by Andrea F | Aug 12, 2025 | Blog, Featured Posts, Investment Rental Property, Owner Resources, Property Management Education, Rent Collection, Rental Price

Investing in Real Estate? The Case for Professional Property Management
By: Andrea Faulk
Real estate investment is often heralded as an excellent avenue for generating passive income. However, the reality of being a landlord can quickly turn that “passive” income into an active and demanding endeavor. Managing properties involves a multitude of tasks that can be both time-consuming and stressful. This is where a professional property management company can become an invaluable asset for investors.
Here’s a deeper look into why experienced investors often choose to partner with property management experts:
1. Expertise and Efficiency for Optimal Returns
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Tenant Screening and Placement: Finding reliable tenants is crucial. Property management companies use comprehensive screening processes, including background and credit checks, employment verification, and rental history evaluations, to ensure quality residents occupy your property.
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Optimal Rental Pricing: Setting the right rent requires a delicate balance. Property management companies conduct thorough market analyses to competitively price rentals, maximizing income while minimizing vacancies.
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Effective Marketing: Ensure that marketing reaches the right audience to successfully fill vacancies with the ideal candidates.
2. Time Savings and Stress Reduction
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Delegating Day-to-Day Operations: Managing a property can feel like a second full-time job. A property management company handles everything from maintenance calls to rent collection, freeing up your time for other ventures.
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Streamlined Processes: Property management companies establish efficient systems for rent collection, maintenance requests, and accounting. They often offer online portals for tenant payments and financial reporting.
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Peace of Mind: Knowing professionals are handling all aspects of your investment offers peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy ownership benefits without the headaches.
3. Protecting Your Investment and Minimizing Risks
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Legal Compliance: Landlord-tenant laws are complex and ever-changing. Property management companies stay informed on legal requirements, ensuring compliance and reducing the risk of costly lawsuits or penalties.
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Preventive Maintenance: Regular inspections and proactive maintenance are vital for preserving property value. Property management companies schedule routine maintenance and address repairs promptly, often with access to discounted contractor rates.
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Dealing with Difficult Situations: Property management companies have the experience to handle challenging situations like late rent payments or evictions, minimizing financial losses and emotional strain.
4. Enhanced Tenant Retention and Satisfaction
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Prompt Responses to Needs: Quick response to tenant concerns and maintenance requests leads to higher tenant satisfaction and retention, reducing turnover and vacancies.
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Improved Tenant Relations: Professional and consistent tenant interactions foster positive relationships, leading to longer tenancies and a stable income stream.
In summary, although self-management may seem like a cost-effective option, the time investment, legal liabilities, and risk of expensive errors can outweigh any perceived financial benefits. Engaging a professional property management company enables you to utilize their expertise, enhance operational efficiency, safeguard your investment, and optimize your returns, all while enjoying a more passive income stream. A property management company can truly become your most valuable asset.
If you need help managing your property, that’s what we’re here for! Please reach out to us at 1-800-963-1280 or at monroeville@arbors.com.
by Nicole Scimio | May 2, 2025 | Blog, Featured Posts, Investment Rental Property, Owner Resources, Property Management Education, Rental Price, Uncategorized

