by David Connell - April 18, 2018
The taxi is waiting. The drapes are drawn and the door double-locked, but a pang of anxiety persists. After all, you're leaving your special dream dwelling by the bay to fly north, while the pounding surf continues to spray the patio doors, and the balcony plants bake in the Vallarta sun. The telephone and electric bills keep turning up regularly, and you agonize that, somewhere, a pipe will leak, creating a small lake before you return.
Whether your condo is your private home or a comfortable property purchased to produce rental income, it's a major investment. And taking care of this asset from afar can be challenging. Worse, it may demand more time and effort than you would like to give it. After all, when you’re not in Vallarta, you still have a life –probably even busier than the one here. So, instead of leaving the extra set of keys with a neighbor or la muchacha, think about relying on a professional property manager to keep your home in perfect shape, ready to be enjoyed by you, your guests or rental clients.
As with most things in life, you'll want to know how much all this responsible care will cost. And, as is often the case, the answer is "it depends". The size of your "unit", usually based on the number of bedrooms, and the services you contract are usually the determining factors. A basic package for people not renting to others would probably include the following:
Even more help from a manager is necessary if you'll be renting out your abode. In some cases, the company may market your property and handle rentals. If the company also manages your home, its rental commission may be reduced, and it will take care of all details. Otherwise, if you rent the property yourself or through an unrelated real estate agency, your property manager should simply charge a fee for greeting your guests and making sure their stay is something they would like to repeat. The manager will also need to inspect the property after the tenant leaves and report any damages or problems.
"Professional" is sometimes a relative term here in Mexico. With the explosion of building around the bay, the number of property management firms has proliferated. Note that there is no licensing prerequisite or training requirement for property managers in Mexico. Moreover, these services are available from a number of sources: your condominium organization, real estate agencies, the lady up the street and management companies of all sizes. Thus, you'll need to give up some beach time on an early visit and devote it to investigating who will best handle your home.
Start by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations, but make sure you're the one who is comfortable handing over your keys. Do you want a large organization, with a wide network and many employees, or a smaller concern, where you're always dealing with the same people? Remember that your manager will be the primary contact for any tenant or guest in Vallarta.
Some points you may want to consider follow:
Make sure the company understands that the most important thing for both you and your renters is making sure everyone has a great, stress-free time. If there are special requests or someone needs help scheduling an area tour, the manager should have the ability to respond. And to get the best from your property manager, remember to be a good client!
Don't make unreasonable demands, and try to avoid last minute changes. You're not the only client!
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