Property Manager Interview Questionnaire: Complete Template & Scoring System

Hiring the right property manager is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a real estate investor. A good manager can maximize your income, maintain your property, and handle tenants professionally. A bad one can cost you tens of thousands in lost rent, legal fees, and property damage.

This comprehensive interview questionnaire gives you a structured, professional framework to evaluate property management candidates. Use it to compare managers objectively, identify red flags, and make confident hiring decisions.

How to Use This Questionnaire

Preparation (Before the Interview)

Send preliminary questions - Ask candidates to complete Section 1 (Company Background) in writing before the interview
Review their materials - Study their management agreement, fee structure, and marketing materials
Check references - Contact at least 3 current clients before the in-person interview
Prepare your property data - Have details ready about your property, market, and expectations

During the Interview

Take detailed notes - Record answers verbatim when possible
Ask follow-up questions - Don't just check boxes; dig deeper into concerning answers
Observe body language - Note confidence, defensiveness, or evasiveness
Request proof - Ask for documentation of claims (licenses, insurance, results)

After the Interview

Complete the scoring - Use the scoring system for each section
Calculate total score - Add up points across all categories
Compare candidates - Review scores and qualitative notes side-by-side
Trust your instincts - A high score doesn't override major red flags

Section 1: Company Background & Experience

Scoring: 0-10 points

1.1 Company History

Q: How long has your company been in business?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 10+ years = 2 points
- 5-10 years = 1 point
- Less than 5 years = 0 points

Q: How many properties do you currently manage?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 50+ properties = 2 points
- 20-50 properties = 1 point
- Less than 20 properties = 0 points

Q: What percentage of your business is in my property type and market?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 50%+ in similar properties = 2 points
- 25-50% in similar properties = 1 point
- Less than 25% = 0 points

1.2 Team & Structure

Q: How many full-time employees do you have?

Answer: ___________________

Q: What is your manager-to-property ratio?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 1:50 or better = 2 points
- 1:51-100 = 1 point
- Worse than 1:100 = 0 points

Q: Who will be my primary point of contact?

Answer: ___________________

Q: What happens if that person leaves?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Clear succession plan = 2 points
- Vague plan = 1 point
- No plan = 0 points

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 2: Licenses, Insurance & Legal Compliance

Scoring: 0-10 points ⚠️ CRITICAL SECTION

2.1 Licensing

Q: Are you licensed as a real estate broker/property manager in this state?

Yes / No
License number: ___________________
Score: 0 or 5 points
- Licensed = 5 points
- Not licensed = 0 points + MAJOR RED FLAG

Q: Are all team members who handle properties properly licensed?

Yes / No
Red Flag if No

2.2 Insurance Coverage

Q: What insurance policies do you carry?

General Liability: Yes / No - Coverage: $___________
Errors & Omissions (E&O): Yes / No - Coverage: $___________
Workers Compensation: Yes / No
Fidelity Bond: Yes / No - Coverage: $___________

Score: 0-3 points

All four policies with adequate coverage = 3 points
Three policies = 2 points
Two policies = 1 point
One or none = 0 points + MAJOR RED FLAG

Q: Can you provide certificates of insurance?

Yes / No (request copies)

2.3 Legal & Compliance

Q: Have you or your company ever been sued by an owner or tenant?

Answer: ___________________
If yes, outcome: ___________________

Q: Have you ever had a license suspended or revoked?

Yes / No
If yes = MAJOR RED FLAG

Q: How do you stay current on landlord-tenant law changes?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Active education + membership = 2 points
- Some education = 1 point
- Minimal effort = 0 points

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 3: Tenant Screening & Placement

Scoring: 0-10 points

3.1 Screening Process

Q: Walk me through your tenant screening process step-by-step.

Answer: ___________________

Q: What screening criteria do you use?

Credit score minimum: ___________________
Income requirement (rent-to-income ratio): ___________________
Background check: Yes / No
Eviction history check: Yes / No
Employment verification: Yes / No
Landlord references: Yes / No (how many: ___)

Score: 0-3 points

Comprehensive screening (all 6 items) = 3 points
4-5 items = 2 points
3 or fewer = 1 point

Q: What is your approval rate for applicants?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 20-40% (selective) = 2 points
- 40-60% = 1 point
- Over 60% = 0 points (too lenient)

3.2 Marketing & Vacancy

Q: What is your average days-to-lease?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Under 15 days = 2 points
- 15-30 days = 1 point
- Over 30 days = 0 points

Q: How do you market vacant properties?

