Property management fees vary significantly by location and provider. The fee ranges mentioned represent typical industry structures, but actual rates depend on your market, property type, and specific provider. Always get quotes from multiple managers.
Full-Service Management
What's included
What's included
Comprehensive management covering all aspects:Tenant management:
- Marketing and advertising
- Showings and applications
- Tenant screening
- Lease preparation and execution
- Move-in/move-out inspections
- Ongoing tenant communication
- Lease enforcement
- Renewals and rent increases
- Eviction processing if needed
- Rent collection
- Late fee enforcement
- Owner disbursements
- Expense payments
- Monthly/annual statements
- Security deposit management
- Tax documentation
- Maintenance request handling
- Contractor coordination
- Emergency response
- Regular inspections
- Preventive maintenance
- Capital project oversight
Typical costs
Typical costs
Full-service residential management typically includes:
- Monthly management fee: 8% to 12% of collected rent
- Leasing/placement fee: 50% to 100% of first month’s rent
- Minimum monthly fee: May apply for lower-rent properties
Best for
Best for
- Out-of-area owners
- Multiple property portfolios
- Owners wanting passive investment
- Properties requiring significant oversight
- Owners unfamiliar with landlord-tenant law
Tenant Placement Only
What's included
What's included
Manager handles finding and placing tenant only:
- Property marketing
- Showing coordination
- Application processing
- Tenant screening
- Lease preparation
- Move-in inspection
Typical costs
Typical costs
Tenant placement is typically charged as:
- Percentage: 50% to 100% of first month’s rent
- Flat fee: Varies by market and provider
Best for
Best for
- Experienced landlords
- Owners with time for ongoing management
- Those wanting professional tenant screening
- Single property owners
- Budget-conscious investors
Considerations
Considerations
- Owner handles all ongoing issues
- No support for maintenance or tenant problems
- May need to hire again for next vacancy
- Screening quality varies by provider
Lease-Only Services
What's included
What's included
Focus on lease administration:
- Lease document preparation
- Legal compliance review
- Renewal processing
- Rent increase implementation
- Lease violation notices
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. This is not a common standalone service, so pricing is less standardized.Contact local property managers to inquire about lease-only service availability and pricing.
Best for
Best for
- Owners comfortable finding tenants
- Those needing legally compliant documents
- Investors wanting professional lease terms
Maintenance Coordination
What's included
What's included
Handles maintenance and repairs only:
- Maintenance request intake
- Contractor dispatch
- Work quality verification
- Invoice processing
- Emergency response
- Preventive maintenance scheduling
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. May be structured as:
- Monthly fee
- Per-call fee
- Markup on contractor invoices
- Combination of the above
Best for
Best for
- Owners who handle tenants but not repairs
- Out-of-area owners with stable tenants
- Those without contractor relationships
- Owners wanting 24/7 emergency coverage
Rent Collection Services
What's included
What's included
Handles financial aspects only:
- Rent collection
- Late payment follow-up
- Owner disbursements
- Basic financial reporting
- May include eviction filing
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. This is not a common standalone service, as most property managers bundle rent collection with other management services.
Best for
Best for
- Owners comfortable with tenant relations
- Those wanting payment tracking and reporting
- Investors with multiple properties needing consolidated accounting
Short-Term Rental Management
What's included
What's included
Specialized for vacation rentals and Airbnb-type properties:Guest management:
- Listing creation and optimization
- Pricing strategy and adjustments
- Guest communication
- Booking management
- Review management
- Key/access coordination
- Turnover cleaning coordination
- Linen and supply management
- Maintenance coordination
- Inspections between guests
- Restocking consumables
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. Short-term rental management typically costs more than traditional management due to higher turnover and service intensity.Fees are usually calculated as a percentage of booking revenue. Contact short-term rental specialists in your area for current rates.
Best for
Best for
- Vacation rental owners
- Those unfamiliar with short-term platforms
- Out-of-area vacation property owners
- Owners wanting maximum occupancy
Key differences from traditional management
Key differences from traditional management
- Higher fees but potentially higher revenue
- More intensive guest communication
- Dynamic pricing capabilities
- Platform expertise required
- More frequent property access
- Different insurance requirements
HOA and Community Management
What's included
What's included
Management of homeowner associations:Administrative:
- Board meeting coordination
- Record keeping
- Homeowner communication
- Rule enforcement
- Architectural review processing
- Violation notices
- Assessment collection
- Budget preparation
- Financial reporting
- Reserve fund management
- Vendor payments
- Common area maintenance
- Vendor management
- Capital project oversight
- Insurance coordination
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. HOA management pricing depends on:
- Number of units in community
- Services required
- Community amenities and complexity
- Geographic location
Best for
Best for
- HOAs and condo associations
- Communities wanting professional administration
- Boards needing vendor and financial management
- Associations with compliance challenges
Commercial Property Management
What's included
What's included
Management of office, retail, industrial, and other commercial properties:
- Tenant relations
- Lease administration and renewals
- Rent collection
- CAM reconciliations
- Building maintenance
- Vendor management
- Financial reporting
- Capital project oversight
Typical costs
Typical costs
Fees vary significantly by location and provider. Commercial property management is priced differently than residential due to:
- Higher rent amounts
- Longer lease terms
- More complex lease structures
- Different service requirements
Key differences from residential
Key differences from residential
- Longer lease terms
- More complex lease structures
- Triple net and other expense arrangements
- Tenant improvement negotiations
- Different legal framework
- Business-to-business relationship
Choosing the Right Service Level
Questions to consider
Questions to consider
- How much time can you dedicate to management?
- How far do you live from the property?
- How comfortable are you with tenant interactions?
- Do you have contractor relationships?
- How familiar are you with landlord-tenant law?
- What’s your budget for management?
- How many properties do you own?
- What’s your investment strategy (passive vs active)?
Starting point recommendations
Starting point recommendations
| Situation | Recommended Service |
|---|---|
| New investor, local property | Tenant placement or full-service |
| Experienced, multiple properties | Full-service or à la carte |
| Out-of-state owner | Full-service |
| Vacation rental | Short-term rental specialist |
| HOA board member | Community management |
| Stable long-term tenants | Maintenance coordination or self-manage |