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Deep Expertise and Strong Community Relationships are Roots of Hometown Property Management’s Successful Three Decades - ThurstonTalk.For Andrew Barkis, owner of Hometown Property Management in Lacey, it all began in college.A good friend was moving away and offered Barkis his apartment manager job that provided free rent.From that modest beginning in the 1980s, and through hard work and strong community ties in the years after that, Barkis built deep expertise in property management.Hometown celebrates its success with its 30th anniversary in 2026, marking an important milestone in the business that serves local residential property owners and home renters in Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties.Barkis says they will be holding an open house and barbecue on June 25, 2026, at their Lacey office, to commemorate three decades of operating a local business and supporting the community.“It’s a great company, and we have been a big part of the community for a long time,” Barkis says.“I can’t say that in 1996 I thought I would be here in 2026, but that’s cool and that’s exactly what happened.It all started with ‘Hey, buddy, do you want free rent?’” Hometown Property Management Stays Nimble Through its Long Expertise in Rental Housing Hometown is a full-service business that specializes in single family property management and offers a general contractor service for maintenance on the homes.Barkis stays nimble with industry developments, estimating that he has managed tens of thousands of homes and units during his career.“I’ve housed a lot of people over the course of time,” he says.Looking back, he says his first apartment manager position while in college taught him a lot.“I started in 1989,” he says.“I cut my teeth on that.” He says that job taught him that a lot of managing rental properties comes down to two “Ps” and those are “plunging toilets and painting apartments.” Barkis worked for another property management company in Seattle and then one in Spokane.After moving back to the westside, on a whim, he and his wife Lisa looked at a farm for sale.He spoke with a Century 21 real estate agent in Lacey, whose family owned the farm.The agent learned Barkis had a property management background, which the firm needed, and Barkis was hired.Barkis says he took the job, but not the farm.After the Century 21 property management division became an independent firm, Barkis bought it.These experiences deepened and refined Barkis’ professional expertise and knowledge of rental housing management.Hometown is one of only 50 property management companies in the U.S.to hold the prestigious Certified Residential Management Company (CRMC) designation.Strong Community Relationships and Public Service are an Integral Part of Hometown Property Management in Lacey Throughout his 30 years in business and public life, Barkis says he has learned that relationships are key.“Everything I’ve done, everything, boils down to relationships and how you treat one another,” he says.The same is true with local community connections.Hometown is proud of its decades of support for the Lacey community through the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Rotary Club of Thurston County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County and more.The Lacey South Sound Chamber recently awarded Hometown a 2026 Legacy Award for its years of service.And at the state level, good relationships are also integral to Barkis’ success.Since 2016, Barkis has served as state representative in the Washington Legislature, sitting on the House of Representatives Housing Committee and House Transportation Committees.His professional expertise is a resource there, especially on hot-topic bills addressing housing and landlord-tenant concerns.He notes that while many of these issues have become polarized, the landlord-tenant relationship is historically contractual and mutual since property owners want to rent or sell homes, and tenants and buyers need a place to live.In both situations, more housing needs to be created and workable solutions developed.“Housing is essential,” he says.“The need is great.Washington has an incredible housing crisis, and it’s an affordability issue.” Going forward, Barkis will call upon his decades of business acumen, community relationships and public service to continue to seek common ground on local and state housing issues and challenges.“We do need to work together and restore the relationships,” he says.“It’s starting to happen, albeit slowly.” Tap Into Hometown Property Management When Considering Residential Home Rentals Come celebrate Hometown Property Management’s 30 years during its June 25, 2026, barbecue at its Lacey office.And contact them today if you are a property owner looking to lease your home or are interested in finding a home to rent.Hometown serves Thurston, Lewis and Mason counties including Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Yelm, Centralia, Chehalis, Shelton and surrounding areas, providing full-service property management and leasing solutions.Hometown Property Management 4804 Lacey Blvd.SE, Lacey 360.456.7368 Sponsored