How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 30, 2022 9:12 AM
How many can you manage? (by Gail K [GA]) Jul 30, 2022 9:18 AM
How many can you manage? (by LisaFL [FL]) Jul 30, 2022 9:50 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 30, 2022 9:57 AM
How many can you manage? (by tryan [MA]) Jul 30, 2022 10:08 AM
How many can you manage? (by Robert J [CA]) Jul 30, 2022 10:25 AM
How many can you manage? (by Homer [TX]) Jul 30, 2022 11:13 AM
How many can you manage? (by MikeA [TX]) Jul 30, 2022 11:16 AM
How many can you manage? (by Dave [MO]) Jul 30, 2022 11:20 AM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Jul 30, 2022 12:03 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Jul 30, 2022 12:06 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Jul 30, 2022 12:23 PM
How many can you manage? (by Sisco [MO]) Jul 30, 2022 12:29 PM
How many can you manage? (by S i d [MO]) Jul 30, 2022 1:54 PM
How many can you manage? (by Allym [NJ]) Jul 30, 2022 2:26 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 30, 2022 3:05 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Jul 30, 2022 3:14 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Jul 30, 2022 4:06 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jason [MI]) Jul 30, 2022 4:32 PM
How many can you manage? (by RB [TN]) Jul 30, 2022 8:11 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 30, 2022 9:01 PM
How many can you manage? (by Robin [WI]) Jul 30, 2022 9:13 PM
How many can you manage? (by S i d [MO]) Jul 30, 2022 9:42 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 7:34 AM
How many can you manage? (by kevin [FL]) Jul 31, 2022 7:44 AM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Jul 31, 2022 8:34 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 9:14 AM
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Jul 31, 2022 9:40 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 10:31 AM
How many can you manage? (by Small potatoes [NY]) Jul 31, 2022 12:07 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Jul 31, 2022 12:45 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 2:26 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 2:40 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Jul 31, 2022 4:33 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Jul 31, 2022 8:42 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Aug 1, 2022 11:44 AM
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Aug 1, 2022 11:52 AM
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Aug 1, 2022 3:37 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 1, 2022 8:17 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 1, 2022 8:30 PM
How many can you manage? (by 6x6 [TN]) Aug 1, 2022 9:48 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 2, 2022 6:23 AM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 2, 2022 7:41 AM
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Aug 2, 2022 7:59 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 2, 2022 8:12 AM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 2, 2022 10:11 AM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 2, 2022 10:48 AM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Aug 2, 2022 2:58 PM
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Aug 2, 2022 3:18 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Aug 2, 2022 3:45 PM
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Aug 2, 2022 4:32 PM
How many can you manage? (by 6x6 [TN]) Aug 2, 2022 8:32 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 2, 2022 10:49 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 2, 2022 11:04 PM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 3, 2022 8:00 AM
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Aug 3, 2022 8:54 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 3, 2022 11:02 AM
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Aug 3, 2022 11:54 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 3, 2022 1:05 PM
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Aug 3, 2022 2:17 PM
How many can you manage? (by Alfie [AL]) Aug 3, 2022 7:41 PM
How many can you manage? (by Nicole [PA]) Aug 4, 2022 12:21 PM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Aug 5, 2022 7:52 AM
How many can you manage? (by Chris [CT]) Aug 11, 2022 11:43 AM
How many can you manage? (by JRinGA [GA]) Aug 20, 2022 11:24 AM
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:12 AM Message:
If you are a 1 person LL (you may have a spouse but he/she does not do anything with your rental houses),...how many properties (SFH) can you manage on your own without feeling like you are stressed out all of the time? My max. number is 20 and with 16 now, I could do 4 more but 20 would be my maximum number.
Now, if your spouse takes an active role (ie. husband/wife team) in managing your rentals, then I would assume your maximum number would be higher than mine is and then again maybe it is not. It is a comfort zone thing.
Whatever your personal comfort zone is, there is a maximum number of SFH rentals that will fit nicely within that comfort zone. If you only have one rental property now, then take a guess as to how many SFH you think you could manage (without getting all stressed out over it). Again, my max. number is 20,...what is yours?
--71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Gail K [GA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:18 AM Message:
16 but starting to downsize. I've managed all of them especially now that Bill passed away (4 years ago this month). When he was alive he let me manage most things but was there for small repairs.
Good tenants but tired of dealing with applicants. Slowly downsizing. Would like to be under 10. Maybe less. My children don't want these; they are quite successful in their own careers. I've done my job getting them settled nicely and now I want some rest.
Gail --73.108.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:50 AM Message:
We self managed around 36 at one time. I do have a very skilled partner who does a lot of repairs and maintenance. I deal with anything tenant related, finances, scheduling etc.
Looks like I’m down to 17. We now spend hal the year out of state. So we are busy when we are back at home. So far I’ve been able to manage things from afar. I do have a relatable network of service providers (plumber, electrician, roofer, garage door company, painter, fence person, tree service etc..).
