Advice on Becoming a Remote Landlord

Charlotte, North Carolina
Out of State Investing
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Advice on Becoming a Remote Landlord

Amy Jones
Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes

I'm going to buy my first property within the next couple of months and I'm curious about how people manage their properties when they are not within a driveable distance of them.

I understand they have property managers but where do you find them?

And how do you ensure that the state of the property, inside and out, is in good condition?

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Katie Holmes
Investor 路 United States 路 Member since 2022 路 55 posts 路 15 votes
1y

I personally try to automate as much as possible and rely on great/trusted handymen, cleaners, etc. on the ground that can take care of anything that comes up and let me know about the state of the property. That said, there's no doubt it can definitely add stress to be out of state. Best of luck!

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  • Katie Holmes
    Investor 路 United States 路 Member since 2022 路 55 posts 路 15 votes
    1y

    I personally try to automate as much as possible and rely on great/trusted handymen, cleaners, etc. on the ground that can take care of anything that comes up and let me know about the state of the property. That said, there's no doubt it can definitely add stress to be out of state. Best of luck!

    1Reply
  • Austin McClainBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent 路 OH 路 Member since 2021 路 348 posts 路 602 votes
    1y

    If you're using a realtor, they should have insight on the successful property managers. You'll want to look at their reviews from owners as well. 

    [email protected]614-710-4827
    1Reply
  • Aristotle Kumpis
    Specialist 路 Long Beach, CA 路 Member since 2011 路 877 posts 路 398 votes
    1y

    Hi Amy. Its not too difficult. I own several out of state properties. And the are all managed professionally. I have gone through a few different ones over the course of 12 years. Anytime there is an issue, they call/email me. And when a tenant moves out, they send me photos and the turnover fees. Its pretty simple. 

    0Reply
  • Abdul Malik
    Property Manager 路 Charlotte, NC 路 Member since 2025 路 18 posts 路 7 votes
    1y

    @Amy Jones

    Its nice to meet you via BP! Im happy to answer further questions that you may have about property management. Feel free to contact me directly. Generally, a good property manager will make sure to do the following:

    - rollout a strong marketing plan

    - thorough application process

    - know the fair housing laws

    - have the vendor relationships to take care of any emergencies that could happen

    - dealing with late fees & evictions!

    I can send general toolkit if that helps.

    1Reply
    • Amy Jones
      OP
      Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Abdul Malik:

      @Amy Jones

      Its nice to meet you via BP! Im happy to answer further questions that you may have about property management. Feel free to contact me directly. Generally, a good property manager will make sure to do the following:

      - rollout a strong marketing plan

      - thorough application process

      - know the fair housing laws

      - have the vendor relationships to take care of any emergencies that could happen

      - dealing with late fees & evictions!

      I can send general toolkit if that helps.


       Hi Abdul! A pleasure to connect with you. Thank you for all the insight, I'd love to take a look at the toolkit you mentioned, any further insight is appreciated!

      0Reply
  • Peter Schimmerman
    Member since 2025 路 2 posts 路 0 votes
    1y

    Find someone who manages long-term rentals in that area. They can help you find tenants, vet them, and ensure they pay on time. There are plenty of such service providers available, though they typically charge 10-20% of the gross rent.

    0Reply
    • Amy Jones
      OP
      Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Peter Schimmerman:

      Find someone who manages long-term rentals in that area. They can help you find tenants, vet them, and ensure they pay on time. There are plenty of such service providers available, though they typically charge 10-20% of the gross rent.


       Do you have any services you would recommend? I'm still figuring out who/which businesses to trust!

      0Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager 路 Royal Oak, MI 路 Member since 2012 路 12k+ posts 路 9k+ votes
    1y

    @Amy Jones are you looking to remotely self-manage or looking for referrals to property management companies?

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9459 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
    • Amy Jones
      OP
      Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Drew Sygit:

      @Amy Jones are you looking to remotely self-manage or looking for referrals to property management companies?


       I'm looking to remotely self-manage for now, but I'm also open to referrals for property management companies in the future.

      0Reply
  • Shuvrajit Mukherjee
    New to Real Estate 路 Chicago 路 Member since 2023 路 46 posts 路 22 votes
    1y

    I'm an out of state investor. My opinion varies based on my experience, and keeping a property manager has been a nightmare for me. I am doing much better in the properties where I have no pm, and the process is almost automated, using baselane to collect rent, good tenants, and few serviceman.

    If the tenants is not good, pms won't help either, not sure why I kept pms in the first place.

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Member since 2021 路 22 posts 路 3 votes
    1y

    Sharing some of my personal experience. I moved from Chicago to Nashville, and decided to rent out my house in Chicago. It was an older home that had lots of issues. Managing it was a nightmare because things constantly broke, and needed to be repaired. Thankfully, I had good tenants, and they always paid on time. I eventually sold this property. A property manager would have greatly reduced my headaches in this situation. If instead you鈥檙e looking to invest in a newer townhouse or condo self managing it would be more manageable. 

