Chicago Property Management

Stu Waters
Investor · Sunnyvale, CA · Member since 2017 · 3 posts · 1 vote
4y
I'm looking as well. I have a great Handyman service that our tenants reach out to directly when issues arise but I'm ready for something more full service in 2022.
1 Reply
Julie Asmussen
Member since 2021 · 26 posts · 8 votes
4y
I’m looking as well in Naperville Illinois suburb of chicago.
0 Reply
Rene Smith
OP
Member since 2019 · 30 posts · 7 votes
4y
Originally posted by @Stu Waters:
Would you mind sharing the contact information for the handyman service?

0 Reply
Josh Mitchell
Real Estate Agent · Naperville, IL · Member since 2013 · 402 posts · 177 votes
4y
@Rene Smith @Julie Asmussen contact @Mark Ainley asap!! GC Realty has done a great job for me and many clients of mine!

2 Reply
Josh Mitchell
Real Estate Agent · Naperville, IL · Member since 2013 · 402 posts · 177 votes
4y
@Stu Waters see comment above, sorry forgot to tag you!
1 Reply
Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
@Rene Smith

@Julie Asmussen

Definitely contact @Mark Ainley for property management in Chicagoland!
1 Reply
Jason H.Pro Member
Rental Property Investor · Pittsburgh | Chicago · Member since 2016 · 115 posts · 54 votes
4y
Look into Fulton Grace. I used them before and then self-managed because tenant & property was low-maintenance. They were OK, but it really depends on which property manager in their team gets assigned to you. PM is always trial and error. There's never going to be a perfect one.
0 Reply
Jared Kott
Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 15 posts · 20 votes
4y
I would reach out to @Mark Ainley With GC. They are rock solid people with an incredible track record.
1 Reply
Julie Asmussen
Member since 2021 · 26 posts · 8 votes
4y
Anyone have Marks contact info at GC realty?
0 Reply
Bud Gaffney
Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Real Property Management
0 Reply
Brock Forkey
Schenectady, NY · Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 3 votes
4y
Hey Rene, Mark Ainley at GC Realty and Development are one of the top property management organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area. Before you make any decision, I would talk to Mark to see what they can offer you. Good Luck!
1 Reply
Douglas SkipworthBusiness Member
Rental Property Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Hi, @Julie Asmussen, @Rene Smith, @Stu Waters.

Like the others on this thread, I'd recommend @Mark Ainley at GC Realty. I've known him and his business for years. They'll take great care of you.
If you direct message me, I'll be happy to share all of GC's info with you.
Investor's Guide to Memphis Real Estate
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1 Reply
Julie Asmussen
Member since 2021 · 26 posts · 8 votes
4y
Hi Doug. Just messaged you. Thanks so much!
0 Reply
Mark F.Pro Member
Rental Property Investor · Elgin, IL · Member since 2016 · 326 posts · 270 votes
4y
Add another vote for @Mark Ainley for GC Realty....
1 Reply
Rene Smith
OP
Member since 2019 · 30 posts · 7 votes
4y
Thank you everyone for your help.
0 Reply
John Warren
Real Estate Broker · 3412 S. Harlem Avenue Riverside, IL 60546 · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
4y
@Rene Smith multiple clients of mine have used @Mark Ainley and he and his company GC realty have done a fantastic job. They are one of the few companies that has actually been pro active when it comes to management that I have seen in the area. I strongly recommend you connect with them.
1 Reply
Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
Moderator
Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
@Rene Smith - Tons of great advice above already. Maybe you can provide some additional details about your property? Is it multifamily? What Chicago neighborhood? What are looking for from your PM?
[email protected]
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0 Reply
Drew SygitBusiness Member
Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes
3y
@Rene Smith
We can’t believe how many owners hire the first PMC they speak with!

Then they complain their expectations aren’t being met!

In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.

It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

Owners mistakenly ASSUME all PMCs offer the exact SAME SERVICES and PERFORM those services EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, so price is the only differentiator – and they often select the first PMC they call!

So, the first question they usually ask a PMC is about fees - instead of asking about services and HOW those services are executed.

EXAMPLE: PMC states they will handle tenant screening – what does that specifically mean? What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.? You’d be shocked by how little actual screening many PMC’s do!

This also leads owners to ASSUME simpler is better when it comes to management contracts.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

We have a 14-page management contract that we've added our real experiences to over the years, with the intent of protecting both us AND the landlord. Beyond the Monthly Management, Placement & Maintenance fees, all other fees in our contract are IF EVENT -> THEN fees.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processes

Even if someone give you a referral, don’t make the mistake of assuming the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.

We recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

P.S. If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general. Take ownership of your mistake and learn to do the proper due diligence recommended above😊

Please send us any feedback via email, as we do not use the DM feature here.
[email protected]248-209-6824
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0 Reply
Daniel Shaked
Property Manager · Las Vegas · Member since 2024 · 19 posts · 9 votes
3mo
One thing that trips owners up in Chicago specifically: the local ordinances. The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) has strict rules on security-deposit handling and interest, and Cook County's Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance extends similar protections to the suburbs. Whoever you hire should be able to explain, unprompted, how they hold deposits and handle the required disclosures — if they hesitate, keep looking, because deposit mistakes here carry real penalties.

Beyond compliance, get the basics in writing before you sign: management fee, whether they mark up maintenance and vendor invoices, leasing/placement fee, and their tenant screening standard. Then ask for two current owner references and call them.

Disclosure: I'm the founder of Home365, which manages single-family rentals in the Chicago market, so I have a bias here. A couple of things worth asking any PM to match: no markup on maintenance, a real-time owner app where you see work orders and invoices (with video on repairs), and a 650+ FICO screening floor. We also offer an optional plan called Profit Protect that guarantees the rent and covers in-unit repairs and major appliances up to an annual cap after set waiting periods — read the coverage details before assuming, since it's for what's inside the four walls, not the roof or exterior. Good luck — Chicago is a solid rental market if the operations are tight.
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