All Forum Posts by: Jesse Mancuso

@Patricia Steiner Your points are extremely helpful and sound. The small preventative things you do on the big ticket items can save you a LOT of grief (and money) in the future. 

@Thiago B DeSouza Good luck with your new venture!

@John Clark Your points are spot-on and valid. Anyone contemplating self-managing versus hiring a property manager should weigh this out. I would make the argument that the value of your time is the single most important consideration when making this decision. 

Ceiling fans are definitely a great option for your properties. Our tenants love having fans (with lights) to help circulate air. Definitely would recommend given they can safely be installed and supported  as John mentioned above. 

@Brandon Goldsmith Valid points. I was involved in a deal several years back that involved a complete property rehab (also fire damage). The return on the investment was worth it, even though that was certainly a stressful few months). 

Best of luck to you Tony!

@Jake Pinto Philly was home for 4 years, and a great city to live. Hoping the investment market is good to you. Best of luck with your new venture!

I agree with the sentiment above, while you can always be 'friendly' and have a good working relationship with tenants it is a fine line that you should not cross. Use your best judgement but always remember this is a business transaction. Even though that may seem cold it may also save you a lot of headaches in the future. 

@Dan Weber Great points and breakdown on the pros/cons of each. Thanks for sharing 

@Todd Dexheimer You are completely correct. Interviewing a property manager and looking for referrals (along with an old-fashioned Google search) are important steps to finding a professional Property Management firm. 

@Joe Splitrock your comments are spot on. As both a property manager and an investor who rented a condo previously I can confirm I experienced each of the negatives you listed. The market you are in and your investment strategy might still make this worthwhile for some but I would caution everyone to be very careful when considering a condo.