The Random Question of the Day Thread...

[#jonesy]

If it was my rental property and my agent was outsourcing it, I'd swap agents.  Our agent doesn't have to organise too much.  A few inspections, gas/electricity checks and doesn't charge a fee.  The rest of the year they sit back and the $ keep coming in.  In the end I think we both do well out of it. 

For work we have to go through a "travel management" to book accommodation.  For years we would make the booking ourselves, multiple rooms each time often 10+ for several nights.  They would always juggle things around, and possibly cancel other bookings for us to fit.
Now with the travel management, we still make our own booking at the same motels, who make sure we can fit.  Then we put our request through the agent.

[Hairs]

Al,
Seems to be the norm.
No actual outlay for a reward, at someone else's expense.

Bird,
It does, But I'm not going to give up.
I believe I give good value, good service and I can be relied on, in the 5 odd years I kicked off, I'm still here.

Jonesy,
Many of the properties I have performed works on, the owners have bypassed the real estate property managers and now contact me direct,
I have No Idea what real estates charge(%) to manage a property

[#jonesy]

I think ours is about 3%.  It is a new apartment so needs no real maintenance. 
In the first few months they earnt there keep as there were a lot of building defects that needed follow up.  It was made easier for them, and us as they had a handful of owners and did group emails back and forth with the builder, who couldn't fob us off with lame excuses.   

[Hairs]

I think ours is about 3%.  It is a new apartment so needs no real maintenance. 
In the first few months they earnt there keep as there were a lot of building defects that needed follow up.  It was made easier for them, and us as they had a handful of owners and did group emails back and forth with the builder, who couldn't fob us off with lame excuses.   

Fair call, being a new dwelling you would expect any maintenance problems, i deal with buildings that are 30-50 years old.
On the odd occasion it is a new home(4 years).
The issues there are piss poor workmanship at build,
Project home builds, doors not hung properly, grout missing in tiles, doors hung not leaving enough gap for carpet, virtical blinds fixed to arch that is only brad fixed(600mm) to the reveal timber.
I do get what your saying.
Cheers.

[Troopy_03]

Al,
Seems to be the norm.
No actual outlay for a reward, at someone else's expense.

Bird,
It does, But I'm not going to give up.
I believe I give good value, good service and I can be relied on, in the 5 odd years I kicked off, I'm still here.

Jonesy,
Many of the properties I have performed works on, the owners have bypassed the real estate property managers and now contact me direct,
I have No Idea what real estates charge(%) to manage a property

For our non-DHA rental, the agent is under instructions to contact me if any maintenance is required, except in circumstances where it is urgent essential maintenance, and I can't be contacted.

[Fizzie]

That they were going to a 'New Maintence System' called Maintenance Mangerment.

Got last week's newsletter from Barefoot Investor & he was talking about something that sounds similar for actually collecting rent :

"It's a fast-growing scheme called 'Rental Rewards', which many of Australia's leading real estate agencies have signed up to.

Here's how it works: real estate agents outsource their rent-collecting to Rental Rewards, who charge renters a fee to pay their rent, and reward them with Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

On their website the company describes their service as "revolutionary", "convenient" and "rewarding".

Yet on the popular ProductReview website, customers of Rental Rewards describe it as: "Absolutely terrible", "So bad I can't believe it exists" and "Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!"

Mandy, a reader, wrote to me explaining how it affects her:

"I used to pay my rent by direct transfer for free. But my property manager just informed me I am being migrated over to this third-party platform, Rental Rewards, that charges a fee. I chose the cheapest option —$78 a year — but some of the credit card options work out to be $312 a year, on top of rent. And their 'fee-free' option? Personal cheque! Which my bank charges for, and the rental office is over an hour away.""

To me, that sounds similar enough that I'd think both schemes have come out of the same ideas firm, of how to rip people off even more

[Pottsy]

Nothing in it for the landlord, pain for the tenant, if it was my property and my rental manager went to that system I'd be changing property managers and asking why I should continue to pay the same management fees at a level where they are in effect doing less and handing things to a third party.

[Bird]

Is there a more certain bet for gold in the "games" Put your house on it?
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/kiwi-weightlifter-laurel-hubbard-is-set-to-become-the-first-trans-athlete-to-compete-at-the-olympics

[Hairs]

I contacted the Real Estates that have sent this to me this morning, I am not the only tradie to bring this to their attention, they were never told that contractors would have to pay to have work isused to them.
Hmm.