4 Affordable Ways to Enhance Your Rental Property’s Curb Appeal
By: Nicole Scimio
Whether your rental property has curb appeal or not is incredibly important.Â
It can significantly impact how many applicants you draw in, who you attract, and even the amount you can charge for rent.
But with an investment property, it can be hard to keep up with appearances.
Trends change, things wear down – time takes its toll on a place.
Sometimes, a full renovation sounds great but just isn’t within your budget.
Not to worry, though!
There are plenty of ways to kick your property’s curb appeal up a notch – and with Spring finally here, now’s the time!
We’ve gathered up a few inexpensive and minimally involved ways for you to update your rental property without breaking the bank.
Tip #1: Replace Old Hardware
Refreshing your hardware doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive!
Is the doorknob or door knocker starting to delaminate from years of use and weathering?
Run to your local hardware store, pick a metallic finish that complements your property’s color scheme, and grab some new hardware in matching finishes.
You can also consider updating the porch light fixture and house/unit numbers in a matching finish!
Tip #2: Landscaping Refresh
First thing’s first: cut the lawn, pull weeds, and trim any shrubs you may have.
Add fresh mulch and some beautiful flowers in your landscaping.
You can even plant perennials – flowers that will appear every year. A few examples of perennials include peonies, poppies, black-eyed susans, irises, and more.
You can even consider putting together planters at either side of the entryway to give off a welcoming and homey look.
If you’re looking to take your outdoor revamp even further, add small solar-powered lanterns along the walkway. These are low maintenance and don’t require upkeep or constant battery changes, but add ambience and better sight of the walkway in the dark.
Landscaping can get expensive, but these tips are a fairly quick and low-cost way to revamp your property’s curb appeal.
Tip #3: Add a Fresh Coat of Paint or Stain
Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all it takes!Â
Adding a fresh coat of paint or stain on your property’s front door, shudders, and decking if applicable. This small change can make your property look brand new without needing to paint the entire exterior!
Repaint or resurface your mailbox. Sometimes something as small as updating the mailbox you already have can make a world of a difference!
While painting or staining can be time consuming if you opt to do it yourself, the difference it makes is significant! The few hours or days you’ll spend on it will certainly be worth it.
Tip #4: Clean!
Don’t underestimate the power of a good deep cleaning!
Declutter the outdoor area, removing any unnecessary items, picking up any garbage that could have blown through, etc.
You can also powerwash your property’s walkways and driveway. This simple step will make any concrete surface look brand new, and is incredibly satisfying!
Algae growing on your property’s roof or siding? Consider hiring a professional to wash the surface of your investment property and bring it back to life – the difference is massive.
Curb Appeal Can Be Simple
Updating your property’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive!
These few tips can help you refresh your property and attract wonderful residents in no time.
If you need help managing your property, that’s what we’re here for! Please reach out to us at 1-800-963-1280 or at monroeville@arbors.com.
by Nicole Scimio | Apr 15, 2022 | Blog, Property Management Education, Rent Collection, Rental Price
What Kind of Fees Can I Expect From Arbors Management?

Every property management company has a different way of working and a different way of charging management fees.Â
For example, you might hire a management company that charges one flat rate, or you might find a property manager who charges separately for every service that’s performed.
At Arbors Management, we have three all-inclusive fees. We do not like to piecemeal our costs, and we don’t have an upcharge on our maintenance services.
Today, we’re talking about our three fees upfront and what all you can expect when you work with us.Â
These fees are also similar to many of the fee structures you’ll find with property management companies in and around Pittsburgh.
Leasing Fees in Pittsburgh
Our leasing fee is the equivalent of one month’s rent, meaning the first month of rent that we collect for you will pay for our leasing services. It’s a one-time fee that’s paid at the beginning of the lease.
This fee covers everything involved in finding and placing a great resident, including:
- Marketing your property
- Showing your property
- Rent pricing
- Preparing the property for rentÂ
We’ll also handle the application process and screen each resident thoroughly and in compliance with the fair housing laws.
Once we’ve approved a resident, we’ll take care of:
- Collecting the move-in funds
- Conducting a move-in inspection of the property to document its condition
- Executing the lease agreement
Management Fees in Pittsburgh
Then, you’ll have the monthly management fee, which is typically 9 percent of your monthly rent.Â
The management fee can differ depending on a few different factors:Â
- How many units the property has
- If we will need to employ onsite staff
- How many total properties we’re managing for you
- How much those homes are earning
- The neighborhoods in which those homes are locatedÂ
Your management fee will come directly out of the rent we collect from the residents. It includes everything that’s covered in our management services, from lease enforcement to inspections to maintenance.Â
The management fee also covers:
- Our resident and vendor communication
- Any notices that need to be served
- Our accounting and bookkeeping
- The portals we provide for residents and owners
Lease Renewal Fees in Pittsburgh
Our final fee is a renewal fee, which is a flat $250 charge that you’ll pay each time we renew a resident.Â
When you think about the cost of resident turnover and vacancies, it’s easy to see what a value $250 is.Â
We’ll work hard to retain your residents, and the renewal fee will cover our negotiation and signing of the new lease. It costs you a lot less than it would if you were paying a new leasing fee.
In Conclusion…
There is no single right way to charge management fees, but the most important thing is that the company you’re working with is transparent and honest.Â
The last thing you need as an owner and investor is to be surprised by extra charges, and it’s important to review your management agreement before you sign it.
Contact us at Arbors Management if you’d like to know more about our services and their costs. Our Portfolio Managers and Leasing Specialists would be happy to provide a personalized quote that’s based on your property and its unique needs!