A.D. Cantelmo Property Management Company
Our Business is Property Management in Orange County California
How much service should your Property Management Company
give you?
I received a call the other day from a frustrated property
owner, asking me how long it takes to process an applicant’s application. He
was frustrated by the slow action of his Property Management Company. I unfortunately
could not help him, because he was under contract, but I could really feel his
frustration and I knew that if I could, I would remove that frustration if I
could have taken him on as a client. All I could do for this property owner was
advise him to have a good discussion with his current Property Management
Company.
Service you Desire
In this case, my hands were tied and it bothered me, because
I understand that not being given the service you desire from a company that
you are paying can drive you crazy. Most of the time, the calls I get, I can
help and once they get to know me and they way I run my company, their
frustration goes away. First, I never hold my clients to long term contracts. I
don’t have to; I do everything I can to give them the service they desire. If
my service is not enough, they are free to leave. I am happy to say, I have
never lost a client due to lack of service. That being said, Property
Management is a service industry and lack of service in this industry unfortunately
is the norm.
What service should you should Expect?
So, what service should you expect from your Property
management Company? The answer is very simple, whatever service you expect.
Each of my clients has different expectations and I try to meet those
individual expectations as much as I can. I guess I have the advantage of being
a small company which gives me the ability to be nimble and treat my clients
individually and not have just one service level for everyone. The problem with
the thinking of some property owners is that bigger is better and they ignore
small companies like mine who would give them more of what they are looking
for.
I understand the difficulties that Property owners have when
trying to find a Management Company that fits their service level. Many owners
don’t even know what service they should expect, but if I could suggest to them
a few things that they should look for, it may help
Let’s put aside the collecting of rent, because that is
something that goes without saying, but how does your Management Company handle
late payers.
Do they keep you informed when a Tenant is late and when you
should expect payment, or do they just give a three day notice and get ready to
evict.
How does your Property Management Company handle repairs. Do
they react quickly, do they explain to you what needs to be done and do they
make sure the work is done correctly.
How does you Management Company Treat your Tenant and yes,
they are your Tenants. They live in your home and ultimately, you are responsible
for them. You want good Tenants to feel as though the home they are renting is
a good place to live so they stay a long time. If they feel like they are being
ignored or disrespected, the odd of them renewing a lease is less likely.
How aggressive is your management company when it comes to
getting lease renewals. Do they work with Tenants or do they just allow Tenants
to leave without talking to them and trying to entice good Tenants to stay n
the property. Remember, management Companies make money moving in new Tenants,
but you as a Property owner, lose money when a good Tenant moves out.
As a Property Owner, do you have a dedicated Property
Manager to talk to, or do you talk to someone different every time you call,
and do you get the answer to your questions with one call, or does it take you
several calls to get answers.
These are a few services, that are important to many of my
clients and I think they are probably important to most investment property
owners. Not all owners want great service, in fact some never want to be
bothered, but most want good communication and appreciate good advice, so what
I suggest to Property owners who are looking for a New Property management
Company, don’t sign a long term contract. Make sure you have the ability to leave
a company if things are not working out the way you desire. If a company requires you to sign a long term
contract, then look for another company, maybe a small one like mine.
A.D. Cantelmo Property
Management Service Specializes in Property Management in Orange
County Ca.