We don’t know about you, but we have more gizmos and gadgets that use USB cords with each passing week. As technology advances and as our homes are becoming ‘smarter’, the number of smartphones and tablets increases. Go-Pros, digital cameras, video cameras, GPS, game consoles, laptops, fitness trackers, etc. Not only do gadgets and their cables become tangled and get on our nerves but often they overload our power points. The good news is, universal power points have become increasingly popular, and electricians are being asked to install them in many homes. Having USB sockets installed in our power points will solve overloading problems, but this upgrade should only be done by a licenced electrician. Hiring a licenced and insured tradie is essential to get job to get done quickly, safely, and legally. Some benefits associated with having a USB dedicated power point are: ability to charge several electronics and devices simultaneously and quickly, less tangled cables, freeing up power point sockets for other uses. Using extension cords and power boards can be quite unsafe and can lead to socket overload, especially if there are too many devices plugged in at the same time.
Aren’t you glad it’s almost Christmas? But as a property manager, you probably have a lot to do before you can start thinking about the holidays. So we’ve created a pre-holiday checklist to help you find calm in the chaos.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
Did you know that your bathroom holds many germs? Cleaning it isn't a fun task and you might end up making many blunders during the whole activity. While it's important to keep a bathroom clean, many people assume this and end up getting infections and other related diseases. You can maintain your bathroom and enjoy your shower by avoiding the following mistakes.
Trying to find a renter to fill a property is hard enough. As a property manager there are many elements that need to come together in order to be able to find the right type of tenants to a property. To sell a product to it's prospective renter, it's essential to write an engaging property listing to ensure success in engaging the right people and satisfying your clients requirements. Writing a property listing seems pretty straight forward right? The Bricks+Agent guide to writing a property listing will help you market any property to the right audience.
Investing in properties is one of the best investments you can make in life. But like any other investment, it is essential to do your research before investing your hard earned money. It is a common misconception that property investment always offers you good returns. You need to consider many factors while investing in a real estate. Here are 5 tips to reduce stress while buying your first investment property.
Too often, potential home buyers make the decision of choosing a rental property from it's curb appeal. Yet, outdoor areas and landscaping is always underdone or overlooked. Impressive and attractive landscapes can add more value to your home. The best time to start cleaning your outdoor areas is a month before you plan to list your home for rent. Doing this will give you enough time to get everything looking perfect and will also remove the impression that you have made last minute changes.
While you're busy working on your craft, you still need to have consistent work and the ability to run your business successfully. Sure, you might have your own systems in place, but there's an easier and more effective solution to help you manage your teams, customers and jobs so you can start seeing results and growth in your business. Here's 4 reasons why the Bricks + Agent onboarding experience for service providers is the best in driving success.
Mandatory maintenance is something that defines the property management industry today. However, things like whether the property’s portfolio is well-maintained or not is something that is questionable. The reason why most real estate agencies are planning to, or already have streamlined their maintenance processes, is ultimately to imrprove their clients' overall satisfaction with their business. Although maintenance is quite beneficial and important for rental properties, it can keep your staff bogged down and start to affect your business, if managed ineffectively. How will you deal with property maintenance tasks? Thanks to the simplified property maintenance system developed by our team at Bricks+Agent, maintenance and repairs at rental properties are a breeze to complete. Here’s how it will help:
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.
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.
Heating and air conditioning are two of the most important features for your home - making sure that your family is suitably warm in Winter and comfortably cool in Summer. We come to rely so much on air conditioning that it can be a real pain when it breaks down, and it’s Murphy’s Law that it will happen on the hottest day of the year. So knowing exactly who to call, and how much you’ll pay, can save you a lot of stress. If you have a reliable local air con repair service, you can have the system up and running before everyone melts into a puddle. Even if your air conditioner is working fine, it’s a good idea to start making enquiries now so you’re not faced with astronomical charges if the unthinkable happens. As you’ll see, not doing your research about air conditioning repairs can leave you seriously out of pocket.
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.
