Archive for the ‘Property Management’ Category

Embracing the power of the internet and Social Media can seem extremely foreign to most real estate agents at first, yet most real estate agents after discovering Social Media find it so much easier to leverage the power of Social Media to help them build their profile, increase their network of potential clients and advertise their properties online.

So what does this mean to the old fashioned and expensive marketing of properties in Newspapers?

Well over the past couple of years we have seen a serious decline in the spend that real estate agents are making on real estate newspaper marketing.

If you’re still a bit unsure about how your real estate agent should be using Social Media to market your property or perhaps you’re wondering what the fuss is all about with Facebook, Blogging, Twitter, YouTube, etc then you may want to check out this video which demonstrates the strength of Social Media and what you might expect to see happening in the future.

This article was brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg, your Glenelg Real Estate Agent and expert in Glenelg Property Management.

Watch this video … to get the latest in the South Australian Property Market Updates

This video is to brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts

Failure to maintain a rental property can have serious consequences if a tenant is injured

 The Residential Tenancies Act clearly states that the landlord must maintain the property in ‘good’ repair, in a state that is fit to live in and in a state that complies with health and safety codes, local government by-laws and supply authority regulations.

 These tenancy laws have been written to protect individuals from injury and poor living standards.

As a managing agent it is our duty of care to ensure that the property is in good repair and safe for the tenant.

If a member of our property management team recommends improvements, maintenance or repairs at your property, it is to protect your investment.

The following are examples of high risk repair areas that could lead to tenant injury:

•  Steps and railings that are not secure or have white ant activity or dry rot;
• Electrical points and wiring that are loose, frayed or not working;
• Floor coverings that have tears, loose threads or ripples;
• Broken or insufficient external lighting;
• Faulty electrical appliances;
• Uneven or loose pavers;
• Roof leaks;
• Windows or doors with faulty locks;
• Broken smoke alarms;
• Faulty pool gate locks or fencing;

Our office carries out regular routine inspections to ensure that the property is kept in a safe, well- maintained condition.

If a member of our team reports repairs, maintenance or improvements it is important that you work with us to ensure that it is rectified in a timely manner.

 A well-maintained property will maximise the rent achievable, attract a quality tenant, reduce vacancy periods and improve the long-term capital asset value of the property.

 Our office highly recommends that you organise the following inspections to ensure that your property is safe:

• Building inspection
• Pest inspection
• Electrical inspection
• Pool inspection (if applicable)


 

 This article is brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts

A question we are commonly asked by prospective “first-time” tenants is… “How do I get my first rental property?”

Watch this video, it explains the process of how you can get your first rental property;

This video is brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg -- your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts

A question we are commonly asked by prospective tenants is “Who chooses the applicant for a tenancy?”

Watch this video, it explains the process we follow;

This post was brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts

A common problem for Landlords and Property Investors is to determine the difference between ‘fair wear and tear’ and malicous property damage caused by a tenant.

Watch this video and discover the difference…

This blog post is brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg  your Glenelg Real Eatate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts.

For Adelaide to become a more vibrant and sustainable city, we need to stop the urban sprawl.

Did you know that Adelaide covers the same area as London? The major difference being that London has a population of 7 Million whilst Adelaide has a population of just 1 Million.

So what does this mean for our kids…

Gone are the days that we condemn our kids to migrating to the outer suburbs, to find the cheapest block of land, or house & land package that they can afford to purchase as a first homeowner.  And in the process condemn them to owning two vehicles to commute to work and raise a family to commute to school and leasure.

At last we have a sustainable plan for Adelaide, which provides us with a direction on population and how our city will grow.

Watch this Youtube Video about Adelaide’s 30 Year Plan…

So how does the 30 Year Greater Adelaide Plan change the future for our kids… 

The first step is what is happening now with our $2 Billion Public Transport Infrastructure Upgrade.

This investment is all about improving our public transport with modern new electrified passenger trains, trams and modern buses which integrate into our train and tram network. The next step once our public transport network is upgraded, is to encourage urban consolidation along our major public transport corridors, which means we will lessen our reliance on vehicles as our sole form of transport.

How will the 30 Year Greater Adelaide Plan encourage urban consolidation?

The 30 Year Greater Adelaide Plan, announce the intention of our Government to encourage higher density housing along our major publice transport routes by relaxing Council Planning policies 800 metres either side of major public transport routes.

