What fees do Southern Maryland property managers charge?
Most managers charge two fees: a leasing fee to find a tenant, and a monthly management fee to run the rental. We say the standard leasing fee in the Southern Maryland market is one full month’s rent, and the standard management fee is around 10% of the monthly rent. Real Property Management Gold charges 6.9% of the 1-year lease total to place a tenant, and 8.9% to 12.9% of the monthly rent to manage.
Our approach is simple, transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surprises. The bottom line: we don’t get paid until you do.
To see how this lands on your own rent, use the rent check or ask for a free assessment.
What is the tenant placement (leasing) fee?
The tenant placement fee pays for finding a tenant, screening them and creating the lease. See leasing fee for the term. Ours is 6.9% of the 1-year lease total, charged one time, immediately after a tenant moves in.
Placement starts with a detailed analysis of your property to find the maximum market rent. We then:
- Help with any make-ready maintenance, if needed.
- Take professional photographs.
- Advertise your property.
- Take calls and answer tenant questions.
- Show your property to interested prospects.
- Qualify applicants.
- Draft the lease and set tenant expectations.
- Complete move-in documentation.
The placement fee also covers rental market intelligence, marketing and advertising, property showings, 6-point tenant screening, pet screening, enhanced professional photos and weekly progress updates.
When is there no placement fee? If tenants are already in your home and we did not place them, you find your own tenant, or you hire your own outside agent and want us to take over with a lease in place, we charge no tenant placement fee.
What is the monthly management fee?
The management fee covers day-to-day operations: rent collection, maintenance coordination, lease enforcement and tenant relations. See management fee. We offer three Property Shield plans, ranging from 8.9% (Silver) to 12.9% (Platinum) of the monthly rent. Our full-service packages start at 8.9%.
Here is what those percentages mean on a home that rents for $2,000 a month. This is an illustration, not a quote.
| Item | How it is figured | Example amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant placement, once | 6.9% of the 1-year lease total ($24,000) | $1,656 |
| Silver, monthly | 8.9% of $2,000 | $178 |
| Gold, monthly | 10.9% of $2,000 | $218 |
| Platinum, monthly | 12.9% of $2,000 | $258 |
What does each plan include?
Every plan includes rent collection, the Resident Benefits Package, maintenance coordination, online access, 24/7 emergency response, bookkeeping, move-in and move-out recording, and year-end income and expense documents. Each higher plan adds to the one before it.
Silver, 8.9% monthly
- Everything listed above
- 180-day tenant replacement plan
- Tenant liability insurance*
- Mid-year property assessment
- Preferred pet deposit alternative program, $500
Gold, 10.9% monthly (includes all Silver services, plus)
- Preferred pet deposit alternative program, $1,000
- Tenant liability insurance*
- Quarterly property assessments
- 365-day tenant replacement plan
- Rented in 29 Days promise
- HVAC filter replacement plan
Platinum, 12.9% monthly (includes all Gold services, plus)
- Preferred pet deposit alternative program, $1,500
- Landlord protection through SureVestor, listed in the next section
*Real Property Management Gold is not a licensed insurance broker. Please refer to the insurance policy for coverage information.
The Resident Benefits Package is the program that renters opt into for a monthly fee.
What does the Platinum landlord protection cover?
The Platinum plan includes a SureVestor landlord protection policy that is available to Platinum clients only. We describe it as protection for malicious damage, eviction costs and lost rent. The listed limits are:
| Protection | Limit |
|---|---|
| Malicious damage | Up to $35,000 |
| Tenant skips rent | Rent paid up to 8 weeks |
| Tenant is evicted | Rent paid up to 10 weeks |
| Tenant passes away | Rent paid up to 12 weeks |
| Theft or damage due to theft | Up to $15,000 |
| Eviction filing fee and defense* | Up to $5,000 |
| Service animal damage | Up to $1,000 |
| Rekey locks in an event listed | Up to $400 |
*Real Property Management Gold is not a licensed insurance broker. Please refer to the insurance policy for coverage information.
How do I choose between Silver, Gold and Platinum?
Start with how much risk you want us to carry and how often you want eyes on the home.
- Choose Silver if you want full-service management at the lowest monthly rate and a mid-year inspection is enough. Tenant replacement protection lasts 180 days.
- Choose Gold if a fast lease and frequent inspections matter. You get the 29-day promise, quarterly inspections, 365-day tenant replacement protection and the HVAC filter program. The authorization form also lists eviction protection and a higher pet damage protection ($1,000) with Gold.
- Choose Platinum if you want the most protection against lost rent, tenant damage and eviction costs. It adds the SureVestor coverage above and $1,500 in pet damage protection.
