From: Michele B
Thought I'd pass on a useful idea given to me last night, along with some other random thoughts off the top of my head (while typing with one hand and eating toast with the other!) Maybe others have some practical ideas/hints not normally found in property management handbooks that they'd like to post.
• sign your name on the lease etc (that tenants see) in one way and sign the bond lodgement form in another. Difficult then for tenants to forge your signature and walk out of the Tenancies branch with a bond cheque. It happens apparently!
• Many tenants are happy to keep the lawns green but exactly zero percent are interested in the state of your footings! I have therefore installed automatic watering systems round my old houses to maintain even moisture content year round. This has reduced movement and cracking significantly, particularly in suburbs where the council thoughtfully planted ironbarks etc in the 70s. I'm told these suck out something like 1000 litres of water a day!
• Will be advertising an inner-city house for rent this weekend using "rent neg from..." method described in a previous post. Applicants fill in what they are willing to pay along with providing all their details etc. Works best in an open inspection scenario to get some healthy competition in a tight market. As I'm looking for $290+ pw, it will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to break the $300 pw barrier.
• I try always to see tenants as customers. I attend to their needs immediately and do nice things for them whenever possible (housewarming / Xmas present etc). In turn, they look after your property better, are willing to give you access at any time and often want to stay with you - I've had tenants move from one IP to another and am looking now for a house for a tenant who wants to live alone.
Michele
PS. Anyone know how to get crumbs out of a keyboard???
Thought I'd pass on a useful idea given to me last night, along with some other random thoughts off the top of my head (while typing with one hand and eating toast with the other!) Maybe others have some practical ideas/hints not normally found in property management handbooks that they'd like to post.
• sign your name on the lease etc (that tenants see) in one way and sign the bond lodgement form in another. Difficult then for tenants to forge your signature and walk out of the Tenancies branch with a bond cheque. It happens apparently!
• Many tenants are happy to keep the lawns green but exactly zero percent are interested in the state of your footings! I have therefore installed automatic watering systems round my old houses to maintain even moisture content year round. This has reduced movement and cracking significantly, particularly in suburbs where the council thoughtfully planted ironbarks etc in the 70s. I'm told these suck out something like 1000 litres of water a day!
• Will be advertising an inner-city house for rent this weekend using "rent neg from..." method described in a previous post. Applicants fill in what they are willing to pay along with providing all their details etc. Works best in an open inspection scenario to get some healthy competition in a tight market. As I'm looking for $290+ pw, it will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to break the $300 pw barrier.
• I try always to see tenants as customers. I attend to their needs immediately and do nice things for them whenever possible (housewarming / Xmas present etc). In turn, they look after your property better, are willing to give you access at any time and often want to stay with you - I've had tenants move from one IP to another and am looking now for a house for a tenant who wants to live alone.
Michele
PS. Anyone know how to get crumbs out of a keyboard???
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