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, 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?

Provide clear screening criteria to anyone who is interested in applying for your unit as that is another area where you can get in trouble. 

I would check with your area but in general you have to be willing to accommodate handicap tenants if they pass all other criteria in your tenant screening.

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, 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?

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, 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?

My team has a methodology to run screens on sub-tertiary markets -- Micropolitan Statistical Areas.The state with the most MSAs in our Top 20 (with 4)?

Self-managing also allows gives you control of screening the tenants. 

But that doesn't mean it will be easy.No screening service is perfect.

I don't want to hire a property manager for everything - I'm available for and capable of tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance requests, etc (likely going to use an online app for this). 

No matter how thoroughly you screen a tenant, there is risk placing a new tenant.