We started 85 West to manage our own homes the right way. A few owners trusted us early, and their homes run on the same system as ours.
Our philosophy is simple. Own good properties, take care of your tenants, maximize returns by minimizing vacancy, and pay attention to maintenance and repairs. The sweet spot is where tenants and owners both win.
We built 85 West so we could hold on to those values. Paying $1,200 for a clogged toilet isn't acceptable to us, and yes, we've paid it. So we pre-lease to keep homes full, we keep sharpening our rolodex to keep costs affordable, and when a bill comes in high, we often hold that weight ourselves.
We unapologetically charge 10%, because as owners we hate the nickel and dime too.
Cole is a founding partner of 85 West Management Services, taking an unconventional path into the field. He bought his first property at 18, balanced a medical career while investing, and eventually went all-in on real estate. His hands-on experience with flips, multifamily, short-term rentals, and residential sales inspired him to help launch 85 West—focused on building reliable, scalable systems for property owners who want worry-free management.
David is a founding partner of 85 West Management Services, with a background in real estate sales, investing, and property operations. He plays a key leadership role in shaping company systems, guiding policy, and upholding service standards. David co-founded 85 West to provide dependable management for his own investment portfolio and his clients'—freeing him to continue helping people buy and sell homes across West Michigan.
We own 57% of the units we manage. The rest belong to a few lucky owners who trusted us early and run on the same system we use for our own homes.
Behind that system: 21 years of real estate experience, our own licensed and insured construction company, Strange Jack Builders, and a habit of always tooling our systems. We're AI-curious and build our own tools, so the routine work runs tight and our attention goes to the homes.
The mitten, the Grand Rapids skyline, and our name. We're locally owned, with deep roots in Grand Rapids.
