6 Reasons to Hire a Property Manager
You might be able to manage a property yourself but there are a few reasons you may still want to hire a property manager.
33 Years of Experience & Trust
At Property Management Advisors, LLC., we provide you with reliable and trustworthy management services, backed up by 33 years of experience. We manage all types of residential properties throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
Why Hire a Property Manager
Too Busy
If you already have a number of personal and professional demands that require your attention, managing a property might be too much to tack on to your existing schedule. Hiring a property manager to handle all the paperwork, administration, and maintenance means you can focus your time on more important things.
Out of the Area
​If you're already busy with personal and professional engagements, managing a property might be too much to add to your schedule. A property manager can handle all the administration and maintenance of a rental so you can keep your focus elsewhere.
Alternative to Foreclosure or Short Sale
If you can no longer make payments on your property, foreclosure and short sale are not your only options. One workable alternative is renting out the property and having your tenants pay the mortgage for you. A property manager can guide you through the process.
Don't want to be the go-to guy or gal
If you'd rather not be the person your tenant calls every time they have a question, concern, or small repair to be made, a property manager can be that person instead.
Not familiar with all the details
​Even if you have the time to manage a property, you might not be comfortable with the minutia -- things like being familiar with property laws, mounds of paperwork, federal/state/local fair housing requirements, completing complicated tax forms, tenant and neighborhood disputes, and everyone's favorite seasonal upkeep.
Investor with a buy and hold strategy
If you're a real estate investor employing a buy and hold strategy, renting the property until you're ready to sell could be financially beneficial.
Understanding Fair Housing
The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:
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Race or color
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National origin
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Religion
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Sex
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Familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18) Handicap (Disability)
​What Housing ls Covered?
The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.
What Is Prohibited?
In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap (disability):
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Refuse to rent or sell housing
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Refuse to negotiate for housing
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Make housing unavailable
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Deny a dwelling
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Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
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Provide different housing services or facilities
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Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale or rental
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For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
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Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.
Housing Opportunities for Families
Unless a building or community qualifies as housing for older persons, it may not discriminate based on familial status. That is, it may not discriminate against families in which one or more children under 18 live with:
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A parent
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A person who has legal custody of the child or children or
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The designee of the parent or legal custodian, with the parent or custodian's written permission.
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Familial status protection also applies to pregnant women and anyone securing legal custody of a child under 18.
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Exemption: Housing for older persons is exempt from the prohibition against familial status discrimination if:
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The HUD Secretary has determined that it is specifically designed for and occupied by elderly persons under a Federal, State or local government program or
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It is occupied solely by persons who are 62 or older or
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It houses at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units, and adheres to a policy that demonstrates an intent to house persons who are 55 or older.
Additional Protection If You Have A Disability
If you or someone associated with you:
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Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
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Have a record of such a disability or
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Are regarded as having such a disability
Your landlord may not:
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Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
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Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.
Example: A building with a "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.
Example: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking must honor a request from a mobility-impaired tenant for a reserved space near her apartment if necessary to assure that she can have access to her apartment.
However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.
Read More
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