You have only to mention the subject of property management companies (MCs) to a rental home owner, and you will be almost guaranteed an animated response, usually with a selection of horror stories. Most owners are too far away from their property to take any part in its day to day running. Yet the grass still has to be cut, the pool has to be serviced, pests have to be kept under control.

There are hundreds of MCs looking after rental homes, so how do you decide which one? As far as possible, use the personal experiences and recommendations of any other owners that you come into contact with. Take a look at the invaluable online forum for Florida rental home owners, and ask contributors there for their help. Prioritize what you want from your MC. You need a good source of rental bookings, or you may be looking only for basic property management.

Whichever company you choose, keep a tight a rein on them at first. Don't get into a situation where they spend your money and then tell you about it afterwards. If they charge you for a weekly pool and pool deck clean, find out whether the pool man really does come every week, and whether he does clean the deck. There are a lot of companies out there that do their job really well, and can be trusted one hundred percent. There are also enough rogue MCs to generate all the horror stories.

Do not put up with a bad company. Start looking around for a better company immediately. Conversely, if you are getting a good deal from your company, make sure you appreciate what you are getting. And be sure to tell other owners about it!

Talk to your guests, either while they are still in your home or after they have returned home at the end of their vacation. Ask them whether your management company contacted them during their stay, was the home clean, did the pool man come during their stay? These people are your on-the-spot spies, so make use of them. Doing this also has the additional advantage that your guests see that you are interested in their welfare, and you may generate some good publicity as a result.

Another good source of information is from people who are always around your property, your neighbors. Next time you are there, make a point of striking up a conversation with local residents. The elected members of the HOA are often residents themselves, and because of their particular role they are more likely to keep their eyes open whenever they are driving or walking around the neighborhood.