r/PropertyManagement

Hello! I help out a family member who currently lives abroad and is renting out their single-family home (Minnesota, US) in the meantime.

The lease includes an addendum that states that the lawn care tools stored in the garage belong to the owners but are available for use by the tenants, including the lawnmower. The tenants receive a $150 credit applied towards their rent each month because they have agreed to mow the lawn (during the summer) and shovel the sidewalks (during the winter).

At some point recently, the lawnmower was stolen out of the garage. As my family's property manager, I'm looking for advice and resources about who is responsible and reasonable next steps.

The owners are considering buying a new lawnmower (either a nice one they plan to keep long-term when they return to the US or a cheap temporary one in case it's stolen again). If they do, should the tenants be responsible for any or all of the cost? What about the cost of fixing up an old mower the family has stored away?

Another option they've considered is asking the tenants to choose between buying their own mower OR giving up their $150/mo credit for maintaining the lawn. This would solve the immediate issue but doesn't address whether the tenants are responsible (or not) for the value of the stolen mower.

Other factors that may or may not be important to consider as part of the conversation:

The original mower cost $350 and was an electric mower that required very little maintenance.

The owners have an old gas mower that we think could be fixed up for less than $150 and shared with the tenants. However a gas mower requires more maintenance that we're not sure we trust the tenants to be responsible for.

The original mower is named in the lease as being available for use by the tenants.

As previously mentioned, the lease includes a provision about the owners storing their tools in the garage. We have had previous conversations with the tenants about keeping the garage doors closed and locked when not in use so as to reduce the risk of theft.

I’m trying to start a career in property management and want to learn from people who have actually done the job.

I have 10 years of customer service experience and I can write code. I’m open to starting at the bottom, but I want to be thoughtful about where I begin: leasing, assistant property manager, maintenance coordination, operations, owner relations, or any other position.

For those of you in the industry:
* What’s the best first role to target?
* What separates people who do well from people who burn out?
* Are certifications like CAM/ARM worth it early on?
* What’s the fastest way to become useful?

I’d be grateful for any honest advice. Also happy to DM if anyone is open to sharing their experience.

I paid the admin fee and application and nothing has been processed or anything at all. Paid it Saturday and it’s Thursday. Any chance I can receive a refund since nothing has been done and it’s just sitting there.

Just closed on our house last week. During the final walkthrough we got talking with the sellers and realized our agent had been telling us they were pushing for a faster inspection timeline- meanwhile she was telling them that we were the ones requesting everything urgently. Neither side was actually in a rush. She manufactured pressure on both ends, probably just to keep the deal moving and close her commission faster.

We signed everything so it's done. But now I'm wondering if this is worth reporting or if it just gets swept under the rug. Does anyone actually file complaints with the state licensing board and does anything come of it?

So, here in NC, the state property goes anywhere from 30 to 60 feet from the center of the road that i live on. I have 3 trees 15 ft. away from the center of the street in my front yard. This house was built in the 80s. I want these trees cut down. They have grown up into the power lines. And I mean that the lines are twisted in out between the trees and have branches laying on them. I contacted my local utilities, after 3 months and several calls I was told that they are windstream lines. (Kinetic internet). I contacted windstream and they looked at them and left. How do I legally and safely have these trees cut down and who's responsible for footing the bill. I'm losing my mind. Please help. It would be greatly appreciated. I can't even see to pull out of my driveway.

I am an "accidental landlord" who hired a PM 6 months ago for the first time on a small commercial space. The PM didn't want to sign a contract and we only have a verbal agreement. It's a $500 placement fee and to collect a % for 6 months. She listed on MLS, Facebook, and eventually Loopnet and put a sign up.

Not to bore you with the details, but she is not a good PM and very odd in the business sense. I want to fire her but I have no written contract so I don't know how this plays out. Am I expected to pay placement fee to cover her time/MLS costs if she didn't place anyone? We have only communicated in text/phone, no email. Do I do it over text so there is written record? Any advice.

As a member of the OMC, we've discussed issuing updated rules for the block, obviously with the property manager acting on our behalf.

In relation to the tenant above me (I'm mid-level in a 2 story block, ground, mid and top levels), using a surround sound audio system which I can audibly hear, such that I can actually distinguish the voices on the shows he's watching, we've considered issuing an updated committee rule leaflet.

The following would be the part in relation to noise, and use of audio equipment.

**

Updated rules on use of audio equipment in the block:

Dear tenants and residents, please be aware that use of high powered audio equipment such as amplifiers, immersive sound systems, powerful soundbars, subwoofers, and surround sound speaker systems, is forbidden in this block.

The block was completed in 1998, and being a pure concrete structure without acoustic insulation incorporated into its design, and little to no acoustic regulations in effect at that time in Irish building codes, sound travels very readily between units, particularly from above, to below.

i.e. units situated above others.

On this basis, even at low volume, powerful sound equipment will manifest a noise disturbance for residents in adjoining units, those laterally, above yours, and particularly units beneath yours.

At our recent AGM we had taken note of concerns having been expressed by residents to their landlords in some units regarding this issue, and while of course tenants are welcome to use standard audio and sound equipment such as TV’s, radio’s, computers, laptops, low wattage speakers etc., at reasonable volumes, again we must emphasise that high powered equipment such as that listed above, is strictly forbidden.

As several residents also work from home, this applies not only after hours, during night time hours, but also morning, daytime, evening, at all hours, without exception.

We do appreciate that residents may lack awareness of just how invasive the sound from high powered audio equipment on adjoining units (their neighbours) can be, and again for this reason we would kindly request the discontinued use of all such equipment, at all times, regardless of volume.