    0Reply
  • Allan C.
    Rental Property Investor 路 Member since 2018 路 826 posts 路 810 votes
    1y

    What class tenants do you have - B, C or other?  If B class or better then you can consider not using a PM. Just use your realtor to screen tenants and manage transitions. Find your own set of tradesmen and you can simply contact them directly when future repair issues arise. 
    I've self-managed 30 units remotely for the past 10 years and I only communicate via text & emails with tenants and tradespeople. If you want greater peace of mind then you can use a PM. Just understand that you'll need to manager the PM, so you can't be completely hands free. 

    0Reply
  • Tiffany Purnell
    Member since 2025 路 9 posts 路 1 vote
    1y

    I once worked with an investor client who was a remote landlord. I checked on the home for him on a daily basis, found repairmen to fix the property etc. It's a good idea to connect with a realtor in the area where you would like to purchase. The realtor can help you find a property manager. A realtor can also thoroughly tour the properties you are interested in for you. A lot of investors prefer realtors to do virtual tours of properties they may be interested in. 

    0Reply
  • Jarret Jarvis
    Real Estate Agent 路 Chicago 路 Member since 2021 路 168 posts 路 62 votes
    1y

    Hi Amy,

    That鈥檚 exciting鈥攃ongrats on getting ready to buy your first property! When managing properties from a distance, a good property manager is key. You can find them through investor networks, BiggerPockets forums, local real estate groups, or referrals from other landlords.

    To ensure the property stays in good condition, set clear expectations with your manager, schedule regular inspections, and consider using smart home tech (cameras, leak detectors, etc.) for extra oversight. Tenant screening also plays a big role in keeping things smooth.

    Are you buying locally or out of state? Happy to share any insights that might help!

    Best,

    Jarret

    0Reply
  • Maranda TuckerPro Member
    Property Manager 路 Charlotte, NC 路 Member since 2022 路 152 posts 路 118 votes
    1y

    Your question is a little unclear. If you are looking on how to find a property manager for your property - definitely ask for referrals! Because you are out of state, these questions may be important for you to ask the property manager you are interviewing:

    1. Do you conduct inspections while the property is occupied? If so, do you take photos and/or report back to me whenever inspection has been conducted?

    2. Maintenance: How do you handle repairs? More specifically, do you upcharge on invoices? Is there a maintenance threshold (also called a not-to-exceed limit)? Do you have inhouse maintenance or a trusted vendors list? 

    3. What does the process of getting the property "rent ready" after move out look like? 

    There are a lot of other questions you will want to ask - but these 3 specifically address your fears around not having eyes on the property and what that would mean for you as an out of state client. Whoever you go with should have very clear and outlined processes for each of these questions.

    I hope that helps!

    806-685-1818
    0Reply
    • Amy Jones
      OP
      Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Maranda Tucker:

      Your question is a little unclear. If you are looking on how to find a property manager for your property - definitely ask for referrals! Because you are out of state, these questions may be important for you to ask the property manager you are interviewing:

      1. Do you conduct inspections while the property is occupied? If so, do you take photos and/or report back to me whenever inspection has been conducted?

      2. Maintenance: How do you handle repairs? More specifically, do you upcharge on invoices? Is there a maintenance threshold (also called a not-to-exceed limit)? Do you have inhouse maintenance or a trusted vendors list? 

      3. What does the process of getting the property "rent ready" after move out look like? 

      There are a lot of other questions you will want to ask - but these 3 specifically address your fears around not having eyes on the property and what that would mean for you as an out of state client. Whoever you go with should have very clear and outlined processes for each of these questions.

      I hope that helps!


       Thank you for the insight!

      0Reply
  • Pedro Andrade
    Member since 2025 路 50 posts 路 28 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Amy Jones:

    I'm going to buy my first property within the next couple of months and I'm curious about how people manage their properties when they are not within a driveable distance of them.

    I understand they have property managers but where do you find them?

    And how do you ensure that the state of the property, inside and out, is in good condition?



    Hey Amy, congrats on your first property purchase! 馃帀 Managing a rental remotely is totally doable with the right systems in place. A great property manager will be your eyes and ears, handling everything from tenant screening to maintenance.

    When looking for a PM, BiggerPockets is a great place to start, along with investor referrals and online reviews. The key is finding someone with transparent communication, a solid track record, and tech-driven reporting (like inspection photos, video walkthroughs, and real-time updates).

    I specialize in remote property management and would be happy to share insights or answer any questions! Feel free to reach out.



    0Reply
  • Amy Jones
    OP
    Member since 2025 路 16 posts 路 8 votes
    1y

    Thank you everyone for you replies!

    0Reply
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