The right property manager pays for itself in fewer vacant months and fewer bad tenants. The wrong one costs you rent, repairs and sleep. California’s Department of Real Estate (DRE) publishes a short guide for landlords hiring a property manager. Below are the questions that matter most, why each one matters, and how we answer them at Skybridge.
Do you need a property manager at all?
If you live near the home, have time to answer calls, know California’s rental laws, and enjoy handling repairs, you may not. Most owners who call us have hit one of these:
- They live more than an hour away, or out of state
- A tenant problem took over their evenings and weekends
- A vacancy dragged on for months
- They worry about missing a California rule on deposits, notices or rent increases
- They own several homes and it became a second job
A good manager handles leasing, screening, rent collection, repairs, accounting and the legal side, so the home earns money without taking your time.
10 questions to ask before you hire anyone
1. Is your license active, and who is the broker?
In California, anyone who leases homes or collects rent for other people needs an active DRE license, and a salesperson must work under a broker. Look the license up yourself on the DRE license lookup and check for past discipline.
2. What do you charge, all in?
Ask for every fee in writing: monthly management, leasing, renewals, setup and anything else. Many managers charge 8% to 12% of rent plus extras. We charge a flat $149 a month for a single family home and $99 for a condo, townhouse, ADU or each door of a duplex to fourplex. Leasing is 50% of the first month’s rent, renewals are $200, and there is no onboarding charge. Our full breakdown of property management fees shows how the models compare over a year.
3. How do you screen tenants?
This one question predicts more of your experience than any other. Ask for the criteria in writing. Ours are a 720 credit score, gross income of 2.5 times the rent and no prior evictions, applied to every applicant the same way. We have had one eviction in eight years. Here is exactly how we screen.
4. How fast do you lease a home?
Every vacant month costs you a full month of rent. We usually lease in 7 to 21 days. Applicants tour on their own schedule through a self showing lockbox, so we never wait days to line up a showing. If we don’t lease your home within 30 days, your next month of management is free.
5. Who answers when I call?
Ask this, then test it. Call the office before you sign. At Skybridge a real person picks up, and after hours tenants and owners dial 0 on the same main line to reach someone.
6. How are repairs approved and paid?
The DRE suggests making sure your agreement spells out how repairs are handled. Ask what dollar amount a manager can approve without you. Our default is $500, and you can set your own. We pay vendors the same day or the next, which is why good vendors pick up our calls and show up fast.
7. Where do my rent and deposits go?
The DRE says your manager should hold rent and security deposits in a trust account. If owner payments arrive late or short, ask for a full accounting.
8. What reports will I get?
You should get a monthly statement showing every dollar in and out, with invoices for repairs. Our owners see this anytime in the owner portal, not only once a month.
9. How do I end the agreement?
Read the cancellation terms before you sign. The DRE recommends an agreement with a clear termination date, and you should know exactly what it costs to leave.
10. What do your reviews say?
Read the most recent Google reviews, especially the bad ones, and how the company responded. We hold a 4.8 star rating from more than 195 Google reviews.
Red flags
- No license, or a license you can’t find on the DRE website
- Fees that only show up after you ask twice
- Screening criteria that change from applicant to applicant
- Owner payments that arrive late, short or with no statement
- Calls and emails that go unanswered for days
- A manager who won’t meet you or walk the home
What working with Skybridge looks like
We are a technology first company with real people at every step. Leasing, applications, rent, maintenance requests and move in reports all run online, so homes lease fast and tenants who like handling things digitally choose them. Those tenants pay on time and want to be left alone. We leave them alone, and your phone doesn’t ring on the weekend.
We have managed Southern California rentals for more than 8 years from our office in Diamond Bar, and our founder has been in property management for 15 years.
Talk to us
Call (909) 610-9780 or get a free rent estimate. Ask us every question above. We would rather you choose us with your eyes open.
Checklist based on the California Department of Real Estate’s Quick Guide for Landlords Hiring a Property Manager. Skybridge Property Group, broker Shazad Omar, DRE #01962702. Current as of November 2026.
