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The latest writings from our team

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

Creating a Paperless Office to Improve your Property Management Skills

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.
September 11, 2024
8 minutes

4 Ways Attending a Conference Can Benefit Your Property Management Career

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.
September 11, 2024
5 Minutes

Inspection Manager How to: New Report Editing System

September 16, 2024
10 minutes

7 Most Common Pitfalls in Property Management

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.
September 11, 2024
3 minutes

Tips To Improve Communication With Your Tenants

Ready to improve communication with your tenants? Inspection Manager’s online tenant options are here to help you power-up your day and enhance communication with ease. Our Branded Tenant Assisted Inspections, Branded Paperless Ingoing Reports, and Branded Digital Leases are not just tools to streamline your rental process, they’re also the key to stronger relationships and better communication with your tenants.
September 11, 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
7 minutes

Revolutionising Property Management: Inspection Manager Joins Proptech Labs

In an exciting development for property management professionals, Inspection Manager has become a part of Proptech Labs. Proptech Labs was launched in conjunction with the recent Bricks + Agent acquisition of Inspection Manager. Proptech Lab’s aim is to be the leading software development group dedicated to innovation and customer satisfaction. This integration brings together three powerful products, including Bricks + Agent Inspection Manager and Invoice Automate to create a comprehensive all-in-one solution that revolutionises property management processes. With increased resources and expertise, Proptech Labs promises enhanced efficiencies and streamlined operations for businesses.
September 11, 2024
10 Minutes

How Property Managers Can Adapt To COVID-19 Challenges

September 11, 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 Minutes

The Story Behind Harmony Day

September 11, 2024
10 minutes

Repairs to Rental Property: Landlord or Tenant’s Responsibility?

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.
September 11, 2024
8 minutes

Routine Inspection Red Flags or Warning Signs you May Have Missed!

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.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

The Best Ways to Stay Connected With Your Tenants as a Property Manager

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.”
September 11, 2024
10 minutes

10 Key Aspects to Remember at Routine Inspections

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.
September 11, 2024
5 minutes

6 Tips To Help Property Managers Maintain a Work-life Balance

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.
September 11, 2024
8 minutes

Creating a Paperless Office to Improve your Property Management Skills

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.
September 11, 2024
8 minutes

4 Ways Attending a Conference Can Benefit Your Property Management Career

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.
September 11, 2024
10 minutes

7 Most Common Pitfalls in Property Management

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.
September 11, 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
5 min

5 Essential Planning Tips For Property Managers

In order for things to run smoothly, a property manager must have a backup plan, outsource tasks, minimise the paperwork, and communicate efficiently.
September 3, 2024
5 min

What You Need To Know About Property Management Fees

Each property management agency may charge different property management fees. A complete guide on everything you need to know about property management fees.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Managing Relationships With Rental Property Service Providers

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.
September 3, 2024
5 min

No Cloud-Based Property Maintenance Software? Be Aware of the Risks...

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.
September 3, 2024
5 min

What Insurance Do Tradesmen Need?

It’s important that you check a tradesperson has the proper insurance before hiring them, so you’re not at risk of paying for damages, or costs.
September 3, 2024
5 min

How Tradespeople Can Win Work And Grow A Business Using Bricks+Agent

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.
September 3, 2024
5 min

Inspection for Your Rental Property

It's highly important to regularly check your property. You can do it yourself or ask your property manager to do it for you.
September 3, 2024
5 min

How To Use Technology To Create a Better Rental Experiences

Property managers need to find more ways to attract new tenants. Research indicates tenants now expect technology as part of their renting experience.
September 3, 2024
5 min

How To Use Data To Make Your Property Management Business More Successful

The success and failure of a property management business today may depend entirely on the data. Here are five different ways how property managers can harness the power of data and its benefits:
September 3, 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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