Owning rental property can be profitable, but managing it yourself isn't always the best choice. Here's when hiring a property management company makes sense.
6 Signs You Need Professional Property Management1. Your Property is Far Away
If you don't live near your rental property, you need someone local who can:Handle emergencies quicklyCheck on the property regularlyKnow reliable contractors in the areaMeet with tenants face-to-face when needed2. You Don't Want the Hassle
Managing rental property involves lots of tasks:Collecting rent every monthFinding and screening tenantsHandling maintenance and repairsDealing with tenant complaintsFollowing landlord lawsIf this sounds overwhelming, hire a professional.3. You Want to Stay Out of Tenant Drama
Many landlords prefer to avoid direct contact with tenants. A property manager handles:Difficult conversations about late rentComplaints and disputesMove-in and move-out inspectionsEvictions if necessary4. You're Too Busy
If you have a full-time job or other commitments, property management takes time you might not have. Professional managers work while you focus on other things.5. You Can Afford the Cost
Property management typically costs 8-12% of your monthly rent. Many owners find this worthwhile because:It saves time and stressProfessionals often get higher rentsProperties stay rented longerYou avoid costly mistakes6. You Own Multiple Properties
The more rental properties you own, the more sense professional management makes. It's much easier to have one company handle everything than juggle multiple tenants yourself.What Good Property Managers Do
A quality property management company will:
Find and screen good tenantsCollect rent and handle late paymentsCoordinate all maintenance and repairsConduct regular property inspectionsHandle legal issues and evictionsProvide monthly financial reportsHow to Choose the Right Company
Look for a property manager who:Knows your local rental marketHas good reviews from other landlordsOffers clear, fair pricingUses modern technology for communicationHas proper licenses and insurance offeringThe Bottom Line
Hire a property management company if you value your time, want less stress, or lack experience with rental properties. While it costs money, good management often pays for itself through higher rents, fewer vacancies, and avoiding expensive mistakes.
Ready to learn more?
Contact Summit today for a free consultation to see if professional property management is right for your rental property.
At Summit Property Management, we know trust is earned through clarity. That’s why we’ve rolled out industry leading video inspections — giving landlords a front-row seat to your property's condition, from wherever you are.
No guesswork. No blurred lines. Just real-time walkthroughs, expert commentary, and peace of mind delivered straight to your screen.
"Thank you for the very detailed and accurate video inspection. This is an excellent record of the interior and exterior condition of 13 Milton Terrace. I believe this method of reporting on rental properties to be first class. Cheers"
— Henri, Investment Property Owner Picton
"I’ve found the video inspection tours to be invaluable — they provide a comprehensive view of how well our house and section are being maintained”
— David, Richmond Landlord
For a clear view on your investment, Contact a local Property Manager
The market! The market seemed to hit a bit of a wall mid-May, after 2-3 months of sustained high levels of activity on all price points. Our higher end stock has slowed a little this month but our first home market is still ticking away nicely! As we write this we are about to present 8+ offers on a property, this property is well priced, presented and promoted, that’s the key! Winter will go quickly and following that we should see the best periods in Real Estate for our region than we have seen for a few years, bring it on!
Number of Sales May 2025
Number of Sales May 2024
Average Number of Days to sell
Average Sale Price
Nelson
85
70
45 Down 25
$685,000 ^2.2%
Tasman
83
52
47 Down 4
$790,000 ^1.3%
Marlborough
80
36
40 Up 4
$650,000 Down 5.1%
Source: REINZ May 2025 New Zealand Property Report. Data Compared to May 2024.
The Power of Numbers
When it comes to real estate, size matters. Summit Real Estate has the largest sales team in the Top of the South, and that scale directly benefits you. With 50+ agents working together across six local offices, we bring unmatched market reach, expertise, and buyer connections to every property transaction.
Our networked approach means every listing is exposed to more potential buyers, increasing competition and achieving better results. We don’t just work as individuals—we collaborate across our team to match buyers and sellers, ensuring no opportunity is missed.
Having the biggest team also means more local knowledge. Our agents are deeply connected to the communities they serve, providing insight into market trends, buyer demand, and pricing strategies that deliver the best outcomes.
Whether you’re selling, buying, or investing, choosing Summit means choosing a team with proven success, the widest reach, and the power to get results.
Ready to make your move? Contact the team today.
Summit recently celebrated its 33rd Annual Awards, marking another year of market share growth, company expansion, and individual success. We continue to sell and manage more properties than any other agency in the Top of the South. Thank you to our entire team - this achievement is a true testament to your dedication and hard work!
We ended the financial year on a high note, with twelve of our team members achieving Champion Status:
Congratulations to Vicki Weetman, whose continued energy and positivity earned her the Excellence in Real Estate award, and to Ryan Horncastle, who received the coveted Rookie of the Year award for his excellent sales results.
Our Property Management team continues to set the standard in the region with several new innovations introduced over the past 12 months. Congratulations to our top performers: Avei Douglas and Sarah Crawford.
We also recognised the loyalty and long-standing commitment of several team members:
Samantha Buys,
Viv Smith,
Michael Fox, and
Bevan Dixon.
A long-service acknowledgment was presented to Val Cooper—thank you for your contribution, Val. Congratulations to our Richmond Office, who once again took out the title of Top Office for Sales and Property Management—a great achievement and well-deserved recognition for the whole team.
Last year, we celebrated a major milestone—20 years and 1,000 editions of the Summit Weekly, which remains a powerful tool for connecting people with real estate opportunities. This success is made possible by the strength of our team, our full-service approach, our far-reaching marketing—and most importantly, by you. To every client who has trusted us to sell, manage, buy, or rent—thank you. Your continued support keeps Summit at the forefront of the market, and we’re truly grateful you chose us.
