The positives for using a property manager far outweigh being a self-managed landlord; they save you time, and money, and it’s a tax-deductible expense.

But with so many property managers out there, how do you know what makes not just a good property manager, but an excellent one?

Here are some of our thoughts:

Keeps you legal

Property legislation and regulations are in place to protect both the landlord and the tenant, for many reasons; properties need to be safe to live in, and there needs to be a clear understanding of what is expected by both parties.

From smoke alarms requirements and pool safety to discrimination and animals, real estate and property management does come with a few rules and regulations.

We ensure all our properties adhere to the law and we act within the law. Professional development is a must, and our team regularly attend industry training sessions so we are on top of the latest legislation and regulations.

Zero tolerance on rental arrears

Because we screen prospective tenants, rental arrears generally are rare, and we believe our proactive approach also keeps tenants on track. Every business day we are checking exactly where your tenants are paid up to. Should they be a day late often a simple text reminder does the trick.

However, if this does not fix the situation our Property Managers are quickly onto the phone to find out why and rectify the situation. This is usually sufficient in the vast majority of instances. But should the tenant still remain in arrears, we automatically serve them with formal notice on the 15th day of arrears for them to vacate or pay their outstanding monies.

On the very rare occasion that they continue to remain in arrears, we will automatically proceed to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to gain possession.

Devil is in the detail

To ensure the tenancy starts on a good footing, rental properties in our care are ready to be a home for your tenants into in every way.

As well as highlighting to property investors what decorating, maintenance and repairs need to be done, and hence potentially increase rental return, we also go one step further, like checking all the light bulbs work and there is toilet roll in the bathroom! That way the tenant is welcomed and valued at the start of the relationship, and is more likely to be a good tenant.

We also get to know our properties. We mean really know the properties in our care. We know the building’s layout, the available utilities, and any quirks the property may have. That way, we know what to look out for, and if we have to call on our team of tradies to fix a problem, we can advice accordingly.

As we are a family run business, and have been in the Newcastle area for over 40 years, we also really know the neighbourhoods; tenants often turn to us when they need information about the area, such as the nearest grocery store and other amenities.

Strategic marketing

Our vacancy rate is always well below the Newcastle average and we achieve this by using two different methods.

• Our database

We have built up a database of over 10,000 tenants over the years who we send a weekly email to, advising them of our latest properties that have been listed for lease that week. Sometimes tenants are not even looking to relocate, but they see a property on this email alert and before you know it…. they are on the move.

• Targeting the right audience

By professionally marketing your property online with quality photos, floorplans and a well worded description of your property, we entice people to view it.

Generally, prospective tenants have a favourite website they view when looking for a new home and usually only look at this one site, so to ensure we get as close as possible to 100% of people looking to rent, we market across 14 different websites.

Moving with the times

The digital world is enabling more to be done electronically, making it convenient for both parties.

From accepting online applications to moving many rental tasks online, (such as online signing), we make life a lot easier for the tenant, and giving them a better rental experience.

The feedback from our owners’ online portal is that it is convenient and a comprehensive way of managing rental properties. Landlords who use our portal can view statements, financial reporting, ongoing maintenance, upcoming events, inspection reports and more. Furthermore, tenants love our portal as they can see their statements, create new maintenance requests, see upcoming events, access receipts, rental information and lots more.

Creates value for your property

With our regular inspections, we quickly pick up on any maintenance or repairs, ensure they are completed cost effectively and in a timely manner; in doing so, we are keeping your property in the best condition it can be.

Our rental return is kept in line with the current market, and we find quickly find new quality tenants to avoid a vacant property.

Our motto is very simple – we treat every property as if it’s one of our own.

With many of our team having investment properties themselves, we always go the extra mile.

We’d love you to get in touch to tell you more, and also tell you how our property management services can make your life easier, and increase your return on investment.

With nearly 50 years of property management experience behind us, we’ve helped thousands of people realise their dreams through property and our aim is to make your life easier. Simply give us a ring on 02 4956 9777, send us an email to mail@newcastlepropertymanagement.com.au or pop into our Cardiff office for a chat.

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