All Forum Posts by: Raquel L.

@Alan Kahanu I will absolutely let him know, and thank you.  :)

@Alan Kahanu Oh wow!  Yep, similar issues.  Please share your new PM with me!  I am determined to get these properties performing SERIOUSLY this year!!

@Kevin Hunter Ooh! I hadn't thought of that.  Thank you so much!

Hello all-- I'm wondering if anyone has a good property management company to recommend in the St. Roberts and Waynesville area for apartments near the military base.  I'm on the hunt for new and improved management...

Thank you!!

@Nick L. Just to update, since then:  They missed a double charge from a plumbing company, I was actually charged 3x for the same issue, twice from the same company for the same job.  I had to contact the company to find out all of this... certainly not the kind of PM I want managing my property if they're not catching these things or looking out for my best interest.  :-/  Could be self-managing just as easily.  I'll also be switching.  

 I've been using Aaron Mottaghi for a few years now, but recently, he raised his prices by 25% (which brings his fees to 9%), and the service level has gone way down.  He doesn't return phone calls, and email response takes over a week each time.  On the last two statements, he's hasn't sent out the full amount of my draw-- resulting in him owing me $700+ in the past two months, discrepancies on both statements and no response as to why this is.  I do NOT recommend Morris Green Properties at this time.  

The property is in Pottstown... don't really like to give specifics on a forum.  :0

Tenant screening is simple, when I'm in town, but I'm not... which means hiring someone in my stead.  

Here's what I've discovered so far, of who I've interviewed:

Buxmont- Small, Mom & Pop, but responsive, with the lowest commission (50% of one month's rent) and lowest % (6%/month).  One of the first to respond back, both to email/phone.  This company doesn't have the doodads (Appfolio/ACH, etc) but they seem to get it done nonetheless.  

Local Leasing Company- Bigger company, very professional, used to dealing with A class properties, and offers A class management, with the fees to go with it.  $250 initial inspection fee, $125 first year fee, 1 month's commission for 1 year lease, more if it's a longer lease, 10% monthly management fee, $500 eviction fee.  I did the math, and in the first year, I'd be paying $1093 more than Buxmont.  The problem is, my property is B class, and can't afford A class management... doesn't make much sense.  That being said, I do appreciate customer service.  They were also quick/responsive, helpful, and have all the doodads.  

Del Val- Had trouble answering my questions, didn't email back, weren't very helpful.  They actually became quite defensive and started asking ME questions.  I requested a PM agreement/fee schedule and never received them.  They took themselves quickly out of the running.

Onyx- Answered the questions, polite, but never responded to emails/were similar to Del Val.  

Big Realty- this is my current management company, who I inherited, which means I had to re-interview them.  I emailed, since they are usually very adept at email, and here's the response I received, verbatim:  

"There is no way I am taking an hour to answer all those questions. I have clients with 50+ units who have never asked me for something like that. Thanks."  That is what the OWNER said.  So, obviously... I had to pass on them.  They also have the exorbitant fees-- 10% monthly, 10% of any repairs must be paid to them, 1 month's commission fee, renewal fees, fees fees fees.  

I hope this is helpful to people in Pottstown/surrounding areas.  These guys operate in the greater Philly area/outskirts.  

I found an interesting website, www.allpropertymanagement.com -- it links you up to the property managers in your area, or nearby, and contacts all of them at once.  I'll be interviewing 5 companies that came up for near/in Pottstown.  

They are:
Buxmont

Local Leasing

Del Val

Onyx

Big Realty

I'm currently with Big Realty, but only because my property manager moved from her old company to Big... so I haven't interviewed Big before.  They want to force me into their contract instead of the old contract I had with my PM, but the fees are so incredibly high and unpredictable (10% of any maintenance call additional--imagine a $5000 plumbing bill PLUS $500 for the management company)... that I've simply got to find someone new.  So that's the update, folks... 

My dear friend, @Pam Chee, I installed key code locks on my door.  No keys needed.  Try this, maybe?  :)  Keyless entry.

It's that time... time to choose a new property manager.  My PM has merged with another company replete with the kind of fees that make no sense to me... you know, ones like a fee equal to 10% of a repair and a fee for doing anything other than collecting rent, etc.  Meh.  

Does anyone have a good PM to refer my way?