Just jumping in if you don’t mind, Barbara, to say I’m glad you asked this question because Melbear provided the answers to a question I had about getting a depreciation schedule done on our old property (built in 1935 but has been renovated). I couldn’t make up my mind whether I should or shouldn’t and now I know I should [^]. So thanks Melbear and others.
I’m getting so much good advice from this forum, you’re all so knowledgeable!

ANd yes Barbara I would get rid of the crappy carpet and leave the curtains where they are.

Yesterday I described to your newsletter too, Michael, and I think it’s wonderful information. [^] Thanks.[]

I remember these rates, we were paying off our PPOR and were very happy with our fixed rate of 13%!
Never again, I hope!

To add to our superannuation and have more security in the future. To avoid having to live like a pauper.[xx(]

If everything mentioned above fails and you decide you don’t want to manage the property yourself, some PMs offer a service in helping you changing over from your old PM to them.
Just ask around if they offer this service.

They can draft a letter on your behalf to the agent, all you need to do is sign the letter and the new PM will take it from there.

Your property is your asset and you can demand the best service available.
Best of luck, Celivia

My neighbours’ place.
My neighbours bought it a year ago for $227K. We were thinking of buying it but the rental yield was low so we decided not to.

Only just a year later it was sold again, for $290K. In just one year we could have ‘made’ $63K- a nice amount of equity to take out for a deposit on another property! []
Plus we could have subdivided the land- to add a strip to our land to turn our single driveway into a double one. There would have been plenty of land left and rent wouldn’t have had to suffer!

Thanks for comments on the dishwasher question.
Has any of you installed paytv like foxtv when tenant requested this, and how much extra rent did you charge for this?

Thanks Westan, interesting, I’ll give them a ring.

I said it in anoher post and I will say it again, I have used Simon’s advice (from Mortgage Hunter) and found him very helpful and honest. He’s not in my area but we faxed a lot, used emails and his replies were always prompt.
He found us a great loan with the best rates around and I would take him up on his offer for you to ring him. You can be assured that he is honest and reliable. Actually I don’t really care what his commissions are, I hope they’re BIG, he deserves them.
Good luck, Celivia

That’s very bad Anastasia, just so unethical of the Agent to mislead people.
I once read in one of Jenman’s books (can’t remember which one) that if you MUST buy at an auction, that it would be wise to write to the vendors to tell them that you are interested in placing a bid, but that you want to know whether the pricerange the real estate agent has set is realistic. Good idea to ask them whether you at least have a chance of buying inside this range, before you spend heaps on inspection fees. THere was even a sample letter at the back of the book, I believe.
I actually hate auctions and don’t even look at properties for auction, but may be I should after reading Diclem’s story. But bad for the vendors though, they could have done much better. Shame that some vendors don’t want to hear about offers before auction.
As far as I’m concerned I agree with Johnny, auctions should be outlawed [xx(]