NARPM Radio Building a Property Management Firm from Scratch: Lessons in Growth and Client Retention
Dec 10, 2025
Nik Boone, founder of Ascend Property Management, shares his inspiring journey from a pre-med student to leading a firm managing over 1,500 doors. He reveals how he landed his first investor client by managing properties without charging fees, building trust for future business. Nik discusses innovative growth strategies like SEO and automating review requests. He emphasizes the importance of in-house maintenance for efficiency and offers insights into client retention by understanding their needs. His mantra: focus and patience are key to long-term success.
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From Donut-Shop Lease To Core Client
- Nik Boone started property management by managing an LA investor's cheap houses after selling two for $40–50k each.
- He learned on the job, leased the first property from a donut shop, and traded free management for continued house sales.
First Client Became Mentor And Long-Term Partner
- The original investor client bought about 100 houses and became a mentor who attended Nik's graduation and wedding.
- That client still pays below-market fees and remains with Ascend a decade later.
Dominate Local Search With Reviews
- Focus on local SEO and piling up authentic Google reviews to win search-driven owners.
- Ask satisfied clients at peak moments to leave reviews and prioritize review volume and ratings.