When you put your property up for rent, finding a trusted property manager is critical. Go through the wrong agency and you might find yourself losing potential income as the property stands empty or seeing a depreciation in value as needed repairs go unreported. On the other hand, the right property manager can keep rental income flowing in and your property in good shape. To ensure a good match between you and your Christchurch property manager, there are a few things you should always check up on.
Communication
Ask about how the property management company handles the flow of communication between you, the tenants and the agency. The purpose of using a property management company is quite simply to have a middle man between you and the tenants, allowing you some distance between the day-to-day problems and conflicts that may arise. Make sure you don’t end up paying a property manager who just passes off all of the problems onto you.
But remember that totally closing off the lines of communication is problematic. There will be times when you need to get a hold of your property manager, and it is equally important that you are kept up-to-date about problems with the property. Find out how the property manager intends to keep you in the loop.
Management Systems
Ask about the software technology the company uses to manage their properties. There are a number of programmes available to keep property managers streamlined and organised, and a good property manager will be making use of one. These programmes allow the property manager to keep track of important dates, payments and repairs made.
The technology used by Christchurch property management teams has been put to the test recently, after major earthquakes hit the region in 2010 and 2011. The earthquakes caused extensive damage and displacement around Christchurch. Ask how the company coped during this period to see if their software was good enough to keep them organised.
Local Expertise
Before you commit to an agency, ask how long has the office been operating in Christchurch. Local expertise is crucial to finding a good match between the property and tenants. Finding a good match entails knowing all about average rent prices as they vary across the suburbs, reputation of local schools, public transportation options, convenience to shopping and leisure activities… the list goes on.
Christchurch in particular requires an expert to navigate. Recent changes in the city’s landscape mean that neighbourhoods are evolving in ways that can be difficult for a non-local to understand.
Poor matches between tenants and property result when a manager does not understand the local market. This can mean both problems with the renters later on or that your property sits empty for stretches at a time.
Ask for References
And finally, it’s a good idea to ask for references from other Christchurch property owners the agency has worked with. This will probably be the best way to find out about how the business actually runs and how dedicated they are to the best interests of the property owners.
Finding a property manager can seem daunting, but it’s well worth the preliminary research to find the best fit for you. Irelands Property Management is a Christchurch-based company dedicated to making property rentals a great experience for owners and tenants alike. Learn more about what makes Irelands stand out as a great Christchurch property management company.
