5 Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Property Manager

Masters Real Estate • February 6, 2024
Denver property manager

When you're looking for a property manager, it's not always easy to know what to look for. There are 5 key things to consider when choosing someone to manage your investment property. Read on to learn what these are and how to pick the best property manager to save you time, money, and stress while managing your properties!



Find a property manager who brings expertise and experience to your partnership

A good property manager will have experience in the local market and the type of property you are looking to rent out. You want to find someone with experience so that when an issue comes up, you can trust that they will leverage their knowledge and take the best recommended course of action. A good property manager will find you good tenants, quickly deal with issues with tenants when they arise, and help ensure that any repairs needed are done properly so that the property stays in good condition over time. This means fewer unexpected costs down the road!


Choose a property manager who is focused on the local market

In choosing a property manager, it’s important to choose someone who is focused on the local market and understands the trends guiding it. If you are investing in rental properties, then your ultimate goal is to make money by renting out your properties for more than your mortgage and hold the properties for long enough that you get a solid return on your investment. A good property manager will help you identify good investments that will make you money over time so that when it comes time to sell them back at market value or refinance, you’ll have gained equity in those assets.


Partner with a property manager who will free up your time

A good property manager will take tasks off your plate such as screening and placing tenants, collecting rent, transferring utilities, property inspections, handling normal and emergency maintenance issues, accounting, and more.  Full-service property management companies like Masters Real Estate provide market analysis, lease negotiation, and marketing services along with routine maintenance tasks.  In addition, they can help you prepare your home for sale, buying or selling properties, and even manage both sides of the transaction in the event the owner sells to the tenant.


Look for a property manager who has solid reviews from clients

It's important to check out reviews to see what others are saying about the property manager. Property managers are constantly dealing with issues and juggling the interests of the homeowner and tenants, however we pride ourselves on being able to mediate issues effectively to ensure both parties are happy. Check out the positive reviews for Masters Real Estate.


A good property manager will help you track returns

It's important to have line of sight into your profits for your investment property. Masters Real Estate provides the following:

  • Investment Property Consulting: Market analysis, renovation advice, 1031 exchanges, and tax deferment strategies 
  • Online Portal: Access to dashboard to view income and documents and approve estimates
  • Tax Documents: Year-end income and expense reporting, 1099-MISC
  • Accounting Services: Disbursement of funds for rent and maintenance fees 


In the end, it’s important to remember that a property manager is a business partner. And like all good partnerships, it will only work if both parties are on the same page. Your property manager should be willing to listen and adapt as you grow as a business owner. If you're looking for a full-service property management company, please use our contact info below to get in touch with Masters Real Estate.

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Spring Maintenance Checklist for Rental Properties

By Masters Real Estate • April 10, 2025
As the days get longer and temperatures start to rise, spring is the perfect time to give your rental properties a much-needed refresh. After a long winter, a thorough inspection and maintenance routine not only keeps your property in top shape but also helps prevent costly repairs down the line. Whether you're a seasoned landlord or managing your first rental, here’s a spring maintenance checklist to help keep your investment—and your tenants—happy. Masters Real Estate does regular property inspections to ensure all of these items are taken care of in order to protect our clients investments. ✅ 1. Inspect the Roof and Gutters Winter can be harsh on roofing materials. Look for missing shingles, signs of leaks, or storm damage. Don’t forget to clean out gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage. ✅ 2. Service the HVAC System Before temperatures soar, schedule a professional HVAC inspection and tune-up. Change air filters and check for any issues that could affect performance or energy efficiency—this keeps your tenants comfortable and reduces utility complaints. ✅ 3. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Safety first! Spring is a good reminder to test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s a small step that can save lives and protect your property. ✅ 4. Check for Pest Issues Rising temperatures mean increased pest activity. Look for signs of rodents, termites, or ants—especially in basements, attics, and around the foundation. Consider scheduling a pest control service as a preventative measure. ✅ 5. Inspect Windows and Doors Examine seals, caulking, and weather stripping. Not only can worn-out seals drive up heating and cooling costs, but they also make the property less secure and more susceptible to moisture damage. ✅ 6. Spruce Up Landscaping Trim overgrown shrubs, remove fallen branches, and refresh mulch beds. Not only does this boost curb appeal, but it also helps prevent issues like foundation damage from overgrown roots or clogged drains. ✅ 7. Examine Exterior Paint and Siding Take a walk around the property and look for chipped paint, cracked siding, or areas showing wear. Spring is a great time for touch-ups that keep your property looking well-maintained and attractive to current and prospective tenants. ✅ 8. Check Walkways and Driveways Inspect for cracks or uneven areas that could become tripping hazards. Repairs now can prevent bigger problems later, especially if water seeps in and freezes again next winter. ✅ 9. Clean Out Dryer Vents Lint buildup in dryer vents is a major fire hazard. Ensure vents are clean and functioning properly—it’s a quick job that protects both the property and your tenants. ✅ 10. Aerate the Lawns Lawn aeration is a crucial lawn care practice of creating small holes in the soil to improve air, water, and nutrient penetration. This helps to alleviate soil compaction, promote healthier root growth, and reduce thatch buildup. An ideal time to aerate is in the Spring before you turn on the sprinklers. Spring maintenance is all about being proactive. By staying ahead of repairs and keeping your rental property in great shape, you protect your investment and create a safe, comfortable environment for your tenants. Keep this checklist handy and make spring your most productive season yet! Don't have time to manage your rental property? Masters Real Estate can help! Learn more about our services and get a free rental analysis.

