DIY or a team?

[Luke Mertz]

I know local investors who have 6-10 single family homes that they manage themselves, no property manager no maintenance people, just him. Is this a viable strategy? I know at some point if your desire is to scale you would need a team but I've seen people replace their income doing it entirely themself. 
Also what are the benefits of a property manager? I've heard lots of people say they do nothing but take 10% so I was wondering what the benefit of one is.

[Tony Christian]

You're right, there are definitely investors out there managing 6 to 10 single family homes all on their own. It can work, especially if you're local and don't mind being hands-on. You keep more of the cash flow, and you really get to know the business.

But once the portfolio grows, things get heavier. You're the one handling everything. Tenants, maintenance, late-night calls, leases, legal stuff. For some folks, that works. They like staying close to their properties. For others, it starts to feel like a thankless job.

That's where a property manager can help. The thing is, not all of them are worth the 10%. Some think collecting your for you rent automatically earns them 10%. Anything else and they're doing you a favor. That’s why it’s important to find a good one, not just any manager.

Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up for finding the right fit:

1. Talk to local investors – Word of mouth goes a long way. If someone’s had the same manager for years and still likes them, that’s a good sign.

2. Ask about their process – Like, how do they screen tenants? How fast do they fix stuff? If they can’t answer clearly, that’s a red flag.

3. Look past the Google stars – Don’t just look at the rating. Read the reviews and see how they handle problems. The way they respond says a lot.

4. Interview them like you mean it – Ask “What would you do if a tenant’s 2 weeks late on rent?” or “How do you handle lease violations?” You’ll learn a lot real quick.

5. Break down the fees – Some charge extra for every little thing. Make sure you know what you’re getting for the 10%.

At the end of the day, it comes down to your goals. If you're looking to stay small and do it all yourself, cool. But if you wanna grow or just want your weekends back, a solid property manager can be a smart move.