I did both, once upon a time i had a full time mainteance man, but now without enough steady work, i hire out to those who are trusted to do the work, charge the correct and fair amount and do a good job

We added at 100 rentals and will hire a second at 180, and will add more as we hit 300. We do use private contractors we have set up for maintenance.

My Property Management Company that I use has three employees and a husband and wife that are management.  They do use different vendors and handyman...

Outsoruce on maintenance unless you get very big. Hire when you are putting in long hours and multi-tasking and not before. Math governs all

I am going to weigh in on this topic. When I opened my own company, the receptionist and I handled the property management side for about a year. As it grew it was a time sucker and took me away from other broker duties  and I had to hire a full time property manager. We never had in-house maintenance but think that is a great revenue stream and a good fit.

Always had a property manager and added as the volume increased. Used outside maintenance for the volume we handled.

I've never grown big enough to warrant it. I outsource all my needs as they are random and I manage the business.

I have yet to do so

     I know a manager who runs student apartment complexes (FSU) that incur a lot of damage.  She has a guy on staff.   I know another manager who does quads and single families for investors; she hires vendors and handymen, and bills it to the owner.

Delegate as needed keeping bottom line at forefront.  Good luck

How about a Shower ?

Would not touch property management with a ten foot pole.

What Joe Pryor suggested, we would do the same. A

I no longer do rental mgmt but when I did I outsourced everything - having paid employees standing around doing  nothing just bothers my wallet... a lot!

I applaud anyone and everyone who does property management. I handled unlawful detainers back in the day when I worked as a paralegal.  That was enough for me. 

the only properties I've managed were my own.... all 23 units and I've sold off all except one single family home that I use for family ONLY....

In 2004, I was faced with a decision. I chose to sell off several units and stay small. 

When you can no longer handle the business you have, it's time to hire or outsource.

I will hire an assistant once I hit 200 units. I outsource all maintenance but will bring inhouse once I hit 400 units.

I began with a full time employee. When I opened my first office, I used part time fire fighters as my maintenance people. 

It is more efficient to manage apartment communities with over 100 units so you can justify on site personnel.

When we did property management, I was completely hands-on, since I felt that others did not possess the invertment in each project that I had. Hope this helps!

An area I have avoided so far

Sorry... can't help you out here...

Christine Kankowski Temecula & San Diego - A year prior to the time when we feel that we can not handle the current workload.

I think that I had employees within a few months of starting the business back in the 80's, pt at first then full time later.