Celivia, it depends on if you’re redoing the kitchen, or just cutting some space out for the dishwasher. Or providing one that is on wheels.

I’m about to redo a kitchen in one of my properties – as a reward to the tenant (who’s a friend/workmate). I bought the place almost 2 years ago cos she was upset at work that she’d probably have to move house again, and move the kids schools again! I asked would she stay for 3-5 years, she said absolutely. In those 20 months, the property has gone from $131K to $225K. If it weren’t for her there’s no way I would have bought this place. We’ve just installed timber flooring throughout, and will now do the kitchen – out of the money that my tenant ‘made’ for us. Plus her rent will still cover the loan.

As for other added value – good light fittings or recessed lights. As Dolf says ‘electrify the curtains’. A friend has curtains where you push a button and they open – so cooool![]

Put in extra telephone jacks. Clear house numbers on the street and the house. Sensor lights at the front door. Security screens at fron door. New front door. Automatic lights inside closets (like the fridge). Barbecue area – get backyard blitz or ground force! Electric garage door opener. Burglar alarm. Videophone. Keyless entry – swipe card or numbered entry (also easy for when tenants leave, change combination). Free internet access.

OK, I’ll stop cheating and giving Dolf’s ideas now.

Cheers
Mel

Powmow, I think it is different for each state as to the number of vendor bids one can have.

Cheers
Mel

Hi all

Last night was the first time I had watched for more than 10 seconds – I was at my folks holiday house, so had control over the TV[][]. Cosima’s voice was certainly very, shall we say, sick sounding? I think her throat must have taken a beating or something.

I didn’t hear Shannon singing One until the final bit at the end, but I really didn’t like his version. The judges all heaped praise on Guy, and the long haired guy (Dicko?) I think just flat out told Shannon that he can’t sing the low notes, and shouldn’t go there. They obviously know that what they say has no real bearing on the votes either, from what they were saying. I thought Guy had a great voice, but (and I know lots disagree) I don’t really like his hair! Hope he wins though.

Cheers
Mel

wrxboy, if your major concern is thet potential structural problems, the first thing that I would do would be to get a good building inspector to have a look and advise as to future issues. Then take it from there.

Cheers
Mel

Platypus, remember that Robert Allen also often says ‘A confused mind says no’. In this instance I would suggest that this is what has possibly happened.

Once you have signed that agreement with the Agent, you can’t get out of it unless they agree to let you go.

Cheers
Mel

Hey Eccles, I saw that one on the weekend too and thought it was excellent.

My dad cracks up every time the run rabbit ad is on, and also the pie ad where the dog says ‘look at me, look at me, i’m good,’ etc.

Cheers
Mel

Sure Snowgum

Cheers
Mel

quote:

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Mel

In fact you do need qualifications to be a PM for other peoples property. The minimum a PM needs is an agent’s representative licence. But they need to work for someone with a full real estate agent’s licence. This does takes much study and a number of years of experience.

You need a trust account which must be audited because you handle other people’s money and professional indemnity insurance.

It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Michael Yardney

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Michael, I was not suggesting it was easy to go out and run your own agency. In fact I specifically mentioned that you had to work for an agency – and let them have the hassles.

As for the qualifications, obviously each state is different, because I could walk in off the street tomorrow and become a property manager for an agency here.

I also mentioned that to be able to run your agency you had to be licenced etc., and I know it’s a few years study, plus a few years experience – hence my plan to ‘hire’ somebody else’s quals/agency.

Cheers
Mel

Try without the .au I was typing from memory, and got it wrong.

Cheers
Mel

Hey Pinky, if the account is in your name etc. etc. how come you had to change the kids’ addresses?

Next time just ring up and say we’re moving house and these are our account details.

Our internet account is in my friend’s sons name – he moved back home, they had ADSL, so i took over his Telstra connection. I rang up to query the bill, gave the account number, stated the problem etc. She then said, ‘You’re not the account holder, is he there, I need to speak to him’. (Obviously I mustn’t sound like a boy!!). I said ‘I haven’t told you my name, how do you know I’m not the account holder?’. She then asked my name and I said it’s Chris Bloggs. I think he gives Telstra hell all the time, cos her tone immediately changed, she couldn’t do enough, and couldn’t get off the phone quickly enough!!

Long story to say, just pretend you are them – like with me they couldn’t say ‘you sound like a girl’ cos then I’d have EEO or whatever all over them!![][}]

Cheers
Mel