I think you're right, you can do the improvement up front but then not claim a deduction, and should get more rent, OR do them in six months or so (don't quote me on the timeframe!), claim them, but maybe have more trouble getting a tenant and have a lower rent. Is the carpet a trip hazard, if so definitely fix it before renting it out so you are…[Read more]

Do lots of searching the net, these type of properties are not very common so you need to keep doing your sums, work out the most likely locations to find them and keep looking and doing more sums! Remember when doing the sums that the purchase price would hopefully be a little less than the asking price. Setting up a spreadsheet may help with the…[Read more]

I agree with Harb.

Maybe a shared (rental) house arrangement would suit while you build up a deposit and hopefully increase your salary over the next few years

I think there will be fibres in the gutters of the house and around the base of downpipes or in the soakwell. Most will still have bits of cement on them, so they would not reach the lowest parts of the lung if inhaled (which is where the damage occurs). There are background asbestos fibres in every Australian city and town. We all have thousands…[Read more]

Agree with Frini. Also would open up the verandah if possible for better internal light. Consider skylights if you can't get enough light in (can be quite economical). Or could you go with bigger windows? I've seen uglier

Have you had a look at http://www.rent.com.au, investors can place their own rental ad  with photos for around $60, quite reasonable I think. Good luck.

I've been using Wentworth, haven't had any probs. They have noted and organised repairs etc, pay the relevant bills.

It's more the vacancy rate than the rental % I reckon. Keep an eye on the rental ads for the suburb – if there are heaps in that price range there may be oversupply.There'll be another one.

http://www.photobucket.com is one that will host pics.

There are heaps with a timestamp but I think they would all be "settable" so it's not going to be absolute proof (ie no guarantee you set the correct date). Still pretty good though. Best if you actually printed them and both parties initialled and dated the back of them. Immediately before move-in would be ideal I think.

If the powers that be must remain unaware, it's probably not legal.  Your real question is 'can you get away with it', and I don't have an answer to that!

The price I estimated was based on WA single sample prices. Sure you could get prices as low as $60 but not for one sample, as there is a batch fee as well. And although the Codes for removal are national, the Regulations differ state by state including the regs on when you need a licensed removalist. In WA you don't need a licensed removalist for…[Read more]

I would start by contacting the council and getting everything they have on this, and their requirements. Then inspect with a builder in this line of work for his view on the economics of the job. Do your sums very carefully.

Some banks only lend on a minimum floor area (eg won't lend on under 50m2 for example) so floor area can be critical.

It's an absolute bugger for the lab to test too, due to the resinous nature. Most commonly those tiles were 1960s and 1970s however it's still possible in the 1980s. Personally I would remove it "as if" it contained asbestos. There are guidelines for safe removal on the WA health dept website at http://www.health.wa.gov.au . If you wanted a lab test…[Read more]

Polished concrete?

I have one unit a bit like that in Perth, we needed to do a lot of plumbing replacement due to clay pipes/root ingress, might be worth checking as replacement is expensive.

I use Wentworth for my Daglish one, have had no probs the last couple of years since using them. Just let prospective tenants know it's available for 8 months, you may get someone interested in the whole time, especiallly as the vacancy rate is still low.

I'd buy it, if it was done well. Or is there a large bathroom that could take a laundry?