Once you’ve put together a list of Commerce property management company choices that you might be interested in working with, you’ll need to have a solid method in mind for choosing one. First, you should interview 2-3 companies before choosing any one. You might like the people at the first one a lot-but they still might not be your first choice.

First, you’ll want to consider the references that the company is capable of providing you. If you were referred to this company by another investor then you’ll already have one reference, but you may want to seek others just to get a complete picture. You want to know that the Commerce property management company continues to stay attentive even after you’ve already signed their contract.

Another thing you’ll want to find out is whether or not the company you have in mind is accredited by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). IREM offers the award of AMO, or Accredited Management Organization, to property management firms that have “achieved the highest level of performance, experience, and financial stability.” A company’s right to display the AMO seal provides assurance that the management company is competent and reliable.

Next, you’ll want to find out what services they offer. Rent collection, customer service with your tenants, maintenance issues, finding and evicting tenants are all services that you might want the property management company to handle. You’ll want to know right away if they don’t handle something you don’t want to deal with down the line.

Next, you’ll want to know about their tenant screening process and decide whether this fits with your overall investment strategy. A company that refuses to rent to anyone who doesn’t have a credit score of 720 or higher, for example, might not be the best choice for a property located in distressed or low income areas. On the flip side, you don’t want a “Your job is your credit” style screening process for 4 bedroom houses in upscale neighborhoods.

The last thing you should look at is the fees. Obviously you want to save money, but all of the other concerns should weigh higher. That said, you will want to know how comparable the fees are to the other Commerce property management companies you’re interviewing. Once you’ve gathered this information you’ll be in a good position to make the decision that’s right for you and your property.