[Hairs]

Ok, I setup an account, license, public liability insurance, sub contractors details & insurance.
Got a thank you for setting up an account, to activate the account I was asked to purchase credits to view said account.
WTF, The want me to buy the privilege of doing business with them.
Contacted the Real Estate, sent them screen shots, they are not happy, some of the trades have told them they will walk.
Hmmm, interesting times ahead.

[alnjan]

Ok, I setup an account, license, public liability insurance, sub contractors details & insurance.
Got a thank you for setting up an account, to activate the account I was asked to purchase credits to view said account.
WTF, The want me to buy the privilege of doing business with them.
Contacted the Real Estate, sent them screen shots, they are not happy, some of the trades have told them they will walk.
Hmmm, interesting times ahead.

Just doesn't sound legit.   

[Bird]

Just doesn't sound legit.

I agree - the whole 'purchase credits' to get access to quotes?? WTF? who thought this up

[Hairs]

Talking to a few people today, Yeah, seems to be the thing now.
A 3rd party doing the paperwork, organising work orders and charging for the privilege.
But Who pays in the long term, the Property owner/investor.

[GeoffA]

Talking to a few people today, Yeah, seems to be the thing now.
A 3rd party doing the paperwork, organising work orders and charging for the privilege.
But Who pays in the long term, the Property owner/investor.

So now that they are not doing one of the tasks they are paid for, do the agents drop their fees?

Guess....

[Hairs]

So now that they are not doing one of the tasks they are paid for, do the agents drop their fees?

Guess....

You would think they would.
If the Real Estate industry doesn't have a dodgey enough image, someone thinks this is a winner.
FM

[Bird]

So Im pissin off foxtel but want sport still - so lookin at Kayo.
But my TV doesnt have the app, its about 6yrs old panasonic, and a 10yr old sony upstairs.

So I believe i need a Chromecast gig to watch Kayo... Edumacate me on Chromecasts, there seem to be  numerous other models.

Thoughts?

[Hairs]

We had a Google Chrome thingy before we updated to a hisense smart telly.
Worked well,

[Steffo1]

So Im pissin off foxtel but want sport still - so lookin at Kayo.
But my TV doesnt have the app, its about 6yrs old panasonic, and a 10yr old sony upstairs.

So I believe i need a Chromecast gig to watch Kayo... Edumacate me on Chromecasts, there seem to be  numerous other models.

Thoughts?

Hook your laptop up to the tele.

[paceman]

So Im pissin off foxtel but want sport still - so lookin at Kayo.
But my TV doesnt have the app, its about 6yrs old panasonic, and a 10yr old sony upstairs.

So I believe i need a Chromecast gig to watch Kayo... Edumacate me on Chromecasts, there seem to be  numerous other models.

Thoughts?

Latest chromecast with google tv is the way to go...

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/google-chromecast-with-google-tv-snow-2020

Just got one for my parents... fool proof... has access to all the required apps, Kayo included...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[gronk]

Latest chromecast with google tv is the way to go...

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/google-chromecast-with-google-tv-snow-2020

Just got one for my parents... fool proof... has access to all the required apps, Kayo included...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Before I bought my smart tv, and even after I bought it, I had the latest Apple tv device.
Why.....it came with a small remote, no need to use a phone for a remote and it was easy to navigate with.
I found it easier to use than the app on the tv for Kayo and Netflix.
Son moved back home and his tv isn't smart, so it now lives in his room.

[Pete79]

I use the normal old chromecast, bought for about $40 from JB.
Plug it in, connect it to the same WiFi network as the devise you want to cast from. Done.

My junk Hisense TV doesn't allow Disney+, so need the chromecast for that one app.
My junk Hisense TV freezes on YouTube and the only way to do anything is to turn it off at the wall and start again.
My junk Hisense TV remote works when it feels like and chooses the crappy WiFi over the reliable network cable plugged into it.

I can't wait to replace my junk Hisense TV......

[paceman]

Before I bought my smart tv, and even after I bought it, I had the latest Apple tv device.
Why.....it came with a small remote, no need to use a phone for a remote and it was easy to navigate with.

the new chromecast with google tv has a remote...

it's in the link i posted.

apple tv is also a good option (which i use), but is way more expensive...

[Fizzie]

So now that they are not doing one of the tasks they are paid for, do the agents drop their fees?

Guess....

Both that, & with the similar rental thing that I posted, what are the RE agents actually doing

[chester ver2.0]

Should i try to use the facilities the day after a colonoscopy or do i need a couple of days to fill things up again???

[Bird]

Should i try to use the facilities the day after a colonoscopy or do i need a couple of days to fill things up again???

Go forth and empty ones anus - life is back to normal once you have had the scope...
Just expect a lot of terribly very wet farts but.... well you know what to expect.