Whether you’re leasing one property or a high-rise full of condos, getting the right property manager on board saves you time, stress and cash in the long run. However, it’s pretty easy for just about anyone to call themselves a property manager even when they have zero experience-and that might set you up not just for headaches, but potentially lawsuits. You’re the property owner, so it’s your responsibility to follow the rules and keep your tenants safe. Your property manager is the middle man, and you depend on them wholly to keep things in order.

The situation is made even tougher if you’re a landlord who’s not in the same region as your leased property. From screening renters and collecting rent to handyman work to ensuring lease agreements are upheld, there’s a lot on a property manager’s plate. Here are tips on how to hire right the first time, so you can sit back and watch that passive income roll in. A great property manager makes your life and your business a breeze.

References aren’t Just for Looks

Request references and actually follow-up on them when you narrow down your hiring pool. Preferably, these references will be from reputable management companies. Cross check the phone numbers you’re given to make sure they’re connected to a real business. Everyone has to start somewhere, but it’s not wise to trust an inexperienced newbie with something as important as your property.

If you really want to slim things down, ask for letters of recommendation, too. Property managers will be asked to do a lot of things, and if someone wants the job they’ll comply with simple requests. If they can’t drum up a written recommendation, that may mean either they don’t have one (bad news) or they can’t be bothered to get one (also bad news). It’s still an employer’s market, so this is your time to cherry pick property management firm candidates.

Match Experiences

If you simply plan to lease a residential home now that you’ve downsized in retirement, it’s best to hire a property manager with experience in that kind of property. Someone who’s only worked in apartment communities isn’t going to have the experience necessary for such a drastic change. This is why picking the right person is such an essential part of the process.

If at all possible meet with them in person, but of course that can be challenging if you’re hiring from a different city, state or country. You’re trusting this person, and ideally you’ll “click” with them on a professional level. If you’re not comfortable with them in an interview, maybe your gut is telling you something’s amiss. And don’t forget to check Google and Yelp reviews.

Play It Safe

Want to make sure the absolute best match and avoid endless sorting through resumes, checking references and time wasting interviews? Go with a reputable property management company-it’s their business to take care of your property and their managers are skilled, knowledgeable and have already proven themselves. What more could you ask for (besides a 100 percent filled property, of course)?

Many management professionals in Thailand are beginning to recognize the value of obtaining PMP certification. With more than 660,000 PMPs around the world (~100,000 PMPs in China alone), Thailand ranks quite low in terms of the number of certificate holders (414 as of September 2015). This is primarily due to lack of awareness of the project management discipline and how its practice helps companies save costs while implementing projects.

If you are a Thai project manager, coordinator, or engineer and are considering to get certified, here are top five reasons to getting your PMP certification.

1. Get a world-renowned Project Management Organization to endorse your Skills and experience

PMI (Project Management Institute) is a renowned non-profit organization established more than 40 years ago, which focuses on the publication of standards including the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) – a leading standard dealing with Project Management. Getting a PMP certification through PMI and having them endorse you as a successful in your industry with more than 3-year experience adds a significant weight to your professional profile.

2. Stand out among the 1000s of managers in Thailand without any PMP certification

Many managers in Thailand come from the construction and engineering sectors. Many do not even know about PMI and many are not even familiar with the PMP certification. It won’t be long before competing managers (with PMI certifications) from the ASEAN Economic Community region (especially Singapore with more than 9000 PMP certificate holders) compete for jobs in similar industries in Thailand. Many companies are now bidding for large projects whereby owners require managers that are certified. With a PMP certification, Thai managers will surely have an added advantage over their competing counterparts from other regions.

3. Expand your career potential by applying to multinational corporations who recognize your certification
Many multinational corporations in Thailand are seeking locally certified Project Managers as they expand their reach locally and internationally. Certificate holders will have an added advantage as they are better able to compete for a position that requires working in diverse environments. Certified Thai PMPs are better communicators and are therefore preferably hired by multinational corporations seeking managers that can manage virtual teams.

4. Sharpen your project management knowledge
Thai managers may have the minimum experience required to execute projects but have never actually gone through formal training. By seeking to obtain a PMP certification and by attending a 35 hour formal training class on project management, they are better equipped with tools and techniques that should help them deal with multi-million THB deals.

5. Improve your career outreach by networking with certified professionals in your industry Thai managers should join the local PMI Chapter and network with professionals in their industry and other industries. By joining the Chapter and participating in its training events and activities, and by networking with professionals in similar industries, certified Thai PMPs have better opportunities for career development and growth.