MLS: Yes / No
Zillow/Trulia: Yes / No
Apartments.com: Yes / No
Professional photos: Yes / No
Virtual tours: Yes / No
Social media: Yes / No

Score: 0-2 points

5-6 marketing channels = 2 points
- 3-4 channels = 1 point
- 1-2 channels = 0 points

Q: Who pays for marketing costs?

Answer: ___________________

3.3 Leasing & Placement Fee

Q: What is your leasing/placement fee?

Answer: ___________________

Q: What does that fee cover?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-1 point
- Covers everything = 1 point
- Hidden fees = 0 points

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 4: Rent Collection & Financial Management

Scoring: 0-10 points

4.1 Rent Collection

Q: What is your average rent collection rate?

Answer: ___________%
Score: 0-2 points
- 98%+ = 2 points
- 95-98% = 1 point
- Below 95% = 0 points

Q: What is your process for late rent?

Day 1 (rent due): ___________________
Day 3-5: ___________________
Day 10: ___________________
Day 15: ___________________

Score: 0-2 points

Aggressive collection process = 2 points
Standard process = 1 point
Weak process = 0 points

Q: When do you file for eviction for non-payment?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Within 5-10 days = 2 points
- 11-15 days = 1 point
- Over 15 days = 0 points

4.2 Owner Payments

Q: When do you send owner payments?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- By the 10th = 2 points
- By the 15th = 1 point
- After the 15th = 0 points

Q: How are payments sent?

Direct deposit / Check / Wire
Electronic = preferred

Q: What if a tenant pays late? Do you still pay me on time?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- You get paid on schedule = 2 points
- Payment delayed = 0 points

4.3 Financial Reporting

Q: What financial reports do you provide?

Monthly income statement: Yes / No
Cash flow statement: Yes / No
- Year-end tax summary: Yes / No
Online owner portal: Yes / No

Score: 0-2 points

All four reports = 2 points
2-3 reports = 1 point
1 or none = 0 points

Q: Can I see a sample owner statement?

Yes / No (request copy)

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 5: Maintenance & Vendor Management

Scoring: 0-10 points

5.1 Maintenance Response

Q: How do tenants submit maintenance requests?

Answer: ___________________

Q: What is your response time for emergency maintenance?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Within 2 hours = 2 points
- 2-4 hours = 1 point
- Over 4 hours = 0 points

Q: What is your response time for non-emergency maintenance?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-1 point
- Within 48 hours = 1 point
- Over 48 hours = 0 points

5.2 Vendor Network

Q: Do you have preferred vendors for common repairs?

Plumbing: Yes / No
Electrical: Yes / No
HVAC: Yes / No
Appliance repair: Yes / No
Handyman: Yes / No

Score: 0-2 points

Vendors for all categories = 2 points
3-4 categories = 1 point
2 or fewer = 0 points

Q: Are your vendors licensed and insured?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-1 point
- All vendors verified = 1 point
- Not verified = 0 points + RED FLAG

Q: Do you get competitive bids for repairs over $X?

Answer: ___________________
Threshold: $___________
Score: 0-2 points
- Gets 2-3 bids over $500 = 2 points
- Gets bids over $1,000 = 1 point
- Rarely gets bids = 0 points

5.3 Approval Process

Q: What is your spending authority without owner approval?

Answer: $___________
Score: 0-2 points
- $200-500 = 2 points (reasonable)
- $500-1,000 = 1 point
- Over $1,000 = 0 points (too high)

Q: How quickly can you get owner approval for larger repairs?

Answer: ___________________

Q: How do you handle emergency repairs that exceed your authority?

Answer: ___________________

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 6: Property Inspections & Preventive Maintenance

Scoring: 0-10 points

6.1 Regular Inspections

Q: How often do you inspect occupied properties?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-3 points
- Quarterly = 3 points
- Semi-annually = 2 points
- Annually = 1 point
- Rarely/never = 0 points + RED FLAG

Q: What does a routine inspection include?

