All Topics / Help Needed! / How to choose a property manager (western sydney)

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  • Profile photo of lila77lila77
    Member
    @lila77
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 65

    I have been given 4 recommendations of property managers to manage my property in western sydney. As I don't live in Sydney I'm having to decide who I'd like via emails to them. I have eliminated 2 as I didn't like their answers to my questions. The other 2 females at prominent western Sydney real estate agencies both have 17 year experience, seem enthusiatic and both replied to my email promptly. The only major difference is their fees, their location relative to my property and the fact that one had some grammatical errors in their brochure (the cheaper one). The overall difference in cost is just over $400/year. I prefer the personality of the cheaper agent.
    Should I choose the estate agent whose personality I prefer who is cheaper with a less professional looking brochure or the more expensive real estate agent with a professional expensive looking brochure?
    Of course I want the property manager that communicates well, take care of my properties, screen new tenants throughly and gets maximum rental return – so is there anyway I can determine who will be better?

    Profile photo of AndyYAndyY
    Participant
    @andyy
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 8

    I live in Sydney and I have 3 properties in western Sydney.
    I use Richardson and Wrench Rooty Hils.
    The property Manage I deal with, his is very good and always reply promptly. I’ve been using them for 4 years and they only charge me about 5-6% which is not bad in Sydney.
    Please let me know if you need more details.

    Good luck and Happy investing

    Cheers
    Andy

    Profile photo of CatalystCatalyst
    Participant
    @catalyst
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 1,404

    I use Elliott Shiner for my Mt Druitt properties. Very happy with their level of service and professionalism.

    List the ones you are looking at if you like. Depends where in Western Sydney (it's a big place). I prefer local.

    Profile photo of lila77lila77
    Member
    @lila77
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 65

    Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking at Response (winston hills) and Best (wentworthville) Real estate. My properties located in Toongabbie so I guess Rootie Hill and Mt Druitt are probably the farthest I would want to go.

    Profile photo of WomeninPropMelbWomeninPropMelb
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    @womeninpropmelb
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 234

    What you want most out of a property manager is someone you can communicate with. The tenants will go with the agent that has the property that suits them… except me! There are agents I will not go near to rent but I am not a tenant any more.
    No but really…. from your perspective as a landlord – you want to know that the agent will respond to you. Grammar is not all that important – its the relationship you have with the agent which says you can pick up the phone and have a genuine conversation with them.
    If you are still stuck- maybe ask them for testimonials or other landlords you can speak to who are happy with their service.
    Oh, and I know the sceptics who get on this site will say “Oh well of course the agent will ONLY send you contacts who are happy with the service”. Well of course- but wouldn’t you in your business? The point is, it is a way or getting a feel for how you might do business with these agents.
    That they have been in it for 17 years says a lot- not just fly by nighters- they have obviously built up many relationships.

    As a former real estate agent – and knowing how it works- you want an agent who is close by. Not just because they don’t have as far to travel to an Open for Inspection but also because a local agent will have a better data base of local tenants- the more demand there is – the easier it is to command higher prices – that goes for rent AND sales

    Profile photo of TheFinanceShopTheFinanceShop
    Participant
    @thefinanceshop
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 1,271

    Hi Lila 77,

    I have 2 clients they used BEST in Wenty and they love the service. I have personally bought 2 IP's from Trudy Cartledge.

    If you are speaking to BEST – ask for Marlyn. She is hands down the best in the industry and she has been with the RL for 10 years (back when it was Starr).

    Having said all that, you need to ensure that the PM is inspecting the property regularly and more importantly providing you with the property reports. I had a recent case where an investor wnet to court and lost because they only got verbal communication from the PM and not property inspection reports.

    Regards

    Shahin Afarin – Property Finance Consultant
    https://elitepropertyfinance.wordpress.com/

    TheFinanceShop | Elite Property Finance
    http://www.elitepropertyfinance.com
    Email Me | Phone Me

    Residential and Commercial Brokerage

    Profile photo of lila77lila77
    Member
    @lila77
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 65

    Thanks everyone.
    Shahin: I was actually dealing with Marilyn at Best and she seems very helpful, bright and bubbly. She replied to my emails very promptly. I think I will go with her as Response aren't budging on the their price.

    Profile photo of TheFinanceShopTheFinanceShop
    Participant
    @thefinanceshop
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 1,271

    Hi Lila77,

    I love Marlyn! I think the great thing is that she has been with the company for such a long time which in this industry is rare. You are definitely in good hands with her!

    Good luck!

    Regards

    Shahin Afarin – Property Finance Consultant
    http://elitepropertyfinance.wordpress.com

    TheFinanceShop | Elite Property Finance
    http://www.elitepropertyfinance.com
    Email Me | Phone Me

    Residential and Commercial Brokerage

    Profile photo of CatalystCatalyst
    Participant
    @catalyst
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 1,404

    No I wouldn't use Mt Druitt agencies for Toongabbie.

    Better to use local or if a little further away go to a more upmarket location rather than a worse suburb. It affests the clients looking.
    We rented our Old Toongabbie villa through a Baulkham Hills agent. Had lots of takers as it was slightly cheaper than the ones they were looking at in Baulkham Hills.

    Profile photo of WomeninPropMelbWomeninPropMelb
    Member
    @womeninpropmelb
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 234

    Catalyst is correct- go up market- they will think your house is great at a good price. If you go down market-they will think you are too expensive. AND you will get people used to paying less- they will find everything wrong with your house and maybe even cause issues themselves- speaking from experience as a LANDLORD. Remember I did say get as close to where you are as possible. You want the agent to have a data base of people looking local- not too far away.

    Profile photo of lila77lila77
    Member
    @lila77
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 65

    Hopefully wentworthville is close enough to toongabbie (4km!). Its already let to a tenant that wants to stay on so renting isn't an issue at this just informative and accurate inspection reports etc. Thanks

    Profile photo of TheFinanceShopTheFinanceShop
    Participant
    @thefinanceshop
    Join Date: 2012
    Post Count: 1,271

    Marlyn looks after Toongabbiee as well – its only a few minutes away.

    Regards

    Shahin Afarin – Property Finance Consultant
    http://elitepropertyfinance.wordpress.com/

    TheFinanceShop | Elite Property Finance
    http://www.elitepropertyfinance.com
    Email Me | Phone Me

    Residential and Commercial Brokerage

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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