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The latest writings from our team

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

What You Should Know Before Hiring an Electrician

Are you a property owner or manager always on the lookout for good contractors? There are certain jobs around a house that will require the assistance of a professional, and electrical work is one of them. If the electrical work is part of a more complex renovation plan, make sure you do not forget to formulate a budget before making any big decisions. Working with electricity can be extremely dangerous, and in no way should you take the DIY approach to repairs.In Australia, calling an electrician for repairs or renovations is a legal requirement. Installing new wiring, connecting a new heating system, installing a powerpoint, are only some of the things that you might need an electrician for, so here are some the most important things that you need to know before hiring an electrical expert.
September 11, 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
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

4 Things Couples Fight About When Selling a House

Selling a house is a stressful process and doing it with your spouse can bring out the worst in both people. Making sure it goes as smoothly as possible is key
September 3, 2024
5 min

Things To Consider Before Buying A New Home

Buying a new home can be an exciting idea. Before starting your search for homes on the market, you must consider and keep the following factors in mind.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The Top Responsibilities of a Property Manager: A Comprehensive Guide

Being a property agent isn’t an easy job. There are a multitude of tasks that you are responsible for. It is only natural for you to overlook a few things. Unfortunately, more often than not, it is trust accounting. Here are 5 common trust accounting mistakes that property agents often make.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Time Management Strategies for Property Managers

Proper time management is one of the many ways to be an awesome property manager. Following these tips can help the property managers to achieve more in less time, improve productivity and manage to accomplish the goals and targets within deadlines.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The Role of Property Managers in Property Maintenance: A Comprehensive Guide

Being a property agent isn’t an easy job. There are a multitude of tasks that you are responsible for. It is only natural for you to overlook a few things. Unfortunately, more often than not, it is trust accounting. Here are 5 common trust accounting mistakes that property agents often make.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The New Free Tool Property Managers Have Been Waiting For...

Remote Inspections is a feature many Property Managers and Tenants will be enjoying moving forward, as more digital interactions become the new normal in this post COVID-19 world.
September 3, 2024
5 min

The Importance of Regular Property Maintenance: A Guide for Landlords

Being a property agent isn’t an easy job. There are a multitude of tasks that you are responsible for. It is only natural for you to overlook a few things. Unfortunately, more often than not, it is trust accounting. Here are 5 common trust accounting mistakes that property agents often make.
September 3, 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

Tenant Screening: Everything Professional Property Managers Need to Know

As a professional property manager, one of your main roles includes proper tenant screening. To maintain the proper standards and laws, here is how you can go about the screening process.
September 3, 2024
7 Minutes

Preparing for 2021: A Guide For Property Managers

This year was a real test for property managers. You’ve been pulled in different directions, shifting your strategies in response to COVID-19, to help the business survive. Despite the chaos, you still managed to juggle your career and personal life while learning new skills in the process. 2020 has only proven that you can adapt to any circumstances that the world presents to you. In this article, we will explore how lessons learned in 2020 can prepare your property management business for a successful 2021.
September 11, 2024
7 minutes

6 Places In The Home You Should Install Power Points

People of yesteryear weren’t as reliant on electrical appliances and technology as we are today. Older homes have a distinct lack of power points in places like the bathroom and kitchen which can be an inconvenience. So if you’re building or rewiring a home, then installing power points in all the right places is a necessity. It’s safer than using extension leads or double adapters on all your single plugs, not to mention less frustrating. It’s not difficult to figure out where to put power points if you give it some proper thought, here are 6 essential places you should install power points.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How Much Does Installing a Ceiling Fan Cost?

There are many advantages to adding a ceiling fan into the interior design of your home besides their main function of cooling off a room. Having this type of fans in your home can reduce your energy costs, can provide comfort, and can be a stylish lighting source. Standard ceiling fans are usually quite cheap but must be installed by a licenced electrician who will respect the Australian standards and procedures. For a standard fan installation, professional electricians will charge on average about $77 per hour. If the job is straightforward and simple, they might charge less. On the other hand, if the installation is complicated, the electrician’s rate can be as high as $80 per hour. Overall, for a complete fan installation, a homeowner should expect to pay between $200 and $400. If the homeowner installs several fans, the cost per fan installation might be reduced. Although installing a ceiling fan is usually a straightforward job, there can be certain tasks and aspects that can influence the costs and the rates of the electricians. These are some of the most common things that can influence the ceiling fan costs:
September 11, 2024
3 minutes

Design Ideas For Roof Extensions

Do you need an extra space in your home? Have you thought about extending your room? Before starting the whole process, you already have in mind where you want the room extension to be done. As much as the process might seem easy, it is quite hard to match the roof and make it balance with an existing roof. This article will highlight various ideas for roof extensions. Roof extension is a tricky job, but home extension builders understand what they need to do to make everything work. They come up with long-lasting solutions that improve the aesthetic appearance of your home.
September 12, 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 Get Past The First 100 Days in Real Estate

