How to Choose a Property Management Company in Mallorca: 7 Questions to Ask

If you own a home in Mallorca but spend much of the year in Germany, the UK or elsewhere, few decisions matter as much as who you trust with your keys. The island has no shortage of companies offering property management — but the service behind the name varies enormously. These seven questions will help you tell the difference before you sign anything.

Why the right property manager matters

A home that stands empty for weeks at a time depends entirely on the quality of the people watching over it. A good property manager becomes your operational representative on the island: they catch small faults before they become expensive ones, coordinate every supplier, and keep you informed in your own language. A poor one is simply a phone number that answers after the damage is done.

The 7 questions to ask before you decide

1. Is property care your core business — or a side service?

Many agencies in Mallorca manage homes as an add-on to holiday rentals or sales. Ask what share of their business is dedicated to management itself. A company built around caring for properties will have processes, checklists and staff for exactly that.

2. How do you inspect my home, and what do I receive afterwards?

The frequency of visits should be agreed in advance and reflected in a service plan — and every visit should be documented. Ask to see a sample report: photos, findings, actions taken. If there is no written reporting, you have no visibility.

3. Who exactly will look after my home?

You want a named contact and a real team on the island — not a call centre. Ask who holds the keys, who attends emergencies, and who supervises the suppliers working on your property.

4. How do you handle suppliers, quotes and invoices?

Cleaning, gardening, pool and maintenance should be organised, supervised and quality-checked by the manager — with transparent quotes and your approval before significant work. Ask how costs are documented and whether you see the original invoices.

5. What happens in an emergency while I am abroad?

A burst pipe does not wait for your next flight. Ask about the response protocol: who is called, how fast someone attends, and how decisions are approved when you cannot be reached immediately.

6. Can we work in my language?

Reports, calls and contracts should be available in English or German if that is what you are comfortable with. Misunderstandings across languages are one of the most common sources of frustration for international owners.

7. How do you charge?

Ask for a written proposal that states clearly what is included, what is billed separately and how supplier costs are passed on. Clarity here says a great deal about how the rest of the relationship will work.

Red flags to watch for

• They are only reachable when something breaks — no preventive routine.
• No written or photographic reports after visits.
• No named team on the island, or keys held by subcontractors.
• Vague answers about how supplier invoices are handled.
• One-size-fits-all packages with no service plan for your specific home.

Frequently asked questions

Should the manager be based near my property?

Proximity matters. A team based in your area — for example the southwest of Mallorca — can attend inspections and emergencies quickly, and knows the local suppliers personally.

My neighbour has a set of keys. Is that not enough?

A helpful neighbour is not structured supervision. There are no scheduled inspections, no reports, no supplier coordination and no accountability if something is missed.

When is the best moment to hire a property manager?

Before problems appear — ideally when you purchase the home, or before your next long absence. Prevention is always cheaper than repair.