Chehalem Property Management has been managing my rental homes in Newberg for about 11 years now…read more Their management fees are fair, and I have found them to be very responsive to my tenant's requests and my own. Their documentation is thorough (they use a common rental management program called AppFolio). Of all the positives I've experienced with CPM, probably the biggest value enhancement to me is on-site maintenance. This availability offers me someone (now 2) people I trust and have a relationship with to provide fast service, an honest opinion of a situation and recommendations for action (rather than an off-site hired contractor I don't know trying to oversell work). If the issue is minor and he can repair, it is taken care of. If not, I am offered options for recommended interventions or contractors to assist. When one of my homes suffered a major water leak requiring a kitchen remodel, CPM worked directly with the insurance folks as intermediary to manage it, the contractors, and the renters need to temporarily move. I feel absolutely comfortable leaving town and having CPM manage my properties. This availability also allows me to keep my rent prices below market because it saves on the costs of visits from contractors when such a call may not be needed.
The one thing I do wish to point out to others who may be considering a management company in the area to manage their properties or who are looking to rent - you will notice that, as often is the case, the reviews are like a pendulum - people are either really happy or really upset. Please keep in mind that often tenants are unaware of the business model of real estate investing. Very frequently, and likely most of the properties under management with CPM, are owners like me who work regular day time jobs and are trying their best to diversify their portfolios for retirement. Very often we take real losses on our properties for years before we break even, with the hope that in the future we will be able to have an income stream for retirement. There is a common misperception that landlords are just "rich people" who can afford to go without rent or pay for expensive repairs without worry, but these expenses come directly out of our day job income. Unfortunately, that perception can lead to tenants who feel a rent increase is unfair and unjustified. For example, my properties are $200-250/month under the current rental market for several years now. This is by my choice because I (and I think most other property owners) try to be as fair as possible understanding that our renters are under similar constraints financially. But, there comes a time as taxes, insurance, and repairs continue to rise in cost that the rent must be raised, and because tenants often are not aware of, or don't understand this, it feels very unfair.
Sometimes, expectations are unrealistic, for example, a tenant doesn't follow through on basic maintenance as part of the rental agreement, and when something stops working requiring repair that should not otherwise have been necessary they expect the owner to pay. But, whether a reader here may agree or disagree with the specifics of the situations, the bottom line is that CPM is the management company and the issue itself is between the tenant and the owner. CPM may make recommendations to each based on the rental agreement, but they are not to blame for these situations that I see commonly in reviews of property management companies.
So, in summary, I have found CPM to be very professional, clear communicators, responsive, and fair. They screen and place my tenants who have now been long term renters with me for many years. I feel very confident having them manage my properties.
