Hiring the right property manager protects your income, your property, and your peace of mind. The wrong one can cost you months of vacancy, deferred maintenance, and legal exposure. Before you sign a management agreement for your South Florida rental, work through the questions below. The answers tell you far more than any sales pitch.
Licensing and local experience
Are you a licensed Florida real estate broker?
In Florida, a company that leases property and collects rent on your behalf must operate under an active real estate broker’s license. Ask for the license and confirm it is current. Luxury Property Care is led by licensed Florida brokers.
How long have you managed properties in my city?
Local knowledge sets rent correctly, fills vacancies faster, and keeps you compliant with county and municipal rules. A manager who works Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami every day will price and market your home more accurately than a statewide call center.
How many units do you currently manage, and what types?
You want a manager experienced with your property type, whether that is a single-family home, condo, small multifamily building, or commercial space. Ask how many similar properties they handle.
Fees and the management agreement
What exactly do your fees cover, and what costs extra?
Get the full fee picture in writing: the monthly management percentage, the leasing or tenant-placement fee, and any renewal, vacancy, inspection, or setup charges. Watch for markups on maintenance. See our property management fees for a transparent example.
Do you mark up maintenance and repairs?
Some managers add a percentage to every vendor invoice. Ask directly. You should pay the actual cost of the work, not a hidden surcharge.
What are the terms for cancelling the agreement?
Read the termination clause before you sign. Look for long lock-in periods, steep cancellation penalties, or fees that make it hard to leave if the relationship is not working.
Tenant screening and leasing
What is your tenant screening process?
A strong manager runs credit, background, eviction-history, income verification, and rental-reference checks on every applicant, and applies consistent, fair-housing-compliant criteria. Ask what their approval standards are.
How do you market vacancies, and how long do they usually take to fill?
Ask where they advertise, whether they use the MLS and syndicated listing sites, and their average days-on-market. In a healthy South Florida market, quality homes should lease quickly.
Maintenance, communication, and reporting
How do you handle maintenance requests and emergencies?
Ask about their response times, their vendor network, and the dollar threshold above which they contact you before spending. You want fast repairs at fair prices and clear limits on what happens without your approval.
How and how often will I hear from you?
Confirm you will receive monthly statements, that you can reach a real person quickly, and how they handle owner questions. Ask whether they offer an online owner portal for statements and documents.
When and how do I get paid?
Ask when owner disbursements go out each month, how funds are transferred, and how they handle late rent or partial payments.
Track record
Can I speak with current owner clients?
References from real owners tell you what the day-to-day relationship is actually like. Also read their Google reviews and check how they respond to feedback.
How do you handle late payments and evictions?
Ask them to walk you through their process for non-paying tenants and how they manage the Florida eviction timeline. A prepared manager has a clear, lawful process.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage do property managers charge in Florida?
Most full-service managers charge a monthly fee of roughly 8 to 10 percent of collected rent, plus a one-time leasing fee to place a new tenant. Always confirm what is and is not included.
Should I hire a property manager or self-manage?
If you live out of the area, own multiple units, value your time, or want a buffer from tenant issues and legal risk, a manager usually pays for itself. Owners of a single nearby unit who enjoy hands-on work may choose to self-manage.
What is the most important question to ask?
Ask exactly what the fees cover and what costs extra. Transparent pricing is the clearest signal of an honest, well-run management company.
Ready to compare? Request a free rental analysis and see how Luxury Property Care manages residential and commercial properties across Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade.