The Cleveland Real Estate Investor

This is the Cleveland Real Estate Investor with Mike Reilly, owner of Reilly Properties and Reilly Painting and Contracting. Mike has been in the home renovation business for 40+ years in the Cleveland area.Mike Ferrante, real estate agent from Century 21 also joins us amongst other guests.In this podcast, we seek to take our experience and provide insight and inspiration for outside investors looking to buy property in Cleveland.

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The Cleveland Real Estate Investor

Your Property Manager Sucks

February 24, 2026 • Reilly Properties • Episode 115

0:00 | 15:19

If you own rental property, your property manager might be the most important person on your team. In today's episode, Mike and Lindsay explain what separates great property managers from terrible ones, covering responsiveness, winter preparation, tenant screening, and why being proactive can save you thousands as a real estate investor. All this and more on the Cleveland Real Estate Investor Podcast.
0:45 Mike and Lindsey kick things off by explaining why responsiveness and proactivity are the two most important traits of any property manager.
4:10 They break down winter preparedness — including shutting off water, checking vacant homes, and avoiding frozen pipes during Cleveland’s extreme cold.
9:20 Mike explains why tenant screening matters, covering background checks, credit reports, and common red flags like “working on my credit.”
14:40 The conversation shifts to verifying tenant history, calling previous landlords, and physically checking how applicants care for their current homes.
20:30 Mike and Lindsey wrap up with tough-love advice for landlords — why your property manager should be your shield, and when it’s time to fire them.