In relation to any other audio equipment, when it is mounted directly on walls or placed directly on floors, this increases its transmission affect through the structure, therefore of course increases the disturbance being transmitted into adjoining units. On this basis we would kindly request that if at all possible, standard sound generating equipment is used in a way such that it is de-coupled from the structure itself.

i.e. placed on a desk rather than attached to a wall, or elevated rather than placed directly on the floor.

Finally to re-emphasise, the unit is comprised of cavity block walls upon which hollow concrete slabs rest, forming the ceiling/floor between units.

When powerful sounds are generated, they are absorbed by this concrete, and transmit directly through the structure into adjoining units.

It is our foremost wish to ensure all residents can reside peacefully in their premises at all times of day and night, therefore we are sure you will understand this request, and follow it accordingly moving forward, whether that involves avoiding the installation of such equipment, or removing that which is installed and has been in use up to now.

Failure to do this may result in further scrutiny, and measures being taken to ensure compliance, if necessary.

**

Would that be suitable and appropriate?

Recently had a resident show up with a full team of movers a whole day before their lease actually started. They had signed the paperwork and agreed to the date, but got the days mixed up.

I get it-moving is crazy stressful. But they requested that we reimburse their moving costs and provide a month of free rent to make up for the inconvenience.

The expectation that the property should cover a personal scheduling mistake was wild to me.
What’s the most surprising request a resident has brought to your desk recently?

Lately it feels like more and more tenants treat property management like a 24/7 concierge service instead of housing management. I’m talking about complaints that have nothing to do with the property itself, demands for instant replies at all hours, and getting blamed for situations completely outside your control.

Don’t get me wrong, good communication matters, but sometimes it feels impossible to balance being helpful without becoming everyone’s emotional punching bag. Curious if other PMs feel the same or if this is just becoming the new normal.

Hi everyone!

I need some help and I hope this is the right place to find experts in the field.

I’m a student, currently finishing my degree in Tourism and Hotel management and am in the process of writing my thesis on the topic of Water management and smart leak prevention in hotels and commercial real estate.

I would be very grateful for any information regarding this so that I know as much about the topic for the directions my research should go into.

If you can not do it in the comment section, feel free to drop me a DM.

Some of the things I really wish to know are:

1. Does your building use a BMS (building management system) and which one?

2. Does your building have a way of detecting leaks (smart meter, any other detection system)?

3. How common are water leaks in your building? Do they mostly come from the mains (to shower, to sink, to toilet), or are they more common in sewage and drains?

4. Which system or brand do you use for detecting water leaks?

5. Is the system installed in one or few places on building mains, or is it per fooor or per room?

6. Is your leak detection integrated with your BMS, or is it a separate app?

7. Do you perhaps know how much water leak incidents have cost your building on certain occasions?

8. If your building doesn’t have a smart water leak detection, do you believe it would benefit from it and this would be worth it?

Thank you so much for everyone who takes a minute or two to answer these questions! 😄

Does property management ever become less stressful, or are you always dealing with tenant issues, maintenance calls, and constant pressure? I’m curious how experienced property managers handle burnout, difficult tenants, and work-life balance long term.

Also, is the income actually worth the stress in today’s market?

I’m in San Diego California. One of the properties I manage has 2 EV charges . These charges are powered by the house meter. We charge $40 per month , per vehicle for unlimited charging.
Our newest tenant told me she was paying $10 per month at her previous place.
I’ve reviewed our house electic bill and $40 per month covers the cost of the EV’s charging.
I’d like some feed back from the group on what other managers EV charging fees are ?

Thank you

Hello,

I am considering becoming a licensed CAM (community association manager) in south FL. I have a background in project and operations management and have been considering making a career change into the property management field. For those who are from and work in that region, is it a good investment and field to get into? What are some pros and cons to the job? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Feels like a lot of HOAs are basically paying the price now for trying to keep dues artificially low in the past.

The problem is that avoiding smaller increases for years usually catches up eventually. Insurance goes up, maintenance gets delayed, reserves fall behind, vendors cost more and then communities are stuck with huge increases or special assessments that hurt way more.

Are you all seeing this where you live too? More gradual increases, or communities waiting until things become a crisis first?

Does anybody know how to get an actual human being on the phone that works at Appfolio? My bank feed has been broken for a month and I cannot get past the AI chat support to get it resolved. The chatbot just keeps telling me that I am SOL and I need to switch to a file upload option.

I run a mobile home park where the tenants own their homes and rent the land from us.

One of our tenants used to be an annoying gossip, but now she is reacting to her own delusions of neighbors' misbehavior and some have become frightened of her. I understand she has rights, but she can't be reasoned with at all.

It looks like I'll have to wait until someone gets proof of her breaking a law because local judges will only evict for non-payment or proven criminal activity.

I recently was offered an opportunity to be trained as a property manager in a real estate company. I did not specifically apply for this position. I know the owner of the company and my first interview with him went well. He is looking to find a position for me in the real estate company that I can do with my limited professional skills. (I am 20 years old.)
I come from a background in fine dining (Forbes standards/high standards and medical reception work) so I am great at excellent customer service and face to face interactions.
However, I have no experience whatsoever in managing properties or basic accounting, rent collection, etc. (However, I assume that they would of course train me in all of the responsibilities needed for this job.)
I have a family friend who manages my mom’s rental property so I am going to reach out to her to ask for advice but I was wondering if there was anything that I should focus on emphasizing about myself in the interview, or specific questions they may ask me.
Thank you so much to those who contribute!