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.

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.

During my many years as a property investor, I’ve learnt that a few key upgrades and good maintenance of your property can be key to not only keeping good tenants happy but can also increase the value of your rental a lot. It doesn’t take a tonne of money and a complete overhaul to make your property the most desirable rental around - you just have to know where to focus your efforts.

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.

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.

Cleaning the gutters is extremely important for keeping your home in good shape and is something that you can do yourself or hire a professional gutter cleaner.

Property maintenance, inspections, locks, automation and bots for property managers.

Social media is powerful, but not everyone knows how to cultivate their presence by using the right network. A social media strategy can help you improve service, drive growth & help you engage your audience. Here are some tips to help you build relationships with customers via social media:

Property maintenance and services marketplace Bricks + Agent has been selected in the Microsoft ScaleUp program.

Bricks and Agent reaches 100,000 users.

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.

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

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.

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!

By using a property management platform, you can also improve your team’s performance, have an organised database, and keep your clients and tenants happy.

From managing vital documents to communicating with owners and tenants, a property manager is responsible for a multitude of everyday tasks that are key to the success of a real estate agency. Bricks + Agent may very well handle all the issues. Here are the three risks you may face if you are not already using a cloud-based system.

If the tenant pays the rent late, the landlord or property manager can charge a penalty known as the ‘late fee’. How much should it be?.

Lease management software handles multiple property management aspects like buying, leasing, renting and selling of properties and are jam packed with features to improve efficiency on the job. The team at Bricks + Agent have put together some of the most important features that help to streamline the leasing process.

Managing tasks have just gotten a lot easier for tradespeople. By using Bricks+Agent, leading property maintenance software, tradespeople in all fields can manage and grow their business significantly.

Due to the ever-changing nature of the market,it's very important for Airbnb/Vacation Rental owners and managers to maximize their units’ earning potential.

Property managers need to find more ways to attract new tenants. Research indicates tenants now expect technology as part of their renting experience.

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.