Answer: ___________________

Q: Do you provide photos with inspection reports?

Yes / No
Score: 0-1 point
- Photos provided = 1 point
- No photos = 0 points

6.2 Move-In/Move-Out Inspections

Q: How detailed are your move-in and move-out inspections?

Answer: ___________________

Q: Do you provide photo/video documentation?

Yes / No
Score: 0-2 points
- Comprehensive photo/video = 2 points
- Photos only = 1 point
- Minimal documentation = 0 points

Q: How do you handle security deposit disputes?

Answer: ___________________

6.3 Preventive Maintenance

Q: Do you have a preventive maintenance program?

Yes / No

Q: What's included in your preventive maintenance?

HVAC filter changes: Yes / No
HVAC annual service: Yes / No
Gutter cleaning: Yes / No
Smoke detector testing: Yes / No
Other: ___________________

Score: 0-2 points

Comprehensive program = 2 points
Basic program = 1 point
No program = 0 points

Q: Who pays for preventive maintenance?

Answer: ___________________

6.4 Vacancy Preparation

Q: How do you prepare vacant properties for marketing?

Answer: ___________________

Score: 0-2 points

Professional make-ready process = 2 points
Basic cleaning = 1 point
Minimal prep = 0 points

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 7: Evictions & Problem Tenants

Scoring: 0-10 points

7.1 Eviction Experience

Q: How many evictions have you filed in the past 12 months?

Answer: ___________________
Percentage of total portfolio: ___________%

Q: What is your eviction success rate?

Answer: ___________%
Score: 0-2 points
- 90%+ success = 2 points
- 80-90% = 1 point
- Below 80% = 0 points

Q: How long does the eviction process typically take in this market?

Answer: ___________________

7.2 Eviction Process

Q: Do you use an attorney for evictions?

Yes / No
Attorney name: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Uses attorney = 2 points
- Self-files = 0 points

Q: Who pays eviction costs?

Owner / Manager / Tenant / Shared
Answer: ___________________

Q: What is your process before filing eviction?

Answer: ___________________

7.3 Problem Tenant Management

Q: How do you handle lease violations (noise, unauthorized occupants, pets, etc.)?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Formal written process = 2 points
- Informal handling = 1 point
- Inconsistent = 0 points

Q: How do you balance tenant relations with owner protection?

Answer: ___________________

Q: Can you describe a difficult tenant situation and how you resolved it?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Strong resolution example = 2 points
- Weak example = 1 point
- No good example = 0 points

7.4 Legal Compliance

Q: How do you ensure compliance with fair housing laws during evictions?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Clear understanding = 2 points
- Basic understanding = 1 point
- Weak understanding = 0 points + RED FLAG

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 8: Communication & Owner Relations

Scoring: 0-10 points

8.1 Communication Frequency

Q: How often will we communicate?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Monthly + as needed = 2 points
- Quarterly = 1 point
- Only when problems arise = 0 points

Q: What is your typical response time for owner inquiries?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Within 4 business hours = 2 points
- Within 24 hours = 1 point
- Over 24 hours = 0 points

Q: What is your preferred communication method?

Email / Phone / Text / Portal
Answer: ___________________

8.2 Availability & Accessibility

Q: Do you have an after-hours emergency line?

Yes / No
Score: 0-1 point
- 24/7 availability = 1 point
- No after-hours = 0 points

Q: Do you provide an owner portal?

Yes / No
Score: 0-2 points
- Full-featured portal = 2 points
- Basic portal = 1 point
- No portal = 0 points

Q: What can I access in the owner portal?

Financial reports: Yes / No
Maintenance requests: Yes / No
Lease documents: Yes / No
Inspection reports: Yes / No
Tenant communications: Yes / No

8.3 Transparency & Reporting

Q: How proactive are you with communicating issues?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- Very proactive = 2 points
- Reactive = 1 point
- Minimal communication = 0 points

Q: Do you provide annual property performance reviews?

Yes / No
Score: 0-1 point
- Annual reviews = 1 point
- No reviews = 0 points

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 9: Fees & Contract Terms

Scoring: 0-10 points

9.1 Management Fees

Q: What is your monthly management fee?

