You have a property in Calgary, maybe a condo in the Beltline or a townhouse in the Northwest. At first, taking care of it was not a deal. Now you are getting calls in the middle of the night about clogged toilets and tenants who pay rent when they feel like it. You might be thinking it is time to get some help. As a company that helps people manage their properties in Calgary Green Casa sees this kind of thing every day. Today I want to share with you five signs that you need help managing your rental property. We will go over the stress, the money and the time you could save.
Sign One You Live Away From Your Rental Property
When you live far away from your rental property it can be really tough to take care of it. If you live in another city or even another neighborhood in Calgary small problems can become headaches. For example a tenant calls you about a faucet that is leaking. You cannot just drive over to check it out. You have to call a plumber and hope they are honest.
The plumber might charge you 500 dollars for a job that should only cost 200 dollars. Meanwhile the tenant is getting frustrated because it is taking long to fix the problem. When you finally visit the property months later you might find out that there is damage that you did not know about. A company that helps manage properties in Calgary can solve this problem. We have people who work for us locally who can check on the property every week.
We have plumbers and other workers who we trust and who charge prices. We get back to tenants within hours, not days. If you live than 30 minutes away from your rental property it is already hard for you to take care of it.
Sign Two You Have Tenants Who Do Not Stay Long
Good tenants stay for a time. Bad tenants leave after a months. If you are always advertising your property showing it to strangers and signing leases something is wrong. When tenants leave all the time it costs you money because the property is empty and you have to clean and fix things. It also wears you out emotionally. Often the problem is not the tenants it is that you are not checking them out properly before you rent to them.
A company that helps manage properties in Calgary checks peoples credit makes sure they have a job and talks to their old landlords. We also know what to do if a tenant stops paying rent. At Green Casa our tenants usually stay for than three years. We reduce the number of times tenants leave by fixing problems and treating them with respect. If you have had to sign a lease every year for the past three years you need help.
Sign Three You Do Not Understand Alberta Rental Laws
The laws about renting properties in Alberta are complicated. Did you know that you cannot enter a property without telling the tenant 24 hours ahead of time unless it is an emergency? Did you know that you have to give the tenant their security deposit within ten days of them giving you their new address? If you do not follow these rules a tenant can take you to court. You might have to pay them money. I have seen landlords lose thousands of dollars because they did not follow the rules.
A company that helps manage properties in Calgary knows these laws inside and out. We know all the forms and timelines. We stay up to date on any changes. For example the rules about raising rent and evicting tenants have changed recently. Do not risk losing money because you do not know the laws. Hire a professional who has insurance in case they make a mistake.
Sign Four You Are Not Making Money on Your Rental Property
This is the important thing. You bought a property to make money.. After you pay the mortgage, property taxes, insurance and maintenance you might not be making any money. Maybe you are not charging rent because you do not know what other similar properties are renting for. Maybe you are spending much money on repairs because you do not have a plan to prevent problems. Maybe your property is empty for long because you are not advertising it well.
A company that helps manage properties in Calgary can fix all these problems. We do research to figure out how rent you should be charging. We have relationships with workers who can fix things at a price. We advertise your property on websites to reduce the time it is empty. At Green Casa we often raise the rent by 10 to 15 percent for our clients while keeping the tenants happy.
Sign Five You Are Stressed Out. Burned Out
Being a landlord can be a second job. Every phone call, every text message, every time a tenant’s angry it all takes a toll on you. You might start avoiding your phone on the weekends. You might feel anxious every time a tenant messages you. You might even argue with your partner about the property. That stress is not worth it. Your health and your relationships are more important than the hundred dollars you save by managing the property yourself.
A company that helps manage properties in Calgary can take all that stress away. We handle everything. You get a statement every month. The rent is deposited directly into your bank account. You never have to talk to the tenants unless you want to. You can go on vacation without worrying about emergencies. I have seen owners cry with relief after they hired us. That is not an exaggeration.
