Are you considering buying an investment property in Fern Bay, NSW? In this suburb profile we provide an overview of median sale price trends, trend in weekly rental income, and an overview of rental demand.

We often speak with investors who are unsatisfied with their current property manager, but have not yet taken action to make a change. Usually, the reason is that they are simply unaware of the level of freedom they have to change, and how easily this can be done (and without a difficult conversation with their current provider!). 

In this article we'll go through some common questions around changing property management companies, and clarify the simple process of ending an existing management agreement.

As a property investor looking for the right property manager in Newcastle, you are flooded with options. Knowing how to find the right property manager amongst the sea of corporate real estate agencies, semi-online services and genuine property management specialists is difficult. 

Much of the challenge comes from the fact that most property management businesses tell you the same things. Do these points sound familiar?

- "We look after your property as if it was our own"
- "We'll always call you back"
- "We look after landlords and tenants alike"
- etc...

We have previously questioned the relevance and validity of property management statistics often cited by agents, including the "Number of properties leased this week", "% of properties occupied" and "Number of new management agreements signed". 

Each of these stats are great for a quick Facebook post or a stylish icon in a glossy ad, however you need to look deeper to determine what these figures mean to you as a landlord (if anything). Now, we are seeing questionable statistics appearing regarding rental arrears performance, and we wanted to raise some key points to consider when next you are presented with a company's arrears status. 

Winter is prime-time for property maintenance. The cooler wet weather and winds can bring rise to property maintenance issues which may have gone un-noticed during the warmer months. 

For the sake of tenant safety, and also financial savings, it is better to focus on repair prevention rather than cure. Following are the key areas prospective landlords, current landlords and tenants alike should consider assessing around their property as maintenance season looms. 

There is a lot to consider when you first take the step to rent out a property you own. Whether you are looking to move out of the family home and offer it for rent, or whether you have purchased your first investment property specifically to find a great tenant - there is a lot to be done before it hits the market. 

A conversation with an experienced rental property manager is of course a very good place to start. Additionally, the following points will provide a broad overview of what will need to be done and/or prepared in advance of finding a tenant for your home. 

In this article we'll be taking a look at a recent Newcastle property management request we serviced, specifically looking at the unique challenges presented and how we overcame them to the delight of this first-time landlord.