If your not fussed on whether the tenant moves out or not (and it sounds like you shouldn’t be, unless there is a high vacancy rate in the area), then definitely increase the rent to near market value. Maybe increase to $200 now and to $220 in 6 months. Personally, I would send the tenant a 6 month lease to sign accompanied by a letter saying…[Read more]

You can do a title search yourself from this site:

http://www.confirm.com.au/citecConfirm/index.shtml

I painted old lami-panel shower recess with a special paint for that purpose and it seems to be ok 2 years on. I used the recommended primer first and did it myself with a brush. I couldn’t find a product for the base of the shower though which is probably the same material as a bath. I don’t know about painting tiles either. I guess this…[Read more]

1. Around $600 or so depending on the lender

2. Yes, the buyer pays. Amount depends on whether it’s an IP or PPOR and which state you’re in. Just google stamp duty and your state.

3. The agent gives you a contract when you decide to buy the house. It is signed by both you and the vendor (seller) and contains information about the house,…[Read more]

For the sake of your own integrity, I think you should buy it from her at fair market value or else step aside and allow your mother to sell it to someone else at a fair price. Surely, she does not owe you anything more? It may be time for you to take control of your own situation and buy yourself a house that you can afford or rent one…[Read more]

Hey Wylie
I think it’s great that you can choose tenants that way. I would love to be that intuitive and objective myself but realised early on that I’m not. I’m a sucker for a sob story.

I meant to say that if someone is legit, they will find a home even if some people like me turn them down because they don’t have references.

There’s no difference except one of you has to get a contract from somewhere. Have you spoken to a solicitor?

All the agent does is match the buyer to the seller and get both signatures on the contract.

Carlin, are you asking a fair rent for your properties? Are the only people who apply the ones that don’t have references?

If you have a good gut instinct then fine otherwise, why take the risk?

What do you think the guy you’re having trouble with will say when he tries to rent again? Do you think he’ll give them your number or do you think…[Read more]

Maybe someone who’s into marketing could design it? It’s hared to believe there aren’t people who specialise in that form of marketing.

Vivasash, have we met? You look hauntingly familiar.

Originally posted by carlin:

Re-getting references from previous landlords – this guy who’s just caused me grief had been staying with friends. Claimed he hadn’t rented for years – how do you go about checking the truth in that??!!

I wouldn’t have rented to this guy simply because he can’t provide references/phone numbers from previous…[Read more]

Thanks GR.

I’ve emailed John and look forward to hearing from him.

Looks like I’ve started

Thanks a lot. I’m in QLD.

You need references from previous landlords and you need to phone up and check them out. If you can’t get that info, then that tennant is not for you.

Six months ago, I got a new tenant and out of the three that I thought might be good, one had a dodgy reference, one didn’t want to give a reference at all and when I called up her previous PM,…[Read more]

Thanks for that LifeX

Hi Dazzling
I’ve been pretty lucky with tenants. I don’t bother them and they don’t bother me. I find that if tenants feel that the house is their’s, they’ll treat it so. That means not doing inspections often [ohno2]

From your list, just the mowing is what I do. The property is a duplex and I have a gardener go there, not especially…[Read more]

A. When I can buy the set. I like to have control over my own properties.

My Q. On average, how many hours a day total do you spend working and investing?

Hi Blueocean
I’m sure it will be as relevant and effective in NZ as it is in Oz. As Steve says, you can always return it if it doesn’t suit you. As long as it’s within 14 days.

Hmmm, Joytony, it seems to me that Dazzling is objecting to you quoting half of his posts, like you just did for the second time in the one thread. It makes it sound like he is saying something that he didn’t intend.

I don’t know of anyone who would mind being quoted in context. Afterall, imitation is the highest form of flattery (I think…[Read more]

Good luck Crashy.

I bought with a kit last time and found it very difficult dealing with the other side’s solicitor. They seem to go out of their way to make things hard for you so that you’ll cave in and get a solicitor yourself. Things like not returning phone calls, not sending documents that you need from them until you ask several times,…[Read more]

That sounds sensible. Just put away as much cash as you can in the meantime and think about other investments for the time being, like high interest savings accounts and/or shares.