Self-managing vs. hiring a property manager
When doing it yourself works, when it doesn't, and how to decide.
5 min readBy Green American Property Management
Plenty of landlords manage their own rentals well. Others find the work costs more than the fee they were trying to save. The right answer depends on your time, distance, experience and temperament.
Side by side
| Item | Self-managing | Hiring a manager |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No management fee; your time is the cost | Management and leasing fees |
| Time | Showings, calls, repairs and paperwork are yours | Handled for you; you approve key decisions |
| Tenant screening | You set and follow criteria and stay within NJ law | Professional, consistent process |
| Repairs | You find and schedule contractors | Established local contractors |
| Emergencies | Your phone rings at 2 a.m. | Tenant calls the manager's emergency line |
| Compliance | You track registration, certificates, lead-safe and deposit rules | Built into the manager's process |
| Distance | Hard if you live far away | Local presence |
Self-managing can work well if
- You live near the property and have flexible time
- You enjoy handling people, paperwork and repairs
- You're willing to learn New Jersey's landlord rules properly
- You own one or two properties with stable, long-term tenants
A manager usually makes sense if
- You live out of the area or travel often (out-of-state owners)
- You're new to renting (first-time landlords)
- You own several properties or plan to grow (investors)
- You've had problems with vacancies, late rent or difficult tenancies
- Your time is worth more than the fee
A middle path
Some owners self-manage but hand off the parts with the most risk, especially finding and screening the tenant. Ask us about tenant placement. For the full picture, read the benefits of hiring a property management company.
