The short version: the right property manager increases your net operating income; the wrong one quietly reduces it. The difference shows up in four places: what they charge and who pays it, how they handle maintenance, how fast they collect rent and lease vacancies, and whether they resolve code violations or forward them to you. Here is what to ask before you hire a commercial or multifamily property manager in South Florida, and what The DeMarco Real Estate Group at RE/MAX 5 Star Realty does differently.
1. Ask what the fee is, and who pays it
Management fees are usually a percentage of collected rent, sometimes with leasing commissions, construction supervision fees, and setup charges on top. Ask for every fee in writing. Then ask the question most owners miss: can the fee be recovered from tenants? In many commercial leases, management fees are a recoverable operating expense under the common area maintenance (CAM) clause, which means the tenants cover most or all of the cost. A manager who understands CAM recovery can cost an owner nothing net; one who does not can cost a full percentage point of income every year.
2. Ask who does the maintenance
Most management companies dispatch outside vendors and add a markup to the invoice, and the owner waits a week or two for the vendor to show up. In-house maintenance crews change both numbers: repairs cost less because there is no markup, and they get done faster because the crew works for the manager. Ask whether the company has its own crews, how after-hours emergencies are handled, and whether there is a 24/7 line for tenants. Then ask to see a sample maintenance invoice.
3. Ask how they collect rent and fill vacancies
Income is collections and occupancy. Ask what the delinquency rate is across the manager’s portfolio, how quickly late notices and lease enforcement begin, and how a non-paying tenant is removed. Then ask about leasing: who markets vacant space, how it is priced, and what rents the manager has achieved on recent deals. A manager that also runs a brokerage leases space at market rates because that is its core business; a pure management company often leases below market to fill space quickly.
4. Ask what happens when the city sends a letter
Code violations, open permits, fire inspections, and special assessments land on every commercial property eventually. Some managers forward the letter to the owner and wait. Others close the violation out: meeting the inspector, pulling the permit, supervising the corrective work, and reporting back when it is resolved. If a property needs a roof, a parking lot, or a build-out, ask whether the manager provides construction management or whether that becomes your project.
5. Ask about reporting and software
You should receive a monthly owner statement with income, expenses, and a bank reconciliation, an annual budget, and, for commercial property, a CAM reconciliation that charges tenants correctly. Ask which accounting software the company uses and whether you get online access to your statements and documents at any time. Reporting that arrives late or on spreadsheets is a sign of the operation behind it.
6. Ask about licensing, insurance, and experience
In Florida, managing condominium and homeowner associations requires a Community Association Manager license. Managing commercial rental property for others requires a real estate license. Ask who holds the licenses, how many years of experience the property managers have, and whether the company is fully insured for errors and omissions and general liability. Ask for owner references on properties like yours.
What we do differently
The DeMarco Real Estate Group’s property management department is led by John DeMarco, a CCIM and licensed Community Association Manager, with an in-house team of experienced property managers and our own maintenance crews. Our fees are competitive with the lowest comparable quotes in South Florida, and in many commercial leases they are recoverable through CAM. We close out code violations and permits start to finish, supervise construction when work is needed, collect rent on time, lease vacancies at market rates, report monthly on current accounting software with online owner access, and answer emergencies 24/7. Many owners who move their properties to us find they pay less and their net operating income goes up. The South Florida Business Journal ranked us among the Top 50 Commercial Property Management Firms in 2025. Request a management proposal and we will show you where the savings are, free and confidential. The DeMarco Real Estate Group at RE/MAX 5 Star Realty, 1901 Harrison Street, Hollywood, FL 33020, (954) 453-1000.
Questions owners ask
What does commercial property management cost in South Florida?
Typically a percentage of collected rent plus leasing and project fees, quoted per property. In many commercial leases the management fee is recoverable from tenants through CAM, so the net cost to the owner can be small or nothing.
Can I switch property managers mid-lease?
Yes. Leases run with the property, not the manager. Check the notice period in your current management agreement; most allow termination on 30 to 90 days’ notice.
Do you manage condominium and homeowner associations?
Yes. John DeMarco holds the Florida Community Association Manager license, so the same team manages associations: budgets, assessments, vendor contracts, board reporting, and compliance.
What is the minimum property size you manage?
We manage single commercial buildings, multi-tenant centers, multifamily properties, and portfolios. Send us the address and we will tell you quickly whether it is a fit.
This guide is general information from The DeMarco Real Estate Group at RE/MAX 5 Star Realty, not legal or accounting advice. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by The DeMarco Real Estate Group.
