Managing the property while on vacation

[Frank Jennings]

I have a duplex that I manage myself. I collect the rents and I find new tenants, no problem. And I have all my contractors that I like lined up, so I really don't have any problem managing the property. But I was wanting to travel internationally and I was wondering what should I do in this case? My tenants are both very hard-working and they're always working during normal business, the hours that contractors can come.

Is my only solution just to hire a property management company and sign a normal 1 year agreement?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Frank Jennings:

You can give your Tenants written, detailed, temporary authorization to contact the contractors in your absence if there is an emergency maintenance issue. Something like this:

1. Tenant attempts to call or email you and get permission;

2. If you can't respond within X hours, or if it's a true emergency, then the Tenant can call the contractor directly.

3. Contractor does the work and sends you the bill.

4. If you discover the repair was unnecessary or that it was due to abuse/neglect by the Tenant, then you can charge the Tenant for the bill.