% of monthly rent OR $
Score: 0-2 points
- 8-10% = 2 points
- 10-12% = 1 point
- Over 12% = 0 points

Q: Is there a minimum monthly fee?

Yes / No
If yes: $___________

9.2 Additional Fees

Q: What additional fees do you charge?

Leasing/placement fee: $__________
Renewal fee: $__________
Inspection fee: $__________
Eviction coordination fee: $__________
Maintenance markup: ___________%
Early termination fee: $__________
Other fees: ___________________

Score: 0-2 points

Transparent, reasonable fees = 2 points
High fees or many hidden fees = 1 point
Excessive fees = 0 points + RED FLAG

Q: Do you mark up maintenance and repairs?

Yes / No
If yes, percentage: ___________%
Score: 0-2 points
- No markup or under 10% = 2 points
- 10-20% markup = 1 point
- Over 20% = 0 points + RED FLAG

9.3 Contract Terms

Q: What is the contract length?

Answer: ___________________
Score: 0-2 points
- 1 year or month-to-month = 2 points
- 2 years = 1 point
- 3+ years = 0 points

Q: What is your cancellation policy?

Notice required: ___________ days
Cancellation fee: $___________
Score: 0-2 points
- 30-60 days, no fee = 2 points
- 60-90 days, reasonable fee = 1 point
- 90+ days or high fee = 0 points

Q: What happens if I sell the property?

Answer: ___________________

Q: Are there any auto-renewal clauses?

Yes / No
If yes = RED FLAG

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Section 10: References & Track Record

Scoring: 0-10 points

10.1 Client References

Q: Can you provide 3-5 current client references?

Yes / No
If no = MAJOR RED FLAG

Reference 1:

Name: ___________________
Phone: ___________________
Properties managed: ___________________
Years as client: ___________________

Reference 2:

Name: ___________________
Phone: ___________________
Properties managed: ___________________
Years as client: ___________________

Reference 3:

Name: ___________________
Phone: ___________________
Properties managed: ___________________
Years as client: ___________________

10.2 Reference Check Questions

Ask each reference:

How long has [manager] managed your properties? ___________________
What is your overall satisfaction (1-10)? ___________________
How is communication? ___________________
How do they handle maintenance? ___________________
What is their rent collection like? ___________________
Any issues with late payments to you? ___________________
Would you recommend them? ___________________
Any concerns or complaints? ___________________

Score: 0-5 points

Excellent references = 5 points
Good references = 3-4 points
Mixed references = 1-2 points
Poor references = 0 points + MAJOR RED FLAG

10.3 Industry Reputation

Q: Are you a member of any professional associations?

NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers): Yes / No
NAA (National Apartment Association): Yes / No
State/local associations: Yes / No

Score: 0-2 points

Member of 2+ associations = 2 points
Member of 1 association = 1 point
No memberships = 0 points

Q: Have you won any industry awards or recognition?

Answer: ___________________

10.4 Online Presence

Google Reviews: /5 stars ( reviews) Yelp: /5 stars ( reviews) BBB Rating: ___________

Score: 0-3 points

4.5+ stars, many reviews = 3 points
4.0-4.4 stars = 2 points
3.5-3.9 stars = 1 point
Below 3.5 = 0 points + RED FLAG

Notes & Red Flags:

[Space for notes]

Scoring Summary & Decision Framework

Calculate Total Score

| Section | Maximum Points | Your Score | |---------|---------------|------------| | 1. Company Background & Experience | 10 | ___ | | 2. Licenses, Insurance & Legal | 10 | ___ | | 3. Tenant Screening & Placement | 10 | ___ | | 4. Rent Collection & Financial | 10 | ___ | | 5. Maintenance & Vendors | 10 | ___ | | 6. Inspections & Preventive Maintenance | 10 | ___ | | 7. Evictions & Problem Tenants | 10 | ___ | | 8. Communication & Owner Relations | 10 | ___ | | 9. Fees & Contract Terms | 10 | ___ | | 10. References & Track Record | 10 | ___ | | TOTAL | 100 | ___ |

Score Interpretation

90-100 points: EXCELLENT

Highly qualified manager
Strong in all areas
Recommend hiring if fees are reasonable

