20 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Property Managers
Choosing a property management company who will work in your best interests and who will fit best with you is very important! We have compiled a list of 20 questions that are good things to ask the property management companies that you are interviewing. By asking these questions, it helps you be more informed and able to make a better decision about which company to choose. Leave us comments below with other questions that you think may be beneficial to ask!
1.How long has the property management company been in business?
Many real estate agents are starting property management companies because home sales are slow. You want a company that specializes in property management and leasing and has a long track record. Don’t fall for the line “our office has many years COMBINED experience.” 20 years “combined experience” could mean 5 people each with 4 years of experience.
2. How long has the property manager you are talking with been doing property management?
The property management industry has high turnover. Will the property manager you are talking with still be around next year? Don’t be the rest case for a Realtor learning how to do property management!
3. How many properties do you manage and can I get references?
Make sure the company manages enough properties to show experience, but not so many that you become just a number to them. Any company can find two or three owners who like them, so to get unbiased reviews, read reviews on Google and the Better Business Bureau.
4. Where is your office located and in what geographic areas do you manage?
A good property management company won’t try to manage everywhere. Find a company that specializes in your neighbourhood and is geographically close.
5. What is the worst problem you ever encountered and how did you solve it?
An experienced property manager has encountered many challenges and should have clear and defined procedures explaining how they will respond to any problem imaginable!
6. What is your marketing program for my property?
A comprehensive marketing program will use professional signage and extensive Internet advertising. Ask how many web sites will list your property – the more the better. 60% of people looking for rentals go to more than 5 sites, 25% search more than 10 sites. You want your property listed on at least 3 unique internet sites.
7. What is your criteria for qualifying applicants and do you do it in-house?
This can be the most important aspect of leasing. When an individual is interested in renting your property, they should complete a detailed rental application. The applicants’ income, employment, credit, criminal, and eviction history should be reviewed. This information should be analyzed through a model, helping to ensure you get a high quality, long term tenant. Make sure your property management company actually calls the applicants current and prior landlords – many do not!
8. What percentage of your tenant move before the lease term?
If tenants are being evicted or skipping out early that may mean the property management company is not doing a good job of screening applicants.
9. What percentage of your tenants renew their lease each year?
Turnover expenses represent the largest cost of doing business for a property owner. A good property management company should have at least 65% of their tenants renewing their leases each year, rather than moving out because they are dissatisfied with the management company.
10. Can I review your lease agreement?
Not all lease agreements are created equally and there is no standard Alberta lease. Make sure the lease protects you with specific language that protects you and your property.
11. Who takes care of maintenance requests?
The tenant should contact the management company directly for any repair problems that arise. After they have spoken to the tenant to confirm the nature of the repair issue and whose responsibility it will be, they should send out the appropriate vendor to make the necessary repairs. If a tenant has caused damage, they should be back-billed for the cost. If the repair is due to no fault of the tenant, the cost of the repair should be billed to the Owner of the property. All vendor must be verified to have workmans comp and liability insurance coverage. Only venders who meet high standards of quality, timeliness, and competitive pricing should be used. There must also be a 24-hour service in the case of maintenance emergencies.
12. What do you charge for management, leasing, and are there other fees?
These fees vary from company to company. Don’t just look for the cheapest price. When it comes to property management, the old saying is true, “You get what you pay for.” Beware of companies that charge any of the following: annual administrative fee, monthly fee for management while the property is vacant, other fees above a flat percentage of actual income.
13. What happens if a tenant does not pay rent?
In the event that a tenant does not pay rent the legal eviction process must be followed closely, promptly, and carefully. The management company should handle all aspects of the eviction process including preparing and serving the appropriate legal notices, appearing in court on behalf of the Owner and if necessary, scheduling and performing a physical eviction with a bailiff. What are the legal costs associated with this process?
14. What designations do you have? Does the Management Company have?
Both the property manager and the management company must have a current real estate license with the province of Alberta. You can check this by going to the following website: https://reports.myreca.ca/publicsearch.aspx
15. What happens when the tenant moves out?
When a tenant vacates a property the management company should immediately complete a move-out inspection and handle the security deposit disposition. They should then prepare the property for a new tenant to move in as quickly as possible. This process should take days – not weeks!
16. What insurance do you carry and what should I carry?
The management company should cay at lease $1MM in coverage on both themselves and their vendors. You should carry a landlords policy that also includes coverage for lost rent in the case of destruction of the premises, and liability coverage of at least $1MM.
17. How often will you inspect my property?
Drive by inspections as well as interior walk-though inspections should be performed regularly and documented with digital pictures.
18. When and how do I get my money each month?
You should ask to receive your rental income no later than the 20th of the current month and through a direct deposit into your bank of choice.
19. Can you sell my property in the future?
Don’t hire a sales expert who I inexperienced in property management. Rather you should choose a company that has a sales expert on their team who works exclusively with their landlords.
20. What makes you different or Why should I choose you?
Property management is very difficult and complex. Anyone can do it, but very few can do it well. Choose someone who has a proven track record of doing each aspect of property management better than the rest: from advertising to qualifying prospects to rent collection to minimizing your legal risks to maintenance to minimizing turnovers.
