If you’re in the business of rental properties or property management in Denver, you’ve probably heard the name Laureate Ltd. The company has become a staple in the property management scene here in Denver, and for good reason. They’ve been around for over 40 years now, and you don’t make it that long in any industry without doing something right, in both practices and the way you treat people.
But maybe you’re new to Denver, just getting interested in property management for your property, or are already aware of Laureate and just don’t know the people who make it what it is. Well, at Laureate, it’s the people who are the center of everything we do.
So let’s take a step behind the curtain. We sat down with Vice President and Managing Broker Jordan Strauss to get the story behind Laureate and why there’s no other property management company in Denver that’s more qualified to deliver top-notch services and care for both owners and tenants.
A Generation-Spanning Legacy in Denver Property Management
Laureate began back in 1982 by Jordan’s father, Rick Strauss, who founded the company after gaining his own foundation of real estate knowledge in the home construction industry. Following a downturn in home construction in the 80s, Rick found a new career avenue through a connection that had a portfolio of 25 rental units needing management.
Rick took this as an opportunity, and Laureate was born in a real grassroots, American way. The company began out of Rick’s own basement, where he learned the ins and outs of property management and steadily grew Laureate into what it is today. That background of hard work and dedication is what Jordan would grow up learning about property management and how to run a business.
“I was raised in the industry out of a platform of hard work and transparency.”
- Jordan Strauss,
VP & Managing Broker of Laureate Ltd.
That education became hands-on very early for Jordan. He began working with his father at Laureate in 1995, 4 years before he graduated high school. After getting his degree in political science and accounting from The University of Colorado, Jordan decided to come back to the family business to join Laureate full-time. This began his journey properly in property management and real estate brokerage.
Since then, Jordan has risen to take up his dad’s mantle as a leader at Laureate. The mantras he was raised on in hard work and taking care of people, both owners and tenants, have carried over with him.
Jordan has overseen day-to-day operations at Laureate since 2007.
“Some of the biggest difficulties that exist with larger property management companies are a necessity for homogeneity with clients and a lack of personalized service. That’s the exact opposite of our mantra. I don’t care if you own one property or 100, you’re going to get the same level of service and care out of our office so we can help you move forward and achieve your investment goals.”
- Jordan Strauss,
VP & Managing Broker of Laureate Ltd.
What Being a Family Business Means for Property Management
One thing people don’t always bring up when talking about family businesses is that they can reward you and test you in equal parts. When asked about what it was like running a business with his dad, Jordan added with a laugh that it was as challenging as working with parents can be, but ultimately the experience taught him a lot about how to approach problem-solving in client relationships.
Jordan remarked, “Working with my dad taught me to be humble and to listen. One of the guiding principles in problem-solving is to figure out what the problem is exactly to begin with. So many times we get engulfed in figuring out a solution that we don’t really understand the problem.”
This is something Jordan discovered while working alongside his father when problems would arise, and it’s something he carries over to his approach with property owners. He continues, “You have to digress sometimes, take a few steps back, and make sure you are developing the right solution. Our primary goal out of this office is to facilitate the best interests of the homeowner. My clients sometimes have differing opinions on the way things should be done, depending on what they want, what kind of real estate they own, and what their goals are. We have to come from that perspective of understanding our clientele and have personalized service so that we can properly understand how to gain a resolution.”
“Our primary goal out of this office is to facilitate the best interests of the homeowner.”
- Jordan Strauss,
VP & Managing Broker of Laureate Ltd.
Being a family business has taught Jordan and Laureate as a whole more than just adaptive problem solving however, it has also provided a unique ability to form relationships with property owners that themselves span generations.
Laureate has worked with clients who have passed on their rental property to their children, and through the trust and confidence that Laureate has earned from them, they continue to entrust the company with those properties.
It takes a special approach in property management to foster these relationships that span the lifetimes of clients. But at Laureate, being a family business means more than just being family-owned. That same level of care and goodwill gets extended to the families they work with, and there’s no better showcase of that than these lifelong partnerships the team has forged.
Why Choose Laureate for Your Denver Property?
So you know the story behind Laureate, but why choose them over any other property management company in Denver? For Jordan, the answer boils down to two simple things: competitive and fair pricing as well as the vast experience they carry with them compared to other property management companies.
Laureate charges a flat $90 leasing fee that simply can’t be competed with when the typical fee charged by the competition is 50% of the first month’s rent or more. Jordan commented, “As opposed to being paid a large fee upfront to lease the property, we look for long-term contractual payment through 10% of rent collected. To be paid for performance over time is an important model.”
Adding to this, he stated that the vast amount of experience they have simply can’t be replaced. Especially in a state like Colorado where rental laws are stringent and ever-changing. “The fact we have 43 years of experience in the industry and that we stay on the cutting edge of legislation in this city is very, very important.”
“The ability to operate with principles of common sense and to understand how to address things like maintenance issues or non-payment issues concisely and effectively is what keeps us competitive.”
- Jordan Strauss,
VP & Managing Broker of Laureate Ltd.
The Future of Laureate and Denver Property Management
Despite having such a vast history as far as property management companies go, Lordan and the Laureate are never ones to rest on their laurels. For all the successes of their past, they’re always thinking about how it informs what the future will look like.
Jordan stated that their biggest success 43 years in has been their ability to craft lasting business relationships that provide steady success well into the future for their clients. “Turnover in this company comes almost solely from people who have held real estate so long that they pass away. We’ve been so good at managing their property for such a long period that it gets passed on to their children or the portfolio gets sold by the estate. That says a great deal of success for us when people have that much long-term success with holding their real estate assets.”
As for the future of Laureate itself, Jordan foresees a continued and calculated growth that has defined their journey thus far. However, according to Jordan, that growth must be “tempered” so they never grow too fast to a point where they can’t deliver the same personalized service to every client that they’ve committed themselves to. That means “continued growth, quality customer service, quality maintenance abilities, and not being overwhelmed by taking on too much. Always the goal is to make this company bigger and better, the right way.”
Laureate Ltd.: Relationships That Last, Property Management That Works for You
When choosing who to enter into a business relationship with for property management, there’s a wealth of options in a city like Denver. There are nationally operated companies with large teams, upstart companies with fresh ideas, and even out-of-state options. But what you can rarely find is the decades of knowledge that Laureate continues to hone and evolve.
What’s equally important to have in a property manager here is a team that lives and breathes Denver all the way to the top of the company. That homegrown mindset is critical. It provides a real sense of community in the work that Laureate does, as well as an ability to adapt and persevere through the challenges your rental business faces.
“Housing here has grown exponentially. It’s very much a reward to be able to provide housing to 1,000s of families and people in need across the spectrum. Our company manages everything from 400 sq. ft. studios to properties in Cherry Hills that are 6,000+ sq. ft. It’s very much rewarding to have that diversification and help people where they need it so housing can continue to be successful in Denver.”
- Jordan Strauss,
VP & Managing Broker of Laureate Ltd.
Laureate is more than just another property manager trying to make a quick buck off of the real estate in Denver. They’ve grown and changed with this city, and care just as much about the success of housing here as they do their own success. And that’s something you’ll be hard-pressed to find in other property management teams here.
To learn more about what Laureate can do for you in your investment journey, explore the top-notch services or reach out for a free consultation today.