All Forum Posts by: Alexandria Sobboh

@Carmen Falcone, 

No matter what you decide it will be a learning experience, and as long as you and your partner maintain that mindset you will be fine - either way.  If you choose to go it alone, refer back to BP podcasts where people talk about how they manage their own properties and check the show notes for links to the software, resources etc. that they use to be professional, organized and ultimately successful.  If you decide to move forward with property management, do the same thing and make sure you find the right fit.

Personally, I would be more inclined to manage my first; or first few properties myself and as we close in on that time vs money threshold, that's when I'd consider bringing in property management.  As they say, nothing can substitute experience.  Our current circumstances/goals are key here... my partner is my boyfriend, we're in our mid-twenties, we don't have children and we look to invest in the same area that we currently live in.  Even though we both work full-time,  there would still be time enough to manage our own tenants.  Because I work a typical 9-5 I can take care of any issues after business hours and I'm available via text or email virtually all the time.  In my boyfriend's line of work, the shift schedules rotate, he could potentially answer phone calls and handle any (immediate) issues during the week days where I could not.  And all of this will yield first hand experience and perspective in our market so that when we do move towards property management, we will be able to have a much more sophisticated discussion about our needs and expectations due to the fact that we have done it ourselves. 

BP episodes #121, #165 (see Natali Morris's blog), #60, #53, #51 are some helpful podcasts that come to mind that stood out to me.  Best of luck, let us know how it goes!