Match Me With a Manager
The agreement sets your fees, your control, and your exit. A professional manager writes a fair one and walks you through each clause. A weak operator buries the traps in fine print. Read these clauses first.
Fees and what triggers them
Find the fee section and read every line. Each charge should name an amount and the event behind the charge: monthly management, leasing, renewal, setup, and any markup on repairs. A clear schedule protects you from surprise bills. Vague "admin" or "technology" lines with no definition are the ones to question before you sign.
Term and renewal
Check the length of the agreement and how the agreement renews. A one-year term is common. Look at the renewal: a month-to-month roll after year one gives you flexibility, while an automatic multi-year lock does not. Know the notice window before the renewal date arrives, so a good manager keeps your business by earning your renewal.
Termination and your exit
Read this clause with care. Look for the notice you must give, usually 30-90 days, and any termination fee. A performance-based out lets you leave a manager who underdelivers. Confirm what happens to your tenant, deposits, and records the day you go. A clean exit marks a manager who earns your stay rather than trapping you.
Maintenance and spending authority
The agreement sets the dollar limit a manager spends without your sign-off, often $300 to $500. Read how repairs are priced and whether a markup applies. Confirm you keep the right to use your own compliant vendors and to approve larger jobs. This clause controls a real part of your annual cost.
Liability, insurance, and trust accounts
Read who carries what risk. The manager should hold errors and omissions and general liability coverage and require landlord insurance from you. Confirm tenant deposits and owner funds sit in a separate trust account, reconciled monthly. Strong language here protects your money when something goes wrong.
A fair agreement reads the same whether the relationship ends well or badly. A professional manager offers one and explains every clause. Read before you sign, and the document works for you, not against you.
Find a manager with a fair agreement
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