Blog & Advice

Disaster Leads to Hiring a Professional Property Manager

When one of your rental properties literally blows up, you want to hire a professional property manager and no longer be a do-it-yourself landlord. For Paul, who lives in southern California, this is precisely what happened.  Fortunately, no one was injured when a gas explosion happened while work was being done at his rental home. As part of the aftermath, however, the superintendent of a contractor Paul was using suggested he contact Beth and Rick Kristensen, owners of Real Property Management Integrity, whom the superintendent knew through involvement in a networking group.

Paul met with Beth and Rick. “I liked what I heard and the package they presented. We agreed they would start by managing one of my rentals, which was the property rebuilt from the ground up following the gas explosion. I committed to giving it a try, and if it worked, I would have them manage another property when the tenants moved out.”

Real Property Management Integrity now manages two properties for Paul, as well as a property owned by Paul’s niece and her husband based on Paul’s recommendation. Paul has been involved in rental real estate since the early 80s, following a path his folks had taken. “I was familiar with owning rental homes, so it was natural for me.” Paul has owned several rentals over the years and using his experience he knows what makes a good rental and what doesn’t.

He believes real estate is a foundational piece in an investment portfolio. “Everybody needs a roof over their head. There’s a great opportunity for growth in real estate over the long haul, and there are tax benefits as well. Bottom line is that it’s a tangible asset.” Paul added, “In Southern California if you’re not in real estate you’ll never keep up.  A recent report I read said the cost of living here is 87% above the national average.”

Before Real Property Management Integrity, Paul and his wife always did everything themselves including finding tenants, collecting rent, making repairs, painting, and answering late-night calls. When you hire a property manager, “the obvious benefit is that you’re not getting those phone calls when something breaks. That’s a nice benefit, but more importantly, Real Property Management stays abreast of current regulations, especially in California where the rental property is highly regulated.” Another benefit Paul has seen is the ability to find and retain good tenants. “We always tried to be reasonable with our rents and retain tenants, but it was getting harder and harder.  The reality is that Real Property Management can cast a larger net, because of its size and advertising capabilities. Through their efforts, we’ve been able to increase the rents enough to offset the management fees.”

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While it can be difficult for some landlords to give up doing it themselves and hire a property manager, it can be a rewarding experience for most. “The key word for me is professional,” Paul said. “You have to do due diligence because you’re going to be operating with a lot of trust. I trusted the judgment of the person who referred me to Real Property Management.”

Hiring the professionals at Real Property Management Integrity has worked out well for Paul. His niece has also been very happy with the service, too. And, Beth and Rick Kristensen are delighted to fulfill their expectations. Paul came to the right place. Franchise owner, Beth Kristensen, said, “Our business is built on professionalism, trust, and great service. A professional relationship with our owners and tenants creates a lasting business relationship. We strive to give respect and service to all our owners and tenants.”

Hiring the professionals at Real Property Management Integrity has worked out well for Paul. His niece has also been very happy with the service, too.  And, Beth and Rick Kristensen are delighted to fulfill their expectations.