Question: is there an advantage to having a leasing agent lease your home for you if you live in another state? we own a house in ohio but are going to be relocating for jobs in tx.

Answer: Is a leasing agent just the person who finds the tenants? If so you probably need a property management company so that they can keep an eye on it as well as handling maintenance and calls as they arise. You will have to probably pay between 7%-10% of the gross rent plus 50%-100% to find a tenant, but then you wont have to try and manage it long distance. \n\nUnless you have friends in the area willing to drop by and do inspections while handling maintenance (replacing the furnace filters is usually a good reason 2-4 times a year) then you will likely need help of this sort.\n\nIf you are already using a management company and just want to fill it with a leasing agent then you may be better able to find the tenant you want. A leasing agent will not mind waiting for the right person while the management company would tend to have an incentive to take the first person to come along. (The good ones will avoid the temptation but it is still there because of how they get paid.)\n\nAnother possibility might be to find someone willing to do a lease w/option to buy so they are responsible for the maintenance and will take better care of it. It might not fit with your plans for the house though.
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