Because it's an unregulated industry in this state, it's all too common to end up with one of the many bad management companies.  And the cost of that mistake is high, including rent not paid to you on time causing you to miss mortgage payments, maintenance issues that don't get addressed and turn into bigger and more expensive problems, unscreened tenants who default on their rent and require costly evictions, and more.

Clients we spoke to as research for this article told us that's why they're grateful to have found one of the rare good ones in Bay Management Group in Baltimore MD and CEO Patrick Freeze, who services much of Maryland and is known specifically for proper screening and better tenants, timely payments to owners, responsiveness and complete professionalism.

More Professionalism and Better Results from Bay Management Group in Baltimore MD

One of the best indicators of success and professionalism is how many units a company has under management, with under 100 being a potential danger sign.  Many companies falsely claim more than they actually have but you can verify their claim by finding out how many are for rent at any given time, and if that's less than 3-4% of the total number of units they told you they manage, it's probably not true.   In contrast, Bay Management Group in Baltimore MD currently has 1,800 units under management as a testament to their success and company growth.

Although Bay Management Group might never have had a potential client see their size as anything other than a positive, we asked CEO Pat Freeze if being a larger company means personal service suffers compared to a small outfit.  He answers, "Our greater capability is one of the reasons we're actually known for a higher level of responsiveness and service. We've organized our company into three departments of maintenance, leasing, and accounting. That covers 99.9% of a client's potential needs.  Every client gets my personal cell number and yet our departments are so good at taking care of clients quickly to their full satisfaction that I hardly ever get any calls. Customer service is definitely one of our strongest assets."

That greater responsiveness at Bay Management Group extends to such things as payments to owners that are on-time, and addressing maintenance issues when they first come up to prevent them turning into bigger more costly repairs later.  That was reflected in the report to us by a Bay Management Group client named Jason who we spoke to in our research. He told us, "We've been with Bay Management Group for three years now for a single family house we rent out. I get a statement from them every month and have EFT so they make deposits directly into my account.  They're very professional and very responsive which is great since I don't get to the house very often and they're quick to take care of any work that needs to be done. I'm very happy with them and I recommend them."

Other companies try to appear cheap by skimping on everything from maintenance, costing you more in bigger repairs later, to tenant screening leading to a high rate of non-paying tenants and costly evictions. In contrast, Bay Management Group does full background checks on every applicant, including credit and criminal history. And the difference is apparent in their high percentage of good, responsible tenants. Pat Freeze shares, "We have an eviction rate that is less than 1%. We're very proud of that and our clients are very happy as a result."

Unlike most other companies in this industry, Bay Management Group has a real estate broker's license, which means they rent units faster. That's because they can post available rentals to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), something available only to licensed brokers. They also allow Realtors to show their available units. "I know of no other company in the area that allows Realtors to show properties," Patrick Freeze told us. "But we do it because the units rent faster as a result and that's in the best interest of our clients." Previous clients back this up, like one named Sarah who said of Bay Management Group, "They leased my property quickly. I recommend them to anyone."

Another sign that a particular company is better than others is to get a look at their office. And a look at the offices of Bay Management Group shows a clean, well organized space reflecting greater professionalism and efficiency. And it's very warm and inviting, with pictures of Baltimore, exposed brick walls, and friendly staff who make you feel welcome.

CEO of Bay Management Group  Pat Freeze lives in Baltimore MD with his wife Samantha. The two met at an Orioles game. "She's very understanding of my dedication to Bay Management Group and the long hours I put in," shares Pat.  He got started in the industry after studying economics and business at Dickinson College when a family acquaintance asked him to manage a 30-unit building. He did such a good job that soon others were coming to him by word of mouth and two years later he incorporated Bay Management Group in Baltimore.   Friends describe Pat Freeze as smart, trustworthy, and level-headed. Clients of Bay Management Group say he is very responsive, creative in finding cost-effective solutions to challenges that come up, and can be totally counted on in their absence, like one client named Greg who reported, "I have four properties with them and live overseas. I love how I can trust them to make the right decisions with me being more than 5,000 miles away." 

Considering how many bad companies there are in the industry and the high cost of choosing the wrong one, clients said they are relieved and grateful to have found Bay Management Group in Baltimore MD and Patrick Freeze, proven to rent units faster, with more responsiveness to clients and to maintenance issues, with better tenant screening resulting in a super-low eviction rate of less than 1%.   As one client named Gabrielle put it, "I am happy to say I finally found a company I am sticking with. I have with two others over the past two years and I have to say this one is doing a fantastic job."