I think Whale makes a good point. Most Property Managers don’t get familiar with the properties they manage or the complexes they’re within…and they certainly don’t stay in their jobs long enough (Property Management is a high staff turnover industry – they’re mostly overworked and underpaid and burn out too quickly).
I think that Property Managers often forget “who” they are. They think they’re the “mediator” between the landlord and the tenant, but they’re NOT! They’re the landlord’s agent, paid to act in the best interests of the landlord. Sure, it helps if they can work well with their tenants and it will usually serve the landlord well, but Property Managers are the landlord’s representative.
Property Managers need smaller work loads, direct support from their agency Principal, better pay and to remember who’s side they’re on. Get a good one, and owning an investment property can be a joy!