Can You Afford a Property Manager? | Free Rental Property Calculator

The Real Cost of Ownership

What Does It Actually Cost to Own a Rental Property?

Most landlords think about their rental in simple terms: rent comes in, mortgage goes out, whatever's left is profit. That math works — until it doesn't. The expenses that don't show up every month are the ones that quietly eat your returns when you're least prepared for them.

Preventative maintenance is the biggest blind spot. A $150 AC service call once a year prevents a $4,000 compressor replacement. A $200 roof inspection prevents a $12,000 emergency repair. These aren't surprises — they're predictable costs that become emergencies only when they've been deferred too long.

"The first expense most self-managing landlords cut when cash flow gets tight is preventative maintenance. It's also the one that costs them the most in the long run. Doing a little every month — setting aside a reserve, staying ahead of systems — is what separates properties that perform from ones that hemorrhage money at the worst possible time."

— Ravena Andrews, Broker | RCA Realty Group - Property Management Division

What Professional Management Covers

What Landlords Are Tired of Doing

The landlords who come to us aren't failing. They're exhausted. They didn't sign up to field 11pm maintenance calls, chase late rent, navigate HOA violations, or figure out if their lease is still compliant. These are the things professional management handles — so ownership goes back to being an investment, not a job.

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Streamlined Maintenance

Tenants submit requests through the portal. Vendors are dispatched and tracked. You never take a repair call — and issues get resolved faster because the system is built for it.

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All Communication Handled

Every tenant call, text, vendor follow-up, and update is managed by our team. Your phone stays quiet. The property stays managed.

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Lease & HOA Compliance

Lease terms are enforced consistently. HOA violations are tracked, responded to, and resolved on your behalf — before they become fines or disputes.

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Faster Turnover to Market

Move-in to move-out coordination — cleaners scheduled, unit documented, back on market faster. Every vacant day costs money. We work to minimize it.

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4 Property Inspections Per Year

Routine inspections catch issues before they become expensive repairs. Move-in and move-out documentation protects you at every transition.

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Eviction Process Support

When rent isn't collected, we guide you through every step — notices, timelines, documentation, and coordination — so nothing gets missed and the timeline stays on track.

How We Operate

Services That Work for Both Sides

The best-performing rental properties have tenants who are invested in staying. Part of how we manage is aligning services that give tenants real value — because a tenant who benefits from where they live takes better care of it, pays on time, and renews. That's not a coincidence. It's how we operate.

Credit Building Through Rent

On-time rent payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus. For tenants building or rebuilding credit this is real value every month. For owners it creates a built-in incentive for tenants to pay on time, every time.

✓ Owner benefit: consistent on-time payment behavior

Air Filter Delivery Service

Filters are delivered directly to the tenant. They install it in minutes. The HVAC runs cleaner, lasts longer, and the owner avoids the kind of deferred maintenance that turns a routine service into a $5,000 system replacement. A small service with a significant return.

✓ Owner benefit: HVAC protection, fewer emergency repairs

Renters Insurance — Required & Verified

Every tenant carries renters insurance before move-in and we verify it. This protects the owner's property from tenant liability and gives tenants coverage for their own belongings. A standard that too many self-managing landlords skip.

✓ Owner benefit: liability protection, lease compliance

Attorney-Drafted Lease on Every Placement

Every tenant gets a lease that is legally current, fully compliant with Florida and Georgia law, and built to protect the owner. Not a template from three years ago. A professionally drafted document executed on every placement and renewal.

✓ Owner benefit: enforceable lease, fair housing protection

Preventative Maintenance Guide

The Cost of Deferring Maintenance

Preventative maintenance isn't optional — it's the difference between owning a performing asset and owning a liability. Here's what staying ahead of it costs versus what it costs when you don't:

HVAC Service

Annual tune-up, filter replacement, coil cleaning

$150 – $250/yr

Deferred: $3,500 – $8,000 replacement

Roof Inspection

Annual inspection, minor caulking and flashing

$200 – $400/yr

Deferred: $8,000 – $25,000 full replacement

Plumbing Check

Water heater flush, line inspection, leak detection

$100 – $200/yr

Deferred: $1,500 – $6,000 water damage

Pest Control

Quarterly treatment, annual termite inspection

$400 – $600/yr

Deferred: $5,000 – $20,000 structural damage

Exterior & Paint

Caulking, touch-up painting, gutter cleaning

$300 – $600/yr

Deferred: $4,000 – $12,000 rot repair + repaint

Appliance Maintenance

Dryer vent cleaning, refrigerator coils, dishwasher

$150 – $300/yr

Deferred: $800 – $2,500 per appliance

Licensed technician performing preventative maintenance

Your Rental Property
Financial Calculator

Enter your actual numbers. See your full cost picture — self-managed vs. professionally managed — side by side.

📋 Property & Income

Monthly Rent Collected ($) Current or expected monthly rent

Property Value ($) Used to calculate your maintenance reserve

🏠 Monthly Fixed Expenses

Mortgage Payment ($) or $0 if owned free & clear

Property Taxes (monthly $) Annual taxes ÷ 12

Landlord Insurance (monthly $) Annual premium ÷ 12

HOA Fees (monthly $) Enter $0 if none

Other Monthly Expenses ($) Lawn care, utilities, etc.

🛡️ Reserve Funds (Monthly Set-Aside)

Preventative Maintenance Reserve

2% of property value ÷ 12 — good for homes 10–20 yrs old —

Eviction Reserve Fund Minimum $20/mo — consider $40/mo if screening results raise any flags. Having this funded before you need it keeps the process moving without disrupting your cash flow.

⚙️ Property Management Fee

Management Fee Rate — slide to adjust

At 8% — performance-based. You only pay when rent is collected. No rent, no fee.

Your Investment Deserves a Real Strategy

The numbers don't lie. When you see the full picture — reserves included, management fee included — the question was never whether you could afford a property manager. It's whether you can afford the alternative.

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Can You Afford aProperty Manager?