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Differences Between Property Managers and Real Estate Agents

A real estate professional and two clients focus on a laptop.
People often get the wrong idea that property managers and real estate agents do pretty much the same thing. However, a property manager’s role is very dissimilar from that of a real estate agent. While both professions are closely tied to the housing market, there are far more differences than similarities. Rental property owners figure out who to call when professional expertise is needed by comprehending these differences.

Key Differences

In simple terms, a real estate agent is someone who lists and sells properties for their owners. Even though some real estate agents spend time helping buyers find and purchase investment real estate, the agent’s job is still focused on the sales transaction. To do their job, real estate agents have to know about the current housing market. It is normal for real estate agents to see their business and income go up and down as market conditions change. Occasionally, real estate agents may help find tenants for a rental property, but their connection with the tenant and the property owner usually finishes as soon as the lease is signed.

On the flip side, a property manager focuses on helping property owners manage their rental properties. The majority of property managers work on behalf of a property owner to handle property maintenance and repair, tenant evaluations, collecting rent payments, and so on. As opposed to a real estate agent, a property manager is a contractual role where they are paid for their ongoing management services. A slump in the housing market is also much less likely to hurt property management. Actually, property managers could experience an increase in workload during market downturns as more property owners decide to rent as an alternative to selling at a loss.

What Property Managers Do (And Real Estate Agents Don’t)

There are some basic differences between a real estate agent and a property manager. However, there are also top-rated property managers who do some things that other property managers and real estate agents don’t. On the other hand, while a real estate agent and most property managers will advertise a rental property to find new tenants, not all of them will carefully screen those tenants for possible problems. After a tenant has been screened, an excellent property manager will start getting to know them by keeping lines of communication open and clearly explaining the lease documents. In addition to handling emergency repairs and tenant complaints, a good property manager will schedule and perform regular maintenance on a property.

Some property managers provide less common but still useful services, such as helping property owners analyze the local market, determining an exact rental rate, and presenting suggestions on maximizing a property’s earning potential and your property’s resale value. They can also help you find and compare additional rental properties, some of which might not even be on sale right now. Unfortunately, not all property managers offer these services. Usually, only the best property managers will work closely with rental property owners to help them run a property and build an investment business.

The Value of a Great Property Manager

One of the nation’s top property management companies is Real Property Management. We can help rental property owners and buyers reach their financial goals and dreams because we provide a wide range of services. Many of our clients feel that the value of our services far greater than the expense because our experts will help you establish an accurate rental rate and keep costs low by using our proposed home services vendors. You won’t be able to find these things just anywhere.

To discover more about Real Property Management Simplified’s services in Maywood and nearby areas, contact us online or call 213-408-0500 today!


This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Readers should consult with licensed professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

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