Free tool
Property Management Cost Estimator
Wondering whether hiring a property manager is worth it? Compare a professional management fee against the real monthly cost of self-managing, including the value of your time, software, maintenance, legal work, vacancy, and travel.
Your property
Total monthly rent across all units: $2,000.00
Monthly cost comparison
Estimated result
Professional management is about $165.00/mo cheaper than self-managing.
Disclaimer: This estimate is provided for informational purposes only and uses general assumptions about time, software, maintenance, legal, vacancy, and travel costs. Your actual costs will vary. It should not be relied upon as a quote or a guarantee. Contact Croskey Real Estate for pricing tailored to your property.
What goes into the self-managed cost
Your time
About 4 hours per unit each month spent on tenants, rent, vendors, and paperwork, valued at the hourly rate you set.
Software & tools
Listing, screening, accounting, and rent-collection software, estimated at $25 per unit per month up to a cap.
Maintenance coordination
Sourcing vendors, scheduling repairs, and keeping the property to habitability standards.
Legal & compliance
Staying current with California rental law, notices, and required disclosures.
Vacancy & marketing
Advertising, showings, and turnover costs spread across the year.
Travel
Round trips to the property at the IRS mileage rate, across roughly 3 visits a year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does property management cost?
Most full-service residential property managers in California charge a monthly fee of roughly 8 to 12 percent of collected rent, sometimes with additional leasing or setup fees. This estimator lets you set that percentage and see the monthly dollar amount for your property.
What does it really cost to self-manage a rental?
Self-managing is not free even if you do not pay a management fee. This tool estimates the monthly cost of your time (about 4 hours per unit), property management software, maintenance coordination, legal and compliance work, vacancy and marketing, and travel to the property. Added together, these often rival a professional fee.
How is the value of my time calculated?
You enter an hourly value for your time (the default is $50 per hour) and the tool multiplies it by roughly 4 hours per unit per month. Adjust the hourly rate to match what your time is actually worth to you.
How is travel cost estimated?
Enter the round-trip distance to your property. The tool applies the 2024 IRS standard mileage rate of $0.67 per mile across an estimated 3 visits per year, then divides by 12 to show the monthly impact.
Are these numbers exact?
No. The estimate is for informational purposes only and uses general assumptions. Your actual costs will vary. For a precise quote tailored to your property, contact Croskey Real Estate.
Tired of the grind?
Get your time back with full-service management
Croskey Real Estate handles tenant placement, rent collection, maintenance, and compliance so you do not have to. Get a quote tailored to your property and units.