Many people use the terms “rental agent” and “property manager” interchangeably. However, it’s possible to hire a professional to handle just the leasing of your rental property and not the ongoing management. It makes sense to refer to someone who handles “leasing only” as a “rental agent” rather than as a “property manager.” But no matter what they call themselves, most professionals offering these types of services offer a full range of options.
For reference, “leasing only” services typically include:
- Market research + pricing the monthly rent
- Advertising the vacancy
- Showing the unit to tenants
- Writing up the lease contract and getting it signed
Rental management services include all of the above, but don’t stop once a tenant is placed in your rental property. Ongoing tasks include:
- Collecting rent
- Conducting periodic property inspections
- Taking care of maintenance and repair
- Managing the tenant relationship
- Handling monthly accounting
- Preparing year-end tax reports
Rental agents are typically flexible when it comes to the services they provide, allowing you to handle whatever aspects of rental management you want to take care of yourself, then doing the rest.