Property Management Fee vs Self-Manage Calculator 2027

Calculate cost of property manager (typ 8-12% rent + leasing fee) vs self-managing 2027 — see hours saved, cash flow impact, when PM makes sense.

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Typical PM Fees

Monthly management: 8-12% of collected rent (some 5-7% for high-value, 12-15% for under $1k rent). Leasing fee: 50-100% of first month rent. Other: lease renewal $200-500, inspection fees, eviction $500-1500.

PM Includes

Tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, evictions, lease drafting, vacancy marketing, owner reporting. Some include accounting, others charge extra.

Hidden PM Costs

Markup on repairs (some PMs charge 10-15% mark-up). Pet fees go to PM. Late fees go to PM. Application fees go to PM. Owner pays for vacancy. Compare contracts carefully.

When Self-Manage Wins

1-3 properties local. Have flexibility (not full-time elsewhere). Comfortable handling tenant issues. Tenant base low-drama (no Section 8). Save 10-15% of gross rent.

Source: narpm.org property management standards, biggerpockets.com PM analysis. Last updated: May 2026.