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The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
2 minutes

Updates to Inspection Manager – July Release

September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Updates to Inspection Manager – August Release

Introducing Our New App Features!
September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Check Out Our Latest Updates For January

This release sees new updates that will help you with even Faster Report Editing via the CMS, with the new Area Level Thumbs Up for marking conditions and an improved reporting functionality to Load Reports Faster. Let us know what you think of these new features!
September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Check Out Our Latest Updates For March

September 12, 2024
3 minutes

Edit Layout via Report Editing

September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Follow-ups for Tenant Assisted Inspections

September 16, 2024
3 minutes

How To Edit Inspection Report in CMS

September 16, 2024
5 Minutes

5 Ways Technology Can Help You Streamline Invoice Processing

September 11, 2024
2 minutes

Updates to Inspection Manager – July Release

September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Updates to Inspection Manager – August Release

Introducing Our New App Features!
September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Check Out Our Latest Updates For January

This release sees new updates that will help you with even Faster Report Editing via the CMS, with the new Area Level Thumbs Up for marking conditions and an improved reporting functionality to Load Reports Faster. Let us know what you think of these new features!
September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Check Out Our Latest Updates For March

September 12, 2024
3 minutes

Edit Layout via Report Editing

September 12, 2024
2 minutes

Follow-ups for Tenant Assisted Inspections

September 16, 2024
3 minutes

How To Edit Inspection Report in CMS

September 16, 2024
3 minutes

How To Bulk Close & Send Routine Inspections

September 16, 2024
3 minutes

Bulk Send Tenant Assisted Inspection Requests

September 16, 2024
5 min

Bricks + Agent release virtual inspections app in beta

This week’s Bricks + Agent product release notes includes the release of a new virtual inspections tool for property and facility managers as well as tenants.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Bricks + Agent announce partnership with Places for People Innovation Lab

The latest partnership will see Bricks + Agent build collaborative working relationships with Places for People and help them to pilot and implement new technology.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Bricks + Agent Product Release Notes: Virtual Inspections

This week’s Bricks + Agent product release notes includes the release of a new virtual inspections tool for property and facility managers as well as tenants.
September 3, 2024
5 min

5 Simple Ways To Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal

Making a positive first impression on your potential buyers is so important. Follow these 5 curb appeal ideas and get the buyers & price your home deserves!
September 3, 2024
5 min

Is Renovating Your Home Before Sale Really Worth It?

Jun 7, 2017 - If you're a homeowner looking to add value to your home prior to selling, we've found the best renovations to increase value! Here are your ...
September 3, 2024
5 min

Best Regions in Victoria For Investing in Property

Location is everything when considering a property investment in Victoria. Keeping an eye on the market can be key to making the right investment choice.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The Best Places To Buy A Rental Property In Australia

Looking to invest in a rental property in Australia? Our experts did some research and calculations to compile a list of the finest areas in Australia.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Benefits Of Hiring A Handyman

There are plenty of odd jobs around the home that don’t need the skills of a licensed contractor. Hire a handyman instead and you’ll save time, money and energy
September 3, 2024
5 min

6 Ways Of Avoiding A Dodgy Plumber

Have you ever come across a dodgy plumber? It happens when we fail to check documents before hiring. Use these tips to ensure you don't get ripped off again.
September 3, 2024
5 min read

Why Landlords Change Property Managers

Majority of the time its small but consistant issues that reoccur in real estate agencies daily. Whether it’s the lack of maintenance on properties, high turnover of the staff, or simple lack of communication, there's a way to help ensure your clients don't pack up and move on.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

What To Consider When Renovating A Bathroom

It’s often said that the bathroom can make or break a sale. So if you can make your buyers fall in love with this room, there’s a good chance they may be sold on the entire property. But why are bathrooms so important? Apart from the obvious washing facilities they hold, a bathroom is a much utilised room by friends, relatives and other visitors. The state of your bathroom says a lot about you, so it goes without saying that people want a stylish one that’s going to impress. Taking into consideration that a smart bathroom renovation can add considerable value to your home, it’s worth thinking about giving yours the wow factor.
September 10, 2024
10 min read

Why Is Hiring Licensed Tradies Important?

