One of the first major decisions real estate investors face after acquiring a rental property is whether to manage it themselves or hire a professional property manager. Both approaches can lead to positive outcomes, but they come with different responsibilities, costs, and benefits.

This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of each option to help you make an informed choice for your portfolio.

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Self-Managing Your Rental Property

Advantages

Cost Savings
By managing the property yourself, you avoid paying a management fee—often 8 to 12 percent of monthly rent—along with leasing and renewal fees. This additional income can be reinvested into the property or your next investment.

Direct Control
You oversee tenant selection, vendor relationships, and maintenance standards. Without a middleman, you maintain a clear understanding of your property’s condition and can implement your expectations directly.

Hands-On Experience
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If you’ve been around the real estate investing world for more than five minutes, chances are you’ve heard someone mention the “BRRRR Method.” No, it’s not about being cold — it’s actually one of the most popular ways investors grow their rental portfolios without constantly needing more cash.

BRRRR stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat, and it’s a smart strategy for building long-term wealth. Let’s break it down step by step in plain English.

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🏡 Step 1: Buy

The first move is finding the right property — usually something that’s a bit rough around the edges. Maybe it needs some cosmetic work, or maybe it's been neglected for a while. Either way, you want to buy it below market value so you’ve got some room to add value.

Quick tip:
The numbers need to work. A good rule of thumb is the 70% Rule — buy for no more than 70% of the after-repair value (minus repairs). If the ARV is $200K and you need $30K in rehab, try to get it for around $110K or less.

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