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The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
10 min read

March Product Update: Improved Insights, Business Rules and the Smart Dashboard

A fresh start to 2020 means new goals and enhancements at Bricks + Agent. This month we are excited to announce improved insights for property managers, the introduction of ‘business rules’ to automate actions or filter jobs and a Smart Dashboard that let’s you control the information that actually requires your attention to proceed with jobs.
September 10, 2024
5 minutes

How To Create A Feature Wall In Your Garden

Do you have a feature wall in your home? A garden feature wall can change the appearance of your garden and improve the outlook your entire landscape. As much as the colour of your feature wall matters, you still need to consider other factors. From this guide, you are going to learn what makes the ideal feature wall for your garden. Feature walls that are found indoors should have a bright colour of your choice while outdoor feature walls should compliment and contrast other walls outdoors. A feature wall can be wallpaper that is photorealistic and can make room to appear larger than the way it should be. You should make outdoor feature walls using weather resistant materials. With a garden feature wall, try to be more creative and make it more three dimensional than an indoor feature wall. You can use recycled materials to create an outdoor feature wall. You can decorate it especially if it is going to serve a practical purpose.
September 11, 2024
7 min read

How to Make a Balinese Garden

Australians love everything Balinese, and you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that this beautiful island is a very popular travel destination. Aussies go to Bali for many different reasons and when they come back they wish to bring it home with them. In Bali, all the resorts and guesthouses, even the cheaper ones, have verdant and luxurious tropical gardens where you can enjoy moments of peace and tranquillity.
September 10, 2024
10 min read

Top 7 Latest Australian Pests

As fellow Australians, we can say we are not particularly fond of common pests like cockroaches, termites, spiders, and wasps, but when it comes to new Australian pests we are terrified.
September 10, 2024
10 minutes

How Much Can It Cost You To Hire A Carpenter?

Would you like to revamp your house by changing your furniture? Whether you need a new door, a custom entertainment unit or a window installation, a carpenter can handle all that. Apart from that, carpenters can work on other materials such as PVC, steel, and plastics. What is a carpenter subcontractor hourly rate? From this article, you will get an overview of the work of a carpenter and what it costs to hire one.
September 11, 2024
8 min read

What Does a Property Manager Do?

You probably know that property managers and property management companies exist, but do you know exactly what they do? The property managers are third parties who are hired to handle a wide range of daily operations related to real estate investments.
September 10, 2024
7 minutes

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Cleaner?

If you don’t have time to keep your home clean and tidy, then hiring a cleaner is your next best option. Getting in a cleaner for a weekly house clean, or a spruce up before guests stay, is becoming more common these days as we juggle work, children, pets and social events. Here is an outline of the services and costs involved to give you an idea of how much you’ll be looking at paying.
September 11, 2024
10 min read

You Need to Hire a Plumber if You Have these 7 Problems

When you are faced with a serious issue, you will know immediately that you need to hire a plumber, but what happens if you are not sure? There are less obvious problems that might require a professional’s attention and it is important to know how to spot them. If you avoid fixing an underlying plumbing issue, over time, the costs of the repairs could increase. Additionally, a leaky pipe that is not fixed on time can severely affect the structure of your house.
September 10, 2024
10 minutes

How Much Does It Cost To Install Solar Panels?

Solar panels are leading the way as an alternative energy source for residential homes in Australia. Since we enjoy some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, it makes good financial sense to take advantage of this and install solar panels on your roof. As well as being an effective source of energy, going solar has positive benefits for the environment. With solar power you don’t have to worry about greenhouse gasses, it’s totally environmentally friendly. Solar power means you can also enjoy energy-independence from grid electricity, always handy when there are power failures, and consistently cheap rates because, unlike energy companies, the price of the sun won’t go up. Do solar panels actually generate enough power to make a difference? The answer is ‘yes’, in general, solar panels can convert approximately 15-40% of the sun’s energy into electricity, depending on what type you get.
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

Top 10 Habits That Will Make You a Successful Property Manager

Just started in the property management business? Or struggling to become successful as one? If you are trying hard to become a successful property manager, here are 10 habits that you must start practicing today.
September 3, 2024
5 min

8 Signs You're a Great Property Manager

A great property manager goes beyond these basic responsibilities. Follow our list of top signs and habits of excellent property managers.
September 3, 2024
5 min

10 Factors You Should Consider Before Choosing A Property Manager

Do you have multiple properties that need renting? You might need the help of a property manager, but before diving straight into an agreement with one there are multiple factors you should consider.
September 3, 2024
5 min

8 Common Kitchen Problems And How To Solve Them

The kitchen is probably the most used room of the home. Unfortunately, kitchens tend to have the most problems, and they could end up being a disaster.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Property Manager? Keep In Mind These 7 Tips When Preparing For GDPR

Personal data is any information related to an identifiable and identified individual. From the person’s name to contact, to date and time, to the energy level, a personal data everything. If you are a property manager, here are the seven key points to keep in mind when preparing for GDPR.
September 3, 2024
5 min

8 Awesome Ideas to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Rental Property for a Great ROI

First impression counts a lot! To make your clients fall in love with your property and give the highest possible value for the same, pay attention to its curb appeal. Here's some low-cost ideas to improve the curb appeal of your rental property and earn a great return on investment (ROI).
September 3, 2024
5 min

