Quick answer
Property management services usually include the recurring work needed to operate a rental property. Common services include rent pricing support, marketing, showings, tenant screening, lease coordination, rent collection, maintenance request handling, vendor coordination, owner statements, renewals, move-out steps, and reporting.
The exact service package depends on the management agreement. Owners should confirm what is included, what is optional, and what is billed separately.
Leasing and marketing services
Many property management services begin before a tenant moves in. Leasing and marketing may include:
- Rent range recommendations.
- Listing preparation.
- Photos or listing coordination.
- Rental platform syndication.
- Inquiry response.
- Showing coordination.
- Application support.
This part of the process affects vacancy time and tenant quality, so owners should ask how the manager markets rentals and tracks leads.
Screening and lease services
After applications come in, management services may include tenant screening and lease coordination. This can involve:
- Application processing.
- Income and employment review.
- Credit, background, eviction, and rental history review.
- Consistent screening criteria.
- Lease preparation.
- Move-in fund collection.
- Tenant onboarding.
Owners should ask what screening reports are used and how approval decisions are documented.
Ongoing management services
Once the tenant moves in, ongoing management may include:
- Rent collection.
- Tenant communication.
- Lease tracking.
- Late payment follow-up.
- Routine notices.
- Owner distributions.
- Account updates.
- Renewal reminders.
This ongoing work is what separates full-service management from leasing-only help.
Maintenance and reporting services
Maintenance coordination and owner reporting are major parts of property management. Services may include:
- Receiving maintenance requests.
- Coordinating vendors.
- Communicating repair status.
- Requesting owner approvals for larger items.
- Processing vendor invoices.
- Providing owner statements.
- Organizing documents for year-end records.
Owners should ask how repair approvals work, whether maintenance markups apply, and how quickly they receive updates.
What may be excluded
Some services may be separate from the base management fee. Possible exclusions include:
- Leasing fees.
- Renewal fees.
- Setup fees.
- Inspection fees.
- Large project management.
- Eviction or court coordination.
- Repair invoices.
- Paid advertising or photography.
The management agreement should explain these details clearly. For cost context, see what property management fees are.
Related resources
- Property Management Basics category
- What is full-service property management?
- What are property management fees?
- Residential property management
- Property management pricing
Frequently asked questions
Does property management include finding tenants?
Often, yes. Many managers include leasing services, but some charge leasing separately or offer leasing-only packages. Owners should confirm the service plan.
Does property management include maintenance?
Usually, management includes maintenance coordination, but actual repair costs are typically paid by the owner.
Does property management include rent collection?
Yes, rent collection is commonly part of ongoing management. The manager may also track balances, late payments, and owner distributions.
Are inspections included in property management services?
Sometimes. Some managers include certain inspections, while others charge separately. The agreement should explain inspection frequency and cost.