Not all local management companies are created equal. So when weighing the decision of who to go with, there are several critical questions you should consider! To help make that process easier, here is an easy checklist to compare companies in Austin Texas.

What professional memberships and professional designations are maintained by the company?

Why This Matters: When a company isn't seeking to better itself or better the education of its employees, it shows that they aren't keeping up with industry trends, legislative changes, and growing their minds or investing in their people. This means they're falling behind when the law changes, exposing you to real risks. You want to ensure you find a company that's growing their minds, experiences, and bringing new ways to protect and enhance your property and investment to you!

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Is the company a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers ®? Yes Yes No
How long has the company maintained membership? 30+ years Avg 2 to 10 years Not Members
Is there an RMP ® (Residential Management Professional) on staff? Yes Yes No
Is there an MPM ® (Master Property Manager) on staff? Yes Rarely No
Is the property management company a Certified Residential Management Company®? Yes Only 1 other firm in Austin does No, less than 1% of companies nationwide have this designation
Is your property manager required to be a licensed Texas Real Estate Agent? Yes Yes No
Is your property manager required to acquire professional designations? Yes Occasionally No investment in education required

What types of professional insurances are in place to protect the Owner?

Why This Matters: If the company doesn't carry insurance, that means all the liability falls on you as the property owner. Why should you shoulder all the risk? Contact us today to ensure your liability is mitigated and the care of your investment is hands-free!

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Do they carry General Liability Insurance? Yes Yes No
Do they company carry Workmans Compensation Insurance? Yes Rarely No
Do they carry Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions) for your protection? Yes Yes Yes
For your protection, do they require all vendors that come onto your property to carry General Liability Insurance? Yes Yes Maybe
For your protection, do they require all vendors that come onto your property to carry Workmans Compensation Insurance? Yes Only 25% do No

What type of guarantees are offered?

Why This Matters: Guarantees show you as a property owner the residential management firm stands behind what they practice. If a firm doesn't guarantee their work like we do, that should give you pause!

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Is there a 90-day (three months) money-back guarantee of the management fees if you're not happy with the services received*? Yes 30 Day No
Is there a 180-day (six months) guarantee of the leasing commission if the tenant skips out*? Yes Occasionally No
Is there a no invoice markup guarantee on maintenance? Yes No No

What about how they handle maintenance issues?

Why This Matters: A majority of a property managers job is coordinating maintenance on your home. It's critical to ask about how they'll be handling the day to day care of your Austin rental property.

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Do they have an In-House property maintenance technician on staff for quick affordable service to your tenants? Yes No No
Do they send a customer satisfaction survey to your tenants after a maintenance call? Yes Yes No
Do they leverage their vendor relationships by requiring, quality work on your property at a reasonable price? Yes Yes No
Do they work to build lasting relationships with vendors, to ensure those vendors are invested in caring for your home rather than a quick buck? Yes Yes No
Do they call you and ask you what do you want to do every time something breaks, causing repairs to be delayed? No Some Do Yes
Do they have a maintenance spent limit? Yes $400 Yes Yes
Do they have a 24/7 emergency line for your renters? Yes, in-house! 3rd Party Call Center Maybe

What other benefits does the company provide?

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Is the property management company locally owned and not a national franchise? Yes Yes No
Will you have a dedicated property manager? Yes Maybe No, call center
Does your property manager actually visit your home? Yes Yes Handled by 3rd party vendor
Do they send the property owner a weekly email with a marketing update during a vacancy? Yes Some do No
Do they provide the property owner all invoices in their monthly management statement? Yes Yes No receipts provided
Do they provide the you with an annual property survey of the condition of your home? Yes Yes No
Do they have your dedicated property manager conduct that annual property survey? Yes Done by 3rd Party Vendor No
What is their average resident retention rate? 3.5 years 2.5 years 2 years
Do they perform less than one eviction a year on average? Yes, 0.8 annually No No

What types of services does the company provide?

Why This Matters: With your home and investment property, you want a company that is solely focused on its long term success as a rental property. A company who's primary focus is sales has a natural tendancy to be just focused on selling the property. So if property management is offered on the side, what quality is being delivered to you and what resources does your property manager truly have at their disposal to ensure your success?

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
What is their primary focus? Property Management Only Focus Management & Sales Sales, with Management on the side
Do they refer you back to your sales agent when you're ready to sell? Yes No No
Do they help coordinate tax protesting of your property to help keep your costs lower? Yes Maybe No

What types of property does the company manage?

Why This Matters: If a company focuses on too many things, they don't specialize in anything. You want a company that truly knows and understands how to care for your investment!

Property Type Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
Single Family Homes? Yes, primary focus Yes Yes
Condo Units? Yes Some Do Yes
Town Homes? Yes Yes Yes
Duplex? Yes Yes Yes
Triplex? Rarely Yes Yes
Quad-Plex? No Yes Yes
Multi-family? No Small complex Yes
Commercial? No No Yes
Association Management? No No Yes

What about management charges?

Why This Matters: Your investment property is a valuable asset and deserves professional care. Using low-cost services can often result in poor outcomes and increased risk—think costly evictions or property damage. The old adage, “you get what you pay for,” certainly applies to property management. Some real estate sales agents offer property management at a reduced rate, hoping to secure a future sales listing. Their focus is on sales, not managing your property. Would that give you confidence that your investment is being properly maintained? When an account generates only marginal income, what incentive does an inexperienced manager have to fully protect your property? You need a property management team with qualified, experienced professionals who can handle any situation—at any time—ensuring your investment is protected and well-maintained.

Question Rollingwood Management Our Direct Competitors Everyone Else
What is the monthly management charge? 8% to 10% of monthly rent 8% to 12% of month's rent Flat rate to 12%
What is the lease charge to rent the home? 80% of first full month's rent 100% of first full month's rent 120%+ of first full month's rent
What is the charge to renew the lease? 30% of month's rent $250 Nothing
Do they have a strong incentive to renew that lease? Yes Yes No incentive
What is their per property onboarding fee for new clients? $0 $250 $500
Do they have maintenance mark ups on invoices? Guaranteed No Mark Up 1% to 5% 1% to 10%