how to find a decent property management company in the area? (Seattle: real estate, rent)

[flyingsaucermom]

We will be renting out our condo soon and I need to find a good management company. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a small firm on the Eastside or go with one of the larger real estate companies like Windermere or John L. Scott. I've been checking reviews for some on Yelp and responses for many of them seem to be all over the place. It's really difficult to discern if complaints are valid in many situations.

Managing tenants has never interested me. I want a company that's going to reliably take care of everything.

Any advice?

[Ruth4Truth]

I used McPherson's for my Seattle rental. Compare fees among them; that may help you decide. Not only how much they charge monthly, but how much they charge to find a new tenant, do background checks, and all that. Also, if this will be a long-term rental, meaning for years, ask what their policy is on periodic rent increases. Some mgmt. companies automatically raise the rent annually, if only by a small percent. That small percent can be enough to cause chronic turnover. The company benefits from turnover, because they make their money from advertising and interviewing/researching prospective renters. It's in your best interest usually to keep good tenants, and to raise the rent only every 3 or 4 years, or not at all. So decide how you want to handle that, and tell whichever prop'ty mgmt. co. you go with.