If you’ve been managing your own rental properties in Northern Colorado—Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, or Johnstown—for years, you’ve been through a lot. You’ve weathered tenant calls at all hours, rental turnovers, paperwork piles, and the ever-shifting landscape of Colorado landlord-tenant laws.
But time changes us. Maybe you're nearing retirement, craving more time with loved ones, or feeling worn down by the constant vigilance this role requires. It’s not about failure—it’s about recognizing that managing your own rental property may no longer serve you as it once did.
This guide is for those experienced DIY landlords who built something valuable—and now want the freedom, clarity, and peace of mind to enjoy that success. Let’s explore whether—and how—it makes sense to let go of the day-to-day, without completely giving up control.
Here’s a quick look at the signs telling you it’s time to consider professional Northern Colorado property management:
Calls or messages from tenants stress you out.
Documents pile up, repairs get delayed—and legal risks grow.
Colorado updates landlord rules annually—missing one can be costly.
Your rentals now detract from your quality of life.
Without organized tracking, profits get swallowed by overlooked expenses.
Colorado continues to update landlord-tenant regulations nearly every year, making rental property compliance increasingly complex. These laws cover everything from lease renewals and security deposit rules to eviction protocols and required lease disclosures.
Even as professional property managers, we don’t set it and forget it. At Stegner Property Management, we review and update all lease documents annually to make sure they’re fully compliant with the latest state mandates.
Want an overview of the recent landlord-tenant law changes? Read our previous blog titled Northern Colorado Rental Law Changes for 2025.
If you’ve managed your own rentals for years, the idea of handing over the keys—even partially—can feel risky. After all, you’ve been in control, solving problems your way, and making sure things are done right. So it’s completely natural to feel a few reservations.
Here are the most common concerns we hear from self-managing landlords—and what you need to know:
This is something we hear a lot—especially from landlords who’ve managed their rentals on their own for years. And honestly, we get it. You’ve put time, effort, and energy into running your properties the way you want. The idea of someone else stepping in can feel like letting go of that control. That concern is valid—and the truth is, how much control you retain depends on the property management company you choose.
With Stegner Property Management, systems are designed to keep owners in the loop, especially when it comes to decisions that affect your bottom line.
Here are two examples of how we do this for our clients:
When a tenant submits a repair request, the Stegner Property Management team notifies the property owner.
This threshold keeps small issues from becoming bigger problems while still giving you control over larger expenses.
About 120 days before a lease expires, the Stegner Property Management team will reach out to you to discuss next steps.
We’ll say something like, “You’ve got a good resident in the property—are you okay offering a renewal with a $50 increase?”
If you say yes, we move forward with the 90-day notice to the tenant. If you’d rather not renew, or if the tenant decides to move out, we start prepping the property for re-leasing.
This process gives landlords like you a clear say in rent strategy, renewal terms, and tenant retention—without having to manage the back-and-forth directly.
One of the most common concerns we hear from self-managing landlords is about hidden fees. It’s a valid worry—too many property management companies bury charges in fine print or add unexpected costs when you least expect them.
At Stegner Property Management, we keep things simple and honest. We don’t charge anything other than our 10% fee on rent collected. That’s it. And if no rent is coming in, you’re not getting hit with extra charges—we don’t nickel and dime our clients with surprise fees.
You’ll never see vague admin charges or unexpected costs show up on your statements. Every fee is clear, disclosed, and tied to real services. We believe transparency is part of providing a good experience—for both owners and tenants.
In fact, in today’s legal landscape, hidden fees are becoming a hot-button issue for regulators. Colorado has passed legislation cracking down on deceptive lease pricing practices, and DIY landlords need to be more careful than ever. With Stegner Property Management, you stay ahead of those legal changes—and you always know exactly what you’re paying for.
Poor communication is one of the biggest complaints property owners have about property management companies. You leave a voicemail and never hear back, or worse—you find out about a tenant issue days (or weeks) after it started.