Still get calls but so far they have been manageable. It’s harder when something happens thst my partner would normally handle. But I have a great tenant who is about as skilled and has agreed to help out when needed.
He has come in handy when we needed (had a window fall out and a mailbox run over and he took care of those).
I even sold two from afar. Tenants were told they had to leave the properties in perfect condition. My realtor said they were both immaculate and they both sold easily. So it really pays to have good tenants.
I recently got a no AC service call due to a clogged drainline. We vacuum them for each property every six months when we are in town. I just told almost every tenant to get a small shop vac and sent them a link of which one to get ($35 at HD). I am sending them this great little tool attachment designed specifically for this purpose. So it cost me $23 per property to send the tool/attachment. But when I was charged $317 for a simple maintenance task I felt it was worth it.
My tenants all get a good deal on rent so they bend over backwards to help however they can. --75.89.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:57 AM Message:
Gail,
I hear ya!! I have good tenants too but it is the applicants that are testing my patience. Plus, my since my net worth has quadrupled since 2006 (all RE too), I do not need the money like I use to. I could live happily ever after with just 10 properties now. But since I really enjoy what I do, I still have this burning desire to do 'one more' and then call it quits.
--71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by tryan [MA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 10:08 AM Message:
Tried carrying 23 in the hood alone with a day job ... that didn't work. So I hired a manager. That worked until she retired and handed her business to young - unorganized - kid.
So I dropped the manager and started off loading. --206.84.xx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 10:25 AM Message:
It used to be a lot, however since each official department within the City and County have to drum up extra revenue so government employees can live on easy street -- rules, codes and regulations are written to "stress out" landlords and bleed us dry by penny and nickeling us to death.
Example: The City planned on a 50% water rate hike over 2 years. So landlords and our respective associations put on a legal battle to oppose this massive rate hike. We go to court and then finally the rate hike is limited to 10% per year with a 30% cap over 3 years. THE NEXT DAY THE CITY raises our sewer fee's by 40% too. We are worn out and spent millions fighting the water rate and have nothing in our war chest to fight the sewer rate hike.
Then the next months the City comes down hard that our front lawns have to be plush green, making us spend bigger bucks on water. Then the City passes an ordinance we are heading into a drought and must cut back on watering our lawns so they die. Then we are required to have only 30% of our lawns green the rest can be water resistant plants.
So with every year there is a new laws to torment landlords, it's either reduce our holdings or die from
the stress.
As a landlord contractor I had to deal with 100 plus apartments and dozens of homes and retail stores. Can't do that many any more when I can't evict or enforce many lease clauses. --47.156.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Homer [TX]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 11:13 AM Message:
Had 29, sold one this spring. Married but I didn’t buy houses to make the wife work on them. I hope to eventually get down to 10. That would clear me about 11 k a month after expenses. Although I
Should just hire a property management company and let them handle all of them. Being a DIYer, that’s going to be hard to hand off. Anyway, I think 10 would be comfortable.
--47.32.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 11:16 AM Message:
I've heard several experts say on syndication deals that they hire one property manager per 150 units and one full time maintenance person per 75 units.
I was managing 24 SFH's with a full time job which I don't have now so I don't really know what my upper limit is. Just guessing it is 2-3X that by myself. But I could see how scaling up would be easy by hiring various helpers to take on various roles. --209.205.xxx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Dave [MO]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 11:20 AM Message:
Managed 49 doors and currently have sold down to 24 doors and if the market stays strong that number will reduce to 15. Solo and full time since 1994. --162.249.xx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 12:03 PM Message:
I think 1 person could could manage 100 units but that would not include doing any maintenance work.If you hired out the work and just did management and supervision you could handle way more than 20 units --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 12:06 PM Message:
Roy, you ask how many can you manage. From talking with numerous professional property managers, the consensus I take away from the discussions is that a full-time landlord/manager/property assistant should be able to effectively manage up to 100 rental homes/units. --172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 12:23 PM Message:
And as Ken mentioned, that does not include doing any maintenance work. The consensus on repairs was that one good full time maintenance person could handle most routine and minor maintenance tasks for up to one hundred homes/units. Often times for professional management companies, major repairs are handled by contractors. --172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Sisco [MO]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 12:29 PM Message:
I manage 84, do my accounting, pay my bills. I work less than 20hours per week. --149.76.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 1:54 PM Message:
I manage 31 residential units and 14 commercial units. Total of 45 units. Until last week, I also had a 77 unit storage facility that included a 2400 sq ft commercial building with a tenant in it, which I sold because someone threw a pile of money at me to take it. I do my own finances, advertising, screening, leasing, and schedule the maintenance.
I also have a full time 40 hours per week W2 job, a family of a wife and 3 kids, none of whom help with any of the rental biz, except for my wife who occasionally runs an errand for me.
