What to Ask Before Hiring a Property Manager for Your Long-Term Poconos Rental

Updated September 2025

TLDR: Most Monroe County property managers charge 8–12% of rent, but the real difference is in fees, tenant screening, response time, and whether they are truly local. Ask specific township-level questions to protect ROI and avoid hidden costs.

If you’re a landlord in the Poconos, whether it’s a single-family home in Coolbaugh or a duplex in East Stroudsburg, your property manager isn’t just a vendor.

They are the one protecting your income, your reputation, and your sanity.

We manage over 150 long-term rentals in Monroe and Carbon Counties.

I’ve seen firsthand how the wrong manager can quietly bleed your investment. Missed inspections. Marked-up repairs. Unvetted tenants who turn into 3AM emergencies.

Here’s what I’d ask before trusting anyone with your Poconos rental:

Do they manage properties in your township?

Every township runs differently. If your manager isn’t local, you’ll be the one paying the fines. 

Ask: How many rentals do you manage in my township? If the answer is zero, ask what they know about your township.

Is their team in-house or outsourced?

Most property managers outsource everything: cleaning, maintenance, even tenant calls. That works until it doesn’t. When pipes freeze or the lawn gets cited by code enforcement, you want a team that moves. We do it all in-house: maintenance techs, cleaners, snow crews, admin support. That’s how we control quality and costs. 

Ask: Who handles maintenance, tenant issues, and emergencies, and are they on your payroll?

How do they screen tenants?

Tenant screening isn’t just a background check. It’s financials, rental history, and a gut check. One bad placement can cost you thousands. 

Ask: What’s your income requirement? Do you pull credit, eviction, and criminal reports?  Do I get final say before someone moves in? 

If they can’t explain their process in plain terms, they probably don’t have one.

Do they mark up vendor costs?

We’ve seen owners get charged $300 for a $90 toilet fix. Or pay 30 percent more for a contractor just because the manager added a “coordination fee.” 

Ask: Do you markup maintenance or third-party work? If yes, how much and how is it disclosed? 

We don’t mark up anything. You pay what we pay. Period.

How fast do they respond to tenants and to you?

Tenant retention depends on response time. So does your peace of mind. Emergencies don’t wait. Neither should your manager. 

Ask: What’s your average response time for tenant requests? What happens if something breaks at 10PM on a Sunday? 

If the answer involves a voicemail system or third-party call center, expect delays.

How do they handle rent collection, late fees, and evictions?

Some managers play nice with rent collection until it’s too late. You need someone who enforces leases and knows the local legal process. 

Ask: When do you post late fees? Do you handle legal filings if rent isn’t paid? How often do you end up in court? 

In Monroe County, you need someone who knows how to file, show up, and follow through.

What does the management fee actually cover?

A 10 percent monthly fee might sound reasonable until you get hit with lease renewal charges, vacancy fees, or a bill for responding to an email. 

Ask for specifics: What’s included in the monthly fee? What’s extra? Are there setup costs, re-leasing fees, or inspection charges? 

If they dodge the question, that’s a red flag.

My Take: You don’t just need a property manager. You need an operator.

Most of the time, we get called in after the damage is done.

A tenant stopped paying. The property’s been neglected. The owner is chasing down a company that won’t return calls. That’s not management. That’s neglect. 

If you’re going to pay for professional management, make sure they run your property like a business, not a side hustle.

Local. Responsive. Transparent.

Want a second set of eyes on your long-term rental setup? 

We manage properties across Monroe County with a fully local team, zero markups, and no-nonsense reporting.

We’ll show you what’s working, what’s leaking, and whether full-service management makes sense for you.

Contact us to start the conversation.

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FAQ: Hiring a Long-Term Rental Property Manager in the Poconos

What questions should I ask before hiring a property manager in the Poconos? 

Start with: 

• Do you manage rentals in my township? 

• Who handles maintenance and are they in-house or outsourced? 

• Do you mark up vendor costs? 

• What’s your tenant screening process? 

• How do you handle rent collection and evictions? 

• What does your monthly fee actually include?

These questions reveal how they operate and whether they are just collecting rent or actually managing your property.

Do property managers in the Poconos charge markup on maintenance?

Some do. Many add 10–30 percent on top of vendor invoices and call it a “coordination fee.” Others bill you $300 for a $100 fix. At Galvanized Management, we don’t markup anything. You pay what we pay. Always ask upfront and get it in writing.

How do I know if a property manager is local to my township?

Ask how many homes they manage in your exact township, like Coolbaugh, Barrett, or Tunkhannock. If they can’t name specific township rules, they’re not really local.

What’s the average property management fee in Monroe County, PA?

Most managers charge 8–12 percent of monthly rent, but that’s just the base. Many add setup fees, lease renewal charges, maintenance markups, vacancy fees, or inspection charges. At Galvanized Management, our pricing is flat, transparent, and includes re-leasing, inspections, and reporting.

Should I hire a property manager if I only have one rental?

If you’re local, hands-on, and know township code, you might not need one. But if you live out of state, don’t want to chase down tenants, or want professional accounting and turnover handled, one rental is enough to justify it. We manage plenty of single-property owners who just want it off their plate.

What’s a red flag when interviewing a property manager in Monroe County, PA?

Biggest ones we see: vague answers about fees or screening, no experience in your township, outsourcing everything with no accountability, slow communication or voicemail-only contact. If you feel like you have to chase them now, it won’t get better later.

How fast should a property manager respond to tenant issues in the Poconos?

Immediately. In Monroe County, a burst pipe or no-heat call can’t wait.

Ask:

• Do you have a 24/7 response line?

• Is it in-house or a call center?

• What’s your average response time?

We respond in real time because our techs live within 30 minutes of every property we manage.

Can I choose the tenant, or does the manager decide?

At Galvanized Management, you get final approval, but we do the heavy lifting: income verification, credit and background checks, and landlord reference calls. If a manager doesn’t offer that level of screening or lets anyone move in just to fill a vacancy, walk away.

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About the Author

Jeremiah Noll is the founder of Galvanized Management, a fully licensed property management brokerage based in the Poconos. A former math teacher turned real estate investor, he built his company from firsthand experience managing rentals, flips, and township compliance. Today, Galvanized Management oversees more than 175 short-term and long-term rentals with a trusted in-house team.

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Reviews & Testimonials

We manage short and long-term rentals across the Poconos and help owners protect ROI, stay compliant, and improve guest experience. Read more client testimonials.

“I highly recommend Galvanized Property Management. Jeremiah and his team are professionals and have earned my trust. They show up when they say they will, find solutions to problems, and communicate well. On several occasions, Jeremiah came through in a pinch and really saved the day. I would give 10 stars if I could.

-Gail Wainwright

"Jeremiah and his team do an amazing job with my Short Term Rental Property. The communication is great and I always get a prompt response. His team is the complete package and will get you whatever you need in a time crunch; from weird guest requests (extra fridge!) to genuine issues in the Poconos--power outage in mid winter! Would give more stars if I could."

-Maya Moh