How to Interview a Property Manager (Real Answers)
Hiring a property manager is one of the highest-leverage decisions an investor makes — and one of the easiest to get wrong.
Most managers sound good on sales calls. Far fewer can clearly explain how decisions are actually made when things get messy: repairs, late rent, authority, enforcement, and owner communication.
This page includes a full, unscripted interview where those questions are asked live, using the same framework we give property owners when they’re hiring a manager.
You don’t need to watch this from start to finish. Most owners jump directly to the questions that matter most to them.
How to Use This Interview
Use the sections below to jump to specific questions. Each timestamp links to the moment the topic is substantively addressed — not scripted answers or highlight clips.
Topics Covered
1. Ownership Mindset & Authority
2:18 — Do you (or your principals) own rental property, and are you managing any of your own units today?
2:10 — How do you think about decision-making authority between owner and manager?
6:44 — What decisions do you typically handle independently vs. escalate to the owner?
8:52 — Have you ever disagreed with an owner? How did you work through it?
2. Economic Performance & Incentives
2:58 — How do you track portfolio-level performance (vacancy, collections, etc.)?
11:44 — What metrics do you personally pay the most attention to each month?
13:30 — Can you walk me through your standard fee structure?
16:06 — Are there situational or less-common fees owners should know about?
6:30 — How does your fee structure work during vacancy periods?
3. Tenant Quality & Leasing Tradeoffs
20:25 — How would you describe your tenant screening philosophy?
20:22 — How do you balance speed versus tenant quality when leasing?
26:26 — Do you ever reject applicants who technically qualify? What drives that decision?
4. Rent Enforcement & Issue Resolution
32:12 — How do rent payments typically perform across your portfolio?
6:48 — What’s your usual process when rent isn’t paid on time?
37:53 — How do you decide when to keep working with a tenant vs. move toward enforcement?
5. Maintenance Decision-Making
38:50 — How do you handle repair approvals with owners?
44:17 — How do you think about preventative maintenance vs. deferring work?
6. Expectations for a Long-Term Fit
4:08 — Beyond rent increases, how do you help improve performance over time?
12:40 — In six months, what would tell us this is working well?
52:22 — If this isn’t the right fit long-term, what does a professional transition look like?
Want the framework we use for this interview?
Download the Hire Once Interview Guide
This interview isn’t meant to convince you to hire us.
It’s meant to help you hear what clarity sounds like, so you can recognize it when you find it, whether that’s with us or someone else.