Winter Is on the Way! Time To Get Your Sprinklers Blown Out and Winterize Your Lawn

By Masters Real Estate • October 12, 2022
As winter approaches, it's time to get prepared for the season. There are three things that are on the top of the to do list, arguably the most important things you need to do is winterize your sprinkler system. If not done properly you will find yourself with a maintenance emergency and an expensive repair bill when freezing temperatures come to Colorado. Another thing to consider is keeping branches away from your home and car during Spring where we receive moisture heavy seasonal snow that can damage anything or cause injury as they fall off. And lastly, if you like your healthy lawn, its aeration/fertilization time. Get your sprinklers blown out for the season Winter is the time to get your sprinklers blown out. The winterizing process helps ensure that your irrigation equipment will last longer and will not burst during the coldest months of the year. If water freezes in an un-winterized system, it expands and bursts water lines, sprinkler heads, backflow preventers and the plumbing inside your home causing significant, traumatic and costly damage. To winterize your sprinkler system: Turn off the water lines Blow out all hoses so they are not full of water Close the solenoids or turn off your system. Turn off outside faucets (check for leaks). Make sure your sprinkler system has been unplugged or disengaged. Remove tree branches that might break off with heavy snow or ice If you have trees on your property, especially large ones that may need to be removed in the future, it is important to do the following: Remove dead or diseased branches. These branches can fall and cause damage if they are near power lines or on top of your car. Remove branches that are too close to the house. This helps protect against wind coming from different directions and knocking down some of these trees onto your home. If there is a large tree that has grown too tall and its branches are overhanging your driveway, this could also cause problems with vehicles driving underneath it or kids playing around it during winter months when snow falls heavily overnight causing heavy snowfalls while temperatures drop quickly during nights when people go outside before sunrise during those cold mornings before going off to work or school! Get your lawn aerated Your lawn has had a long year of getting watered, being pressurized and packed down by lawn mowing, now its time to the alleviate the pressure. Aerating is a great thing for the lawn. It pokes holes throughout the lawn allowing for water, air and nutrients to get in deep to the roots. The holes are 2 or 3 inches into the ground, not too deep for your sprinkler lines to get punctured, but deep enough to help with new roots. After aerating you will want to put down a winter fertilizer, the fertilizer will get deep into the soil allowing for the nutrients to be delivered right to the source. Making sure you have a good fertilizer is also important. There are several good brands out there that you can find at the local home hardware store. If you need help managing your investment property, please let us know through our contact form or by calling 303-930-5125.

Denver Law Requires Licenses for All Property Managers

By Masters Real Estate • September 14, 2022
What's the scoop? Beginning in 2024, all single and multi-family properties within the city and county of Denver will be requiring a license to manage them, even if they are self-managed. This goes for anything that is not considered single family housing. Unfortunately, there will changes in the single family realm as well...Beginning on January 1, 2024, a license will be required for any person to offer, provide, or operate a residential rental property consisting of a single unit. This includes single-family homes, single units within a rowhouse, and single units in an apartment building or condominium. Primary residences offered as short-term rentals (less than thirty days) may be exempted from the City’s separate residential licensing requirement. All residential property managers must obtain a license from the city You're probably wondering, what exactly is a property manager? A property manager is someone who manages real estate for a fee. Some common tasks performed by property managers include: collecting rent payments from tenants communicating with tenants on repairs and lease violations handling disputes between tenants and landlords dealing with maintenance issues and repairs The new law requires all residential property managers/ home owners to obtain a license from the city. The license will last for 4 years. The new laws will take effect on January 1 2023 (multi-family) followed by January 1 2024 (for Residential) . If you are currently a property manager or a home owner managing your property, be ready for these changes. The cost of a property manager’s license will be based on the number of units managed The cost of a property manager’s license will be based on the number of units managed. For example, if you manage one unit in Denver, you must pay $50 per year; if you manage two unit to ten units, you must pay $100 per year; and so on. The fee is paid by either the property owner or property manager. This may have an impact on rental values in the area This law could have a significant impact on rental values in the area, as well as home ownership. When individuals are required to obtain a license for property management, there is an increased cost that must be passed on to the tenant. As one of the most popular parts of Denver, this change could mean that you'll see increases in your monthly rent or home sale price in order to offset the licensing fees and other expenses associated with complying with this new regulation. Denver laws requiring inspections Now that we have covered rentals and inspections, let’s go over how this new law will affect the rental market. Inspections have a cost associated with them; most inspections are $300-500. This is going to bring a larger burden to the Owners of these rentals, which in turn may cause rentals to go up in price more than we have seen in the last year. What is an inspection? An inspection is a full run down of the whole home/ condo, requiring access by a licensed inspector. How often are inspections required? Every four years Inspections may be required more frequently depending on the type of building, use or occupancy and/or the presence of any identified deficiencies. What is the purpose of inspections? Inspections are good for everyone but costly, inspections cover the owner from liability if the tenant destroys something in the property and tries to put it on the owners. They also protect the tenant from bad living situations. This could be good for consumers This is a good thing for consumers as it imposes some standards on what you can expect from someone who's licensed.. It will help them protect themselves from bad property managers and make sure they are getting the best service possible. The regulations will also give landlords a better sense of security when it comes to their investments. If they know that the property manager they choose has been through the rigorous changes in past years, they can be more confident in the decision. We hope that you enjoyed reading about the new law in Colorado. As always, we’ll keep you up to date with any updates on this legislation and other legal developments that affect your business.
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