The Rise of the Self-Managing Landlord.
More and more real estate investors are choosing to self-manage their rental properties—cutting out property managers in favor of greater control and better returns.
Here’s what the data shows about why that trend is accelerating in 2025:
📊 Self-Management Is More Popular Than You Think
In the U.S., around 45% of landlords self-manage their properties, leaving 44% who outsource to property managers—and 11% who manage rentals they don’t own. (Source: Doorloop, Roofstock Learning)
Why So Many Investors Are Choosing Self-Management
1. Major Cost Savings
Property managers typically charge 8–12% of gross monthly rent, plus leasing and renewal fees—meaning you could lose $1,000+ per year per unit in fees .
Self-management eliminates those costs—especially appealing for smaller portfolios where margins are tight.
2. Control and Quality Over Tenants
DIY landlords believe that they can deliver a better tenant experience, consistent lease enforcement, and quicker communication than third-party managers.
Reddit threads show landlords managing dozens—even hundreds—of units themselves, often with high occupancy and satisfaction rates Real Property Management Momentum+15Reddit+15Reddit+15.
3. Technology Is a Game-Changer
Tenant screening, online rent collection, and AI-powered leasing tools make managing rentals from your phone fully feasible—cutting out the manual grunt work entirely.
The Trade-Offs of DIY Management
🕒 Time Commitment
According to AAOA via Vision Property Management, self-managing landlords spend 80–100 hours per year on tasks like maintenance, tenant calls, and legal compliance visionpropertymanagement.com+1dynamicpropertysolutions.com+1.
If your time is worth $50/hour, that's $200–$400 per month in labor—proximate to a property management fee in itself.
🔻 Hidden Costs & Risks
Delayed tenant screening, longer vacancies (often 45–60 days vs. 21 days professionally managed), and inflated maintenance costs (sometimes 30% higher) can offset savings dynamicpropertysolutions.comvisionpropertymanagement.com.
Failure to stay compliant with fair housing laws, eviction rules, and deposit regulations is a major risk: 61% of DIY landlords admit they’re not fully aware of legal requirements visionpropertymanagement.com+1Leasey+1.
Does Self-Management Pay Off?
6 in 10 landlords report ownership of 1–3 units; many of them are self-managing because it's doable—and they understand the return math . But when portfolios grow larger—or properties are out-of-state—the advantages of outsourcing become clearer.
Real Examples from the Field
“I manage 20 units myself… I couldn’t give away 8–10% of rent to a manager. I maybe spend 5 hours a month.”
— Landlord on r/Landlord Reddit+5Reddit+5Leasey+5Mortgage Solutions+2Reddit+2Reddit+2
“Once you have the systems set up it’s easy… occupancy increased and gross rental income doubled after switching to DIY.”
— Short-term rental operator on Reddit Reddit+7Reddit+7Reddit+7
✅ Final Takeaway
Self-managing is becoming more common—thanks to tools, transparency, and a tighter cost-benefit analysis. Most small-to-mid investors own just a few doors, making DIY feasible and often financially smart:
Pros of Self-Managing:
Lower operating costs (no management fees)
Greater control over tenant quality
Full transparency into expenses and performance
Cons of Self-Managing:
High time commitment (80–100 hours/year typical)
Risk of costly legal missteps
Longer vacancies and possible maintenance inefficiency
Thinking About Managing Yourself?
If you’re interested in bootstrapping success as a self-managing landlord:
Start with a single unit
Implement smart software tools for automation
Learn the legal basics in your market
Track your time and savings carefully
At HeyyProperty.com, we’re building tools to automate everything from leasing to messaging—so you get the best of DIY with less hassle. Let me know if you’d like a downloadable Self-Managing Starter Spreadsheet or a checklist of essential tools and tasks!
Sources
Ask ChatGPT
