PropertyManagementMaven: Spotting PITA CLIENTS comes with experience and wisdom.....Part 1

It took me a long time to realize how much PITA (Pain In The A-S) tenants and CLIENTS cost me in time and energy to deal. 

I've started 2 property management firms from scratch....while starting the FIRST one in NoCA 20+ years ago, I took any and all would-be clients * I got in the car, drove to their properties, talked about my services for an hour, crossed my fingers and hoped they would select me as their property manager....over the years, I've refined my procedures for acquiring new properties.

I took me a LONG TIME to realize that some properties and some property owners do not need my services and I do not need them as my clients.

When getting a call from prospective new clients, I ask a few questions about their property BEFORE I provide my fees and services.  I have established a geographic area for properties to manage of approximately 20 minutes from my office.....I do not manage properties that house undergraduate students at UVa; I don't manage condo or townhouse units that have a self-managed HOA (NO professional managemen agent) and I try NOT to have "specialty" or unique properties * that would be Historic which we have a LOT of in VA * or unique design.

When getting  a phone call, I ask the location of their property and if they stall and won't give the address, I ask when the property will be available for lease?  I then ask what their plans are for the property?  This ALWAYS stumps callers....I want to know if the property is currently for sale and they want a baby-sitter until the market turns OR if they are leaving the area and want to KEEP their current home as an INVESTMENT....somewhere in the conversation, I want them to commit that the property will be an investment. 

If they provide their name or a general location of their property, I can research their property ownership online on the tax assessor's records or our local MLS.  With a property address, I can usually find an exterior photo on either of these sites.

Knowing the area and "curb appeal" of the property should be considered when taking on a new property as well as the property owner.