If you’re looking for a Redmond property manager, then you should familiarize yourself with services, features, pricing, and, of course, qualifications. Redmond property managers are mandated by the state, but you should to consider that some will have the bare minimum of qualifications, while others will have more to offer.
Washington Property Manager Requirements
The State of Washington requires that any property manager be a licensed real estate broker, and nothing more. This means that anyone who takes the time to get a real estate license can automatically offer their services as a property manager. In fact, if someone is working for a licensed real estate broker and only doing part of the management, such as providing information on the property, delivering paperwork, receiving applications, or assisting the person with the real estate license, they don’t even need that qualification.
What Other Qualifications Can You Look For?
Because the State of Washington has very few requirements for property managers, you should usually look for additional qualifications. Some of the available qualifications in Redmond include the following:
Washington Community Association Management Licensing – This is an optional license that proves the holder has a standard of knowledge required by the national CAMICB. This certifies that the manager is qualified to manage condos, resorts, homeowner associations, and other similar associate owned properties. While not required by the State of Washington, if you are looking for a condominium manager, it is a good license to look for.
Washington Managing Broker License – The Washington Managing Broker License certifies that the holder has a minimum of 3 years of experience as a real estate broker, and has taken a minimum of 90 hours of education with a focus on real estate management, business management, and advanced real estate law. This is a step up from a standard real estate broker license, and tells you that the broker in question has a specific speciality in managing property, as well as a minimum amount of experience.
Real Estate Attorney – If your property manager is a real estate attorney, then they have a high knowledge of local and state-wide real estate law. This can be highly beneficial, and will save you in terms of fees, as they are legally allowed to draw up official paperwork and advise you on legal matters. This is not a requirement, but it can be helpful.
Hiring a property manager can be difficult, especially if you aren’t sure what to look for but asking about qualifications is always a good place to start. In addition to asking about legal qualifications like a brokerage license, you can ask about any memberships in local real estate associations, any business management courses or degrees, and how long the management company or real estate manager has been in business. You’ll also want to pay attention to team size, managers, and the number of qualified individuals on the team, especially if you have a lot of homes or units to manage.