Property Archives

Reader Question – Can I Rent Out Property After Hiring A Property Manager?

This is the next installment in the Reader’s Questions Series, which highlights questions emailed to me by you, the readers of Money Q&A.

Be sure to find out at the end of this article how you can receive a free copy of Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover if I feature your money question on a blog post. If you’re not familiar with Dave Ramsey’s book, you should run right out and get it. It’s one of the top ten best personal finance books you should read.

Today’s question comes from Jeff who asks about renting his house by himself even after hiring a property manager.

I have been working with a property manager for a few months now to try and find a renter for my home. My wife and I are moving and didn’t want to sell our home. After a few months of trying to find a renter, the property manager still didn’t have the home rented. I started placing my own ads for tenants and finally found someone. Can I still rent out my property to someone after hiring a property management firm?

Rent out property with a property management firm This question raises a couple of red flags. It makes me wonder if you have chosen the right property manager. There are many questions to ask a property manager before you hire them to ensure that they are a good fit for your family and that you feel comfortable with their work. After all, you will be entrusting them with your most valuable asset, your home.

Top 5 Tips for Buying Investment Property

by Hank Coleman

Buying investment property is stressful. Buying investment property typically means taking your personal tastes out of the decision. But, paying close attention to details will make the home pleasing to future tenants. There are so many things to consider when buying an investment property, that it is a good idea to learn as much as you can beforehand from real estate investment experts like Than Merrill. However, here are some basic tips for buying investment property. Tips for Buying Investment Property Get Pre-Approved Unlike some personal home loans, investment property mortgages generally require at least a 20% down payment. Make sure the properties you intend to buy are something that you can afford. You should attempt to get pre-approved for a mortgage before … Read more

Twenty Questions To Ask A Property Manager Before You Hire

by Hank Coleman

More homeowners are finding themselves as accidentally landlords recently. Whether you are moving for a new job or relocating to be closer to home, many Americans are finding that they cannot sell their homes for what they owe on their mortgages. But, do you know the right questions to ask a property manager?

So, if you are a landlord, the next question becomes whether or not you hire a property manager? A property manager will help you find tenants, fix problems with your home, and collect the rent or do you do it all yourself.

My wife and I have recently decided to rent out our home. And, we have decided to hire a property manager. We are currently interviewing three different companies that were recommended by friends and coworkers. Of course, this is not a decision to be made lightly.

Questions To Ask A Property Manager

Here are several questions that you should ask a property manager before hiring them.

How many properties do they manage? – One property manager than I interviewed limited the number of properties they handle per person so they can give your property the attention it deserves.

What are the costs? – Do they take an industry norm of 10% of the rent as a fee? Is there another feed every time the home is vacant and a new tenant is needed? Is advertising costs wrapped up in the monthly fee?