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.

Outdoor pavers, or paving stones, can add a decorative element to any outdoor area and are very common throughout Australia. Whether they are used as walkways in the garden, driveway, or patios, the paving stones are likely to become dull. The good news is that the specialists behind Bricks + Agent have created this guide that will show you how to clean outdoor paving stones correctly. Restoring the luster of your paving stones is quite simple. All you need is a stiff bristled broom, a cleaning solution, sealer, and replacement sand. Before you start the whole cleaning process, don’t forget to do the following things:

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.

If you need a cute and easy to maintain garden, you should try using cacti and succulents. As much as establishing them may be a bit hard, maintaining them is quite easy. Choosing a variety of plants and succulents can give you a stunning cactus garden design. Below is everything you should know about catus and succulent gardens.

Bricks + Agent has been selected in Austrade's Singapore Landing Pad Program.

Australia is well known for its colourful species, plenty sunlight and small suburban yards. The thought of having an Australian cottage garden is, therefore, an achievable goal as it is not expensive. Below are the six vital steps to help you have a no-work cottage garden.

Tenants search for the most desirable properties they can afford that won't break the bank. With this in mind, it might be time to consider renovating your outdated property to attract new tenants. Moreover, it is vital to keep the needs of the tenants in mind and stick to your renovation budget. Making some simple and budget-friendly renovations can help you attract more tenants than ever. Here are some of the best renovations to consider for your rental property.

Despairing over your tiny bathroom? While generous bathrooms are sought after by potential buyers, there are lots of tricks to make your bathroom appear bigger than it really is. But don’t just take our word for it - here are some useful small bathroom ideas from tradies and interior design experts to help you maximise the space you’ve got.

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….

There are no shortcuts to success and it comes to you in its own time. Your experiences on the way make you wiser which helps you in making better informed decisions. And as they say ‘learning is a lifetime process’. However, there is cheat codes available that might be able to give you a kick start – reading. Reading about the success of other people and how they got there can help you make appropriate changes to your game plan. Therefore, we decided to compile you a list of 12 best books that can work wonders for a Real Estate Agent, also you can try our property management software to ease your job.

Good guttering is just as important as a good roof. If left without regular maintenance your roof can become damaged. Find out current roof guttering prices.

Rental property improvements need to strike a good ratio between cost and value. Here are some rental improvement projects that will yield a high return.

Find out how you can renovate your house on a budget. it is important to do your research, to be on the lookout for discounts, and to stick your plan.

Property investors must always pay close attention to the technological advancements and collect new data to be relevant in the real estate industry.

Before choosing between managing your own property or hiring a professional property manager, landlords should decide whether saving money is worth the effort.

Nowadays, if property managers want to be ahead of the game in real estate management business, they must focus on offering instance services on mobile devices.

To be ahead of their competitors, property managers must always be on the lookout for technological innovations that can help them attract new tenants.

Are you a tenant who love their home? Well, if you are planning to stay long at the property, then you need to make sure your landlord wants the same thing. If the landlords do not enjoy having you as a tenant, they are unlikely to renew the lease or could potentially increase the annual rent .

Plumber or electrician? Which job is better? There is no doubt that these two jobs are in very high demand and very well-paid, so choosing can be a challenge.

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.

Making the decision to sell your investment property needs a lot of consideration.Sometimes the costs of selling can far outweigh paying a property manager

There’s 250,000 service providers with a registered trade business, but the rate of service providers adopting smart technology to run their business continues to lag.

Smart and cloud-based property maintenance software like Bricks+Agent can help property managers streamline their business tasks and improve relationships with less hassle.

If you are selling or buying property you should consider hiring a conveyancer or a settlement agent to help you with the legal aspects of the transaction.

The playground of property management has shifted drastically in favour of having online businesses. Capitalising on potential of the internet and having a strong web presence is about more than tweaking your website. How can you improve your online presence? Here are our top tips:

Signing a lease is one of the most critical parts of renting a home. There are many things that tenants need to consider before signing a contract for any property. If you are looking to find a property to rent, the following tips will serve as your best guide before signing a lease.

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.

Property investors play a critical role in your business and its important to maintain strong relationships with them. Here are 6 things that you can do to keep your investors happy.