I have just returned from inspecting my IP at Redcliffe.  The tenants moved out without doing any cleaning, leaving all unwanted stuff and rubbish behind, having not ventilated the house have got mould on the back verandah ceiling.  I understand the agent has claimed all the bond but not received payment yet, signed up a new tenant and although new tenant demanded the property be cleaned before they could move in, was not done.  Being the Easter weekend, the office was closed, I handed the tenant the key on Saturday and was disgusted in the way the property was handed over.  I take pride in letting the IP I manage myself in top condition always freshly painted and everything in working order.  The property was vacant for a whole month.  I blame myself for not getting up there earlier and taking the agents word "There's nothing that needs doing for it to present well"  Far from the truth.
I should have also gone there for an inspection during the lease term and raised concerns instead of taking the agents word.
The front hand rails that were freshly painted over a year ago was rusty, the front picket fence falling apart, the grass two feet high The hinge of the gate leading to storage under the house had the long screws taken out and missing, Not to mention the mould on the ceilings – How could the agent have been looking after any one else's interest but their own.  Everyone knows that a well presented property will attract a better tenant willing to pay decent rent.
Lesson learned, inspect all managed properties in person to ensure tenant and agent are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

To enlighten fellow forumites about Nigerian scams – i have also come accross them. My experience is as follows:
I am self employed, selling water purifiers ranging in price from as little as $200 to $2000. 
I got a call from a Nigerian asking about prices.  Ofcourse I told him if he wanted nothing but the best he would be looking at $2000 each – he said he wanted to order 5 of them for immediate pick up.He wanted my email address and said his name was Mark Larry.  He emailed me wanting to pay by Mastercard and said someone would come to pick them up. 
Sensing this was not the usual type of conversation I have with a prospective customer I said I needed a delivery address and a contact telephone number.  He gave me a Melbourne number but wait for it, the caller ID on my phone said it was an international call coming in when he rang me. He rang me numerous times and sometimes it would come up as a private number and sometimes the whole number including the overseas code would show up.  I think he must have forgotten to block the caller ID on some occassions.  Lucky for me.  He also could not give me an address in Shepparton VIC without stuttering and stammering and humming and haaing.  I called him back on the number I got from the caller ID and could not get through on the landline he gave me.  Told him not to waste my time and hung up.  Since then I have had similar calls from Nigeria and without hesitation I refuse to give any information and hang up after telling them not to waste my time.
They use fake credit cards to pay for stuff which they apparently pick up and the seller is left with a loss not being able to get payment for them.
Hope this helps someone from being ripped off as I could have well been.
Michaela

Hi Paul,
just did some research SRAP funding closed.  Benefits are higher if you are paying taxes in America.
http://www.gozoneonline.com/GZIntro/1/med/SRAP2.htm
All the best, anway
Michaela

Hi Steve, been a long time since i visited this site. Wish your wife a speedy recovery and all the best to you
and your family for 2008.
Thanks for this website.  I have decided to revisit as I am now in a position to open my mind to new possibilities.

I have three properties in Redcliffe – any buyers? – One is only asking $310K rented @ $250 pw walk to water – East of Oxley.
New Kitchen and Bathroom etc

Hi,
Yep, know all about others negativity. I recently bought an IP and did not tell my partner about it and dont intend to in the near future cos if i did I would be woken up at 2am by him worrying and stressing me out. Its not like I was using his money (we tend to keep our finances seperate) or his property as security. I have a tough time keeping up with what I am doing and intend to do without having him constantly nagging. I have been keeping things to myself. I however can tell my mum and stepdad but again dont go into too much detail. I just keep them informed and listen to what they have to say. I take the good and ignore the bad.

I have a teeling my partner will find out when I tell him I am retiring but by that time it wouldnt matter cos I know he would love that.
Somepeople dont want to do the hard work but want the rewards.

Good luck to all of us.

Michaela