Before You Read Any Further, Ask Yourself Three Questions
Property management isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we’re not trying to be everyone’s manager. How you answer these tends to tell an owner — and us — whether we’re the right fit.
1
Do you want the lowest management fee, or the fewest headaches?
We’re not the cheapest option in Chicago, and we don’t try to be. Owners who work with us are paying for responsiveness, follow-through, and a manager who treats the property with the same care they would.
2
Do you want visibility into what’s happening with your property, or a black box?
We give owners a clear line of sight into maintenance, vendor invoices, and leasing activity — and we tell you when something needs your input instead of surprising you with it after the fact.
3
Are you looking for a long-term partner, or a one-time transaction?
Our model is built around ongoing management relationships, not one-off placements. If you’re only looking to fill a vacancy and walk away, we’re probably not the right fit — and that’s okay.
Is This You?
You’re likely a great fit if:
✓ You own one or more rental properties in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs and want professional-grade management
✓ You value transparency and proactive communication over the lowest possible fee
✓ You want a manager who treats maintenance and vendor decisions with real care, not the cheapest fix available
✓ You see quality management as an investment in the asset, not a discretionary expense to minimize
✓ You’re looking for a long-term working relationship, not a one-time transaction
We may not be the right fit if:
✕ You’re primarily shopping by price and looking for the lowest available management fee
✕ You want to approve every maintenance decision yourself, with no pre-authorized process
✕ You’re looking for tenant placement only, with no ongoing management afterward
✕ You’re not open to professional recommendations on rent pricing, unit readiness, or vendor selection
✕ You’re expecting guaranteed occupancy or guaranteed rental outcomes
Recognizing a “may not be a fit” item on this list isn’t a rejection — it just means a different management arrangement is probably a better match for what you’re looking for.
What Straight-A Handles vs. What Stays With You
Straight-A handles:
✓ Rent collection, online billing, and payment processing
✓ Maintenance intake, vendor dispatch, and coordination
✓ Tenant screening, lease execution, and move-in/move-out documentation
✓ Day-to-day vendor communication and invoice review
✓ CHA/Section 8 inspection and voucher coordination
✓ Delinquency follow-up and eviction process management
Stays with you as the owner:
✓ Final approval on major capital expenditures
✓ Overall investment strategy and hold-vs-sell decisions
✓ Insurance and mortgage/lender relationships
✓ Sign-off on rent pricing, based on our market recommendation
✓ Any decision above your pre-agreed maintenance spending threshold
How It Works Day-to-Day
✓ Authorization threshold: we establish a pre-agreed spending threshold with each owner. Routine repairs at or under that threshold are handled directly so small issues don’t sit waiting on a phone call; anything above it comes to you first.
✓ Expense transparency: vendor invoices are reviewed before payment and available to you — you’re never guessing what a repair cost or why.
✓ Communication model: we reach out proactively when something needs your input or awareness, and you can always reach us directly for anything else — no call center, no ticket queue.
✓ Residents as customers: we treat your tenants professionally and responsively, because a well-treated resident renews their lease, pays on time, and takes care of the unit — which is ultimately what protects your investment.
Services
We intentionally reserve tenant placement for owners already working with us on ongoing management — not as a one-time, standalone service. Placing a tenant into a unit no one is managing doesn’t serve the owner or the resident well.
CHA & Section 8 Housing
We support owners who accept Housing Choice Vouchers, including:
✓ Coordinating CHA/Housing Choice Voucher inspections and required documentation
✓ Identifying and remediating deficiencies flagged during inspection
✓ Processing voucher paperwork alongside standard lease documentation
CHA inspection timelines and approval decisions are made by the Chicago Housing Authority, not by Straight-A Property Management — we manage the process on your behalf, but timelines and outcomes are ultimately outside our control.
See What We’ve Done
Rather than tell you about our results, we’d rather show you — browse what we currently have listed and what we’ve placed for owners so far.
Available Apartments →
Browse the units we’re actively leasing across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs right now.
Recently Placed Units →
See real Chicago addresses we’ve leased for owners, so you can see the kind of work we do rather than take our word for it.
Pricing & Fees
We’re not the lowest-cost management option in Chicago, and we don’t try to compete on price. Owners who choose us are paying for responsiveness, transparency, and a manager who treats their property like their own — that costs more than the bare minimum, and we think it’s worth it. We’ll walk you through exact numbers for your property on a call, rather than posting a one-size-fits-all rate here.
