Our Service to You!

MARKETING

We look for the "right tenant". Our marketing covers window display, signage at the property, colour Renting Guide, and advertising where necessary. All properties are placed on our website, which generates many enquiries every week. Our office is a high profile rental and management office and therefore attracts large numbers of prospective tenants.

TENANT SELECTION

At The Professionals Bankstown our job is to get the best possible tenant for your investment property by following these general guidelines:

a) Stability in employment
b) Satisfaction that the tenant is capable of paying rent
c) Seeking a tenant with a proven satisfactory rental history.

AGREEMENT PREPARATION

Once a tenant has been confirmed for your property, we will arrange the signing of the Residential Tenancy Agreement and the lodgement of the Rental Bond as well as the transfer of all keys.

INITIAL INSPECTION

Prior to the signing of the Residential Tenancy Agreement, we will carry out a carefully detailed condition report of the property. We will also take photographs (if agreed) prior to the signing of the first agreement and these are kept on the file and referred to at the end of the tenancy.

RENT COLLECTION

Paying rent is hassle free for our tenants. They are able to pay the rent in a number of ways, including cheque, Agent Deposit Book at their local bank, or by Direct Debit. This enables tenants alternative solutions if they are unable to come to the office and pay, or the rental property is not near transport. For their convenience we are open for rent collection 7 days a week, with extended trading hours.

ARREARS CONTROL

Our computer system is programmed to print an "arrears report" which shows any tenants who are behind in their rent. The printout shows the property address, the tenant's name, phone number, the date the rent was due, and how much rent is owing.

These reports are printed every second day, so that tenants who fail to pay their rent for whatever reason, are contacted on a regular basis. Those that do not respond to a phone call or reminder letter, are served with a warning letter, explaining that if they fail to pay, or do not contact our staff to make arrangements to pay, they will be served with a Termination Notice which gives them fourteen days to vacate. This is usually sufficient incentive to get most tenants to pay their rent. However, should this warning letter fail to bring results, our staff contact the landlord to discuss the matter and whether to proceed with termination.

PERIODIC INSPECTIONS

Included in our management fee is one/two periodic inspection of your property per year. Each time your property is inspected we will forward you a written report detailing the condition and any recommended routine maintenance or optional work such as repainting or re-carpeting. We welcome any comments on the inspection.

REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.

We monitor repairs very closely. We act on repairs according to your instructions in the Management Agency Agreement. Should a repair of a more urgent nature be reported, such as no hot water, we need to attend to this as soon as possible as it is an essential service. We maintain complete records of maintenance carried out to your property for future reference.

Repairs carried out on your behalf are paid from your rent monies held in Trust. Full details of repairs are printed on your monthly Rent Statement with a copy of the relevant invoices attached for your reference.

STATUTORY DISBURSEMENTS

From the rent collected on your behalf we can arrange payment of all the statutory accounts as you instruct in the Management Agency Agreement. Such accounts could include council rates, water rates, body corporate levies and insurance. With reference to water rates, we will automatically invoice the tenant for any water usage charges where the property is separately metered.

RENTAL REVIEWS

We ensure you enjoy full market rental for your property. We regularly assess the rental on your property taking into account factors such as the current market rents, the vacancy factor in the area of similar properties, the general condition of the property and the quality of the tenant and length of their tenancy.

MANAGING THE TENANT

It is our duty as Property Manager to ensure that the tenant is well educated as to what is expected of him/her under the Tenancy Agreement. From the regular mowing of lawns, to the payment of rent in advance, to the behaviour of visitors to the property, or the control of noise, we manage the tenant for you ensuring as much as possible that the terms of the Tenancy Agreement are complied with.

ACCOUNTING TO YOU

Each month we prepare and forward you a detailed monthly Rent Statement for your property. The statement details the rent period and rent collected, disbursements and sundries. Your rent monies can be automatically deposited into a nominated bank account or alternatively a cheque can be attached to your statement.

DISPUTES WITH TENANTS

Disputes between landlords and tenants are not uncommon, but if handled with professionalism and diplomacy most can be solved expediently.

Most disputes arise over rent increases, repairs and rental bond matters. Initially of course, the Property Manager acts as negotiator in discussions between the landlord and tenant. If all avenues are exhausted, and the parties have not been able to agree, it may be necessary to apply for a Residential Tenancies Tribunal hearing. The Tribunal is an independent third party which will hear the dispute and make a decision in the matter.

The cost of applying to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal at the moment is $26.00 to the landlord or tenant, whoever makes the application to the Tribunal. We, as agents represent the landlord at the hearing, preparing the case from start to finish. Preparation may include obtaining quotes and taking photos of the property (in the case of bond disputes) or researching the rental market comparisons in the case of disputes over rent increases. The findings of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal are final, and may not always be to the landlord's satisfaction, so it is almost always beneficial to try to solve the problem in the initial stages.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our office produces an Annual Financial Statement during the month of July which gives a summary of income and expenditure for the financial year. This will save you time and money when dealing with your accountant. This statement is optional and can be provided for a small nominal charge.

COMMUNICATION

It is our opinion that as an efficient service organisation we should always be available when the client wants us. Therefore, our office is open seven days a week. Our staff carry mobile phones. This ensures that when you want us we will more than likely be there (or at least accessible) to serve you.

SALES

Our office has the largest Residential Sales team in the district, with additional sales support staff. We have developed an enviable reputation in the area and are achieving excellent results and prices for our clients.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

It is our duty to ensure that all the requirements of the various pieces of Government legislation relevant to the property investment are complied with. The Tenancy Agreement prepared by us contains several additional clauses which are allowable by law to protect your interests. We can also advise you on the legal aspects of insurance matters and repairs, if required.

INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATION AND TRAINING

Our office is a member of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales.

Our Property Management Department is kept up to date with the latest information from the Institute and with market statistics from the Rental Bond Board as well as updates from the Residential Tenancies Tribunal, and belongs to the Property Management Chapter of the Institute.

Our Property Management staff are put through on-going professional development training to ensure that their knowledge and skills are always at the peak of the industry.

COMMITMENT

Our commitment to you is that we will look after your property as if it was our own.

AWARD WINNING

Josie Meadowcroft, a Director of our company, is a past winner of The Professionals NSW Property Manager of The Year Award - you're in good hands !