Hi All
I concur with duncan, reading the variuos threads, there does seems to be a trend of MA's pushing up prices.
I just took my fee from 5% to 4% for the bulk of my properties
Pay 1/2 week releting fee on all my properties. No fee apart from statutory fee re reletting fees. ( Generally don't renew lease but just let it run only renew lease if tenant insists)
Don't pay appearance fee re tribunal hearings as I consider this is a shared experience
. Again I do pay the tribunal fee's.
Some time back I was about to sign an agreement having arranged the details re management fees over the phone when I read through the agreement before signing and found a gem in the form of a $200 lodgement fee to cover all tribunal/wages costs, whether the matter went to the tribunal or a settlement was negotiated prior to tribunal. Needless to say got up and left that office without signing. Walked up the road and found an alternate agent who has been managing this property since '99.
All realestate statements have relevant outgoings backed up by invoices attached to the statement. These expenses also tally back to my expense authorisation register which is recorded when agent phones up for repair authorisations.
My main agent will also vet the reported problem before he phones to discuss the problem. For example, water heater problem, he will be able to tell me date of manufacture whether there are evident leaks etc.
Seem to have better results with the diagnosis of problems with male managers. Females seem to want to simply sit on the phone and pass on messages.
(an inflamitry statement).
As Geoff has already indicated keep looking Gazza. Remember your the client.
Cheers