Typically included in the management fee:
✓ Rent collection and online payment processing
✓ Maintenance coordination and vendor management within your authorization threshold
✓ Tenant communication and lease administration
✓ Routine reporting and invoice transparency
Billed separately, as incurred:
✓ Actual maintenance and vendor invoices, billed at cost
✓ Tenant placement costs when a new lease is signed
✓ CHA/Section 8 inspection-related costs, where applicable
Getting Started: 7 Steps
1
Introductory Call
We learn about your property, your goals, and whether we’re a good match for each other.
2
Property Walkthrough
A market-ready assessment of the unit or building, including any repairs we’d recommend before marketing or renewal.
3
Agreement Review
We walk through the management agreement together so expectations, including your authorization threshold, are clear from day one.
4
Systems Setup
Owner access, online payment setup, and transfer of any existing lease and tenant documentation.
5
Leasing or Transition
If the unit is vacant, we begin marketing and screening; if it’s occupied, we transition current tenants onto our systems.
6
Management Kickoff
Rent collection, maintenance coordination, and vendor management begin under our standard process.
7
Ongoing Communication
You’ll hear from us proactively as things come up, with regular visibility into activity on your property.
Proudly Serving Chicago & Chicagoland
Lincoln Park · Logan Square · Wicker Park · Bucktown · Pilsen · Bronzeville · Hyde Park · Rogers Park · Albany Park · Little Village · Austin · Oak Park · Oak Brook · Cicero & Berwyn · and surrounding suburbs
We’re Always Looking for Independent Service Providers
Straight-A Property Management works with qualified independent contractors and vendor partners — handymen, general contractors, electricians, plumbers, masons, roofers, snow removal crews, and landscapers — across the Chicagoland area. If you’re an experienced professional looking for consistent work and timely pay, we’d like to hear from you.
What We Look For
✓ Experience and a genuine willingness to work
✓ Adequate transportation
✓ Ability to create your own invoices
✓ Ability to receive electronic payments (Zelle, Quickpay, PayPal)
✓ Dependability, above all
Benefits of Partnering With Us
✓ Timely pay — we compensate quickly once work orders are completed
✓ Consistent work orders — we manage many doors throughout the Chicagoland area and surrounding suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer tenant placement without ongoing management?
No. We reserve tenant placement for owners already working with us on ongoing management. Placing a tenant into a unit no one is actively managing doesn’t serve either the owner or the resident well, so we don’t offer it as a standalone service.
What’s the authorization threshold, and how is it decided?
It’s a spending limit we agree on with each owner individually, based on the property and your comfort level. Repairs at or under that amount are handled directly so small issues don’t sit waiting on approval; anything above it comes to you first.
How much do you charge for management?
It depends on the property and scope of work, so we don’t post a flat rate here — we’ll walk you through exact numbers on a call. What we can say up front is that we’re not the cheapest option in the market, and we don’t try to be.
Do you guarantee I’ll find a qualified tenant quickly, or that occupancy stays at 100%?
No. We can’t guarantee occupancy or placement timelines — the Chicago rental market varies by property, season, and pricing. What we can commit to is a thorough marketing and screening process and clear communication throughout.
Do you manage properties that accept CHA/Section 8 vouchers?
Yes. We coordinate CHA inspections, deficiency remediation, and voucher paperwork. Inspection timelines and approval decisions are ultimately made by the Chicago Housing Authority, not by us, so we can’t guarantee a specific timeline.
Are your maintenance vendors your employees?
No. Our maintenance and repair work is performed by independent service providers and vendor partners — not Straight-A staff. We coordinate and review their work and invoices on your behalf.
How will I know what’s happening with my property?
We reach out proactively when something needs your input or awareness, and vendor invoices are available for your review. You can also reach us directly rather than going through a call center or ticket system.
What happens if I want to make every maintenance decision myself?
That’s a reasonable preference, but it’s probably not a great fit with how we operate — our model relies on a pre-agreed authorization threshold so routine issues can be resolved quickly. If you want to approve every repair personally, a different arrangement may suit you better.
Do you handle evictions?
Yes, we manage the delinquency follow-up and eviction process when it becomes necessary, in accordance with Chicago and Illinois requirements.
What areas do you serve?
We manage properties throughout the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, including Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Pilsen, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Little Village, Austin, Oak Park, Oak Brook, Cicero, and Berwyn.
What’s included in the management fee versus billed separately?
Day-to-day services like rent collection, maintenance coordination within your authorization threshold, and tenant communication are typically included. Actual vendor invoices, placement costs when a new lease is signed, and CHA-related costs where applicable are billed separately, at cost.
How do I get started?
Request a consultation using the button below. We’ll set up an introductory call to learn about your property and goals, and go from there — our full onboarding process is outlined above.
Think We Might Be the Right Fit?
Request a consultation and we’ll set up an introductory call to talk through your property and see whether we’re a good match for each other.