Frequently Asked Questions

A property manager puts a real estate professional on your team. A good Bucks County property management firm handles every aspect of property management and can save you money over time through preventive maintenance, discounted service costs, and careful tenant screening that helps prevent evictions.

Yes, to a degree. Think of your tenant as your customer and your rental as your business. A good property manager will keep you well informed, but some matters will require your approval or input. Responding promptly and staying on top of things helps keep your investment running smoothly.

Management compensation depends on the potential rent. We can provide you with a competitive custom quote based on your property and options that are right for you.

The leasing process depends on many factors, including the time of year, local inventory, condition, and asking price. When a home sparkles and is move-in ready, it makes a strong first impression and attracts your preferred renters. We can usually find a qualified applicant and fill vacancies within 30 days.

When we receive feedback from potential renters during showings, Real Property Management Prosperity will share it with you. If the asking price isn’t getting the response you need, we will discuss your home’s condition and may recommend reducing the price.

For tenant-occupied homes, tenants submit maintenance requests through their online tenant portal or our 24-hour maintenance hotline. Our portal lets tenants submit a work order by describing the issue and, when appropriate, uploading photos. Owners receive the same notification as we do once a request is submitted. Our goal is complete transparency into everything happening with your property. Tenants can also track their requests online.

When a request comes in, we assess it to determine whether it needs immediate dispatch or whether we can proactively troubleshoot the issue with the tenant. There are many common repair requests that our team is trained to troubleshoot. If the problem needs fixing, we assign the work order to one of our preferred vendors. We utilize third-party vendors / independent contractors for all work. We ensure repair costs are fair and the job is completed satisfactorily. The management agreement allows us to approve any repair under a predetermined amount without bothering our clients. Owner approval is required for repairs over the predetermined amount. Exceptions to the approval rule include emergency maintenance and habitability issues. If we have to act quickly to protect persons or property, we will do so to protect our owner’s best interest.

If an owner prefers a specific handyman or vendor for servicing their property, we will note that in our portfolio and contact them first. When the property is vacant, owners can choose to handle necessary repairs to make it “rent ready.”

However, we prefer to use our trusted vendors to meet leasing deadlines, as they are insured, licensed, and reliable.

The tenant pays rent to Real Property Management Prosperity, and we deposit it into our trust account. Over 90% of our tenants pay rent electronically. Once the funds clear the bank, we direct deposit the current month’s rent, minus our fee and any other expenses, into a bank account of your choice. Owner payments are made weekly.

Statistics show that more than half of renters have pets. Being open to pets will increase demand across the entire prospective rental pool, raising rents because we charge an additional amount per pet per month. If maximizing rent is important to you, consider pets. If you would rather play it safe, it is okay to say no pets. If you are open to a pet, we always say, “pet considered.” That means we may approve the right pet, not all pets.

We accept service animals and emotional support animals. Documentation must be provided. The pet owner is still responsible for the animal’s behavior and any damage. Ask our office for more information.

Like the real estate market determines sales prices, the local rental market determines rental rates. Three factors contribute to the amount of rent your rental property will receive each month.

1. Availability and rental rates of comparable properties
2. The features and benefits of your property
3. The marketing exposure for your vacancy

Once we receive the details of your rental property, we will conduct a market analysis and set a starting price. We then evaluate all vacancies under our management every week, making adjustments to pricing or our marketing strategy to rent them as quickly as possible.

Getting properties rented efficiently is pivotal to our success and to happy clients; we must generate as many qualified leads as possible. We achieve this by syndicating marketing efforts to the top rental websites. We also pre-screen prospective renters and ask who will be living with them, the number of adults, the number of minors, and whether they have any pets. We also ask how long they have been at their current employment. Our software allows us to follow up and get feedback from every interested party.

There is no single answer. Responsibility depends on what the lease says, the cause of the damage, and whether the tenant was at fault. Because it can be unclear, the best approach for both parties is to keep communication open and clear if a question comes up.

Not necessarily. If the damage resulted from the tenant’s negligence, the cost does not automatically fall on the landlord. However, once a landlord is notified of a problem, they are expected to address it. For example, if a tenant breaks a window, the landlord is notified, and the window is left unrepaired, the landlord could be held liable if an intruder later enters through it.

The most effective step is to agree on responsibilities in advance and put them in writing. If something wasn’t addressed beforehand, approaching the situation with open communication, common sense, and flexibility can help resolve it before it becomes a costly disagreement.

Our rigorous tenant screening process usually prevents these issues; however, if a problem arises, we respond promptly and aggressively. The eviction process is started with a 10-day notice to pay or quit. Nuisance issues are handled similarly, with one warning given before a notice is posted.

Learn Pennsylvania’s landlord/tenant laws, build your policies around them, and apply those policies fairly and consistently throughout the tenancy. Most issues can be reduced through education, empathy, and open communication.

If your rental property is in a homeowners association, Real Property Management Prosperity will work in accordance with its rules. We do not directly manage HOAs.