80-89 points: VERY GOOD

Solid candidate
Minor weaknesses but strong overall
Good choice for most investors

70-79 points: GOOD

Acceptable candidate
Some concerns but manageable
Compare carefully with other options

60-69 points: FAIR

Significant weaknesses
Consider only if few alternatives
Monitor closely if hired

Below 60 points: POOR

Not recommended
Too many weaknesses
Keep looking

Red Flags That Should Disqualify a Manager

Even if a manager scores well overall, any of these red flags should give you serious pause:

Critical Red Flags (Automatic Disqualification)

Not properly licensed - This is illegal in most states
Inadequate insurance coverage - Puts your assets at risk
License suspended or revoked - Clear sign of serious problems
Poor or fake references - Dishonesty or incompetence
Refuses to provide references - What are they hiding?
Criminal record related to fraud/theft - Never compromise on honesty
Multiple lawsuits from owners - Pattern of problems
Under 2.0 stars on Google/Yelp - Consistent dissatisfaction
Demands long-term contract (3+ years) - Lock-in with no escape
Excessive fees or hidden charges - Taking advantage of owners

Major Red Flags (Proceed with Extreme Caution)

No routine property inspections - Properties will deteriorate
Doesn't verify vendor licensing - Liability exposure
Pays owners late regularly - Cash flow problems
Can't explain their screening process - Weak tenant selection
High turnover in their team - Management instability
Won't provide sample reports - Probably low quality
No written procedures - Inconsistent management
Marks up repairs over 20% - Gouging owners
Doesn't attend owner calls promptly - Poor communication
Can't cite fair housing law - Legal liability risk

Moderate Red Flags (Address Before Hiring)

Very new company (less than 2 years)
Managing properties far outside their normal area
Very small portfolio (under 10 properties)
No online owner portal in 2026
No 24/7 emergency line
Slow to respond during interview process
Vague answers to specific questions
Defensive about fees or terms
Pressures you to sign quickly
One-person operation with no backup

Advanced Evaluation Techniques

Beyond the Questions: What to Observe

Professionalism
- Are they on time for the meeting?
- Do they have organized materials ready?
- Is their appearance professional?
- How do they treat their staff?
Office Environment
- Visit their office if possible
- Is it organized and professional?
- Do they have proper systems and technology?
- How does staff interact?
Technology & Systems
- What property management software do they use?
- Can you access information online 24/7?
- Do they have automated processes?
- How do they handle document management?
Market Knowledge
- Do they know your neighborhood well?
- Can they quote comparable rents?
- Do they understand local ordinances?
- Are they aware of market trends?

Test Questions to Reveal Character

Scenario 1: Ethics Test "What would you do if a contractor offered you a $500 kickback for sending them work?"

Good answer: "I would refuse. That's unethical and potentially illegal. My loyalty is to my clients."
Bad answer: Justifies accepting kickbacks or seems uncertain

Scenario 2: Conflict Test "What if a tenant calls you on a Friday night with a non-emergency maintenance issue?"

Good answer: "I'd document it immediately and schedule it for Monday. True emergencies get immediate response, but this protects costs."
Bad answer: Sends vendor immediately for non-emergencies (wastes your money)

Scenario 3: Pressure Test "What's the worst mistake you've made as a property manager?"

Good answer: Admits a real mistake and explains what they learned
Bad answer: Claims they've never made mistakes or blames others

Scenario 4: Owner Priority Test "A tenant wants to break their lease 6 months early. They'll forfeit their deposit. What do you recommend?"

Good answer: "We'd discuss your goals. If the tenant is problematic, sometimes it's worth it. If they're excellent, we might negotiate a smooth transition that costs you less."
Bad answer: One-size-fits-all answer without considering your interests

Comparing Multiple Candidates

Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Criterion | Candidate A | Candidate B | Candidate C | |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| | Total Score | ___ / 100 | ___ / 100 | ___ / 100 | | Monthly Fee | % or $ | % or $ | % or $ | | Placement Fee | $___ | $___ | $___ | | Contract Term | ___ months | ___ months | ___ months | | Cancellation Terms | ___ days, $___ | ___ days, $___ | ___ days, $___ | | Experience (years) | ___ years | ___ years | ___ years | | Current Properties | ___ | ___ | ___ | | Inspection Frequency | ___ | ___ | ___ | | Reference Rating | ___/10 | ___/10 | ___/10 | | Response Time | ___ hours | ___ hours | ___ hours | | Days-to-Lease Avg | ___ days | ___ days | ___ days | | Rent Collection Rate | ___% | ___% | ___% | | Owner Portal | Yes / No | Yes / No | Yes / No | | Professional Associations | ___ | ___ | ___ | | Red Flags Count | ___ | ___ | ___ |

