DO I REALLY NEED A PROPERTY MANAGER?
We have taken on properties where the owner doubts if he/she needs a property manager. “The landscaper or house cleaner have been taking care of the house and guests.”
And while this may be working in the sense that the house is standing and guests continue to arrive, in each and every case, we find the house is not maintained properly and that reviews do not reflect a 5-star experience. In other words, there is work to do.
Let’s say an average monthly PM fee might be around $400-$700USD per month. As this may seem like a large amount of money, on average, this is paid for with one 3-5 day rental.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that good property manages do.
• They pay CFE, Telmex, Oromapas, and yearly property tax.
• They ensure staff is doing their work effectively, communicating, following through and is paid on time.
• They walk through the property on a regular basis looking for maintenance issues and take pictures and video to share with the owners.
• They provide owners with multiple quotes if needed and explain the differences in work, workers, final product, etc.
• They communicate effectively with owners and answers questions in a timely manner.
• They ensure the house has all of the supplies needed to clean, maintain the landscaping and pool, and supplies used by the guests.
• They keep a log of when locks need to be oiled, air cons need to be serviced, batteries need to be changed in locks and safes, and when drains and faucets needs to be cleaned out.
• They respond quickly to inquiries and stay active on the site to ensure a higher listing result.
• They send out contracts and arrange payments for guests booking outside of typical platforms.
The list goes on but the point is that in a 3-5 day rental, you’ve just handed all of that to someone else. So, do you still want to manage your own place? Are you dedicated enough to answer inquiries immediately. Is the person you have in charge staying on top of these things and providing a 5-star experience for guests?
Take a look at owners and renters are saying about Tu Casa Sayulita Property Management: Sayulita Life Reviews
One final point to discuss is finding the right person for the job. Many owners who do not have property managers rely on people working at the house to recommend someone to make repairs.
As is the case in many small towns in Mexico, tradespeople are not necessarily trained. They apprentice and learn from others along the way. Many of them will tell you they can do plumbing, electrical, build, lay tile, install cisterns, etc. But in the end, the mistakes that are made by an amateur may end up costing you more in the long run. Don’t get me wrong, we use tradespeople who have never been trained and they are amazing. The difference is that we know who is good.
Unless you live here full time, you probably do not have the best contacts for each job. We do!
