Looking for Good Property Managers? Search Beyond Google Listings

If you’re looking for information on anything today, the first place you turn is Google. Which is understandable – after all, Google is the gateway to the world’s information. It’s also risky, though, whether you’re looking for the best pizza, or the best property manager. Learn more about how to find the right information.

That’s because the ability to show up as one of the top listings – or even on the first page – is subject to manipulation.   

Let us explain what that means. There are two ways to show up on Google; one is to pay for the listing, a process you might have heard about. Those listings will have the word “Ad” next to the search result. Even so, most people don’t pay attention to that and assume the listing is more objective because it is not sponsored. Research shows that two-thirds of people don’t know the difference, in fact! You might be one of them, clicking on the results for “Best property manager” without realizing that someone is paying to capture your eyeballs.

But it’s also important to understand that just because you’re not seeing “ad” next to a Google listing, it doesn’t mean it is the universal truth in the pizza or property management category. 

Although Google goes out of its way to make the point that its listings cannot be manipulated, indeed there is an entire industry called SEO – or search-engine optimization – whose purpose is to outsmart Google and get the listings of certain merchants as high in the search results as possible.

Deep diver when researching property managers

Now that we’ve given you a lesson in Google 101 – and you’ve learned why you should resist the search reflex we’ve been trained for – the logical question is “Okay, how do I find the property manager that’s right for me?”

The answer to that lies in knowing what to look for. Here are four key areas to investigate and questions to resolve; these are critical facts and signals about what it will be like to work with one property manager over another. The only way to gain these insights, as we say above, is to search on websites, not on Google.

Google won’t tell you if a property manager can handle everything from staging the house and doing any necessary repairs – to showing it and handling the move-in.

Google won’t point out if a property manager charges for photography and the creation of video tours.

Google doesn’t let you know if a property manager offers a 24/7 concierge, to handle matters large and small – and in between – with swift responsiveness and loving attention.

There’s a lot more about the search for the best property manager that, ironically, you won’t discover by searching. Some other examples include whether a property manager will charge you a fee even when your place is not rented … or if they will charge you a termination fee if you are not happy with their service. Both of those fall into the bucket of Not Very Good Days.

Also be on the lookout for hidden set-up fees – which can be as much as $500. 

In fact, unless you have some background on property management, and have done some research, it’s likely you don’t know enough to ask the right questions! Like, do I even need a property manager? What are the alternatives?

Belong is not a property management company, but could be the solution you need

Belong is dedicated to taking the mystery, misinformation, and mediocrity out of property management. So much so that we've thrown the old model of property management out the window.

Belong does things differently, by:

• Guaranteeing rent for homeowners (regardless of when it’s paid by residents)
• Providing cutting-edge marketing and video tours to everyone, not just those who pay the most
• Not charging hidden fees like setup costs and lease renewal charges
• Offering real 24/7 concierge-level support, not just logging maintenance emergencies 
• Shielding owners from costly evictions
• Offering financial solutions for managing cash-flow on your terms, even covering homeowners during vacancies — or providing a full year’s rent upfront 
• Going beyond the owner portal for maintenance logging with two unique mobile apps designed for homeowners and residents to manage their entire renting experience
• Using true market data and real-time interest from potential residents to maximize the value of your home
• Connecting homeowners to an extensive vendor network of over 10,000 contractors for maintenance and repairs

If you still want to view Google's top-rated property management companies in Washington, California or Miami, we have found them. Compare the rest or use the calculator below to see why you'd be better off with Belong.