Managing properties yourself does not mean fixing toilets and painting walls. It means building a system with good people who handle that work for you. That is how I ran 20+ doors without a property manager.
Here is what you need early on:
- ✳️ A good handyman. One person you can trust to handle most basic repairs fast and at a fair price.
- ✳️ A trustworthy plumber and electrician. When a real problem comes up, you need someone who answers the phone and doesn’t overcharge you.
- ✳️ A solid real estate agent. Not for management, but to help you quickly rent out vacancies and find good tenants.
Instead of paying 7 to 10 percent to a management company when you have just a handful of properties, put together this small team. It saves you money, keeps you in control, and gives you more cash to reinvest in new deals.