When individuals own a property in Los Angeles but do not have the experience or time to handle the involved business-related tasks, they have the option of employing a Los Angeles property management agency. A Los Angeles property management agency is the “middle man” between the property owner and the renter who is responsible for several tasks, including handling the upkeep of the property. Property owners need to know what hiring a Los Angeles property management agency entails and what their responsibilities are.
In this article, the definition of property management will be laid out, as also the various duties a Los Angeles property management agency and its managers face daily.
What Los Angeles Property Management Is
Property management, in general, refers to the execution of overseeing and management of several business and residential real estate properties. This discipline includes taking care of all the daily operations for the property. These tasks may include rent collection, maintenance handling, addressing tenant complaints, and more. The degree of responsibility that Los Angeles property management agencies have depends on the contract they have with property owners.
As an example, a Los Angeles property owner can hire a Los Angeles property management agency to help with just one task, such as rent collection, or they can state that they want the agency to handle all business operations for the property as a whole.
What A Los Angeles Property Management License Is
A Los Angeles property management agency needs to have property managers that have a property management license or real estate broker’s license for them to practice in this profession.
A Los Angeles property management license from their managers allows them to work in real estate and go about doing business-related duties concerning this profession. The specific licensing requirements differ from Los Angeles to other states. But for Los Angeles property management firms and managers, having a license not only gives a boost in earnings but also their credibility in the field.
A Los Angeles property management license can be secured through the state government, local authorities, or esteemed real estate boards. To gain a property management license, in summary, someone has to be at least 18 years old and in possession of a high school diploma. However, most if not all Los Angeles property management firms look for property managers that have a college degree in business, real estate, or any related course.
What A Los Angeles Property Management Firm Is
A Los Angeles property management firm is an agency where property managers work. Los Angeles property owners who do not have the time, experience, or capability to manage their properties themselves often hire property management firms to maintain their property. There are a lot of property management agencies throughout Los Angeles City offering real estate assistance.
Responsibilities Of A Los Angeles Property Management Firm
As mentioned above, the number of responsibilities that a Los Angeles property management firm has is dependent entirely on the stipulations in the contract between the firm and the property owner. Some property owners may prefer assigning just a specific task to the Los Angeles property management, while others may want them to handle all aspects relating to their property. Here are some of the responsibilities of a Los Angeles property management firm:
- Marketing the Los Angeles properties
- Managing the property rent
- Managing the tenants
- Understanding the law and regulations relating to the property owner and tenant
- Handling maintenance requests
- Supervising maintenance repairs
- Supervising other employees
- Managing the budget
- Taking care of taxes
Here is a short discussion of some of the major tasks laid out above.
Marketing The Los Angeles Properties
Probably one of the most crucial reasons property owners hire Los Angeles property management firms is to assist them in marketing their Los Angeles property to new tenants. This may entail taking good photographs of the property and listing the said property on various channels or mediums like on a housing website. The broader the marketing strategy, the greater the chances are that the Los Angeles property will attract interested parties. If a Los Angeles property management firm gets a lot of interest, they can then afford to be more selective in choosing the right tenant for the property.
Managing Property Rent
Managing the property rent is the main responsibility of a Los Angeles property management firm. This entails setting a rental rate for a Los Angeles property. The Los Angeles property management firm will have to assess the property, the location, and the current market status. Once the tenant moves into the Los Angeles property, they will be assigned to collect property rent on a certain schedule and through the desired medium. The Los Angeles property management can also revise the rental rate so long as they are within the state and city laws.
Managing The Tenants
A Los Angeles property management firm is often tasked with managing various property tenants. This starts with finding the right tenants for the Los Angeles property and proceeding to screen these possible tenants through background and credit checks to make sure they are the right candidates.
Also, the hired Los Angeles property management firm will more often than not be entrusted with the tenant lease handling. They will also be tasked with handling evictions, move-outs, and tenant emergencies. A property manager from a Los Angeles property management firm will have to assess the property for damage when a tenant moves out. The property manager can determine the amount to be returned to the tenant from the deposit based on the assessment of the property’s condition.
After a tenant move-out, the Los Angeles property management firm will have to make sure that the unit or property is clean. They will also have to handle the necessary repairs and start making marketing plans for the unit again. When it comes to tenant eviction, if a tenant violates the lease, the Los Angeles property management and its property manager will have to be responsible for the eviction process.
Handling Maintenance Requests And Repairs
Another main job of a Los Angeles property management firm’s property manager is to make sure the upkeep of the property is done well. They have to ensure that the property is habitable and is a safe environment. Thus, responding to maintenance requests and repairs promptly is a must for them. This aspect may include handling water leaks, trash disposal, extermination, and many more.
The Los Angeles property management firm staff may do it themselves or may hire contractors such as plumbers and electricians to handle the repairs. The tenants will be happier when the Los Angeles property management firm does a better job in handling property maintenance and repairs.
