I am just starting to look for a lawn mowing service and was wondering what the going rate is and what can I get for my money. Is there a good set of questions to ask?
My yard service mows the yard, edges, and uses the leafblower to clear grass clippings from driveway and walks.
For a typical residendial yard, this mow-blow-and-go service costs me $25 per visit. My guys will do extra things like trimming trees and shrubs, weeding planting beds and laying pine straw in mulch beds at a $20 hourly rate
• Set up fee
• Monthly Fee
• Re lease fee for existing tenant
• Re lease fee for new tenant
• Any other costs at the time of re-rent
• If lease aborts midway because of tenant do they still charge a re-lease fee
• Do they charge for advertising
• How do they market? Look for newspaper, MLS, their own website, Rental website
• Will they send copies of marketing efforts for our files
• Do they have a surcharge for repairs
• How much do they require to keep in trust for repairs
• At what point will they call us for authorization to make repairs that are costly
• Will they send original receipts for repairs
• Are the repairs done by independent contractors or by their own maintenance
company.
• How much do they anticipate as rent for the subject property
• How often do they drive by to check that the owners are taking care of the lawn and exterior grounds
• How often do they check the interior
• How extensive is their qualifying standard for prospective tenants. Look for credit check, verification of employment & income, rent history, possibly referral letter.
• Some contracts read that the security deposit is dependant on manager’s discretion; you want it to read that it is up to the owner.
• Do they consult us before renting
• You need to decide if you will accept pets & how large or how many. Make sure you get additional security deposit.
• When will the rental checks be dispersed each month? Should be before the 15th.
• Do they send monthly operational statements and year end operating statement?
• Do they carry their own insurance?
• Do they require you to sell the property through them if you decide to sell? If so, will they waive that clause?
It may not have cut/paste well, but the content is still there.
In addition to all the other suggestions, I would look for a property management company that just does property management.
Beware of the real estate agency whose primary focus is sales but does the property management on the side. Unless the real estate agency has a fully staffed and full time property managment arm, I would not consider them.
Ask if the property manager holds professional certification, a CPM designation. Not necessary, but it would be a plus if the property manager is also a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM).
I second newkid on not using a Realtor as a property manager. Many of the Realtors in my office "manage" properties, but the effort put out to rent them is zero. Essentially we have a list that we can refer to if someone calls looking for a rental. They sit on that list for months. As a landlord, I find it appalling!
Just thought of this one, too.
• Do you walk through with the renter(s) before the lease and at the end of the lease?[ Edited by InfoSponge3000 on Date 05/16/2007 ]
My yard service mows the yard, edges, and uses the leafblower to clear grass clippings from driveway and walks.
For a typical residendial yard, this mow-blow-and-go service costs me $25 per visit. My guys will do extra things like trimming trees and shrubs, weeding planting beds and laying pine straw in mulch beds at a $20 hourly rate
This is going to depend on where your property is and competition.
Here is the list I use:
Questions for Property Managers:
• Set up fee
• Monthly Fee
• Re lease fee for existing tenant
• Re lease fee for new tenant
• Any other costs at the time of re-rent
• If lease aborts midway because of tenant do they still charge a re-lease fee
• Do they charge for advertising
• How do they market? Look for newspaper, MLS, their own website, Rental website
• Will they send copies of marketing efforts for our files
• Do they have a surcharge for repairs
• How much do they require to keep in trust for repairs
• At what point will they call us for authorization to make repairs that are costly
• Will they send original receipts for repairs
• Are the repairs done by independent contractors or by their own maintenance
company.
• How much do they anticipate as rent for the subject property
• How often do they drive by to check that the owners are taking care of the lawn and exterior grounds
• How often do they check the interior
• How extensive is their qualifying standard for prospective tenants. Look for credit check, verification of employment & income, rent history, possibly referral letter.
• Some contracts read that the security deposit is dependant on manager’s discretion; you want it to read that it is up to the owner.
• Do they consult us before renting
• You need to decide if you will accept pets & how large or how many. Make sure you get additional security deposit.
• When will the rental checks be dispersed each month? Should be before the 15th.
• Do they send monthly operational statements and year end operating statement?
• Do they carry their own insurance?
• Do they require you to sell the property through them if you decide to sell? If so, will they waive that clause?
It may not have cut/paste well, but the content is still there.
Good luck, Brian
In addition to all the other suggestions, I would look for a property management company that just does property management.
Beware of the real estate agency whose primary focus is sales but does the property management on the side. Unless the real estate agency has a fully staffed and full time property managment arm, I would not consider them.
Ask if the property manager holds professional certification, a CPM designation. Not necessary, but it would be a plus if the property manager is also a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM).
I second newkid on not using a Realtor as a property manager. Many of the Realtors in my office "manage" properties, but the effort put out to rent them is zero. Essentially we have a list that we can refer to if someone calls looking for a rental. They sit on that list for months. As a landlord, I find it appalling!
Chris
Good info guys, tks and keep it coming, coz this is an area that I am researching into as well. Tks again
Just thought of this one, too.
• Do you walk through with the renter(s) before the lease and at the end of the lease?[ Edited by InfoSponge3000 on Date 05/16/2007 ]