Austin Property Management

Austin Property
Management

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

Evolving the rental experience.

After moving countless times over the years, we all came to a realization:
renting sucks. Finding the place, moving in, and getting that leaky faucet xed
without having to ask a hundred times—it’s all such a hassle.
And if you’re an owner, what you want is simple: happy, responsible residents
who pay on time and don’t destroy the place. Easier said than done.

We wanted to x the problem. But where to start?

The common thread throughout the end-to-end rental experience is one
thing: property management. Too often, property management means
shoddy service, hidden fees, and ine cient processes that shortchange
everybody involved.

So we decided to x that.

Armed with a mission to improve the rental experience for those on both
sides of the lease, Darwin was born. 

Like the Darwin named after, we believe in evolution. So we’re leveraging the
technological possibilities of today to amplify e ciency and optimize user
experiences.
The result? A new generation of renting.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

What makes the best rental property?

The one that makes the most money! I know, I know - I'm due for a "thank
you, Captain Obvious" for that response.
It's a valid question, though, and one we get from many folks that are
interested in investing in residential real estate. The answer can have many
facets - price point, neighborhood, building type, age, etc. Over time, we will
re-visit each of these other facets of rental property selection, but today we
will focus on the house itself.
If I could design my perfect rental home in Austin, it would be a 3 bedroom, 2
bath single story home between 1,400 and 1,800 square feet, built in the last
20 years.
Why come? Let's examine the various elements outlined above.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

 Single story: cheaper to maintain & , generally more desirable, and less
wasted space.

T  wo story homes in Texas and other hot climates really need 2 HVAC
systems to properly cool the home. 
Damper systems help but are not perfect. So your options are either
1) be miserable in the Summer upstairs, 
2) use an ine cient damper-based system that requires more repair
expense or 
3) have 2 HVAC systems (expensive!)
Y  ou can put a single ooring type (luxury vinyl plank, please & thank
you) down throughout the entire area and forget about ooring for
10+ years
N  o 2nd story plumbing leaks wreaking havoc on the downstairs

nishes

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

 3 bedroom / 2 bath
 This satis es the broadest spectrum of housing demand. 

Works for singles, families, roommates and many other resident
con gurations

 Does not directly compete with apartment communities (I don't like
competing on price with people whose pockets are 100x deeper than
)

1  ,400-1,800 square feet

This is the sweet spot size a single story 3/2. 

Below 1,400 feet and the rooms start feeling very cramped, you have
a galley kitchen or space for about 4 hangers in the master closet. 

While I don't have an issue with a 3/2 larger than 1,800 generally the
price point relative to rent income make it a non-starter
 Built in the last 20 years
N  o popcorn ceilings!
 Real master bathrooms
R  elatively open layouts

So there you have it - my dream house. 

How to Select a Great Vendor for Property Management

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

We’ve all been there. The HVAC tech doesn’t show up for a job. 
The new handyman takes a shortcut and the problem returns a week later.
The contractor sends a bill for 50% more than you expected. 
For owners and austin property manager alike, nding, managing, and
retaining third-party maintenance vendors a big challenge. Indeed, 61% of
rental owners maintenance as their top pain point1.
Paramount to reducing these problems is selecting a great vendor. 
As author Jim Collins says, “People are not your most important asset. The
right people are.” 
Finding these folks is easier said than done, but we’ve got some tips and best
practices drawn from our own experiences and those of our colleagues.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

1. Start with Indeed over Craigslist and Yelp.
Our default is usually to search for techs through Craigslist and Yelp because
they are established , , and free. Instead, try spending just dollars a day with
an Indeed post. 
Indeed is not just for full-time employees; it’s how Darwin has identi ed
some of its top vendors. 
Importantly, you can require resumes (not possible through Craigslist), and
you know that the candidates you identify are actually looking for work (not
always true through Yelp).
3b. Develop a consistent question list for references.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

Nearly all given references will be positive, so don’t just ask general
questions. We always complete a 1–10 scorecard on four key dimensions:
quality, reliability, price, and professionalism. This allows for consistency and
ranking across candidates.
4. Meet in person before dispatching.
Invite the vendor over to your o ce to meet in person before sending out for
a job, even if only for 15 minutes. 
There’s still nothing that can replace a face-to-face, and meeting attendance
demonstrates commitment and seriousness.
5. Do a background check.
You just never know. We recommend using Checkr for fast and cheap
background checks across all the relevant categories.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Austin Property Management

6. Start with a low-risk or test job.
We’ll often test a prospective new vendor with a rst job at our own
residence or o ce. You can always learn more about someone by watching
them do the actual work, and these internal calls can give you a unique front-
row seat.
That’s all for now. We hope this helps ease the pain a little bit, and wish you
good luck out there!
You can always learn more about someone by watching them do the actual
work, and these internal calls can give you a unique front-row seat.Austin
property management services are essential for people busy with lifestyle.

Www.darwinhomes.com

Darwin offers Full-Service, Local Property
Management that you can trust.

Contact Us: Darwin Homes Property
Management

Address: 500 East 6th Street, Suite A,
Austin, TX 78722, USA

Phone Number: 5128724900

darwinhomes.com