In addition, I play twice a week with a band, exercise, drink beer with friends, watch movies, goof off, and bum around with my buddies here on Mr LL. I take 4 weeks of vacation per year as well as all the regular holidays.
I spend less than 10 hour per week on rentals. Probably more like 5 unless you count prospecting for the next deal.... Which I already have online: a 7000 Sq Ft commercial auto shop that I'm subdividing into 4 units, each with separate utilities. Closing in 6 weeks or sooner once we get all the bids in.
Systems and hiring pros to do maintenance is how I do it. I'm not a Jack of All trades. Back when I was, I could barely keep up with 12 units. With my current system, I feel like another 10-20 units after this next purchase would not stress me at all.
And yes... All calls go to voicemail. ;-)
--184.4.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 2:26 PM Message:
Dad left 20 units in so/so shape but I was only 45. Had to rehab all of them. --71.188.xx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 3:05 PM Message:
Jeffrey,
Meaning no disrespect to you, my original post question did not ask anything concerning the consensus of professional property managers and how many units they can manage. Now, if there are any pro property managers reading this, then yes, I hope they will come forward and give me the poop on how they manage 100 plus SFH rental houses that are scattered all over town. Also, I am going to go out in a limb here and make the assumption that 'pro property managers' are probably only managing Class A and B tenants, which we all know are the easy peasy tenants to deal with. I would love to see a pro property manager deal with 100 of my Class C and D tenants in houses scattered all over town. That prop. manager would be a nutcase within one week!
Sid, my friend - you answered my question perfectly. You tell it like it is and with no B.S. I do envy you and whatever system you are using. However, I would like to throw a curve ball at you though. Let say you have 10 properties (out of 31) that all came vacant at one time and you have now lost 1/3 to 1/2 of your monthly cash flow income. Would you still be spending less than 10 hours a week on rentals? And lets assume here rental income is your only income. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 3:14 PM Message:
Roy, I brought up those numbers, because I sincerely believe effective landlords can and do work within those numbers. I operate under those numbers myself with my portfolio of nearly 200 rentals, the majority of which are class C properties. I have trained two property assistants who handle all the management tasks. --172.58.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 4:06 PM Message:
Roy,most pro managers i know primarily manage class c units.They dont go to the house to check on things,if rent is not paid they turn it over to an eviction attorney,if a maintenance call comes in they send it to the maintenance man etc.If they went to check on things the owner would be mad that they got billed for the time.If a unit comes empty they have an employee showing vacant units --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Jason [MI]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 4:32 PM Message:
Well
I have a full time day job 40hours
An currently have about 47 sfh
Wife does not a darn thing
2 kids 10 an 11
BUT. I an done with day early 2023...have 290 hours of vacation to use --107.127.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 8:11 PM Message:
After carefully reading Roys original post
several times,
the question seems to be,
if you own, manage, maintain, service, screen, remodel,
repair, collect rents, send notices, go to court,
buy materials, and pretty much do everything Landlording,
to your SFH's, by yourself, numero uno, solo,
how many could you successfully manage ?
There was no designating to others, mentioned.
--24.183.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:01 PM Message:
Jeffrey,
Read RB's reply,..he explained in detail exactly what I asking in my original post. Sometimes I can't always put into words what I really mean but RB being from TN seems to be a good translator of my southern vernacular.
Now, if you did not have those 2 trained assistants, how many could you effectively manage yourself? That is all I am asking here. I just wanted to know where everyone's comfort zone is.
--71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:13 PM Message:
I'm pretty much doing everything that RB lists. I spend about 3 weeks/yr on maintenance for 10 houses. Management takes almost no time. Tenants pay rent electronically. If I have a vacancy, it takes a day to prep for the next residents because I have a really good screening process. Renting out a vacancy: two open houses usually yield me a keeper.
So I could theoretically handle 100 houses easily if I did this full time. Many more if I had a reliable maintenance guy. It all depends on how good your screening is and how good your systems are. But I don't want to do it full time, so I'm happy with where I'm at. Plus we have some AirBnbs, and a rooming house, and we do private lending, so... --172.58.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 9:42 PM Message:
Here's the problem with the question,Friend Roy. You said "how many can you manage", but what you meant was, "how many can you diy everything?"
I think if I were doing everything myself and didn't use systems, I'd max out around 25. Class C. I was going nuts with 12 plus a full time job, so if I dropped the full time job and never took vacation, I could probably keep up with twice my original number. But the question I have for you now ...
Why do that? --184.4.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 7:34 AM Message:
Sid,
I have always made the assumption that most (not all though) LLs on this MR LL forum are DIYers. It is obvious from just reading other LL postings here. So, you are correct in what I meant to say.
And if the truth be known, I hired out 80% of the jobs that need to be done when I have vacancy and I have one vacancy right now. The reason I don't hire out the other 20% is because there are many situations that require an 'executive decision' and I am the only one among my crew who can do that.
