Читать книгу Property Management Kit For Dummies - Robert S. Griswold - Страница 50

If you have the right traits for managing property (see Chapter 2 to help determine whether you do), if you have the time, and if you live reasonably close to your property, you should definitely manage it yourself. Here are some advantages of keeping direct control of the management of your rental property:

 You save on a monthly management fee. If you purchase a single-family rental home or condo as an investment property, you most likely won’t be able to generate enough money to pay for a professional property manager and make a profit — at least not right away.

 You save on maintenance costs. You decide who does the repair work and who mows the lawn. Doing your own maintenance or yard work is usually a good idea; if you hire someone else to do it for you, the cost can devour your monthly cash flow in a hurry.

 No one cares as much about your investment as you do. You are always going to be the one who’s most dedicated to achieving the best results from your rental investment efforts. Property managers are professionals, but their retirement and future wealth aren’t riding on the success of your investment.

Even if you hire someone to manage your property, you may be better off choosing the maintenance contractors yourself than turning over the decision — and your money — to a professional property management firm. Some management companies have related companies or get referral fees from their select vendors; thus, you pay higher charges than you would if you’d hired the same contractors directly. A limited number of professional and ethical property managers can offer recommendations, however, and they don’t use maintenance and repairs as a hidden profit-center. Either way, develop a list of reliable and insured fix-it and landscape personnel who do good work and charge reasonable rates.