Each plan includes pet damage protection above the security deposit: $500 for Silver, $1,000 for Gold and $1,500 for Platinum. See security deposit and pet screening. A free assessment can match a plan to your home.
What is the Rented in 29 Days promise?
“If we don’t rent your property in 29 days or less, you do not pay a management fee for the first month.” The 29-day plan is included for no additional cost in the Gold and Platinum plans. It is not part of Silver. Read more about the days on market measure and how a vacancy costs you rent.
What is Tenant Replacement Protection?
If we place a tenant and the tenant leaves before the end of the lease, we will find you a new qualified tenant for free. The promise is 180 days for Silver and 365 days for Gold and Platinum.
How much do inspections cost?
We perform periodic maintenance inspections for $199. We inspect inside and out to confirm that tenants follow the lease and to assess the condition of the home. The Silver plan includes a mid-year inspection. Gold and Platinum clients are on a quarterly schedule. See the rental property evaluation guide.
What does the HVAC filter program cost?
Nothing extra on Gold and Platinum. We mail each tenant the right filters every 3 months, with instructions and an expiration date printed on them. We say it averages a 450% increase in tenant filter-replacement compliance and up to a 30% annual reduction in HVAC-related issues. Details are on the HVAC filter replacement program page.
Are there other fees I should know about?
Yes. Our management authorization form lists these:
- Setup fee, $199 one time. It applies only if your home is already occupied when you sign up, or you place your own tenant instead of using our placement service.
- Lease renewal fee, $199. It is charged only when a tenant renews a lease at the end of the term, and covers negotiating, preparing and signing the new lease.
- Property review fee, $199 per review.
- Eviction protection fee, $50 a month. An optional add-on for the Silver plan.
- Cancellation fee. If you cancel within the first 60 days of listing, 30 days’ written notice is required and the fee is three months’ management fees or $300, whichever is greater. You can cancel without penalty if no qualified tenant has been approved within 60 days of the home being listed.
No funds for fees are due up front. They are withdrawn from the rent when a tenant moves in. See the authorization form FAQ for the full list and read the agreement before you sign.
How do these fees compare?
In the Southern Maryland market, the standard leasing fee equals one full month’s rent, and the standard management fee is around 10% of the monthly rent. Our figures work out as follows:
| Fee | Southern Maryland market standard | Real Property Management Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Leasing or placement | One full month’s rent | 6.9% of the 1-year lease total |
| Monthly management | Around 10% of monthly rent | 8.9% (Silver), 10.9% (Gold), 12.9% (Platinum) |
On the $2,000 example, one month’s rent is $2,000 and our placement fee is $1,656. Management at 10% would be $200, against $178 for Silver and $218 for Gold. These are comparisons of published numbers, not a promise of what any other company charges. When you compare quotes, ask each company what is billed separately, and check inspection, renewal and cancellation terms as well as the headline percentage.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. Our pricing is simple and transparent, and we do not get paid until you do. Placement is billed once, after a tenant moves in, and management is billed monthly as a percentage of rent.
Next step
Get an assessment from Real Property Management Gold. Request a free assessment at Contact us or call (301) 392-2172.
Frequently asked questions
How much do property managers charge in Southern Maryland?
We say the usual leasing fee is one full month's rent and the usual management fee is around 10% of the monthly rent. Our tenant placement fee is 6.9% of the 1-year lease total, and our monthly plans run from 8.9% to 12.9% of the rent.
When do I pay the tenant placement fee?
One time, immediately after a tenant moves in. No funds for fees are due up front; they come out of the rent. If a tenant is already in place, you find your own tenant or you hire an outside agent, there is no placement fee.
What is the Rented in 29 Days promise?
If we don't rent your property in 29 days or less, you do not pay a management fee for the first month. It is included in the Gold and Platinum plans at no additional cost.
What happens if my tenant leaves early?
If we place a tenant and they leave before the lease ends, we find you a new qualified tenant for free. The promise lasts 180 days on Silver and 365 days on Gold and Platinum.
Are there other fees?
Yes. Our authorization form lists a one-time $199 setup fee (when a home is already occupied at sign-up or you place your own tenant), a $199 lease renewal fee, a $199 property review fee, an optional $50 a month eviction protection add-on for Silver, and a cancellation fee in the first 60 days of listing. Periodic inspections cost $199.
Which plan should I pick?
Silver covers the basics with a mid-year inspection. Gold adds the 29-day promise, quarterly inspections, a longer tenant replacement period and HVAC filters. Platinum adds landlord protection for damage, lost rent and eviction costs. A free assessment helps you match a plan to your home.