The first 100 days is a wake up call for new real estate agents. This is the make it or break it period, when many decide that they’re better off switching to another kind of job. Unfortunately there’s no instruction manual on how to be a successful real estate agent but if you have a bit of know-how it can make the first 100 days easier to get through.
September 12, 2024
8 minutes

Streamlining Maintenance Requests: A Guide for Property Managers

As a property manager, one of your most important responsibilities is to keep your properties well-maintained. Whether it’s fixing a leaky tap, replacing a broken appliance, or addressing a more significant issue, maintenance requests are an integral part of your job. However, with everything else going on in your day, managing these requests can quickly become overwhelming, leading to delays, miscommunications, and dissatisfied tenants. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can streamline your maintenance requests and issues to make your job easier and keep your tenants happy.
September 11, 2024
3 minutes

7 Tricks For Streak-Free Window Cleaning

Most people have no idea on how to clean windows streak free. This is a daunting task because getting rid of those random lines is difficult. However, it is still possible to achieve clear windows with a perfect outside view if you master a few tricks. Below are the items you need and how you should clean them.
September 11, 2024
3 minutes

How Much Does Steam Cleaning Carpet Cost?

The steam cleaning carpet cost is determined by the size of the carpet. However, the average price is approximately $35/hr. If your carpet has stains that are hard to remove, you might be charged as high as $40/hr by your carpet cleaner. Some experts charge $85 for a regular carpet cleaning job which involves sterilisation and deodorisation to get rid of all stains and spots. A carpet cleaners cost per job is approximately $126 for their services. However, prices may vary. Below are a few reasons why carpet steam cleaning rates may vary.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How Much Does Roof Tiling Cost?

The appearance of your roof speaks much about your home. An attractive roof gives an impression of beautiful rooms inside that house. Roofs tiles can make a house look elegant and decent. However, most people believe that roof tile prices are not pocket-friendly. That is not true. Get more information below about this.
September 11, 2024
4 minutes

How Much Does A Roof Restoration Cost?

A worn out roof destroys the aesthetic appearance of your home, making it look old and boring. Algae and mold may also build up on the roof. In such cases, you may feel that you have no option but to replace it. However, you could replace it and get back the attractive look of your house. But what could be the roof restoration cost? Find out below how you can compare the quotes. Roof installation involves every activity that restores the attractive appearance of your roof and makes it water-proof.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How Much Does A Roof Replacement Cost?

A leaking roof exposes your home to various health risks other than tarnishing the attractive appearance of your house,and undergoing future replacement and repairs might be a bit costly. Renovating your roof is something that you might consider doing if it is damaged. It is also crucial to know the roof replacement costs and preparing in advance. From this article, you will be able to find out the available roofing materials on the market, who can install them and how much it would cost you.
September 11, 2024
6 minutes

Roof Painting Costs in Australia

In Australia, the average costs of a qualified roof painter’s services are around $40/hr. The costs of materials and paint are not included in this sum. Depending on different aspects of the project, a roof painting professional can charge anywhere between $30/hr and $55/hr. While any roof painter will be able to offer you an estimate quote, the actual costs of your project will be determined after the specialist makes a thorough inspection. After the inspection, the painter will take different aspects into account in order to offer you an accurate price.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How To Make Your Pool Safe With Proper Fencing

Do you have safe swimming pool fencing? With summer on the way it’s every pool owner’s responsibility to make sure your pool is safe for children, whether your own, a visitors or a neighbours. Young children like to go exploring and you never know when one will end up in your backyard, and in the worst case scenario, your pool. If you’re unclear about the rules around pool fencing and think you need to get yours checked, keep reading for more information.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

How Much Does Installing a Ceiling Fan Cost?

There are many advantages to adding a ceiling fan into the interior design of your home besides their main function of cooling off a room. Having this type of fans in your home can reduce your energy costs, can provide comfort, and can be a stylish lighting source. Standard ceiling fans are usually quite cheap but must be installed by a licenced electrician who will respect the Australian standards and procedures. For a standard fan installation, professional electricians will charge on average about $77 per hour. If the job is straightforward and simple, they might charge less. On the other hand, if the installation is complicated, the electrician’s rate can be as high as $80 per hour. Overall, for a complete fan installation, a homeowner should expect to pay between $200 and $400. If the homeowner installs several fans, the cost per fan installation might be reduced. Although installing a ceiling fan is usually a straightforward job, there can be certain tasks and aspects that can influence the costs and the rates of the electricians. These are some of the most common things that can influence the ceiling fan costs:
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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