Thinking of changing my PM but am terrified that the process will be a nightmare

[Joseph Sakic]

I am a young investor (23) and currently have 4 single family residential rental properties around the Kansas City area. I have been frustrated with multiple things that my current property management company has been doing, and I don't feel like they communicate very well with me. However, I remember the process of onboarding my properties being a nightmare back in 2020 and would rather just keep my current mediocre manager than deal with a whole new nightmare and still risk them being not good. 

Has anyone onboarded 4 or more properties with a management company in KC recently? Is it more difficult to switch property managers than it is to onboard without a current PM? Is the process still awful either way? Or is it better now with all of the new technology coming out?
I don't trust advertisements, so I'm not necessarily looking for specific company recommendations. I am asking from your perspective, what made the the process of onboarding easier? What parts were nightmarish? What should I know beforehand? 

Any insight is helpful. TYIA

- Joseph

[Drew Sygit]

@Joseph Sakic the "pain" is directly related to:

1) How much your current PMC cooperates

2) What paperwork you already have or can get to send to the new PMC