Property Management for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: You are not a "Dummy" if you read this book.
Review: I met the author at a meeting of the Institute of Real Estate Management in Chicago several years ago. I hold the same "Certified Property Manager (CPM)" designation. So, I did a double take recently when I saw this book on the shelf of a book store. And I did a triple take when I saw that Robert had written it! Robert Griswold is an educator, and it shows in the book. I've been in property management for over 20 years and I bought the book and took it home for several evenings of enjoyable reading. (By the way, my wife thinks I'm nuts! I can't leave my work at the office.) Robert Griswold writes at the easiest common denominator. The book is entertaining and answers the wide variety of questions. Most property managers are "generalists", meaning you have to know a lot of things about a lot of topics: collecting rents, fixing up space, evicting tenants, dealing with difficult people, roof specialist, bookkeeper/accountant, landscape specialist, plumbing specialist, HVAC specialist, etc., etc. One thing that any property manager will know, it is a very detailed career. If you are a person with an interest in property management, a novice or a long-time veteran, this is a must-read book.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have Reference On Propery Management
Review: Robert Griswold's Property Management For Dummies is a wonderfully practical digest on property management covering every applicable subject both for those considering becoming a landlord and for long time landlords. Easy to read, and easy to jump right to the subject on which one needs the most help, Mr. Griswold's years of experience and wisdom are made accessable to the reader. Having been a property manager for over three years now, I was surprised by how much I learned from this book. For anyone considering property management or being a landlord, this book lets one know in advance all the factors to weigh before making that leap. I'll state it again -- you must have this book if you are in any way going to be involved in property management.

Rating:
Summary: The 5-star reviews are overblown... WHY?
Review: The problem with ths book lies mostly in its format. I'm familiar with Dummies books. They work well for the DOS, Windows, and other non-programming computer topics. But when it comes to teaching a subject that requires an order, such as programming, or yes, such as owning and managing rent houses, this series makes it very difficult to find answers and to learn.

There is some good advice here, but it seems to be scattered and it's difficult to get a handle on why the author put much of what he put in the book.

If you've read several of the other more quality rent house books, you might like this one but I'd hold off buying it for a while until you check out the others. The reason is that by the time you read the non-Dummies books that are so good out there, and after you've had some rent house experience, you really won't need to spend money on this book.

Rating:
Summary: The best information on property management is in this book!
Review: Whether you live on the east coast or the west coast, looking to own a condo or a multi unit investment, this book will help answer a majority of the most puzzling questions a landlord might have in managing a property. It gives simplified step by step instructions on each process throughout the book....fun to read and very clearly written.

If you are about to enter the world of being a landlord, this book will tell you the rules. Every person needs this book for his or her financial self-defense and peace of mind. Read this book and preclude the problem before it happens.