Imagine this: you're a property manager, and you've just gotten off the phone with a tenant who's complaining about a leaky faucet. You've had to deal with this same issue with the same tenant multiple times before, and you're starting to feel frustrated. You wonder if there's something you could have done differently to avoid this situation in the first place.
The truth is, there are a number of common property management mistakes that can lead to problems like this. But by being aware of these mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you can save yourself a lot of time, hassle, and money in the long run.
In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most common property management mistakes and discuss how to avoid them. We'll also provide examples to illustrate our points.
Common Property Management Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Not screening tenants properly.
This is one of the most important mistakes that property managers can make. A good tenant screening process can help to identify potential problems early on and avoid them altogether.
Here are some tips for screening tenants properly:
- Check their credit history. This will give you an idea of their financial responsibility.
- Verify their employment and income. This will help to ensure that they can afford to pay rent.
- Get references from previous landlords. This can give you insights into their behavior as tenants.

Let's say you have two potential tenants who apply for the same rental unit. One tenant has a good credit score and a steady income. The other tenant has a poor credit score and has been evicted from their previous rental unit.
If you don't screen your tenants properly, you might be tempted to rent the unit to the tenant with the poor credit score, especially if they're offering a higher rent price. However, this is a risky move. With a poor credit history and a history of evictions, this tenant is more likely to fall behind on rent or cause damage to the property.
By screening your tenants properly, you can avoid these risks and choose a tenant who is more likely to be a good fit for your property.
Mistake #2: Not keeping up with maintenance.
Another common mistake that property managers make is not keeping up with maintenance. This can lead to a number of problems, including:
- Decreased property value
- Increased repair costs
- Tenant dissatisfaction
- Health and safety hazards
Here are some tips for keeping up with maintenance:
- Have a regular maintenance schedule in place. This will help to ensure that all maintenance tasks are completed on time.
- Respond to tenant maintenance requests promptly. This will show tenants that you value their comfort and safety.
- Hire qualified contractors to perform maintenance tasks. This will help to ensure that the work is done correctly and efficiently.

Let's say you have a tenant who reports a leaky faucet. If you don't respond to the request promptly, the leak could get worse and cause damage to the property. The tenant may also become frustrated and feel like you're not taking their concerns seriously.
By responding to tenant maintenance requests promptly, you can avoid these problems and keep your tenants happy.
Mistake #3: Not collecting service charges on time.
Service charge or maintenance fee is the primary source of income for most property managers, so it's important to be diligent about collecting it on time.
Here are some tips for collecting service charges on time:
- Have a clear and concise service charge collection policy in place. This should communicate your expectations to tenants and make it easy for them to pay rent on time.
- Offer multiple payment options. This will make it easier for tenants to pay service charges, even if they don't have a checking account.
- Follow up with tenants who are late paying service charges. This should be done in a professional and courteous manner.
Let's say you have a tenant who is consistently late paying service charges. If you don't follow up with them, they may continue to pay late, or they may even stop paying service charges altogether.

Mistake #4: Not being responsive to tenants.
Tenants need to know that their property manager is available to address their concerns. If you're not responsive to tenant emails, phone calls, and maintenance requests, they're more likely to become frustrated and leave negative reviews.
Here are some tips for being responsive to tenants:
- Set clear expectations for communication. Let tenants know when they can expect to hear back from you.
- Respond to tenant communications promptly. If you can't respond immediately, let tenants know when they can expect to hear

Mistake #5: Not keeping accurate records.
Property managers need to keep accurate records of all financial transactions, maintenance requests, and tenant communications. This is important for tax purposes and for resolving any disputes that may arise.
Here are some tips for keeping accurate records:
- Use a property management software system. This can help you to automate many of your record-keeping tasks.
- Keep all records in a secure location.
- Back up your records regularly.

Let's say you have a tenant who damages the property. If you don't have accurate records of the damage, it will be difficult to prove that the tenant is responsible.
By keeping accurate records, you can protect yourself from liability and ensure that your tenants are held accountable for their actions.
Avoid these common mistakes using Nextlivin
Nextlivin is a comprehensive property management app that makes it easy to manage your properties and tenants. With Nextlivin, you can:
- Collect and remind tenants of service charges automatically
- Manage maintenance requests and track work orders
- Generate reports and analyze your property performance
- And much more!

Nextlivin is the perfect solution for property managers of all sizes, from small landlords to large management companies. If you're looking for a way to simplify your property management operations, then Nextlivin is the solution for you.
Schedule a demo today to see how Nextlivin can help you to save time, money, and improve your bottom line. Or, sign up for a free trial to experience the benefits of Nextlivin for yourself.
Visit our home page to learn more about Nextlivin and schedule a demo or sign up for a free trial.
Conclusion
By avoiding these common property management mistakes, you can set yourself up for success. By screening your tenants properly, keeping up with maintenance, collecting rent on time, being responsive to tenants, and keeping accurate records, you can minimize problems and maximize your profits.
If you're a property manager, take some time to review this blog post and make sure that you're not making any of these common mistakes. If you are, take steps to correct them. By avoiding these mistakes, you can save yourself a lot of time, hassle, and money in the long run.
We hope this blog post has been informative and helpful!
This article is provided by Nextlivin, For more information on how Nextlivin can assist you in efficiently managing your property, visit our website.
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