Should You Manage Your Commercial Property Yourself or Use a Professional?

One question every private property owner asks sooner or later is: “Would I be better off managing my property myself?”

When that thought arises, a few common arguments usually come to mind:

• I’m more motivated than anyone else to run it well.

• If I do it myself, I’ll spend more time on it and push for better results than a property manager with 15+ other clients to juggle.

• Why should I pay for a property manager who doesn’t know my property as well as I do, and might be gone in three to six months anyway?

On the other side of the equation sits the professional property manager. They bring systems, procedures, and (hopefully) a depth of knowledge. But does that always translate to better outcomes?

The Case for Professional Managers

There’s no denying that most firms have systems that outpace handwritten ledgers or basic Excel spreadsheets. They’re built for scale - financial reporting, arrears tracking, compliance checklists - and when they work well, they keep assets running smoothly.

But here’s the catch: not all managers are created equal. High staff turnover is common in large agencies. If your property is handed from one junior to another, how will the new manager know that gas meters need to be read quarterly so tenants can be billed correctly? Miss details like this, and suddenly you’re wearing costs that should have been recoverable.

So yes, agents provide structure. But consistency and depth of knowledge matter just as much. If your assigned property manager has only been in the industry five minutes and moves on in three months, your property is the one that suffers.

The Control Question

For some owners, handing off day-to-day headaches is a relief. They don’t want to hear about roof leaks, arrears, or utility bills - they just want their monthly remittance.

Others feel the opposite. They become frustrated when they don’t know if rent has been paid or why maintenance costs are rising. For them, the loss of control is the biggest drawback of outsourcing.

There’s no “right” answer here - it comes down to how close you want to sit to the operations of your investment.

The Cost Question

This is the part most owners circle back to: “Am I getting value for money?”

The most common complaints I hear are:

• They’re not doing what they promised in the pitch.

• If I don’t chase them, nothing happens.

• I still end up doing part of the work myself.

And of course, professional fees aren’t cheap. But cost is only half the equation. A good property manager should more than pay for themselves - through stronger leasing outcomes, tighter control of outgoings, reduced vacancy downtime, and ultimately higher income.

If they’re not adding at least as much value as they’re costing, the question writes itself: why employ them?

The Middle Ground: Consultants and Assisted Models

There’s another option that more and more private investors are turning to: bringing in a consultant or asset manager who supports you without taking over.

This model works in two scenarios:

• For owners who have always managed their property themselves but now want expert backup for compliance, reporting, or capex planning.

• For those who want to take back control from an agent but don’t feel they have the systems or procedures to do it alone.

Here, you stay in control of your asset. You hold the bank account, manage day-to-day decisions, and stay close to tenants (if you choose). But you also get the benefit of professional input on:

• Lease negotiations and market rent reviews

• Outgoings budgets and reconciliations

• Compliance and risk reviews

• Capex prioritisation and tendering

• Investor-grade reporting

Think of it as assisted management: you lean on expertise where it matters most - leasing, compliance, financial discipline - without handing over the entire job. You also gain access to professional systems and compliance frameworks that protect value while keeping control firmly in your hands.

So, What’s the Right Choice?

• Manage it yourself if the asset is simple, you have the time, and you enjoy being hands-on.

• Appoint an agent if the asset is complex, time is short, and you want professional systems managing the risk.

• Use a consultant if you want the best of both worlds - control where you want it, expertise where you need it, and professional systems backing you up.

Final Thought

This isn’t just a plug for my business - though yes, it’s exactly the type of work I do. It’s also an invitation to think differently. The old “one-size-fits-all” model no longer suits the current market.

Owners want flexibility: the freedom to choose where they stay involved, and where they bring in professional support.

At the end of the day, your management model should do three things: protect income, preserve asset value, and let you sleep at night. How you get there - DIY, agent, or consultant - is up to you.

About the Author Alan Baynash brings 30 years of experience in the retail property sector, having worked with private investors, institutional landlords, and leading agencies. As Principal of TPD Asset Management, he specialises in helping high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and syndicates maximise returns and protect the long-term value of their retail property portfolios.