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I'm sorry! I'm in BUSINESS as Property Manager

By
Property Manager with Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

I suspect because he got a recent one of my DIY landlord mailings, a military homeowner e-mailed me that he has self-managed his local townhouse for 8 YEARS * from his station in EUROPE.......and he needs my help.

His current tenant is moving out in June, his new tenants are moving in a week later and he has hired a local "handyman" to do repairs to the property.

He wants to hire me to 1) check out his current tenant; 2) tell him what he needs to do; 3) check the repairs that his local "handyman" will be doing before he pays him; and 4) check in his new tenants.

Again, he is very proud that he has been able to self-manage his property from half-way around the world.

My response was that over 8 years, his lease form should have changed with the annual changes mandated by the VA legislature AND that he should be hiring a contractor that he could TRUST.

I doubt I will hear from him again; however, he will stay on my mailing list because I now know that he is self-managing and that he has acknowledged that his self-managing process leaves something to be desired......

....and it is CHEAPER to hire me as a property manager than pay me by the HOUR for these duties!

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  

LandlordWhisperer

View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...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(20)

Sara Homan
Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044 - Ocala, FL
Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+

Silly Do It Yourselfers!  Gee, I wonder if there were a challenge who would he want to blame???

Apr 16, 2012 09:50 AM
Charles Stallions Property Manager
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pace, FL
Pensacola, Pace & Gulf Breeze Property Management

Good evening Wallace, these post cards must be working wonders for you.

Apr 16, 2012 10:31 AM
Nancy Laswick
United Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
Your REALTOR® For The Valley Of The Sun

Wallace, It's hard to believe anyone would try to manage a property for eight years from another continent! How could that possibly make any sense?

Apr 16, 2012 10:50 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Wallace.  It is tough to spend pride.  It can be expensive.

Apr 16, 2012 07:54 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

The landlord is in the military and I suspect he has been renting to incoming military JAG students coming to 10 to 12 month courses....lots of turnover and he thinks he is smart

Apr 16, 2012 08:08 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Wallace, some people waste dollars trying to save pennies, I am sure he is thinking about what you told him. sometimes they do come back

Apr 16, 2012 09:36 PM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I just picked up a home this week. Owner managing property from out of the country. His lease did not mention anything about pool maintenance. Tenant took the landlord to court. I am on the job now. Amazing!

Apr 16, 2012 09:57 PM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Wallace, 

Rarely do they save the money they think when they are overseas.  Not to mention, they truly have no idea what is going on when they are so far away.   

Wild. 

All the best, Michelle

Apr 16, 2012 10:03 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Unless I'm mistaken, you have a rental management company.  Either he pays to avoid problems or he will pay to cure them.

 

 

Apr 16, 2012 10:31 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

He is renting to other military residents and thinks he does not have to screen and that he is secure.  I've never heard of his "handyman".

Apr 17, 2012 05:50 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Wallace - "penny wise and pound foolish" comes to mind.  Going cheap usually ends up costing money as many FSBOs know.

Apr 17, 2012 08:34 AM
AJ Heidmann ~ CRS
McEnearney Associates, Inc. - Alexandria, VA
YOUR Alexandria & Arlington, VA Real Estate Expert

Wallace - I love Lenn #9 comment, and we all know that it's cheaper for an ounce of prevention than a pound of cure.

Apr 17, 2012 09:02 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

He's an attorney - 10 feet tall and bulletproof

Apr 17, 2012 09:51 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Wallace - Like many of us in different areas, he's seeking to save money and will frequently find out that doesn't work well.

Apr 17, 2012 01:37 PM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Being a part time landlord never really works out for landlord or tenant.  A landlord needs to be involved or hire someone to be involved all the time.

Apr 17, 2012 01:39 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Good morning Wallace,

This owner will be able to accurately state that he "self-manages the property from half-way around the world"...when he has a professional (such as yourself) hired to take care of his best interests!

Apr 17, 2012 07:25 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Thanks guys!  I have picked up a lot of these owners over the last few years with my direct-mailings to out-of-area homeowners....the homes are usually in good areas and poorly maintained.

Apr 17, 2012 07:33 PM
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX

Ew, I don't want to see inside this property.  I'm sure he has no idea what it looks like.

Apr 18, 2012 12:51 AM
Ricky D. Sadler
Real Estate Marketing Experts &Trusted Senior Advisors on Property Management services, Rentals Leasing, Landlord Ten... - Seattle, WA
Trusted Senior Property Advisor & Marketing Expert

Wallace,

I love it, Part time landlords are like the Kids that go to Vegas and going to WIN Big and beat the house! I always laugh

what are the odds-He'll be back real soon!

Ricky D

RD House Real Estate & Property Management

WWW.rd-house.com

Apr 18, 2012 09:27 AM