1. In New Zealand, you don’t need any qualifications to become a property manager. Although, there is a property management paper that you can study to up skill and in future this will be mandatory. Other qualifications, such as papers in real estate or business can also be helpful in property management but are not essential.
2. How much time is spent out of office hours doing property management. Property management is around the clock. We communicate with owners world wide so there are time differences, enquiries about properties all hours of the day, urgent maintenance call outs etc. Please be mindful if we don’t respond straight away as chances are you won’t be the only person trying to contact us.
3. There are different ways to maximise rent other than market gains. This can be as simple as offering a chattel or a service to a tenant such as lawn mowing or providing a mower. Cosmetically improving the appearance of the property can also contribute towards maximising rent. This may be a fresh coat of paint or new carpet throughout. Small changes can make a big difference.
4. The process of organising maintenance. When we are asked to organise maintenance by both owners and tenants it can be a difficult process. We send work orders to our suppliers as soon as we can and from there it is out of our control when the job is completed. Asking for quotes can also take longer as the quote then needs to be approved before the work can go ahead. When work is urgent we try our best to get it organised and completed for you ASAP.
5. Behind the scenes of rentals. When rentals become available both tenanted and untenanted there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. From advertising, arranging viewings, responding to every enquiry, doing the necessary checks on tenants etc. This can also result in a lot of time wasted when people enquire for viewings but don’t turn up. Please we ask that if you have enquired about a viewing but are no longer interested, let us know.

We are now in our new office space at 61 Leet Street. Yes, that’s the same address as before but we are now on the bottom floor at the right end of the building. With the new sign writing you won’t be able to miss us.

If you’re ever in the area or have any property management related questions feel free to come in for a chat!

Inspections are a very important part of our job and when owning an investment property. For owners, these are usually required for insurance purposes, at least every three months.

Above is a snippet of what our routine and full inspection reports can look like. There are a number of features for each room in the property, all of which have a status to represent their condition. The comments section is where we describe any damage or additional information about the feature. Such as the brand of a chattel or a dent in the wall etc. Along with the written section of the inspection report we take photos of each room and closeups of any damage. We aim to take at least 10 pictures per room to ensure the owner has a full scope of the current condition of the property.

Routine inspections are a good way to monitor how the property is being maintained and to get on top of any issues before they become worse. Inspections also allow tenants to notify us of any wear and tear that needs rectified before it worsens.

Full inspections are done at the beginning and end of a tenancy. These are more thorough and in depth. They will note any existing or new damage or wear and tear to the property. The move in inspection report is used as a reference for the exit inspection to determine if any damage or wear and tear was existing or happened during the tenancy.

If you are a current owner or tenant or an owner looking into our services and have any questions regarding our inspections, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d be happy to help!

There are a number of ways you can maximize profit from your investment property. Sometimes this involves spending money to make money. Below are some suggestions that we believe will add value to your property and in turn achieve higher rent.

• Don’t initially set rent too low- rent can always be lowered but it can’t be increased for at least 6 months after signing up a new tenancy. Aim high initially and if there is little interest then there is the option to reduce the rent.
• Improve the appearance of the property- the way your property looks cosmetically will play a big role in tenanting and achieving top rent. A fresh coat of paint, new carpet and new kitchen or bathroom are popular features for prospective tenants. Modern, renovated properties always tenant faster than dated homes.
• Good quality advertising- good quality advertising is essential in the tenanting process. Clearer pictures help to show prospective tenants exactly what the condition of the property is. Angles and lighting are also very important in making rooms appear larger and brighter.
• Make sure the house is appealing for viewings– if a property is dirty or cluttered it is hard for prospective tenants to imagine it otherwise. A clean and organised home is always more appealing for viewings.
• Sell the property not just show– during viewings make sure to boast the property and sell all of it’s best features. Features that aren’t noticeable to viewers such as how warm the property is or how sunny the rooms are.
• Screen tenants– tenanting houses with suitable tenants is important when it comes to generating return. Tenants that pay rent on time, maintain the property to a reasonable standard and cause minimal to no damage and have done so in the past are key. It is crucial to screen tenants and do the appropriate checks to ensure your investment is being let to reliable and trustworthy people.
• Take advantage of rent increases at the end of tenancies and every 6 months- market rent is always changing therefore, staying on top of these changes is a good way to get the most out of your rental. When a new tenancy begins or every 90 days the rent for rentals can be evaluated and increased.
• Allow pets– allowing pets may be a daunting thought, but for rentals these properties usually generate the most interest. Animals can also be reference checked to ensure they will cause no damage to the property.