FAP Turbo

Make Over 90% Winning Trades Now!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Determining Property Management Fees For Your Property

By Layla Vanderbilt

When a property investor decides to hire a management company to manage their properties, they interview many companies before they decide whom to hire. Among the things they compare are the real estate management fees the company charges. The investor must decide whether they want to pay monthly percentages or flat fees for the management company?s services.

Investors should investigate more than just the monetary values of the monthly fee or percentage they would pay. Often a higher percentage of profits also comes with more services for the money, and the cheaper monthly flat fee may not include some of the extra fees that may be charged. For example, is advertising included in the monthly fee? Does the company charge extra each time they show the apartment to a new client? Are leasing fees included with their management fees or are they on top of the management fees? Do they charge extra if they have to evict a tenant? Do they charge extra when they prepare the units for rent? What is the typical cleaning fee when they clean vacant apartments? An investor should read their contract carefully to see what services the property management company includes in their fees.

The real estate management fee is usually a minimum monthly base charge plus a percentage of collected income, and the fees vary according to the type and size of the property. The charge for single family dwellings can range from a flat rate to a percentage of the income, ranging from six to ten percent. Larger investment property is most always charged by a percentage which is generally lower, generally around two percent. Fees are negotiated by a number of factors that include the location, the size, and the condition of the property, and the total fee can also include additional fees for leasing and other auxiliary services.

Since the property management fee is based on services provided, investors should be aware of all included services. A regularly needed service is that of preparing the property for rent. investors need to be aware of any fee that the management company charges for the cleaning of vacant properties. Another service that is less regularly needed is the eviction service, and many management companies charge additional fees for evictions. This charge may be billed or deducted from the investors account on either a monthly or quarterly basis.

Besides the renting of property and collecting of rents, the management company performs many other services. Accounting services including preparation of monthly statements, the hiring of contractors for cleaning services, groundskeeping, and maintenance, and the supervision of these crews are some of the services provided by the property management company. The proper execution of these services by the management company provides peace of mind for the property investor. After determining the services provided and fees charged, the investor should investigate potential management companies' references. The management company that provides the needed services for the fee within the investor's budget and that has the best references is most likely to be the best company for the investor to choose to manage the property.

Interviewing the management company to determine the real estate management fee they charge is only the first step to hiring a reliable company. Many things outside the monthly fee determine the final cost an investor sill pay the management company. How well the company communicates with the investor and tenants, how they handle problems, their attention to detail in the leasing process and their ability to maintain the property in good condition all determine an investor?s final costs on each property.

Certainly there are other factors for you to consider outside of the fee that will be charged. For example, reliable and quick handling of maintenance issues to prevent major expenses. A property management company should be able to rent out your property faster than you alone due to the fact that they are working in the business every day. - 23167

About the Author:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home