What a Rental Property Management Company Does
You might be wondering what you get for the monthly fee, which is usually 8 to 12 percent of the rent. Here is a list of what we do. We advertise your property with photos and descriptions on all the major websites. We check out tenants, including their credit and job history. We make a lease that follows the law and a pet deposit agreement. We collect the rent. Handle late payments. We take care of all maintenance and repairs with workers. We do inspections when tenants move in and out and take photos.
We handle all communication with tenants. We manage the security deposit according to Alberta law. We give you a statement every month and a tax report every year. We even handle evictions if needed. That is a lot of work. Most owners do not realize how much is involved.
What Landlords Cannot Deduct No Matter What
There are things that landlords cannot charge you for even if you caused the issue if the item had already lived its full life. Carpet usually lasts 8 to 10 years. Paint lasts 3 to 5 years. Appliances 10 to 15 years. If a carpet is 12 years old when you move out its value is zero. The landlord cannot charge you for stains because they would have needed to replace it. Similarly if you lived in a unit for 8 years the landlord cannot charge you for painting because any normal home would need paint by then.
This is called depreciation. Many tenants do not know this. End up paying for things they should not. As a property management company in Calgary we apply depreciation fairly. We only charge for the remaining life of an item. For example if a carpet had 2 years of life left and you damaged it you pay for 2 years worth of value not a replacement.
How to Choose the Right Rental Property Management Company in Calgary
Not all companies are the same. When you start talking to them ask these questions. How long have you been in business? Can you give me references from clients? What do you. Are there any hidden fees? How do you handle emergencies that happen after hours? What is your process for checking out tenants? How often do you inspect the property? Do you have your workers or do you hire subcontractors? Ask to see a sample lease and a sample monthly statement.
Also ask about their rate of properties and how long their tenants usually stay. At Green Casa we welcome all these questions. We are proud of our contracts and our happy clients. Avoid any company that tries to rush you into signing a contract or that has a lot of reviews online.
The Cost of Not Hiring a Professional Management Company
Let me tell you a worst-case scenario. You keep managing the property yourself. You miss a deadline and a tenant sues you for 10,000 dollars.. You rent to a bad tenant who stops paying rent. It takes four months to evict them. You lose 8,000 dollars in rent plus legal fees.. You ignore a small leak in the roof that becomes a 15,000 dollar problem with mold.
These things have happened to meaning owners. Hiring a rental property management company in Calgary is not an expense it is insurance against losses. The small monthly fee is nothing compared to the cost of one mistake.
Conclusion
You have seen the five signs. Living away having tenants who do not stay not understanding the laws not making money and being stressed out all point to one solution. Hiring a rental property management company is not a luxury it is a smart business decision. At Green Casa we have helped hundreds of owners, in Calgary sleep better at night. You do not have to do everything yourself. You just have to make one phone call. Let us take the weight off your shoulders. Your rental property should make your life easier not harder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Most companies charge 8 to 12 percent of the rent. Some charge a fee of 150 to 250 dollars per unit. Always ask about fees for finding tenants and markups on repairs.
Yes. You set a limit on how much can be spent, like 500 dollars. Any repair that costs more than that requires your approval. You also choose whether you want to be contacted for every decision.
In a market in Calgary it usually takes two to four weeks. We use photos, online ads and signs to attract qualified tenants.
No. You can keep owning it in your name. The management agreement is between you and the company. Your ownership does not change.
We help you go after the tenant for damages through the court or small claims court. We also recommend getting insurance to cover losses.
Co-Founder & Director
Hafil Perincheeri is an engineer-turned-realtor, investor, and builder based in Calgary, Canada. As Co-Founder and Director of Greencasa, he specializes in home flips, property development, and investment strategies. Since 2019, he has guided clients in home buying, multifamily investing, and financing options like CMHC and MLI Select, ensuring transparent, informed decisions.