Decision Factors Beyond Score

Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Candidate A: 95 score, 12% fee = $7,200/year
Candidate B: 88 score, 9% fee = $5,400/year
Question: Is the extra $1,800 worth the 7-point difference?

Risk Assessment:

Which candidate has the best insurance?
Which has the most experience with evictions?
Which has the best legal compliance?

Long-Term Fit:

Which candidate can grow with your portfolio?
Which has the best communication style for you?
Which shares your investment philosophy?

After You Hire: Monitoring Performance

First 90 Days Checklist

[ ] Week 1: Receive signed management agreement and welcome packet
[ ] Week 1: Access to owner portal confirmed
[ ] Week 2: Property inspection completed and report received
[ ] Week 4: First monthly report and payment received on time
[ ] Week 8: Check-in call to review how things are going
[ ] Week 12: Three-month performance review

Ongoing Monitoring (Monthly)

[ ] Owner payment received by agreed date
[ ] Monthly financial report reviewed
[ ] Maintenance requests handled appropriately
[ ] Communication responsive and professional
[ ] Any issues addressed promptly

Quarterly Review

[ ] Occupancy rate meets expectations
[ ] Rent collection rate above 95%
[ ] Maintenance costs within budget
[ ] No compliance issues or legal problems
[ ] Overall satisfaction with service

Annual Evaluation

[ ] Review full year financial performance
[ ] Compare to market rent increases
[ ] Assess property condition via inspection
[ ] Review any tenant issues or turnover
[ ] Evaluate fee structure vs. market
[ ] Decide whether to renew contract

Warning Signs to Watch For

If any of these happen, address immediately:

Late owner payments (especially without explanation)
Poor communication (taking days to respond)
Property deterioration (visible in inspection reports)
High turnover (tenants leaving frequently)
Repeated maintenance issues (same problems)
Rent collection below 95% (consistent pattern)
Unexplained fees (charges you didn't approve)
Defensive behavior (when you ask questions)
Missing documentation (incomplete reports)
Code violations (legal/compliance issues)

Legal Considerations

What Must Be in Your Management Agreement

Scope of services - Exactly what they will and won't do
Fee structure - All fees clearly defined
Authority limits - Spending limits without approval
Contract term - Length and renewal terms
Cancellation clause - Notice required and any fees
Insurance requirements - What coverage they must maintain
Hold harmless clause - Who is liable for what
Accounting procedures - How money is handled
Property access - When and how they can enter
Dispute resolution - How conflicts are resolved

Questions for Your Attorney

Before signing any management agreement:

Are there any unusual clauses?
Is the liability protection adequate?
Are the termination terms reasonable?
Does the fee structure seem fair?
Are there any missing protections?

Conclusion: Making Your Final Decision

Hiring a property manager is a significant decision that will impact your investment returns, property condition, and peace of mind. Use this questionnaire to:

Gather comprehensive information - Compare candidates objectively
Identify red flags early - Avoid costly mistakes
Make data-driven decisions - Base your choice on facts, not feelings
Set clear expectations - Start the relationship with mutual understanding

Final Checklist Before Signing

[ ] Scored above 80 points on this questionnaire
[ ] Zero critical red flags
[ ] References checked and positive
[ ] License and insurance verified
[ ] Contract reviewed by attorney
[ ] Fee structure clearly understood
[ ] Comfortable with communication style
[ ] Confident in their expertise
[ ] Trust your instincts

Remember: A great property manager will make your life easier and make you more money. A poor one will cost you both time and money. Take the time to find the right fit.

Download This Template

Save this questionnaire for use in your property manager interviews. Print multiple copies to compare several candidates side-by-side.

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Last updated: January 20, 2026 | This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with an attorney regarding property management laws in your jurisdiction.