Property Management
I am toying with the idea of renting my house in North Berkeley while I live elsewhere. I want a pretty hands-off approach to renting and am looking for recommendations about Property Management Services. Ideally, it's a service that both the parties (renter and rentee) like. The goal is to get income while being a good landlord.
I found a few posts on this topic here, but they are pretty old.
Apr 5, 2024
Parent Replies
Sorry, no recommendations for you, but just wanted to strongly recommend that you join BPOA - Berkeley Property Owners Association. Renting a property in Berkeley is not for the faint of heart! Best of luck.
I understand wanting hands-off but here is the alternative that has worked for me. I have left for 3-6 months maybe ten times over the years.
The families that have rented my house have been experienced homeowners so I have them attend to repairs, etc. So, instead of paying 15% to a manager, I pass the discount onto the renters, assuming they are in agreement with the responsibility. I leave them with a detailed list of contractors that have worked on my house over the years - plumber, electrician, locksmith, house cleaner, handyman, gardener, etc. - and they have the responsibility of addressing the clogged drain, etc and I reimburse them. I communicate with each contractor before I go.
I use a nolo press fixed-term rental contract and spell out what their responsibilities are. For repairs under $500, such as a clogged drain or leaky faucet, they don’t need to contact me, just get the work done and provide a receipt and then the charge is deducted from the next month’s rent. For issues greater than $500, they must consult with me because at that price point there are often choices and I want to be involved with the decision. For a major earthquake or if the house becomes uninhabitable, I can’t remember how I handled that; it hasn’t happened yet.
We keep in touch at least monthly by email assuming there are no issues. They have to use my housekeeper when they leave at their expense. I allow pets.
In all the years of rentals, one family needed a plumber once. Only one person left the home in less than stellar shape but she came for a summer to help her daughter (with terminal cancer), husband and two young kids make it through her daughter’s passing. I paid for the extra cleaning needed myself and never burdened my grieving tenant.
I feel that the tenants got better service by scheduling work themselves.
Most of my renters have been families moving to Berkeley from afar and wanted to rent a furnished home short-term while they decided which town/neighborhood they wanted to settle in. So they only move furnishings once.
Assuming your house is well-maintained, this option might work for you.
Good Luck and safe, fun travels!