Investor · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 5 votes
Hello -
Do any of you with properties in Phoenix like your management company? If so would you pass along their contact info? Need to move away from a Lazy and difficult to contact PM.
David - There are a lot of great property managers in the Phoenix Metro area but there are also some bad ones. As a property manager in Metro Phoenix for over 20 years, I would recommend you start by reaching back out to your current manager and making sure they clearly understand your expectations. I have found that owners' expectations run the full gamete from don't call me to tell me everything before you act. If you are not otherwise dissatisfied with your manager, you might try pressing the reset button by reaching back out and discussing your expectations and then seeing if that helps. If not, feel free to reach out to me directly. Thanks.
David - There are a lot of great property managers in the Phoenix Metro area but there are also some bad ones. As a property manager in Metro Phoenix for over 20 years, I would recommend you start by reaching back out to your current manager and making sure they clearly understand your expectations. I have found that owners' expectations run the full gamete from don't call me to tell me everything before you act. If you are not otherwise dissatisfied with your manager, you might try pressing the reset button by reaching back out and discussing your expectations and then seeing if that helps. If not, feel free to reach out to me directly. Thanks.
Property Manager · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2024 · 523 posts · 194 votes
1y
Hi David,
Sorry to hear you're having trouble with your current PM , that can be really frustrating, especially when communication is poor. I I’ve found it helpful to look for property managers who specialize in the type of property and tenant class you're dealing with (e.g. long-term vs. short-term rentals).
It might also be worth asking prospective PMs about:
1. Their communication standards (response time, reporting, availability)
2. How they handle tenant screening and turnovers
3. Their fee structure and any hidden charges
4. Experience managing properties in your specific area of Phoenix
You could also try searching the BP forums for "Phoenix property management." There are quite a few threads with PMs being discussed (both pros and cons).
Property Manager · Las Vegas · Member since 2024 · 19 posts · 9 votes
1y
Sorry you’ve been stuck dealing with unanswered calls and surprise bills.
When you’re interviewing new PMs, make sure they commit in writing to specific response times and straightforward owner reports.
You’ll want a dashboard that lets you view applications, maintenance photos and live cost data, so you always know where your money’s going and sidestep surprise bills and lastly, choose a manager who knows your ZIP’s rent comps and is willing to share some of the risk with you so that your income is more predictable.
Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.
To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.
Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.
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 – so, they often select the first PMC they call or that calls them back!
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!
A well written management contract should clearly spell out what is expected of both the PMC and the owner, to PROTECT both and avoid misunderstandings. Why do you think purchase contracts are so long and have such small print?
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😊
I have a few clients that work with Cassie McClenaghan with Patriot Property Management. They have always been happy with them, very responsive & professional company.
Property Manager · Las Vegas · Member since 2024 · 19 posts · 9 votes
1mo
Before you switch, pull your current management agreement and read the termination and fee section — most Phoenix PMs require 30 days' written notice, and some hold the last month's management fee or a transfer fee. Send notice by a trackable method, and BEFORE you notify them, ask for the lease, the rent ledger, the security-deposit accounting, and the tenant's contact info in writing. Owners lose the most in the handoff, not the relationship.
When you interview replacements, get three things in writing: how maintenance is billed (ask directly whether they mark up vendor invoices — a lot of shops add 20–25% and that is where "lazy" management quietly costs you), their average days-to-lease and screening floor, and how you actually see what's happening day to day. "I'll call you back" is not a system.
Full disclosure: I'm the founder of Home365, which manages single-family rentals in Phoenix, so I'm biased. Two things that are genuinely different and worth asking any PM to match: there's no markup on maintenance, and everything (work orders, invoices with video, statements) lives in an owner app you can check from Colorado at 11pm. There's also 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 list closely before assuming it covers roofs or exteriors, because it doesn't. Happy to answer questions either way.
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