Hey Steve,
Since you're disagreeing, I'll disagree with you. Professional property management is a good idea, especially if you are a distance away while renting. We were in the TV program for one year and I fired them. Despite their thoroughness, they are completely inflexible. They charge 5% more for their service, they have very tight rules about when you can use your own home, they won't let you have certain equipment on site because their caretakers don't want to be responsible for it. (a gas grill for goodness sake!!!). And, despite telling us our place was highly desirable, it was vacant in a couple of the high season months.
Two years ago I found a private manager, one of many out there now, who is FABULOUS. His motto: It's the owner's home, the owner makes the rules. He only manages twenty or so properties, but until this winter he has rented our place every month we wanted him to do so. (We didn't rent in October and we had our first cancellation this January.)
Yes, TV does things well, but it is very difficult to be their partner. I'm pretty sure one reason they built Creekside Landing was so they would have to deal with fewer frustrated partners.
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