Yesterday I spent 4 hours at my vacancy fixing small things that my crew either does not have the correct tools or the experience to fix, but someone has to fix it or I will fail the rental house inspection scheduled for Tuesday. Just one missing electrical outlet cover plate is enough to fail an inspection here. Take something as simple as 'caulking' for example. I have do all of the caulking at my rental houses because no one on my crew (including my handyman) can handle a caulking gun.
I want to make another post here asking LLs who 'hire out 100% of everything',...how they delegate all of the small nick picky and time consuming jobs (during a vacancy or a rehab) that may require an executive decision. Most of my executive decisions revolve around looking at something that needs to be repaired and then deciding if this can be fixed by my handyman OR do I need to hire a licensed pro to fix this OR should I just do the job myself,...like caulking a bath tub for example.
--71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by kevin [FL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 7:44 AM Message:
As I am getting older, I am down to six paid sfh and that produces more than enough income and the wife says don’t buy any more. I say ok unless I find a bargain :} --47.205.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 8:34 AM Message:
Roy, while I agree that most of the visitors to this site are DIY, my belief is that given the choice, the ideal goal of most landlords is not to being doing all the work themselves, but rather running a business instead of having a job.
A lot of my input on this site (in this discussion) and my boot camp training is to encourage and help landlords think beyond the DIY mindset and run their properties like a business.
To answer your earlier question directly, I would not have gotten beyond 25 to 50 rentals doing everything myself effectively and no way would have increased my portfolio to where it is now doing mostly everything myself.
As S i d asked, why would I even want to do so? When I started intentionally buying rental properties, my goal was not to create a property management job for myself. If that was the case I personally would have stopped a long time ago, and missed out on how managing a "business" now allows me the freedom and all the benefits real estate has provided my family and generations to come. --172.58.xxx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 9:14 AM Message:
Jeffrey,
Maybe I need to enroll in your next boot camp? I learned many years ago that if I did not hire anything out and was 100% DIY, I would have burned myself out and would probably need to be look for another way to make a living. Again, for over a decade I have hired out 80% of the work that has to be done during a vacancy or rehab, but it is that remaining 20% that I feel like I have no choice but to do it myself because I can't find anyone who can think or rationalize a house repair problem like I do.
Would your boot camp help me figure out how to deal with this remaining 20% that consumes a lot of my time (much more than Sid's 10 hour weeks) during every vacancy or rehab that I do? --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 9:40 AM Message:
We don't have a handyman...we've tried to hire a few but those we can afford aren't reliable and those that know what they are doing are more than we can spend for those simpler jobs.
We are hopefully finishing off our last unit this year - well hopefully over the next few months.
After that we'll finally see how much time we spend on these things. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 10:31 AM Message:
WMH,
In my small city in regards to hiring out jobs, I have 2 choices and you may have the same too.
1. Hire licensed & insured pros and most charge $150.00/hour
2. Hire unskilled labor with no license or insurance ($30.00/hour) - these are the 'jack of all trades but a master at none' types. My handyman is a perfect example,..he is good at some things and lousy at others. And whatever he does lousy, I end up re-doing the job myself,...ie. caulking comes to mind. This is that 20% I keep referring to,...LOL.
--71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 12:07 PM Message:
I didn't reply because I do not have sfh. so I wonder when Jeffery and others mention the number of units they could/do manage if they are talking apples like Roy or oranges like me, all multi. and Roy qualified his Q w/ c class or worse. I don't think I'd want sfh, sure muktis have tenant conflict sometimes but upkeep and lost rent on vacancies are offset by being able to service the systems of more than one unit in one location.
Roy I will say that the attention to detail that is that last 20% is not on the radar of my competition. I'll garner that most who manage c properties do not pay attention to fit n finish. --172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 12:45 PM Message:
Roy,if you have a handyman who cant handle a caulkgun and you think he is competent at other tasks i think you have a guy who doesnt want to caulk,i could teach a 15 year old to caulk.I stop by my rehab projects every day or two and i tell them what to do next if they need to be told,i have no problem telling someone to redo a job or how to do it.It is my house and my name is on it when it sells so i have no problem telling guys what to do.I dont even go to home depot anymore.If you have to do 20% of the work yourself i would consider that a managemt problem.Delegate to someone and if need be teach them how to use a caulk gun but they will do if it is expected,if they dont want to and you will they will get out of it.The only jobs i do is buy houses and supervise,i an hire everything else done.Th best guys to hire own the house they live in and do construction by choice and not by default --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 2:26 PM Message:
Ken,
You can't expect a handyman to be a master at everything he does. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. In many cases, I just have to be willing to settle for mediocre work or get my tools out and just do the job myself. Plus, my handyman is pushing 80 years old and it is true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks,...believe me, I have tried!
