So we did a 1031 exchange for our former residence and more recently rental home in Northern California; bought TWO houses in Phoenix East Valley area, Chandler and Gilbert.
Things were going OK, we thought, with the Mexican landscaping guy we hired for the houses.
But I am not hearing from him regularly, and now the tenants report lawn is dying on one property, the new Pygmy date palms dying on the other.
Oy veh!!
Trying to find a reliable landscaper/gardener by long distance is a pain in the butt!!
We put $1500 into having the Pygmy date palms planted, may be a total loss.
And we can’t get the sprinklers working right, even hiring the “Sprinkler Doctors”.
I’m way too busy to head over from San Diego to Phoenix, and even if I find somebody how do I know I can trust him?

Mark123 might like a nice expense-paid vacation in Arizona.

You think you have problems long distance? It's even more frustrating when they're local. The exterior of our house is a total mess, and the front yard is a disaster. Can not get a schedule commitment from the contractor for completing the job that was started. Yeah, "Oy!"

Mrs.BurtonRW and I would be HAPPY to be your full time property managers in AZ.

We can move out there, form a quick LLC to operate under, and take over ASAP.

Of course, we'd have to cover our income so we can quit our jobs here in the People's Republic of Maryland. Might put our contract price a little high for what you were thinking. On the other hand, you're a cardiologist. All of the cardiologists I know drive much nicer cars than I do.

Let me know.

-Rob

Never have understood why people suffer with Long Distance LandLording. Get rid of the headache.....sell it. It is not worth the hassle with time and distance.

Andrew

Try calling a few realtors in that area for recommendations. The first thing a realtor wants when listing a house, is a good looking lawn. I agree, the long distance landlord thing would suck. Another option is to have a management company manage it, but they're going to take 10% or so.

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Another option is to have a management company manage it, but they're going to take 10% or so.

Bingo. the charge is just a cost of business you chose to be in.

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Another option is to have a management company manage it, but they're going to take 10% or so.

Long Distance, this, the cost per hour of your time is well worth the fees to not have to deal with it personally.

Check with top realtors to find out who to use if it's like most landscape companies here, most independent are difficult to keep scheduled, there is always something that keeps them from getting to the job.

Find a professional company that does this properly.

Think about how you would find a good doctor in the Phoenix area. Do the same with landscaping. Realtors are a start. If you know the neighbors they may have some ideas. I would like to live next door to nice landscaping. Good luck

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I would like to live next door to nice landscaping. Good luck

A good HOA will do that......

My parents are snowbirds that live less than 20 miles from there during the winter and have a guy they really like and he and his crew seem to take good care of them and everyone else they refer - I'd be happy to get his contact info for you if you'd like.

Thanks all for your advice.
We do have a property management company; they’re good; did have a good landscaper but they’ve gotten unreliable. So I went to Yelp, went with somebody with good reviews. Problem is partly language barrier; my landscaper’s English is much better than most, but he may be too busy for his own good or mine.

ShouldBFishin- somehow missed your offer.
I’d love to make contact. Please email me.
Thanksu

Renter's Wharehouse is a management co I hear of regularly on the radio. I have no financial interest in this co

They make some realistic AstroTurf now.