When you’re looking for professional property management in Beaufort, South Carolina, you want to make sure you’re working with a partner who understands your investment goals. A good property manager will listen to your struggles and your challenges, and put their experience, knowledge, and resources to work in helping you have a better investment experience.
It’s easy enough to check out a management company’s website or read their positive customer reviews. Make sure you spend some time interviewing them as well. Here are some questions you should ask a prospective Beaufort property management company.
Property Management Experience
Years of experience is always important, but the experience you’re really interested in is the type of properties they’ve been managing. If you own all multi-family units, a management company that specializes in single-family homes won’t provide the same value as one that understands the leasing and management process for apartment buildings and duplexes. You also want to be sure the company’s local experience is what you need. A local expert is invaluable.Ask about Beaufort, SC Leasing
You need to know how long it will take to rent out your property. Avoiding vacancy is important, and you want to be sure your home is going to be rented quickly to excellent residents and for the most money possible. Find out how they advertise vacant homes, and which online rental sites are used to list your property. There’s also tenant screening, which you’ll want to ask about. It’s important that prospective tenants are being screened thoroughly and consistently. You also want to make sure your property management company knows and complies with all fair housing laws.Talk about Technology and Communication
Technology is a big part of property management, and it leads to more efficiency and better services. Look for a management company that embraces automation without giving up personalized service and outstanding communication. Your property manager should provide online portals for tenants and owners where rent can be paid, maintenance can be requested, and messages can be sent. You’ll want to make sure your style of communication and the frequency you expect matches what the property manager provides.Maintenance Questions Matter
Some management companies have in-house maintenance personnel and others outsource the work to local vendors and contractors. There’s no one way to do it, just make sure you understand the maintenance process. Ask if they are available 24 hours a day to respond to repairs and how long it typically takes to complete a minor repair or a major project.Financial Reports and Accounting Statements
It should be easy for owners to log in and see rental payments, maintenance requests, and outstanding invoices. You should be able to access accounting statements and financial reports whenever you need them. Tracking income and expenses is an important job of your property manager.
Your property manager isn’t only managing your property; they’re managing your finances. You’ll need to know your management company can be trusted.
You have a lot of questions to ask any potential property managers. These are the best questions to start with.
If you’re interested in learning our answers to these questions and others, please contact us at Middleton Street Property Management. We’d be happy to tell you more.