Now, let me tell you what my 79 year old handyman is good at. In the last 6 years, I have had 6 metal roofs put on rental houses and my handyman did every one of them and he can't wait to do another one. Plus, over the years I have had tons of Allure planks put down in a numerous houses and he did all of that work too. At 79, this man is absolutely amazing as to what he can do well and his pricing is very reasonable too! I would be a fool to fire this man just because he can't handle a caulking gun. He told me once that he ever quits working, he will probably just kick the bucket and die. I told him I would dig a hole and bury him in the backyard he ever expired on me. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 2:40 PM Message:
Small Potatoes,
I am glad someone with multi-units has answered my post here. I have never owned a multi-unit, however, I agree with you that multi's and SFH are two different animals and are not an apples to apples comparison. I am going out on another limb here and say I would assume that managing Class C tenants in a multi-unit would be a lot easier than SFH because with multi's all of your tenants are under one roof. There is no driving 20 miles across different sections of town to deal with problem tenants. Again, with a multi-unit, all your deadbeats are in one location, ..and it would only take a few minutes to post 5 P/Q notices. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 4:33 PM Message:
Roy,multi units are considerably more difficult to manage than single families, they fight about the dumbest things and act like you are the parent and expect you to be the referee and you can get a better tenant in a single family than a multi --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Jul 31, 2022 8:42 PM Message:
Ken,
My C & D SFH tenants fight over the dumbest things too, however, they don't have another tenant one wall away to whine all of their nickel and dime problems to. I am still not convinced, I still say multi-units are easier due all tenants being under 1 roof. And now that I think about it, I could manage 100 tenants under 1 roof but I could not manage 100 SFH scattered all over town. It is a logistics issue now. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 11:44 AM Message:
What is your definition of managing?
There is a difference in overseeing and managing, just as there is a huge difference in being a one man SFH show and and an investor.
I guess it really comes down to what the duties and responsibilities are. If you are doing RTO, life is a bit easier - but you get only what you inspect.
There are investors who manage. There are also manager who are investors. I believe most of folks seem to think that they are both. Again it comes down to what your duties are. I routinely read on this board, about "investors" finding deals in the MLS. Do I believe these folks are finding a deal? Do I even believe such folks are investors? I am more inclined to believe that they are invested in real estate but not necessarily a real estate investor --24.101.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 11:52 AM Message:
I often wonder why people are afraid to build a business to scale. Instead of how many can you do, why not ask how many you want to do? Even better yet - instead of asking the number of units.....which means absolutely nothing in my eyes - ask how much monthly cash flow do you want?
This weekend I was over in Holms County Ohio. Why would someone with a large Amish community near them go to the World's largest settlement of Old Order Amish? I want to see how they scale a businesses.
I wanted to compare how they do business to the model Jeffery teaches. I was surprised to see how the outsource models looks so much alike --24.101.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 3:37 PM Message:
Roy, we now hire out all the stuff that you can hire someone for that has a skill attached to their name. Pablo the Painter, Don the Drywaller, Ron the Roofer, Sam the Siding Guy, Leo the Lawn Guy...they specialize, they provide W-9 info for taxes, and you can hire them and walk away, let them do their jobs.
But for the "simple" jobs like caulking, electrical outlet cover replacement, etc. DH does it. Because it's faster and easier than trying to find and vet someone for all the small "odd" jobs.
Carpentry is our biggest hurdle these days - the young ones are $150 an hour and plenty busy already, and the older guys are all either retiring on us or just slowing down in general.
That's one reason we've stopped actively looking for new properties - no more full rehabs for us!
We are finishing up our 38th full unit by fall, hopefully, and will do one more STR that will be just a tiny "Room For Rent" with kitchenette and bath when finished.
Oh and one more studio that maybe we'll do next year. So we'll end up with 40 eventually. That's enough. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 8:17 PM Message:
WMH,
I have all of your skilled trades people on my crew too. I just added a new Lawn guy and I have a good reliable painter now that can stay sober. And like your hubby, I am the one that does all of the small jobs that trying to find someone else to do would be a waste of time and money.
Today I swept the floor and replaced two toilet seats. The female rental house inspector is coming in the morning. She has a reputation among LLs as the b.tch from hades. All inspections are done a PASS or FAIL basis and there are brownie points for 2nd or 3rd place. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 8:30 PM Message:
Correction: NO brownie points for 2nd place. If I fail the inspection, I have to pay another $50.00 for another inspection! Getting a house ready for a rental inspection is a job that I could not delegate to anyone else. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 9:48 PM Message:
Roy, don't you have a handyman and hire things out?
If so, then you are not really DIYing? --73.113.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 6:23 AM Message:
6x6,
I hire out 80% of what needs to be done. I DIY the other 20% which includes all of the nickle and dime jobs that are not worth trying to find someone to do. I guess I am a part-time DIYer. However, the most important jobs I do are the ones that require an executive decision which only I am capable of doing. I will give you an example.
