East Bay Property Management
Full-service management for single-family homes and small apartment buildings.
Property Management Built on Partnership.
We manage single-family homes and small apartment buildings across the East Bay for owners who see their rental as a long-term investment.
Ready to Hand Over the Keys?
Nick meets you at the property, walks through it with you, and follows up with a written proposal that includes a recommended rent and a plan for getting your home ready. Condition, presentation, views, and parking all affect what a home will rent for, so we don't recommend a number until we've seen it.
Already a Woodminster Owner?
Log in to your owner portal anytime to see monthly statements, income and expenses, work orders, and year-end tax documents.
The Same Standard, Every Time
Nick Drobocky, Broker and Owner · 25 years of East Bay property management
California DRE #01343596
Woodminster Realty is led by Nick Drobocky, a licensed California broker who has managed East Bay rentals since 2001. Most cities here now have their own renter protection laws, and the rules around leasing, notices, and repairs keep changing. Nick's job is to know those rules, apply them the same way every time, and keep your property on the right side of them. One longtime client, who doesn't always like hearing no, calls that consistency "infuriating." It's also why he's stayed with us longer than anyone.
That discipline shows up in your numbers. We start marketing as soon as a resident gives notice, recommend the work that helps a home rent well and hold its value, and screen for residents who will take care of it. What owners usually notice first is that their income becomes more predictable, and they can track every dollar in their owner portal.
Our office is in the Oakland Hills near Montclair Village, and we manage more than 350 homes and units across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
"Your largest expense as an owner isn't maintenance—it's vacancy. When you do things right at the start, you attract high-quality residents who respect your space. Every home is unique, and when I meet with an owner, I build a plan specific to their property. I don't want this website to sound like I'm trying to pitch your business; I want it to sound like the start of an honest partnership."
-Nick Drobocky, Broker and Owner
Who We Work With
We deliver maximum value to owners who are ready to let go of day-to-day hassles and treat their rental property with long-term care.
A Great Fit for Owners Who...
Not a Fit For Owners Who...
Are Ready to Delegate
You've reached the point where managing the property yourself isn't worth your time, and you want a professional to take it from here.
Insist on DIY Repairs
Want to handle their own maintenance or use unlicensed contractors.
Invest in Preparation
You understand that doing the work up front, whether that's paint, a new roof, or a dehumidifier, helps a home rent well and attracts residents who take care of it.
Look for the Cheapest Fix
Prefer a temporary patch to doing the job right the first time.
Value Compliance
You want your property run by the rules every time, even when a shortcut would be easier.
Second-Guess Every Decision
Want to weigh in on every routine call instead of relying on professional judgment.
Respect Residents
You see the people who live in your home as long-term residents, not transactions.
Disrespect Tenants
Don't treat the people living in their property with basic respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does property management with Woodminster Realty include?
Woodminster Realty provides full-service property management for single-family homes, condominiums, and small apartment buildings in Oakland and across the East Bay. That includes getting the home ready to rent, marketing and showings, resident screening, leases, move-in and move-out inspections, rent collection, maintenance coordination, renewals, and monthly financial reporting through your owner portal. Some owners like to weigh in on decisions; others, especially those who live out of the area, have us handle nearly everything.
What do you charge for management services?
Our fees have two parts: a monthly management fee based on a percentage of the rent, and a one-time leasing fee when we place a new resident. The exact amounts depend on your property's size and condition, so Nick will go over them after he's walked through it with you, and you'll have them in writing in your proposal.
What can you spend on repairs without calling me first?
Your management agreement sets a pre-approved limit for routine maintenance. Habitability and safety repairs are different: they don't wait for owner approval. If a pipe bursts or the heat goes out, we act first to protect your property and residents, then bring you up to speed once the situation is under control.
How does the money work—when do I get paid?
Owner disbursements are processed monthly through direct deposit via the AppFolio owner portal after tenant payments clear and operating expenses are settled. Financial statements and itemized receipts are published directly to your portal.
How often do you inspect the property?
We complete a detailed inspection at every move-in and move-out. During a tenancy, we schedule walk-throughs as needed, and the vendors we send for routine repairs are trained to let us know if anything doesn't look right.
How are emergency repairs handled?
Residents can reach a live operator around the clock through our office line. For a true emergency, we send one of our local, licensed, and insured vendors and update you once the situation is under control.
What happens if a resident doesn't pay rent?
We follow up promptly and apply the lease the same way every time. If rent stays unpaid, we follow the notice process required by California and local law and keep you informed at each step.
Proof of Partnership
Case Studies From Our Clients
Doing the Work Before the First Resident
In 2026, a single-family owner agreed to $40,000 in preparation work before we photographed and listed his home: a new furnace, a dehumidifier system for the below-grade basement, and a sealing system on the concrete walls. The work keeps the home dry and safe, reduces the owner's liability, and sets the home up to attract residents who notice that care and treat the space with respect.
Putting a 21-Unit Building Back on Track
Larger buildings take a different kind of management. For properties of 16 units or more, we handle everything, including the mortgage, insurance, and property tax payments, the on-site resident managers, and the building's day-to-day operations.
When we took over management of a 21-unit building in Oakland, it had deferred maintenance and inconsistent performance. The owners worked with us to invest in turning over units as they opened, set clear expectations with the on-site managers, and applied the same standards to every lease and repair. The owners stuck to the plan, and the building increased profitability while reducing turnover. Today it's one of the strongest-performing properties we manage.
Most single-family homes settle into steady income within a few months. A building with years of built-up problems takes longer, and we're upfront about that from the first conversation.
Licensed, Local, and Established
Where We Work
Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, San Leandro, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Kensington, and Richmond, across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
What We Manage
More than 380 homes and units, including single-family homes, condominiums, small apartment buildings, and select larger properties.
Licensing & Memberships
Woodminster Real Estate Co., Inc., California DRE #01871816
Member, East Bay Rental Housing Association, California Association of REALTORS®, and National Association of REALTORS®
Schedule Your Property Evaluation
Tell us a little about your property, and Nick will reach out to set up a time to walk through it with you.
