Property Management in Ontario
The question every self-managing landlord eventually asks: is professional property management worth the 8-12% of rents it costs? The answer depends on your situation, your time, and what quality management actually delivers.
The direct cost calculation: on a $2,000/month rental, 10% management costs $200/month — $2,400 annually. That's the break-even cost against which management value must be measured.
Key Responsibilities and Best Practices
Value delivered by good management: lower vacancy rates (even one month of avoided vacancy pays for a year of management fees), better tenant selection (fewer problem tenancies), faster maintenance resolution (less tenant turnover from deferred maintenance), and your time.
Time value is often the decisive factor. Self-managing three properties might consume 10-15 hours per month. If your time has value — professionally or personally — the management cost may be justified by time recaptured.
How D&D Property Management Helps
Geographic distance amplifies management value. Managing properties from out of city or out of province is significantly more difficult without local representation. A good property manager provides local presence, local contractor relationships, and local market knowledge.
Stress reduction has real value. For landlords who find tenant management stressful — dealing with late payments, maintenance calls at inconvenient times, and interpersonal conflicts — the reduction in stress from professional management has quality-of-life value that doesn't show in ROI calculations.
When self-management makes sense: single property, in the same city, with a reliable long-term tenant and minimal maintenance demands. When management creates value: multiple properties, geographic distance, time-constrained landlords, and complex tenant situations.