We've been looking for a place to rent over the last few weeks, and my opinion on most PM's I've come across isn't very high! Not sure If I'm being unrealistic, or if most are just slack
Take this exchange today for example. My email to them:
Hello xxxxxx & yyyyy,
As co-directors of xxxxxxxx Beenleigh / Shailer Park I thought you might like a heads-up about some inefficiencies in your property management division as observed from a potential rental customer perspective. I've also owned an IP (and hired property managers), so understand both sides.
You've a rental property,xxxxxxxxx St Cornubia, already vacant and listed as available for rent tomorrow (13/09). I am hoping to move into a property this weekend, but to do so will need an application finalised by tomorrow, in which case the property would need to be viewed this evening (external inspection done yesterday). Otherwise we'll be looking to move a week later. Both your reception staff and myself have been friendly/polite to each other, but they seem in no hurry to organise inspections (she did take name and ph. number for inspection to be organised later). I suspect if they were the property owner themselves, the apparent likely loss of a week's rent would suddenly matter a lot more to them! Information flow is also hampered by no designated manager for that property (eg. a question on maintenance of part of the 1.5 acres couldn't be answered with any certainty).
I hope this feedback is of use to you.
There response:
Dear xxxxxxx,
Thank you for your email outlining your concerns. Feedback , negative or positive is always welcome in this office and I will endeavour to answer all your concerns.
We have a policy in this office, to try not to have inspections on the property until after the tenant has vacated and the final vacate has been done.
We understand under the act we can issue an entry notice and take people through, however, in most cases they do refuse us entry. Tenants have packed boxes etc everywhere and they do not want people to see the property in that state, also if someone falls or trips over anything then there is a liability issue. Tenants also want the space to clean and move in peace.
In all the years I have been doing this job, this has never been an issue and in fact works very well for all parties.
The keys were handed in to the office late yesterday afternoon and the lass that is doing the vacate was in court this morning, and is actually doing the final inspection now. If more cleaning or repairs need doing, then, as I’m sure you are aware, we have to give them the opportunity to go back and rectify, this is why we try to have a week’s grace from the vacate date, before anyone moves in. I’m sure you would not want to move into a property that needed attention from the last tenant.
All our owners are aware of this as we do not hide anything from them and they are quite happy to work it this way, so that the new tenant does move into a clean and habitual property. Most of us here are property owners and do not have a problem with this system.
As for being able to move in this weekend, that would not be possible, as it takes about 48 hours to do all the checks and then we need to put the application to the owner for his or her approval.
Unless it is a small property management office, I think you will find most are now opting out of portfolio and going to task management. Due to all the legislation and paper work involved now this is found to be more efficient for all concerned.
With regard to the property maintenance , the owner does pay for a monthly garden maintenance which is for the trimming of the trees and general tidy up of the property. The lawns are the tenant responsibility. The owner also pays for a monthly pool service, but tenant pays for all chemicals and must maintain the pool during the month.
I hope this helps you understand our situation and you will be called once the property is available to view.
So are most IP owners happy with a deliberate weeks vacancy? Are they being slack or am I just unrealistic?
Take this exchange today for example. My email to them:
Hello xxxxxx & yyyyy,
As co-directors of xxxxxxxx Beenleigh / Shailer Park I thought you might like a heads-up about some inefficiencies in your property management division as observed from a potential rental customer perspective. I've also owned an IP (and hired property managers), so understand both sides.
You've a rental property,xxxxxxxxx St Cornubia, already vacant and listed as available for rent tomorrow (13/09). I am hoping to move into a property this weekend, but to do so will need an application finalised by tomorrow, in which case the property would need to be viewed this evening (external inspection done yesterday). Otherwise we'll be looking to move a week later. Both your reception staff and myself have been friendly/polite to each other, but they seem in no hurry to organise inspections (she did take name and ph. number for inspection to be organised later). I suspect if they were the property owner themselves, the apparent likely loss of a week's rent would suddenly matter a lot more to them! Information flow is also hampered by no designated manager for that property (eg. a question on maintenance of part of the 1.5 acres couldn't be answered with any certainty).
I hope this feedback is of use to you.
There response:
Dear xxxxxxx,
Thank you for your email outlining your concerns. Feedback , negative or positive is always welcome in this office and I will endeavour to answer all your concerns.
We have a policy in this office, to try not to have inspections on the property until after the tenant has vacated and the final vacate has been done.
We understand under the act we can issue an entry notice and take people through, however, in most cases they do refuse us entry. Tenants have packed boxes etc everywhere and they do not want people to see the property in that state, also if someone falls or trips over anything then there is a liability issue. Tenants also want the space to clean and move in peace.
In all the years I have been doing this job, this has never been an issue and in fact works very well for all parties.
The keys were handed in to the office late yesterday afternoon and the lass that is doing the vacate was in court this morning, and is actually doing the final inspection now. If more cleaning or repairs need doing, then, as I’m sure you are aware, we have to give them the opportunity to go back and rectify, this is why we try to have a week’s grace from the vacate date, before anyone moves in. I’m sure you would not want to move into a property that needed attention from the last tenant.
All our owners are aware of this as we do not hide anything from them and they are quite happy to work it this way, so that the new tenant does move into a clean and habitual property. Most of us here are property owners and do not have a problem with this system.
As for being able to move in this weekend, that would not be possible, as it takes about 48 hours to do all the checks and then we need to put the application to the owner for his or her approval.
Unless it is a small property management office, I think you will find most are now opting out of portfolio and going to task management. Due to all the legislation and paper work involved now this is found to be more efficient for all concerned.
With regard to the property maintenance , the owner does pay for a monthly garden maintenance which is for the trimming of the trees and general tidy up of the property. The lawns are the tenant responsibility. The owner also pays for a monthly pool service, but tenant pays for all chemicals and must maintain the pool during the month.
I hope this helps you understand our situation and you will be called once the property is available to view.
So are most IP owners happy with a deliberate weeks vacancy? Are they being slack or am I just unrealistic?