Repairs and maintenance to rental propertys are one of the most common issues that cause legal disputes between landlords and tenants. As the mediator, property managers need to know and educate both tenants and landlords on whose responsibility it is to fix repairs and maintenance issues.

Routine inspections are a big part of a property manager’s day to day job. Along with the millions of other tasks they’re expected to complete, it can be tempting sometimes to rush inspections and assume everything is fine. No doubt this can often lead to some serious problems down the line, especially if tenants are hiding/performing questionable or illegal substances or behaviour. You can never be too careful when it comes to routine inspections. At Inspection Manager we compiled a list below of red flags or warning signs as a property manager to look out for when completing a routine inspection.

Staying connected with your tenants and building a trusting relationship is key to having better tenants, maintaining well-kept rental properties and being updated with any issues/problems on a rental property right away. Kelly, a Property Manager from LJ Hooker says “The best way to maintain well-kept rental properties with minimal issues is to form more trusting and better relationships with your tenants. Staying connected with check-in messages or calls to tenants is one step closer to a more transparent relationship.”

Routine inspections allow you to identify and address any maintenance or repair issues. This gives landlords peace of mind, knowing their valued rental properties are being maintained and carefully managed. The details recorded at routine inspections are also used as evidence in disputes between landlords and tenants. Therefore, in order to serve their purpose, routine inspections should to be done thoroughly and competently. At the same time, routine inspections don’t have to be a difficult process.

Property managers, do you feel like your work is always following you wherever you go? Even when you’re not physically taking your work home with you, it’s always on your mind 24/7. Work-life balance is a common struggle for property managers and a lack of boundaries often leads to burnout.

Copying, filing, searching, retrieving, refiling, sending, mailing and faxing… on average a property manager spends 20% of their time on paperwork. If you’re tired of doing things the hard way, you’re not alone. Many property management agencies have converted to/created a paperless office and have never looked back since. While the change may seem intimidating at first, here are some compelling reasons why your agency should create a paperless office today.

Being a Property Manager is hard work – you’re always juggling a dozen different tasks on a hectic schedule. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in day-to-day commitments that you forget to focus on the bigger picture -where your career or business is heading. Attending a conference is the perfect way to receive some much-needed inspiration and motivation. There’s no better way to stay informed and network with experts in the property management industry.

What helps improve your property management skills? According to industry experts, it’s about avoiding a few common pitfalls. If these are overlooked, they may escalate into major problems, and can cause serious damage to your performance and wellbeing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Are you a property owner or interested in investing in real estate? Then it's important to understand the complexities that come with any market. Making a profit from property investment is more complicated than just fixing things when they break. When you are managing a property, especially as a first-time landlord, you might find yourself taking on a lot of different roles. The way in which you do your job can make or break your chances of being successful. A lot of entrepreneurs prefer to invest in rental properties, both long-term and short-term rentals. With companies like Airbnb becoming more popular, everyone is eager to transform homes and apartments into accommodation that can be rented short-term and for maximum profit.

Whether it’s a business trip or vacation, hotel guests expect everything to go as planned, and for hotel staff, the main objective is to ensure guests are comfortable. You might have the best facilities, location, great staff and exceptional service but in order to be successful in the hospitality industry, focus must be on one thing - customer satisfaction. When it comes to hotel guests, one wrong step from the service end can easily have hotel guests looking for alternative accomodation.

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.

It can be very challenging when it comes to choosing between a colorbond versus a tile roof. With the many varieties of cement tile roofs and metal roofs available, many residential builders and homeowners wonder which could be the best option? Both metal and tiled roofs have benefits, and it is up to you to compare the benefits and make a decision.

While we may enjoy our beautiful gardens, making a beautiful garden can be a cumbersome task. Garden screening might make a garden feel smaller as much as it offers us some privacy. Below are six excellent garden screening ideas provided by professional landscapers to give you the privacy that you need.

Negative reviews can be harmful to your property management business, and can lead to loss of prospective clients and revenue. We've put together some of the most actionable tips for handling negative tenant reviews.

Requesting repairs for a home can be tricky especially in case of a dispute between the owner and a tenant. Bricks+Agent takes the hassle out of chasing tradies, property managers and tenants, here's how.

Responsible borrowing and financial management can be the best way of paying off renovation debt. This guide will explain how to finance your home renovations and pay off the renovation debt.

For tenants, property managers who promise one thing and deliver nothing is unacceptable. As rental prices increase, so too do tenants' expectations on what exceptional customer service looks like. If you want to avoid these start using some of the tips above, and keep your tenants happy.

Ideas and trends that are shaping your business are likely to be disrupted by new and advancing trends in technology and old strategies may not work as well anymore. If you want to stop your business from becoming another statistic, try using these hacks for future-proofing your business.

Investing in property is a solid asset, which has the potential to increase your wealth over time. The reason it is very important to invest in the right property is that one small mistake can cost you a lot. Here are some tips to help you pick the right location for your next investment:

While you will be busy as a middleman between the landlord and the tenant, you will hire trade professional to solve issues at the ground level. Here are some of the things that you need to consider while hiring your property maintenance team.

How often do you clean your roof? Maintaining & repairing are ordinary activities you can’t avoid. This guide shows how to clean a colorbond roof and keep it new.

The business of property management does not need to be bogged down by the bureaucratic paperwork. Property managers need to consider these factors while choosing a property management software.

If you’re selling your house and are concerned buyers will be put off by a small master bedroom - don’t be. There’s no reason why a small bedroom can’t be as relaxing and luxurious as a much larger space. Plus, as housing affordability and environmental concerns become increasing issues for many potential homeowners, the Tiny House Movement is starting to take hold in Australia. Smaller houses are not only the best way to get a foot on the property ladder, they’re cheaper to run and can save homeowners money in the long run. What’s not to like about that? So take heart and try out some (or all) of our small master bedroom ideas - and remember, living with less doesn’t mean living without luxury!

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.

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.

When listing your property for rent, think of the type of audience you want living in it first! While you will feel like considering a lot of people before choosing a selected audience and demographic, it will help to keep the types of people who are not suited to your property at arms length. Once you have your target audience, its time to consider what types of things they need and want from a rental property, and how you can provide it to them. But who are your ideal renters? The experts at Bricks+Agent have put together some steps to help you target your audience.

Deciding when is the best time to sell your house requires not only research of market conditions but also,other factors such as lifestyle implications and more

If you're a property manager then its likely you're managing more than one property for your clients. Both the tenant and the owner are extremely important and communication is a key factor for success. Here are tips that can help property managers communicate better with the tenant and the owner.

Finding a great landlord is not an easy task as you need to consider plenty of things while looking for a new landlord. The experts at Bricks+Agent have put together their top 5 tips for a landlord search that’ll help you discover honest and nice landlords that you can depend on.

Are you prepared for unexpected bills? Can you make your mortgage payments for the foreseeable future? Maybe it’s time to look at how to protect your finances.

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.