Every time a houses become vacant, the very first executive decision is always,...how to deal with all of worthless junk left behind by the previous tenant. I have 3 choices here.
1. Hire a professional to come get the junk and haul it off (1-800-Got Junk?)
2. Call the Goodwill or Salvation Army and hope they will send a truck for it,...which most of the time they will not.
3. Get someone on my clean-up crew to load everything in my pick-up truck and I will take it to the dump.
Option #3 is what happens most of time. It is a worthless job that someone has to do. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 7:41 AM Message:
Roy, you asked me: "Would your boot camp help me figure out how to deal with this remaining 20% that consumes a lot of my time during every vacancy or rehab that I do?"
The answer to your question is yes. I'm talking from experience. Because I use to be just like you, thinking that many decisions I had to make could only be done by myself.
The truth, while you may think it is hard to believe, is that it is simply not the case. But I truly did not realize it until I forced myself to start doing things differently and systemizing and using checklists for ALL aspects of my business and then fine-tuning each aspect, which I continue to do as new scenarios and challenges pop up.
For example, I have someone who I have trained who has been assigned to turn each of my rentals. He follows a checklist and using the written guidelines we have discussed and fine-tuned, can easily make the decision on what to do with worthless junk left behind. And with each property turn his decision making gets better and better.
You will only be able to stop doing a lot of the 20% you are doing, once you actually STOP doing it and implement a system for doing it without you. And it is not as difficult as it seems. It just requires doing more of the right kind of executive decisions, which does NOT include the option of having a crew load everything in YOUR pick-up truck and YOU taking it to the dump.:) --172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 7:59 AM Message:
What I found out Jeffery was my 20% was closer to 50%. After outsourcing many of the task that could be outsourced to a VARIETY of people (instead of just one or two), my bottom line blossomed.
I found out it was easier to just outsource small chunks of the job instead of finding a single replacement who cared as much as I did.
I also found that there were more checks and balances after outsourcing more - I had more opinions and inputs going into the operation of the business.
Thanks AGAIN --24.101.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 8:12 AM Message:
Jeffrey,
The person that you have trained to handle your turnovers is a person I want like to meet and pick his or her brain for about an hour. Is this person an employee or an independent contractor type? Can this person make financial decisions using your money without asking you for permission? This is almost too good to be true. And it is still too early in the morning for me to rationalize all of this. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 10:11 AM Message:
Roy, the problem is you are still focusing on the "persons". What you have to begin to focus on is the "systems" and "checklists". The person I've got to do my turns is no one "special". If I had to find another person to replace him next week, I could. Because it's not the persons that make the different aspects of the business work. It's the "checklists" and guidelines which are the core of my operation.
And yes, within those guidelines (with checks and balances in place), a person can make limited financial decisions using my money without me having to stop and give permission on every purchase. Is there a small risk involved, sure there is. But that's how a "business" operates. it sure beats me having to run an operation where every $25 to $50 decision requires my constant oversight, execution or supervision. Instead, I now have time to focus some of my "executive decisions" on ways I can multiply my wealth by tens of thousands of dollars or more and now have more freedom to enjoy more of the wealth that is being created.
--172.58.xxx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 10:48 AM Message:
Ray, I agree with you. So many landlords are looking for that ONE special person (to replace themselves) who can oversee or handle all of their major tasks . Yet your comment regarding having a VARIETY of individuals for different tasks is spot on. I like to designate different aspects of the business to different individuals, who can focus on that particular aspect and therefore be more prone to become proficient at that task and everything related to it.
This is why the person who does my turns primarily oversees that big task and things related to it. And when focusing on him and those tasks, it also allows me to improve my checklists in that particular aspect of my operation. And as you alluded to, as he focuses on his related tasks, he often gives me valuble input that adds to my success. In fact, we meet weekly and I ask for his input, I then turn to others who has been assigned to focus on other important aspects of my business and who likewise I ask for their valuable input in other areas. --172.58.xxx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 2:58 PM Message:
Jeffrey,how often do you show up at your houses to check on things? any different when you buy a new house,do you show up more often? --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 3:18 PM Message:
Jeffrey I think when you start hitting 100+ houses you NEED a full-time person and your system makes perfect sense.
The sticking point seems to be around about now for both Roy and me. We have about half that number, as noted. Not enough units to support a full-time person just for turn-overs, for instance.
So we are too often back to looking for someone per job. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 3:45 PM Message:
WMH, have you considered hiring someone full time or even part time and when there isnt a turnover to work on you have a flip in progress for them to stay busy? --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 4:32 PM Message:
We don't flip, Ken. Buy & Hold only.
We just don't have ENOUGH work to keep someone busy doing anything meaningful on a regular basis. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 8:32 PM Message:
This post has turned into a good discussion.
6x6, are you paying attention to what Jeffrey and Ray are saying? You need to stop doing everything yourself and develop a system and checklist. Stop being a control freak and start trusting people.
