset of the relationship, during routine management, or if/when tenant issues arise. I thought such expectations represent normal business practice (based on prior PM experience I have in another market/state); however, I suppose one can never assume.

Jacksonville, FL: Re Jacksonville, I am still in the early stages of identifying a property there, so at this stage I am looking to build a trustworthy team (and frankly taking the lessons learned from my Ocala, FL experience to interview multiple PMs upfront and early on vs. relying on a single referral and trusting they will follow through).

Thank you kindly in advance for your objective feedback/references.