Do you have a rental property that you’re self-managing? If so, it’s likely a lot of your free time is being spent on things like rent collection and maintenance requests.
The last thing you want to do is spend all your time managing tenants that live in your rental. And yet, if you’re generating a lot of profit from your investment property, you’re not going to want to sell either.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution: hire a property management company.
If you’ve ever asked yourself “Where can I find a property management company near me?” then keep reading. Today we’re going to explore where to find a high-quality San Francisco County property management company. Doing so will take the load off you and let you enjoy your investment the way you should.
How to Find a Property Management Company Near Me
Finding a property management company near San Francisco is not always easy. You may not know where to start looking. And even if you do find one that’s near you, it can be difficult to tell which one is the right company for you.
That’s why we’ve gathered some of our best tips for answering the question “how do I find a property management company near me?”
1. START YOUR SEARCH ONLINE
84% of people trust online reviews as much as their friends and family. If this sounds like you, then the best place to start your search for a property manager is online.
Performing a simple Google search will yield a ton of results. It will also help you start the process of narrowing down your options. Lastly, it will lead you to online reviews and reveal what others are saying about different property management companies.
Here are the two places to look online for nearby property management companies:
- Online Reviews: Everyone knows that when you search for a local company, online reviews are going to pop up. Though you can’t trust everything you read online, there is a lot of truth behind most online reviews. You should look for review sites like Google Maps, Facebook, Yelp, Angie’s List, and Zillow.
- Official Company Websites: All good property management companies near you will have a website. Here, you’ll be able to access testimonials, company information, and the services provided by property managers. You’ll also want to look out for things like a tenant portal that makes paying rent easy on your tenants.
2. ASK FOR REFERRALS
Another great way to find out which property management companies near your rental are worth considering is to ask for referrals. Word of mouth marketing is as effective as ever and can lead you to an amazing property manager.
Here are some people to ask:
- Investors
- Developers
- Appraisers
- Lenders
- Contractors
- Fellow landlords
- Real estate agents
People are not shy about sharing negative things about the companies they work with. Take advantage of this by asking people you trust what they know.
3. CONTACT EXISTING RENTERS
There are other people you can talk to about a potential property management company. For example, you might reach out to existing tenants.
Tenants have the most contact with property managers. After all, the property management company handles all the day-to-day operations of your rental. This means anytime your tenants have a problem, they’ll talk with the property manager. Because of this, existing tenants will have firsthand knowledge about the property manager.
Again, people will not usually hold back when something makes them unhappy. If they’ve had a bad experience, you’re sure to hear about it. Depending on the situation, this may be enough for you to move forward with working with that company or not.
4. VISIT ACTUAL PROPERTIES
When it comes to rentals, the exterior appearance can make or break a first impression. Performing an on-site visit to a rental property is a great way to check the property manager.
If you notice overgrown bushes, debris in the yard, or maintenance needs, chances are the property manager isn’t doing a good job.
5. EXPLORE LOCAL ADS
When it comes to advertising vacant properties, good property management companies take advantage of local ads to target the right tenant pool.
If you check Craigslist, the newspaper, online classifieds, and rental guides, you learn two things:
- Which platforms property management companies are using to advertise vacancies
- How well the ads are designed and written
The better the advertisements, the higher the chances you have of placing a tenant in your rental. Property management companies in San Francisco County are responsible for marketing vacancies. So, take the time to see how well they advertise before asking them to help you with your property.
6. EDUCATE YOURSELF
It’s not enough to read online reviews and vacancy ads to learn about the quality of property managers a company employs. In fact, there’s a lot more to hiring the right property management company for your needs.
When looking for a nearby property management company, educate yourself about the company first:
- Education and Experience: you’ll want a nearby property management company that knows the field of real estate. You’ll also want a property manager that’s knowledgeable about landlord-tenant laws in San Francisco. Lastly, look for one that has lots of experience. Though hiring a new property management company isn’t always a bad idea, an experienced company will likely net you a higher ROI in the long run.
- Fee Structures: investing in a property manager is going to cost money. If you’re ready to hand over some of the responsibilities of your rental to a company, that’s great. Just make sure they offer the services you need for a price that you like.
- Services: don’t forget to learn about the exact services a property management company plans to offer you should you hire them. Don’t settle for one that doesn’t perform the services you need just because it’s close to you.
- Workload: it’s great to hire a property management company that has a lot of experience. However, you don’t want to hire one that has too many properties on their hands and not enough property managers. Tenants are likely to renew their leases when they’re pleased with the service provided by the property manager. If your property manager is spread too thin, you could end up with an unwanted vacancy.
- Licenses and Certifications: many states require property managers to have a real estate brokers license to show vacant properties. The last thing you want to do is hire a property manager that can’t show your available property.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know better how to find a good property management company near you in San Francisco, it’s time to take action. Forget spending all your precious time worrying about and managing your investment property. Instead, contact us at Sharevest Property Management.
As a full-service property management company serving the San Francisco County area, we pride ourselves in maintaining your investment properties, so you don’t have to.
We’ll advertise your vacancy across multiple platforms, place a tenant in less than 14 days, and handle everything from tenant screening to annual rent rate analyses, and preventative property maintenance to monthly summary statements.
In other words, we take the hassle off you so you can enjoy the benefits of owning a rental property and all that free time you worked so hard to earn.