If you are a property owner or a property manager you've probably heard the line "I can do that for half the price." more than once. However, hiring someone who does not have a licence in order to save money is usually an extremely disappointing experience. If you are new to property management you might ask yourself "Why hire a licenced contractor when an unlicenced ‘tradie’ can do the same job for less?" In this article, we will provide the answer to this question and we hope that you will understand the importance of always hiring licenced tradies. A tradesman who undergoes certified training in order to get a licence is usually committed to their trade. By investing their time in learning and developing the necessary skills to get a trade licence, the tradesman guarantees that he can provide quality work. When hiring someone for a job, you should always look at their trade licence and qualifications first. Are they licenced to do the kind of work that you need them to? In some cases, a contractor might have a licence that restricts them to only do certain jobs. For instance, a licenced residential builder will usually have the necessary skills to do all sorts of tasks, but he might be restricted to doing a specific job such as decking. By checking their licence and registration you should be able to tell exactly what the contractors can do. Did you know that for certain jobs you are required by law to hire a licenced tradesman? For example, electrical work can only be carried out by someone who has an electrical worker’s licence in Australia.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

4 Ways To Turn Your House Into A Smart Home

How do you feel about interacting with your home the way you would with a website? In the future your home will know who’s in what room, make your coffee and turn on your lights. It might even choose your clothes for you based on the temperature outside.
September 10, 2024
8 minutes

How Much Does Hiring a Gardener Cost in Australia

In Australia, a gardener will generally have a similar hourly rate to any other type of tradesman. However, you might need a gardener’s services more often than a plumber’s or an electrician’s simply because a well-maintained garden requires a lot of hard work. Additionally, a gardener can have a lot of work-related expenses and work outdoors can be quite labour intensive. The average gardener hourly rates in Australia are around $45 per hour. You can also find premium services for as much as $50 per hour. For complex and extensive jobs, gardeners might charge more than their regular fees. However, for simple tasks, you should expect to pay around $40 per hour. Hiring a gardener is a very good idea, especially if you want to your garden to look year round.
September 11, 2024
5 min read

Mark Haigh: improving team efficiency and adopting the tech

Mark Haigh is a Property Manager at Little Real Estate. We recently sat down with him to discuss improving team efficiencies, adopting new technology and finding your grove using the new Bricks + Agent property maintenance solution.
September 10, 2024
10 minutes

Top 10 Office Hacks That Will Improve Team Efficiency

Improving efficiency in the workplace is about teams working smarter, not harder. It's important to take a well-rounded view on all areas that may be affecting employee productivity such as the physical work environment, effective leadership and overall job satisfaction. Our 10 hacks below will help you find the right tools and strategies to boost employee morale and engagement and improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

Ultimate Guide To Managing Your Rental Property

Being a self-managed property manager is more often than not a very profitable and rewarding experience. However, for someone who is new to the rental industry, managing a rental property can be quite difficult. If you find yourself in this situation, take the time to learn the ropes.
September 10, 2024
10 min read

10 Tips For Tackling Rental Property Maintenance

Whether you hire professional contractors, do it yourself, or combine the two, managing the regular maintenance of a rental property is an important part of being a landlord. Additionally, if you are a property owner you must also make sure that the rental property is up to code and in great shape for tenants.
September 10, 2024
5 min

Sustainable Housing Trends: The New Fad In Real Estate For Luxury Homes

Green, eco-friendly and energy efficient housing is growing and scaling in Australia. Whether you've already jumped on the bandwagon or you're just going to dip your toes in the latest trends, here are few housing trends that will save you money and are shaping the Australian real estate market
September 3, 2024
5 min

Your Summer Property Maintenance Checklist

In order to find good tenants, property managers must ensure that both the outdoor and the indoor areas of the rental unit are in perfect shape during Summer.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The facility managers ultimate guide sustainable roofing

Do you know why the roof is considered most important during construction? It is the first line of defense that protects you from environmental hazards. Apart from giving a curb appeal to your building, it gives you a comfortable space to stay. Roofing style has evolved from years. The trend is changing now from conventional roofs to sustainable roofs.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Understanding Solar Powered Roof Ventilation

Is your room is too warm? Did you know that your roof could be the problem? A solar-powered roof ventilator might just be the answer to making you comfortable.
September 3, 2024
5 min

How To Stay Afloat As A New Real Estate Agent

Most new real estate agents don't make it past their first year. How can you stay afloat in your first year as an agent without losing time and money
September 3, 2024
5 min