So if I was a Property Investor… where should I purchase property for future growth?

Obviosly 800 metres either side of the major established train and tram lines!

This story was brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg, your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Specialists.

One of the most common questions asked when you first become a landlord is -- “Is it worth taking out Residential Building Insurance as well as well as taking out Landlord Insurance?”

See this Youtube Video and then ….read about Landlord Insurance incidents by Amber Cauchi, Claims Officer for Terri Scheer Insurance

Amber Cauchi, Claims Officer for Terri Scheer Insurance strongly believes so; “after seeing the many claims for catastrophic damage that could never been foreseen -- it seems that Building Insurance is worth its weight in gold for Landlords”.

 Taking out Building Insurance on your investment property will ensure that you can sleep at night with peace of mind that your investment property Is properly insured in the event of major damage.

“One example Is a recent house fire which started in an air conditioner situated on the roof. What seemed initially as a minor fire localised to the air condition unit itself, soon spread rapidly into the roofing cavity. This caused damage to the roof tiles, eaves, structural beams, ceilings and even structural walls throughout the property”.

Ms Cauchi went on to say “assessors, structural engineers and builders were all appointed to assess the damage and costs incurred. The damage requiring repairs included structural damage and cracked internal brickwork -- due to the extreme heat, as well as smoke damaged walls, kitchen cabinets and appliances. The costs soon grew, far exceeding initial estimates”.

“With just under $200,000 building damage, $20,000 contents damage and $10,000 loss of rent, the owners converted what could have been a major economic loss, into one which was covered entirely by insurance. Peace of mind in such a stressful and emotional time after such a huge loss could be considered priceless”.

This article was brought to you by Terri Scheer Insurance.

For all of your Glenelg Property Management needs Call Monika Bonet at Raine & Horne Glenelg on 8376 8844 -- We’ll Look After You.

Oh… to have a property crystal ball so we could see into the future of the property market.

See comments from John Symonds of Aussie Home Loans 0n why the RBA raised interest rates…

It is a hot topic with many property owners and investors – whether to fix their mortgage or leave it as a variable rate.

While we are not financial advisors and strongly recommend that you seek independent advice on the best options for your circumstance, we do, however, suggest that you consider splitting your loan/s to edge a two-way bet of fixed and variable.

Now is the time to look at all of your finance options to ensure that you are maximising your return and getting the best possible loan.  One quick call to your bank or financial advisor could save you $10,000+ in interest payments.

If you need to get an independent opinion of what your home is worth today in Glenelg or the western and coastal suburbs of Adelaide, call Monika on 83768844, you’ll receive a written letter of appraisal with a detailed comparative market analysis  of properties sold in your suburb in the past 6 months.

If you would like us to also arrange to give you finance options just mention that also when you call.

 This article was brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg your Glenelg Real Estate and Glenelg Property Management Experts.

A pet friendly investment property can generate more prospective tenant interest, achieve top market rental value and reduce vacancy periods…

Watch this Youtube Video from a Property Manager in Missouri…

At some stage in our lives most of us have owned a pet.

However, when it comes to renting out a property to tenants who have pets, we can often be cautious and in some cases refuse pets.

There are many tenants who have pets that are excellent and keep the property in a first class condition.

The decision on whether you choose to accept pets or not is a personal decision for each property owner.  However, it is important to be aware that being pet friendly can create more interest in a property, often achieve the highest possible market rent and ensure that the property is rented in the quickest possible time.

Pets are like tenants!  They must come with references. 

You also need to be cautious in the type of pet accepted to be suitable to the property.  Dog types such as rottweilers, german shepherds, pitbulls, etc. are often not ideal for the standard investment property, however, accepting these larger dogs can further increase the interest in a property.

There is a stigma that pets can cause increased wear and tear on the property, as well as attracting noise complaints. But when you think about it – these issues can also arise with tenants who do not have pets.

At Raine & Horne Glenelg our office has special pet clauses that can be included in the Tenancy Agreement to protect you.

If you have an investment property in Glenelg and would like us to mange your property as a pet friendly one, please feel welcome to email our office or send a written confirmation of your instructions (including a detailed description of the type of pet/s you would allow) so that we can prepare a Management Agreement and Lease specific to your investment property.

This property management article was brought to you by Raine & Horne Glenelg your Glenelg Real Estate Agents and Glenelg Property Management Experts dealing with property management in Glenelg and western and coastal suburbs of Adelaide.