What I am having the hardest time figuring out is, how do you get your mind to make the switch?
At the rate I am going, 2 SFH's are too many. I really need to figure this out, and figure out how you afford to do this? --73.113.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 10:49 PM Message:
WMH, I totally disagree with what I believe is one of your assumptions. I started utilizing checklists and "part-time" assistants and stopped doing everything myself when I only had just about the number of rentals you and Roy now have.
Because I stopped doing everything myself and started utilizing checklists and part time assistants/help IS one of the main the reasons I was able to grow my portfolio beyond 100 rentals. I was able to use more of my time and decision making to focus on building wealth and not the day to day stuff that I could assign to others to do. If I had waited until I got up to 100 rentals and until I felt I could afford to pay for help, I never would have built the portfolio I have now.
In fact, one of the things I would do differently if given the opportunity to start over is that I would have started much sooner developing and utilizing checklists and getting part time help, even when I only had a small number of rentals.
Landlords often think the only type of good help they can get is full-time help. That is not true, especially if you have checklists and systems for various aspects of your business. And there are many people willing to work only 5 or 10 hours a week who can assist you in your business, even when you only have a small number of properties. And remember, stop putting your focus on trying to find good help. Put your focus on developing a good system. This is all part of the mindset I now teach and train landlords and show what executive decisions and checklists are best to focus on to reach their goals.
The reason this is all of great value to you, is because it will allow you to make executive decisions that actually will grow your business instead of simply maintaining it, which is what most landlords do and why they take decades to scale their business, and most never get beyond a certain number, or of bigger importance, only up to a certain monthly cash flow.
Again, let me emphasize, you don't wait until you need a full-time "special" person to consider doing the business model I suggest. It all starts with your systems and checklists. And you begin by plugging part-time individual(s) into your system as you grow your business.
--172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 2, 2022 11:04 PM Message:
Ken, I may check on a handful of my rentals only once every two to three months to do spot checks (which in most cases is simply a drive-by). Many of my rentals I have not been by them at all this year and several of those which are outside of my local area, I have not seen in several years. I do review reports and connect with my assistants and key individuals over different aspects of my rental business however on a weekly basis.
Ken I'm sure you understand however, because I am not personally checking on these properties, there is an individual on my team which is doing the semi-annual courtesy service checks and other routine preventive maintenance on the properties that needs to be done. It's just that I am not personally doing it. --172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 8:00 AM Message:
WMH, you also mentioned "We have about half that number, as noted. Not enough units to support a full-time person just for turn-overs, for instance."
Just so you know, the guy who does my turns is NOT full time. As you know I have relatively little turnover. So the guy doing my turns, even now with a larger number of rentals, only works PART-TIME (on an "as-needed" basis). So often times he may only work 10 to 15 hours in a week.
As Ken suggested, you have the option of hiring people part-time, stop thinking you have to have "ENOUGH work to keep someone busy doing anything meaningful on a regular basis." Yes, a REGULAR basis does not have to be full time. It can be very part-time, as little as 5 to 10 hours a week or on an as-needed basis.
--172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 8:54 AM Message:
So Jeffrey for some practical matters: how do you handle the tax implications of an employee? Do you actually hire them with all the tax issues that brings up? OR do you do 1099 them as contract workers?
I ask because if they are working based on your system, but making their own decisions, they qualify as contract workers which is a lot simpler to handle than an actual employee. For me, anyway.
For you it probably doesn't matter THAT much because you do have employees because of your other businesses beyond just landlording as well, but we don't.
Another practical matter: if your person is only working a few hours now and again, how do you keep them motivated to JUMP when you need them? --50.82.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 11:02 AM Message:
Jeffrey,
I am sure your checklists and systems are great but they are only as good as the people (or person) you hire to implement them. I think we need to discuss this issue a lot more but not here. (My fingers are getting tired from typing on this keyboard). Maybe a round table discussion at the next Mr. LL convention? This would be a super hot topic!
WMH has asked some really great questions for you and I have the same concerns as she does! --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 11:54 AM Message:
Roy, again, we are talking a whole different mindset is needed.
The reasons franchises are extremely successful is NOT because they are only as good as the people (or person) you hire to implement them.
And that's the direction I am encouraging you to go in - a franchise model, (where teenagers can run a million dollar business) instead of a mom and pop operation where the owners to all or most of the work and never grow beyond a small time operation. And even if you want to only grow so big, life is a lot more enjoyable if you not doing all the work.
WMH, when first transitioning, I used 1099 part time workers. I now use employees and contractors. But I'm not a tax expert, so I will limit my comments in this discussion regarding that area. I encourage others to please offer comments.