Smart Real Estate Tech Trends of 2018

In 2018, there has been a lot of debate around technology disrupting the Australian real estate industry. Here are the top-most real estate tech trends that are taking 2018 by storm.
September 3, 2024
5 min

4 Secrets That Successful Property Managers Know

All successful professionals have their secrets, and property managers make no exception. Knowledge, teamwork, good marketing, and reliability are some of them.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The Importance of Responding to Maintenance Requests Quickly

It’s no news that an essential thing for a property manager is to communicate with landlords and tenants effectively and to solve their issues promptly.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Rockend MRI partners with Bricks + Agent in Australia and New Zealand

Maintenance Plus powered by Bricks + Agent is deeply embedded within Property Tree.
September 3, 2024
8 min read

What Is The Cost Of Garden Clean Up Services?

A tidy garden improves the beauty of your home and keeps you safe. As much as you can keep it clean using the DIY method, it might not be possible if you are busy. You might need to hire a garden cleaner. Garden cleanup cost can be around $45/hr. It depends with the requirements of the job. Sometimes cleaning a garden can be as low as $40/hr or as high as $50/hr. If you need services of a professional garden cleaner, it can cost you on average in Australia $164.84 to complete the whole project. However, this being an average estimation, rates can vary depending on the number of tasks involved.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

4 Characteristics Of A Great Property Manager

A property manager must be a skilled juggler of numerous tasks, keeping both landlords and tenants happy. In addition to keeping properties maintained and in good shape, they are responsible for preserving a rental property's value. Although this job only requires a high school diploma, many customers will opt to work with a specialist who has a degree in real estate, finance, or business. We've put together a list of professional qualities a property manager needs hold to make the most out of a successful career.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

Who Is The Average Australian Property Investor - Do You Fit The Bill?

Do you know who the average Australian property investor really is? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the super wealthy property speculator buying up rentals left right and centre. In fact it could be your next door neighbour, the one who’s drinking XXXX and firing up the barbie. Don’t believe us? Let’s take a look at some stats to see if we can put together a clearer profile of this person….
September 10, 2024
8 min read

8 Ways To Grow Your Rent Roll That REALLY Work

Whether you’re a seasoned property manager with an impressive portfolio or a beginner, you want to grow your rent roll and increase your monthly rental income. Right? The good news! Fortunately, there are countless rent roll growth strategies scattered over the web. But the question is what actually works? Which strategies help deliver real results effectively in a hassle-free manner? This article shares several time-tested rent roll growth strategies that really work.
September 10, 2024
8 min read

4 Ways To Turn Your House Into A Smart Home

How do you feel about interacting with your home the way you would with a website? In the future your home will know who’s in what room, make your coffee and turn on your lights. It might even choose your clothes for you based on the temperature outside.
September 10, 2024
10 min read

What Are The Costs of Wallpapering?

Are you planning on remodelling or renovating your house? If you are, you might be considering wallpaper, which has re-entered the style space this year. Available in a wide range of colors, textures, and prints, replacing old wallpaper or installing it in order to improve the property’s overall appearance could add value, attract more buyers and boost your home’s appeal.
September 10, 2024
5 min read

The Art of Making Customer Connections

Does your job revolve around customer satisfaction? Working in customer-centric industries like real estate, you will come across a lot of people and making a connection with the customer is vital to the longevity of your business. Establishing healthy customer connections is a fool proof formula for generating repeat business. Customers will come to you not just because they love your products and services, but because you offered them a smooth and convenient experience. The experts at Bricks + Agent have compiled a list of tips and tricks for improving customer connections.
September 10, 2024
10 min read

Starting A Career In Property Management

If you're on the lookout for a new career path, becoming a property manager might just be the perfect job for you. Now more than ever, people of all ages are renting instead of buying, so the need for good and professional property managers is out there. A career in property management can bring a decent salary, job security, and steady employment, and if you like to work with people, then your success is almost guaranteed.
September 10, 2024
5 min read

Misconceptions about Cloud-based Property Management Software

Cloud-based property management software is considered one of the most popular and powerful tools for many real estate agencies. But while it is quite popular among many businesses, the software can still be quite overwhelming and mysterious to many, which fuels many myths about it.
September 10, 2024

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