Property management is the daily oversight of residential, commercial, or industrial real estate by a third-party contractor.
Generally, property managers take responsibility for day-to-day repairs and ongoing maintenance, security, and upkeep of properties. They usually work for the owners of investment properties such as apartments, complexes and private homes.
Their main roles are to manage routine tasks delegated to them by the owners and to preserve the value of the properties that they manage while generating income.
Key Takeaways
- Property management is the oversight of real estate by a third party.
- Property managers can manage various types of property: residential, commercial, industrial, and property for special purposes.
- Property managers are generally responsible for the day-to-day operations of the real estate, from screening tenants to arranging for repairs and maintenance.
- Owners pay property managers a fee or a percentage of the rent generated by the property.
- Every state has its own laws regulating the activities of property managers.
Understanding Property Management
Property developers generally want to move on to the next project as soon as each one is completed. Even if they continue to hold title to the property, they prefer to delegate the day-to-day operations to an outside company.
The responsibilities of a property manager generally involve the following:
- Screening potential tenants
- Drafting, signing, and renewing leases on behalf of property owners
- Collecting rent
- Maintenance of properties, including landscaping and snow removal
- Arranging for necessary repairs to properties
- Setting up and adhering to budgets for property maintenance
- Understanding state and national landlord-tenant laws and regulations
- Marketing properties
The companies must comply with any state and local landlord-tenant laws and regulations.
Owners pay property managers a fee or a percentage of the rent generated by a property while it is under their management.
Types of Property Management
Just as property comes in many types, so do property managers. Some agencies are specialized in providing management for a particular type of property, while others offer management services over a range of property types. A huge range of property types can be managed.
Residential Property Management
Residential property managers are typically hired for rental properties, and they manage the rental process. They can be hired to manage:
- Single-family homes
- Multifamily homes
- Town houses
- Apartments and apartment blocks
Commercial Property Management
Commercial property owners have different needs from those who own residential property. Commercial property management can apply to:
- Retail properties like malls, restaurants, and gas stations
- Office properties like real estate brokerages or doctors’ offices
- Co-working spaces where professionals rent work space by the day or the hour
Who Needs a Property Manager?
Several types of property owners can benefit from the services that property managers offer.
Landlords, for example, hire property management firms for a variety of reasons. Some may have multiple rental properties in their portfolios and lack the time or expertise to maintain the properties and deal with individual tenants. Some owners only have an interest in owning rental properties and earning profits from them. When this is the case, they hire professional property managers.
Property owners who participate in affordable housing programs tend to use property management services because their rental properties are subject to complex federal guidelines that require specialized expertise.
Property managers are different from community managers, who deal with common areas rather than individual units and don’t necessarily deal directly with landlords.
Is a property manager worth it?
It depends. Managing property can be costly and take a lot of time. If the cost of a property manager is less than the opportunity cost of managing properties yourself, it’s probably a good investment. However, this is an equation that every investor will have to work through for themselves.
Who benefits from hiring a property manager?
Any property manager who doesn’t want to deal with the day-to-day management of property can potentially benefit from property management. This can include a residential property owner who doesn’t want the headaches of dealing with tenants, or commercial property owners who prefer others to source and manage tenants, leases, and maintenance.
The Bottom Line
Property management is the oversight of real estate by a third party, normally a professional property manager or property management company. Property managers can manage many different types of property: residential, commercial, industrial, and property for special purposes.
Property managers are generally responsible for the day-to-day operations of the real estate, from screening tenants to arranging for repairs and maintenance, and are paid via a fee or a percentage of the rent generated by the property. Every state has its own laws regulating the activities of property managers, so it’s important for property owners to check that potential property managers are properly licensed for their state.