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Rental Property Owners GET the Property Manager/Leasing Agents they DESERVE!

By
Property Manager with Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

I got to a showing appointment EARLY yesterday so I cruised through the neighborhood and noted the # of FOR SALE and FOR RENT signs.

....I noted a FOR RENT sign on a property I leased 10 years ago.  It was being managed long distance by the daughter of the homeowner who was in a nursing home.  She MICOmanaged everything about the property from 3 hours away including using a poorly qualified landscaper and painter to do the "make ready".  She liked their prices rather than the prices MY qualified service people gave her.

When the tenants I had found moved out 2 years later, she wanted to use my leasing services again. I realized she wanted to MICROmanage the refurbishing and "make ready" services herself and she ONLY wanted me for my LEASING capabilities.

I politely declined and she went to a local real estate agent who did leasing as a SIDEline.  The home was vacant for 3 months while she MICROmanaged the repairs and upgrades and it rented to LESS*THAN*PERFECT  residents and she called me 6 months later when it was vacant * AGAIN.

I pointed her to a local property management firm; however, she wanted to continue to manage the property herself.

....so yesterday I noted the sign of an area real estate agent/property manager who does NOT HAVE A WEBSITE, uses MLS primarily to rent properties and the unit is REALLY UNappealing from the street * the front yard is overgrown and the blinds are closed.  

Obviously, the owner is no longer MICROmanaging the home or it would not look so UNappealing.

 

Not the actual  property photo!

Posted by

Wallace S. Gibson is a Certified Property Manager with over 50 years of property management experience and expertise.  She maintains a specialized property management business in Central Virginia serving Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Louisa counties  

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"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

 

Comments (4)

Debbie Holmes
John L. Scott - Boise, ID
Gets the job done!

You probably have done well to stay away from this one....Some things and people can drain your soul....

Oct 26, 2011 02:40 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Wallace - Great move not having her as a client.

Oct 26, 2011 07:30 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Wallace, 

Great post!  I had a potential owner tell me they really wanted to use me, but wanted me cheaper.  (This, of course, was after they didn't want to spend a few dollars doing recommended updates to garner the best rent for the place.)

I politely refused, saying that wasn't an option.  All through the conversation all I could think about was dodging a bullet of having an owner who wasn't going to think like I did, so we weren't a good fit.  You can't help everyone, nor should you want to.  I want to help clients who fit in the same model I have.  Otherwise, everyone will not be happy!

All the best, Michelle

Oct 26, 2011 10:19 AM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h

Sounds as if you've done well to NOT be working with that client.  Like we've agreed before, sometimes it is just best to fire those clients that you can't work well with.  Micromanaging clients are always prime candidates for firing.  Life would be so much better for all if folks like this could learn to simply let us do what 1. We are good at and 2. They are paying us to do and 3. We can see the big picture and actually do a much better job than they can.

Oct 26, 2011 04:35 PM