Regarding motivating workers, I believe you are letting a lot of old-school thinking get in your way. Gone are the days when people who work are only willing to work full time. Millions of people today would love to work only a few hours here and there to supplement their income, that's why companies like uber, lyft, etc can operate. As far as getting to JUMP when you need to, in my opinion that's simply about knowing how to communicate the right expectations (for both parties) at the beginning of any relationship and recruiting, offering the right incentives and working with people who are more likely to stay true to those expectations.
Note, my last couple of comments shared involves a whole training in itself. As Roy alluded to, this discussion is just the tip of the iceberg. But as 6x6 alluded, this discussion is an extremely important topic I would encourage landlords to consider taking to heart and learning more.
Other landlords who have moved in the direction I am suggesting, I'm sure Roy, WMH and others would appreciate you adding your comments on any aspects of this discussion.
--172.58.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 1:05 PM Message:
'where teenagers can run a million dollar business)'
that one phrase speaks volumes to me,...I NOW KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM! As a teenager, I worked in fast-food and it is all coming back to me. Yes, you can train teenagers to run a mutli-million dollar franchise business. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 2:17 PM Message:
WMH, you can hire an employee on the books all legit very easily,there are companies that will do it for you including tax reporting etc.All you have to do once you are set up is report hours and they suck the money out of your account and put it in there account.I had a lady doing construction for me in the late 90s on the books all legit and did something to the tendons in her arm,my insurance covered the whole thing,never cost me anything,if she was a 1099 worker i would have been sued for sure --74.77.xx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Alfie [AL]) Posted on: Aug 3, 2022 7:41 PM Message:
"I am sure your checklists and systems are great but they are only as good as the people (or person) you hire to implement them."
Checklists are only as good as the person who created them. Your checklist needs to be simple and easy to follow - step by step by step - small enough steps that anyone can follow them. If someone follows your checklist and the job isn't done to your satisfaction, that's your fault, not theirs. --184.190.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by Nicole [PA]) Posted on: Aug 4, 2022 12:21 PM Message:
Roy, can you farm out some of your paperwork/bookkeeping/record keeping? I don't mean give someone permission (or the opportunity) to touch your checkbook or cash. You still would need to keep a very close eye on things but that could possibiy knock that chore down 50ish%. --98.237.xxx.xx |
How many can you manage? (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 5, 2022 7:52 AM Message:
Nicole,
Paperwork and bookkeeping tasks are done inside my home office using a computer. Where I need help is in doing all of the jobs (20%) that require me to leave the home office and do at a rental property. For example,..in 2 hours I am having an open house to show my only vacancy to about 10-15 prospects, assuming they all show up. It would be nice if I had a person to go over there and handle this open house for me. However, this person would need to be trained in how to talk to strangers and most important, 'what to say to them and what NOT to say to them'. Some of these prospects will have a ton of cash on them and will wave it in your face,...you have to know how to deal with these types. --71.207.xxx.x |
How many can you manage? (by Chris [CT]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2022 11:43 AM Message:
I'm at 54 doors now and its no where near a full time job. I started putting systems in place like Jeffrey is talking about two years ago and it helped me avoid a lot of the menial tasks. Companies like Buildium automate the back end. The actual work you just need to find the right contractors.
My next goal is to get my book keeper up to speed, mostly for my construction company but also for the rentals. After that I could get an admin for 2-3 hours a week to do leases and contacts with tenants. I don't mind doing those tasks now so I don't but eventually I will.
It amazes me how some landlords I know are afraid to go on vacation. I could go to Florida all winter and run my business from there. --24.45.xxx.xxx |
How many can you manage? (by JRinGA [GA]) Posted on: Aug 20, 2022 11:24 AM Message:
To be honest, I only read the first half of the replies here and I'll need to circle back to finish going through them. Hopefully my 2 cents is valid. I have some duplexes and 2 triplexes, so not all SFR's but if we're counting "units" I have about 25 and I do it alone (though when I date a young lady, I try to train her in ways she (or her kids if she has any) can help me; speaking of which this is actually a question I need to ask on this forum: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN EASILY TRAIN SOMEONE TO DO TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOuR RENTALS... more on that later). For my 25 units, they've been a full time job for me since I "retired" from my full time w2 job, even though I'm now supposed to be a full time doctoral student (my education goals are suffering). I've found that when I dedicated myself to my houses FIRST, I got a ton more out of them and quickly began making multiples of my lost w2 income. I think once I get a good system doing, I can do a few more. It should be noted that some of my SFR's are actually rooms which I market as "mini-units" and have their own contract, so it's more like >25 units (I have about 50 active leases right now). I started in 1997 and am 46 y/o right now. I have about 5 people who do my maintenance and I do all the court stuff (and screening) myself. I use google docs, text only (never talk on the phone), and try to create systems wherever possible so as to have a process map for everything (I have 2 engineering degrees). I probably didn't answer your question but if anyone wants to see the google spreadsheets I've created for my current inventory and my current amounts receivable, I'm very proud of them. cheers to you all. --85.244.xx.xx |
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