Owner FAQs

We specialize in long-term residential rental properties and select small commercial properties throughout the Raleigh area, including Wake County, Eastern Durham County, and Western Johnston County. We do not manage short-term or vacation rentals.

Yes. MasterKey Property Management is a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage. Our Founder and Broker-in-Charge, Robert Dell'Osso, MPM®, RMP®, has more than 20 years of residential property management experience. Robert serves in leadership roles with the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®), including 2026 Triangle Chapter President, 2026 National Government Affairs Committee Chair, and 2027 Capitol Summit Committee Chair. Our team stays current on North Carolina landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing regulations, and industry best practices to help protect your investment.

Most professional property management companies charge a percentage of the monthly rent, along with leasing and other service fees. At MasterKey, our Full-Service Property Management starts as low as 8% of the monthly rent collected, and we believe in transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Visit our Pricing page to see every fee before you sign. For more on what drives cost in this market, see How Much Does Property Management Cost in Raleigh and Cary, NC?

Our management fee covers the day-to-day management of your property, including resident communication, rent collection, maintenance coordination, financial reporting, lease renewals, and ongoing property oversight. Before you sign, we'll review every fee so you know exactly what to expect — see our full breakdown on the Pricing page.

No. We believe in transparent pricing. We don't add percentage markups to routine maintenance invoices, and you'll know all applicable fees before becoming a client — everything is laid out on our Pricing page.

Once the management agreement is signed and onboarding is complete, we can begin managing your property right away. If the property is vacant, we'll help you prepare it for the market and begin marketing as soon as it's rent ready. See our step-by-step guide to renting out a property in Raleigh for what that process looks like.

Watch: Guide to Preparing Your Rental Property for the Raleigh Rental Market

We don't rely on online estimates alone. We evaluate your property's condition in person and combine that with current market data, comparable rentals, active competition, and local market trends to recommend a pricing strategy designed to maximize your annual rental income — not just your initial asking rent. Learn more about our approach in Rental Pricing Strategy: How to Maximize Rental Income and Reduce Vacancy.

Watch: How MasterKey Determines the Rental Price for Your Property

We closely monitor showing activity, market feedback, and competing listings. If adjustments are needed, we'll discuss recommendations with you based on real-time market data — not guesswork. See a real example in Real Results for Property Owners: How Strategic Pricing Reduced Vacancy on a Raleigh Rental Property.

Watch: How We Leased a Raleigh Rental Property in 14 Days (After 30+ Days Vacant)

Your property is marketed across the major rental websites, the MLS, our website, social media, our resident waitlist, and our local leasing network to maximize exposure to qualified applicants.

Every applicant is evaluated using the same written screening criteria, including income verification, credit history, rental history, background screening, and eviction history. We apply our standards consistently and in full compliance with Fair Housing laws. See how this plays out in practice: Tenant Screening Case Study: Protecting Raleigh Rental Investments.

Watch: How Professional Tenant Screening Protects Your Rental Investment

Security deposits vary based on the applicant and property. We determine the appropriate deposit amount using our written screening criteria and applicable North Carolina law.

Security deposits are held in MasterKey's North Carolina trust account in accordance with North Carolina law — part of the accounting and reporting systems we maintain for every owner.

Residents pay rent electronically through their online portal or by other approved payment methods. We monitor collections, follow up promptly on late payments, and enforce the lease consistently. More on how funds flow to you: Accounting & Owner Payments.

We use a combination of our in-house maintenance team and a network of trusted, licensed, and insured vendors to complete repairs quickly and professionally. Repairs within your approved maintenance reserve are handled promptly, while larger repairs are discussed with you before work begins unless immediate action is needed to protect your property or the safety of your residents. Learn more about our maintenance, inspections, and repair process.

Watch: How Maintenance Issues Should Be Handled in Your Cary, NC Rental Property

You'll have a dedicated Property Coordinator as your primary point of contact, supported by specialists in maintenance, inspections, accounting, and property operations. Our team approach ensures someone is always available to help — meet the team on our About page.

Watch: MasterKey Property Management Team Approach

You'll receive monthly owner statements along with 24/7 access to your secure Owner Portal, where you can view financial statements, invoices, inspection reports, lease documents, tax information, and maintenance history. See a sample owner statement and reporting overview.

Watch: How to Make an Owner Contribution in Your Owner's Portal

Owner distributions are made monthly by ACH direct deposit after rent has been collected and applicable expenses have been processed. Details here: Accounting & Owner Payments.

We stand behind our service with six owner-focused guarantees designed to reduce risk and give you confidence. These include our Results Guarantee, Happiness Guarantee, Eviction Protection Guarantee, Pet Damage Guarantee, Resident Retention Guarantee, and On-Time Rent Guarantee. Every guarantee has clearly defined terms, and we'll review them with you before you sign so you know exactly what's covered. See the full list on our Guarantees page.

Watch: Risk-Free Raleigh Property Management with MasterKey and Robert Dell'Osso

If a resident falls behind on rent, we act quickly. We communicate with the resident, serve all required legal notices, and, when necessary, coordinate the eviction process in accordance with North Carolina law. If the tenant was placed by MasterKey and is being evicted for non-payment of rent, we'll cover the court filing fees and attorney costs associated with the Summary Ejectment hearing in County Magistrate Court through our Eviction Protection Guarantee. For the legal timeline, see What Happens If a Tenant Stops Paying Rent in North Carolina?

Watch: Tenant Non-Payment Case Study

For more than 20 years, we've helped rental property owners protect their investments and maximize long-term returns. We combine experienced local professionals, transparent communication, modern technology, proven systems, and six industry-leading owner guarantees to deliver a management experience focused on results — not just collecting rent. Read more: Reasons You Should Work with MasterKey Property Management.

Watch: Reasons You Should Work with MasterKey Property Management