7 Rental Trends You Might Face In 2019

Rental property trends change with time, and property managers need to be aware of both current and future trends. With the new year just around the corner, new trends in the rental market are likely to appear in 2019.
September 3, 2024
5 min

7 Tips To Hiring A Quality Plumber

Plumbing crises can happen anytime to anyone. Whether it’s the clogged pipes, leaky faucets or problem with the water-tanks capacity, the professional is needed as soon as possible. After all, only a professional knows how to handle delicate components like piping, water heaters, faucets, drains and other things. If you are looking to hire a professional plumber, consider these factors before having them:
September 3, 2024
5 min

6 Ways To Be An Awesome Property Manager

There are certain things that you need to ensure get done before your tenants consider you an awesome landlord. The Bricks+Agent property manager guide 2018 will teach you some of the essential things you need to take care when it comes to tenants.
September 3, 2024
7 minutes

How Much Does it Cost to Install or Repair a TV Antenna

In Australia, the average hourly rate for TV antenna services is around $80. The most common antenna services usually consist of jobs like installing or repairing an antenna, which can be solved easily. However, if you are dealing with something more complicated, your electrician might have to charge more. For a simple job that is solved quickly, the antenna repairman could charge even less than the average electrician rates. Some electricians might charge a per-project fee. In that case, repairing a standard television antenna will cost you between $200 and $250. However, these costs are only available if you are dealing with an easy-to-solve problem. If the job is straightforward, and there are no complications, you can expect to pay the aforementioned sum. If the electrician finds that certain parts must pe replaced, or that there are underlying issues that are difficult to fix, you might have to pay extra. Installing and repairing antennas are not the only services that an antenna specialist will offer. He will also do check-ups and tune-ups to make sure that your home entertainment system receives high-quality reception. Because there are so many different jobs related to TV antennas, it’s quite important to know what factors can determine the final costs.
September 11, 2024
8 minutes

How To Create A Low Maintenance Garden

A well-manicured lawn might be your pride and joy and it will definitely show off your garden to its best potential in Spring, but put yourself in a potential buyer’s shoes. All they’re going to see is hard work - mowing, trimming, watering, fertilising - to keep it looking that way. People who have busy lives don’t want to invest their time in gardening unless it’s a particular hobby or passion. They want a versatile, good looking garden where they can entertain and which stays that way all year round with little effort on their part. A low maintenance garden, therefore, will be high on the list of viewers and this is one area that you should definitely focus on to attract buyers when selling your house. As we’ll show you, it’s not that difficult to create a low maintenance garden, and if you’re on a tight pre-inspection schedule, you might be surprised how quickly you can transform your garden from a high maintenance nightmare, to a fuss-free outdoor space.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How To Identify The Best Cleaning Company

Are you looking for or thinking of hiring an exceptional home cleaning company? When it comes to your home hygiene, you would always want the best. If you haven’t been getting the cleaning service you deserve, it's time to change course. If you wish to hire a cleaning company to help you with a complicated task or to help you clean regularly, you need to consider the following factors before hiring any cleaning agent.
September 11, 2024
4 minutes

How To Clean And Maintain Your Splashback

Do you want your splashback to retain its beautiful finish? It is essential to know how to clean glass splashback because it is not only the primary feature of your kitchen, but also it is essential in protection of your cooking areas. Below are tips for cleaning and maintaining your splashback. However, if you would like more information on maintenance of your splashback, you can inquire it from your local splashback supplier.
September 11, 2024
4 minutes

How To Clean Roller Blinds

As much as roller blinds look practical and elegant, they usually get dirty with time. You should know how to clean roller blinds to keep them beautiful. Here is a guide on how you can do it. If you have any concerns about roller blinds, you can visit your local blind store supplier.
September 11, 2024
4 minutes

How To Clean Glass Shower Screens

You need to know how to clean the glass shower screen to achieve a sparkling clean bathroom glass. However, it’s quite hard to clean a glass screen when soap and dirt builds up on it. The tips below shows the best way to clean glass shower screens in a few minutes.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How To Clean Fly Screens?

Dirty fly screens prevent fresh air from passing through the mesh. They are unappealing, and the whole process of cleaning them can be a messy chore. But you shouldn’t be worried because if you know how to clean security doors, this won’t be a problem anymore.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How To Become A Carpenter

Are you in need of a business opportunity that will allow you to use your hands to create furniture, buildings and other wood related items? Currently, carpentry has a significant market. It is the ideal trade but how to become a carpenter is something that most people don't know. The tips below will help you to be a carpenter.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

Why You Need Pest Control and How Much It Costs

The most common household pests are some of the hardest to get rid of once they gain a foothold in your home. Many pests, such as cockroaches, mice and birds, are also well-known carriers of germs and diseases that are harmful to humans and need to be eradicated immediately. For many homeowners the DIY method of pest control is often preferable, as baits and traps can be obtained cheaply from their local hardware store, but in truth they’re not always that effective. You can end up spending much more on DIY products in the long run than it would cost for a single visit by an experienced pest technician.
September 11, 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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