Are you thinking about renting your Christchurch property out? Leasing can show a great return on your investment, but it can also come to occupy a huge amount of time and energy if you have to deal with tenants personally. This is why many people hire a Christchurch property manager to help manage their investment. While property managers often mean less work in the long run, choosing the right one can be a mission. Do your research before you commit, and pay extra attention to...
Amount of Contact
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a property manager is having someone to act as a buffer between you and any problems with the tenants. Whether it's an issue of billing or necessary repairs, it's nice to have an agency willing to handle the small dilemmas. So you don't want to hire a company that's simply going to pass your phone number onto the tenants whenever something goes wrong. Find out what sort of policies they have regarding conflict resolution and communication.
On the other hand, you still want a property manager who will communicate with you regularly. If there are any serious problems or maintenance issue with the property, you need to know about it.
Management Systems
Ask about the software technology the company uses to manage their properties. There are a number of programmes available to keep property managers streamlined and organised, and a good property manager will be making use of one. These programmes allow the property manager to keep track of important dates, payments and repairs made.
The technology used by Christchurch property management teams has been put to the test recently, after major earthquakes hit the region in 2010 and 2011. The earthquakes caused extensive damage and displacement around Christchurch. Ask how the company coped during this period to see if their software was good enough to keep them organised.
Christchurch Experience
Before you commit to an agency, ask how long has the office been operating in Christchurch. Local expertise is crucial to finding a good match between the property and tenants. Finding a good match entails knowing all about average rent prices as they vary across the suburbs, reputation of local schools, public transportation options, convenience to shopping and leisure activities... the list goes on.
The earthquakes in Christchurch have resulted in a shift in the real estate landscape. This means that local expertise is more important that ever, as staying atop of changes, trends and future predictions is critical.
When a property manager lacks a good idea of the real estate landscape it's unlikely that he or she will know who makes for a good fit for your property. This can mean trouble filling the property or unhappy tenants.
Endorsements
Feel free to ask for references! Your property management company should have no problem producing three references from other property owners they work with. If possible, ask them to provide references from other owners in the Christchurch area: it's a great way to find out how they handle the local market.
Amount of Contact
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a property manager is having someone to act as a buffer between you and any problems with the tenants. Whether it's an issue of billing or necessary repairs, it's nice to have an agency willing to handle the small dilemmas. So you don't want to hire a company that's simply going to pass your phone number onto the tenants whenever something goes wrong. Find out what sort of policies they have regarding conflict resolution and communication.
On the other hand, you still want a property manager who will communicate with you regularly. If there are any serious problems or maintenance issue with the property, you need to know about it.
Management Systems
Ask about the software technology the company uses to manage their properties. There are a number of programmes available to keep property managers streamlined and organised, and a good property manager will be making use of one. These programmes allow the property manager to keep track of important dates, payments and repairs made.
The technology used by Christchurch property management teams has been put to the test recently, after major earthquakes hit the region in 2010 and 2011. The earthquakes caused extensive damage and displacement around Christchurch. Ask how the company coped during this period to see if their software was good enough to keep them organised.
Christchurch Experience
Before you commit to an agency, ask how long has the office been operating in Christchurch. Local expertise is crucial to finding a good match between the property and tenants. Finding a good match entails knowing all about average rent prices as they vary across the suburbs, reputation of local schools, public transportation options, convenience to shopping and leisure activities... the list goes on.
The earthquakes in Christchurch have resulted in a shift in the real estate landscape. This means that local expertise is more important that ever, as staying atop of changes, trends and future predictions is critical.
When a property manager lacks a good idea of the real estate landscape it's unlikely that he or she will know who makes for a good fit for your property. This can mean trouble filling the property or unhappy tenants.
Endorsements
Feel free to ask for references! Your property management company should have no problem producing three references from other property owners they work with. If possible, ask them to provide references from other owners in the Christchurch area: it's a great way to find out how they handle the local market.
About the Author:
Selecting a property manager is difficult at times, but it's well worth the preliminary research to find the right agency. Irelands Property Management is a Christchurch-based agency dedicated to making property rentals a great experience for owners and tenants alike. Find out more about what makes Irelands stand out as a great Christchurch property management agency.
No comments:
Post a Comment