Frequently Asked Questions for owner-clients

We list and manage residential properties including single-family homes, condos, and townhouses.  The areas we serve include Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, King George County, and Caroline County, 

No. Many property management companies only provide limited services for discounted pricing; some firms are designed for owners who like to be very involved in the day-to-day management of their homes; and some firms (like Harbour Property Mangement) are full service firms designed to give owner-clients a full service, stress-free, hands-off experience, where we handle ALL aspects of the property management cycle with professionalism and expertise. Property management in Virginia is legally complex, and you want a professional overseeing what may be your most valuable asset. As you consider partnering with a property management company, but sure to ask them the following questions:

• Is each individual property manager licensed? (All Harbour Property Management agents are fully licensed and go through a detailed internal and ongoing training process.)
• What if I want to cancel my service with you? (Most property management companies have long term contracts with expensive termination fees. Harbour Property Management will allow you to cancel with no termination fees or penalties; because we believe that we should earn your business every day and you should have the flexibility to leave if you want to.)
• What "other" fees could you charge me? (Many property management companies have hidden fees for things like scheduling repairs, eviction services, dealing with HOAs, or property inspections. Harbour Property Management does not charge for any of those services; they are part of our full service management service.) 

We are very experienced in taking on the management of a property with a current tenant in place. We often take over management in situations where a tenant may be delinquent in rent or the owners are having difficulty managing a current tenant. When this happens, we perform a full lease/document audit and work with the tenant to ensure that the they either conform to the terms of the lease and bring their rent current, or when necessary, vacate the property. We have also been brought in to solve issues with other management situations.

We love those who serve, but value all of our owner-clients in all career fields.  For that reason, our management fees are the same for all of our valued owner-clients.

There are companies whose big push is that they are "cheap" or the "cheapest" property management company in the area.  We have never found that "cheapest" corresponds with excellence, especially in property management.  Our goal is to do an outstanding job taking care of your property, you, and your tenants, so no, it is not our goal to be the cheapest when it comes to taking care of your most valuable financial asset, your home.  When talking about fees, the "cheapest" will literally save you a few dollars a day, at the most.  Poor property management could cost you thousands. Is it worth putting your property in the hands of a company whose goal is "cheap" over excellence?  

We use a combination of market research, comparable property analysis, and our extensive experience in the local real estate market to determine the listing price of a property. When we meet with you, we bring you a printed copy of the comparable properties in your area so we can discuss the pricing with you.

 No. We believe we should only be paid if you get paid. Our management fee is a percentage of the actual rent we collect. If we do not collect any rent, or if the property is vacant, you don’t pay us anything. 

Yes. We will collect a $500 escrow reserve from you. This is your money and it will be deposited into our rental bank account as the reserve for your property. We will potentially use these funds to pay for expenses that may arise between the time we send you your rental income, and the time we collect the rent from the tenant the following month. We will always maintain this reserve as long as we manage your property. When we stop managing your property it will be returned to you. 

We strongly discourage the use of home warranty companies as they often provide a delayed, and less than exceptional experience and outcome. 

The National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®) is an association of real estate professionals who know first-hand the unique problems and challenges of managing single-family and small residential properties.

The National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®), founded in October 1988, provides a permanent trade organization for the residential property management industry. NARPM® continues to be the premier professional association of residential property managers, currently representing more than 6,000 members comprised of real estate agents, brokers, managers, and their employees.

NARPM® promotes a high standard of business ethics, professionalism, and fair housing practice. The Association also educates its members in the standards and practices of the residential property management industry and promotes continuing professional education. NARPM® members know that education and communication raise the level of our profession, so that we may better represent our clients. NARPM® is here to represent the interest of property managers.

Professional Members of NARPM® are individuals who must be engaged in the management of residential properties as agents for others. They are licensed in those states that require licensing. Or are employees of a company, or property owner, who handles all aspects of the residential property management. These individuals must comply with real estate license law for their state but do not have to hold a license. Professional Members have also completed current NARPM® Code of Ethics training.

Harbour Property Management is proud to be a member of NARPM and to adhere to the highest standards and best practices in the industry.