David Turnhout, Operations Manager
Summit Real Estate is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rob as the new manager of our Picton office, bringing a unique blend of sporting excellence and real estate expertise to the Marlborough Sounds property market.
Before transitioning into real estate, Rob was a highly accomplished professional golfer, where he honed the focus, patience, drive, and commitment that are essential for success in his current career. These same skills seamlessly translate into his work as a Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consultant, where he consistently strives for excellence.
Working alongside his partner Sophie, Rob brings 100% dedication to everything he does. The same energy and determination he once devoted to his sporting career are now focused on helping clients achieve their real estate goals. Whether facing a challenge in his professional life or personal interests, Rob's enthusiasm and motivation are evident from the moment you meet him.
As a devoted father of four, Rob understands the importance of home as the heart of family life. This drives his passion to help his clients find not just a house, but a place where they can truly feel at home.
Based in our Picton office, Rob and his team serve clients throughout the Marlborough Sounds region, including waterfront properties, lifestyle homes, and investment opportunities across the stunning Sounds area.
Contact Rob Ilott and the Summit Real Estate Picton team today to discover how their dedication and expertise can help you achieve your real estate goals in the Marlborough Sounds.
Contact Rob Ilott
Learn more
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill has passed its third reading last Thursday, delivering on the Government’s “commitment to deliver sensible changes to tenancy laws”, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says in his announcement.
Here at Summit Property Management, we see these changes as positive and will help in getting more stock into the rental housing market plus clarify several of the rules rental property owners operate under, below is a summary of the changes.
Changes to take effect from - 30th January 2025
Tenancy termination changes, including:
reintroducing ‘no cause’ terminations, meaning a landlord can end a periodic tenancy with 90 days’ notice without requiring a specific reasonreducing landlords’ notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy to 42 days in specific circumstancesreducing tenants’ notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy from 28 to 21 daysreintroducing landlords’ ability to give notice to end a fixed-term tenancy at the end of its term without requiring a specific reason
Changes to take effect from – 20th March 2025
Changes to improve clarity and efficiency, including:
clarifying that landlords can prohibit smoking inside the main rental premisesclarifying provisions for withdrawing from a tenancy due to family violence
Changes to take effect from – Date TBC – expected late 2025 (commencement is by Order in Council, enabling a date to be set later)
Pet-related changes, including:
the ability to charge a pet bond at a maximum equivalent of two weeks’ rentnew pet consent and damage liability rules
Contact a Summit Property Manager HERE
Find out more
After an incredible WIN A CAR spring campaign, we’re delighted to announce the winner of the brand-new Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Jan and Edmond Reddington of Stoke!
Jan shared her excitement, by saying:
“It was truly a no-brainer. It was a Summit experience!”
“It will be a hoot having a Toyota!”
This thrilling conclusion marks the highlight of a campaign that brought so much energy and excitement to Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough. Qualifying properties listed during the campaign period were entered into the draw, and those who both listed and sold earned double the chance to win.
A special thank-you to:
James from NZ Police, for serving as our official witness and ensuring a fair and transparent draw.Bowater Toyota, for generously lending us the demo car that turned heads throughout the campaign throughout the region.Claire from Open2View, for capturing the exciting announcement on camera.MediaWorks, for airing our campaign far and wide across the region.To our valued vendors: Thank you for trusting Summit Real Estate with your property journeys this spring. And to our dedicated sales team, your unwavering commitment continues to make our results exceptional.
Congratulations once again to Jan and Edmond Reddington! Your success is a testament to our belief: Bigger Team, Better Results.
Nelson's leading real estate firm marks two decades of their popular property publication, now reaching 39,000 readers across the region
For two decades, Summit Real Estate has been making it easier for Nelsonians to find their dream home through their flagship publication, the Summit Property Weekly. The locally owned real estate firm celebrates this significant milestone this week, highlighting how the popularity of Summit Weekly continues to grow year after year.
Summit Weekly by the Numbers
39,000 copies distributed weekly across the Nelson/Tasman region20 years of continuous publication since Spring 2004Nearly 4x growth in reach since moving to multiple publications in 2016Available in print and online formats, including Marlborough Weekly version"The launch of the Summit Weekly in Spring 2004 became a very integral part of maintaining Summit as the most preferred real estate agency by far. From the growth of web based marketing that Summit maintains through Summit.co.nz, realestate.co.nz, One Roof and Trade Me, thousands of prospective buyers find their new home via the Summit Weekly. The buyer reach is unparalleled with the distribution growth to 39,000 throughout the region and also read online."
— Allister Nalder, Founder and Managing Director, Summit Real Estate
The publication has undergone significant evolution since its inception. Summit Weekly first appeared inside the Nelson Mail each week but in 2016 made a strategic move to be distributed inside the Nelson Weekly, Waimea Weekly and Motueka Golden Bay Guardian, almost quadrupling its reach to just under 40,000 copies each week.
This expansion has proven to be a game-changer for the company's marketing reach and effectiveness in connecting properties with potential buyers across the greater Nelson region.
"The Summit Weekly sets us apart by showcasing our clients' properties to a wider audience of buyers, which is why we continue to rely on this valuable marketing tool."
— David Turnhout, Operations Manager, Summit Real Estate
Operations manager David Turnhout emphasises that Summit Weekly represents a huge point of difference in the competitive local real estate market, effectively getting their properties in front of more buyers than traditional marketing methods alone.
The success of Summit Weekly reflects the company's commitment to both traditional print media and digital marketing strategies, maintaining a strong presence across multiple platforms while serving the local Nelson community's property needs.
Photo: Glyn Delany, Sapphire Laurence and Ben Nalder celebrate 20 years of the Summit Property Weekly.
Credit: Andrew Board (Top South Media)