At Stegner Property Management, we’ve built a culture of responsiveness. When an owner or tenant calls or sends a message, our team’s goal is to respond within the hour—and always by the end of the day. That’s not just a nice-to-have; it’s a core part of how we operate.
Our owners never feel in the dark. Whether it’s a question about maintenance, leasing, or tenant communication, we keep you informed and involved. That’s part of what sets us apart from other property managers in Northern Colorado—you get support, without losing control or visibility.
Tenant satisfaction doesn’t automatically suffer when you hand off management—it depends entirely on who you hand it to.
Choosing the right property management company makes all the difference. When your tenants feel ignored or frustrated, it’s usually because their manager is slow to respond, hard to reach, or simply doesn’t follow through.
At Stegner Property Management, we’ve built our business around the belief that great tenant experiences start with clear communication, responsiveness, and follow-through.
Here’s how we keep your residents happy—without you needing to be hands-on:
At the end of the day, happy tenants mean fewer vacancies, lower turnover costs, and better cash flow for you. We make that happen by giving your tenants the kind of experience you’d want to give them yourself—just without the daily stress.
For many self-managing landlords, one of the biggest unknowns is what daily life looks like after turning over the keys to a property manager. The reality is, when it’s done right, professional management can actually reduce your workload without removing your control.
A good property manager doesn’t just handle emergencies — they create systems that prevent problems before they start. This includes proactive communication with both landlords and tenants, clear expectations around maintenance, and a consistent process for leasing, screening, and renewals.
Communication is a big one. One of the top complaints landlords have about property managers is not getting called back. That’s why responsiveness should be a non-negotiable. At Stegner Property Management, for example, the team has a company-wide culture of getting back to both tenants and property owners quickly — ideally within the hour, and always within the same day. That kind of standard keeps things moving and prevents small issues from turning into major headaches.
Leasing and tenant placement are another area where a professional manager adds value. A strong process typically starts with a property walkthrough, followed by high-quality marketing, tenant screenings, and fair housing compliance. At Stegner, for instance, the screening criteria are publicly available, and every applicant goes through an objective scoring system based on credit, rental history, and income. That transparency builds trust and minimizes risk.
Inspections and documentation also play a big role. Most seasoned landlords know how critical it is to document a property's condition before and after each tenancy. Many professional managers conduct mid-lease inspections as well — a step that can catch red flags early. At Stegner, inspections include photo documentation and a full report sent to the owner so there are no surprises down the line.
Maintenance processes vary widely between companies, but clarity is key. A reputable property manager should have a clearly defined threshold for repairs, along with a policy for when owner approval is required. For example, Stegner PM handles minor repairs quickly (up to $200), but anything above that gets run by the owner first. This keeps the property in good shape without leaving the owner feeling out of the loop.
Finally, legal compliance is increasingly important — and often overlooked. In Colorado, new landlord-tenant laws are introduced nearly every year, affecting everything from lease terms to eviction procedures. Even established landlords can struggle to keep up. The best property management companies, like Stegner, review and update their lease templates annually and work closely with legal professionals to stay ahead of the curve.
In short, working with a property manager doesn’t mean giving up control — it means gaining a professional partner who understands landlor-tenant law, protects your real estate investment, and lets you step back without stepping away.
Hiring a property manager may feel like a cost at first glance — but in reality, it’s a shift in how you protect and grow your investment. For many landlords in Northern Colorado, professional management leads to measurable financial benefits and an improved quality of life.
For rental property owners like you across Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, and Johnstown, professional property management often pays for itself—and protects your long-term peace of mind.
Even if you're still on the fence, talk to Jim. He understands exactly what you’re facing because he lived it.
Stegner Property Management proudly serves landlords in Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, and Johnstown. We help local property owners step back from daily stress—without losing control of their investment.
Contact us today and let's see if it's time to hand off your rentals right away.
