Why Agents Should Recommend a Local, Licensed Property Manager in Kent, WA

As an investment property realtor, it’s your job to provide clients with resources for property management. Many buyers are not interested in becoming a landlord and would prefer to leave these duties to a professional, third-party company. Unfortunately, it’s often stressful for them to find someone they can trust. 

Referring a local property manager in Kent, WA can ease your client’s worry. Local companies have a direct understanding of the area’s real estate market and can offer tailored services that national, cloud-based management cannot. Here are some reasons why referring a local company like Windermere Property Management can benefit your clients and be advantageous for your real estate reputation.

How Local Property Management Services Benefit a Realtor’s Clients

Investing in a rental unit can be much more complex than purchasing a home to live in. Buyers have a series of additional steps they have to go through, such as conducting market research for profitability, securing a high down payment, and completing due diligence. Finding a property management company and hoping that they’ll work out just complicates the process.

Property managers who have a physical presence in the community provide unique benefits that can’t be offered by web-based management, so real estate agents should prioritize these local recommendations.

Local Real Estate Market Expertise

The main benefit of a local property management company in Kent is the expertise that they have of the market. They have an exact understanding of where a client’s property is and what the needs are. This is an invaluable asset for an investor. Some examples of local expertise include:

• Market Rates: A local property manager knows what rent in the area is going for. They aren’t relying solely on third-party data; they’re relying on real-world information that they see in the community. This helps a property owner set their rates competitively.
• Tenant Laws and Rights: It’s important for a client’s property management company to know about local regulations regarding evictions, rent control, and utility connections. For example, the city of Tacoma's rental housing code regulates rent increases.
• Local Utility Knowledge: If there’s ever an issue with utilities, a local manager will know exactly who to call. They may even have direct contacts in the public works departments.

Quicker Responsiveness

With a local company like WPM South, tenants get a direct line of communication to their property managers. If there’s a problem or concern, help is sent out promptly. Cloud-based platforms are often stretched thin and are unable to respond to tenant needs as quickly.

Responsiveness can be very important for building repairs. If there’s a water leak, for example, it’s imperative that tenants are able to quickly get in contact with the property manager so that a contractor can be hired for repair. Just a few hours of delay could result in thousands of dollars in repairs for the building owner.

Local Contractor Relationships 

The water leak scenario ties into the next benefit of hiring a local Kent, WA company — contractor connections. Online management companies have limited contacts in the region. While they might have the numbers of a few big companies, they often lack contact information for local handyworkers. These professionals can be more affordable and more responsive, which is critical in emergency repair situations.

The Result: Happy, Long-Term Tenants

Rental property owners want to have full occupancy in their units. The best way of achieving this is with tenant retention. The happier a tenant is, the longer they’ll stay, and the less often a landlord will go with gaps in rental income. 

Tenants are less satisfied when they don’t feel like their needs are being met. Nonlocal property management companies can feel “faceless” to tenants, especially when requests are not being answered quickly. A property management company in King or Pierce County feels more personal to renters, often resulting in higher levels of satisfaction.

Property Management Company for Real Estate Agents: Benefits of Referrals