Welcome to the Selling Southport Podcast. I'm Andrew Wright, principal of Professional Southport since 2008. Real estate isn't just my career, it's my passion with decades of experience. I know what it takes to succeed in the property market, especially here in Southport. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, you can count on me.

And my team to deliver strategies that maximise your returns. Let's dive into today's episode and get you one step closer to your property goals.

Hi there. It's Andrew Wright again from Professional Southport, and thanks for joining me for another episode of Selling Southport. Now, today's a bit of a different one. We're not talking about selling or buying. We're talking about managing your investment property. If you own an investment property here in Southport or neighboring suburbs, or you're thinking about investing, this one's for you because having a great property manager isn't just helpful.

It's actually one of the biggest factors in whether or not your investment works in the long term. So I wanna walk you through why property management really matters, what a great manager actually does, and what to look for if you're choosing someone to look after your investments. And, yep. I'll share a little bit about how we manage things here too, and what's worked for us over the years.

Managing over 400 properties in the local area. All right, so first up, what does a property manager really do? Most people think it's just collecting rent and booking tradies and, yep, that's part of it. Really, it's only scratching the surface. A good property manager is looking after your assets. They're making sure the right tenants are in place.

The property is compliant. The rent's coming in on time, and any little issue gets sorted before it becomes a big issue. Most importantly, we're on top of maximizing the rental income of your investment. They're the ones standing between you and stress. And they're the one thing, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

A great property manager doesn't just protect your investment. They make it perform better. Now, not all property managers are created equal, and I say that with a bit of experience of employing many dozens over the years because I've seen it from both sides. I've built my own investment portfolio over the years, and I've seen what happens when the management isn't quite right.

Here's what you should look for, someone who's proactive, they don't wait for you to chase them. Someone who's got your back, especially with things go a little bit pear shaped. Someone who communicates clearly checks in regularly and makes you feel like your property actually matters to them. In relation to commercial property, a good property manager understands that valuation isn't just about comparable sales.

It also considers the quality of the tenant, the length of the lease, the annual indexation of the rent, the tenancy mix, and whether or not the tenants pay for outgoings. If you feel like you're constantly chasing updates or you're left guessing about what's going on with your property, it's a red flag.

If you are managing the manager, something's off. And when you've got a great one, you barely notice it because everything just works. Now here in Southport, we've got a bit of a mix. We've got everything from high-rise apartments and commercial property in the CBD houses in the TSS precinct and Shern Park, and duplexes, and townhouses, just west of the Southport CBD.

Each of those bring different types of tenants. Students, young professionals, families, retirees, and the management needs to be flexible. At professional Southport, we've built systems around that variety. We've got a small, tight-knit property management team who know the area, the types of tenants, and how to keep things smooth and stress-free for owners, whether it's finding great tenants quickly, handling maintenance without blowing the budget, or making sure you're compliant with all the new tenancy laws.

We've got it Dolled in. Managing property in Southport isn't one size fits all, and your manager knows that. I've had landlords come to us after working with other agencies saying things like, I don't even know that the tenant moved out. I only found out about damage at the exit inspection. They never returned my calls.

They didn't increase the rent at the end of the lease. Now that's not management, that's just admin. A great property manager should be on the front foot. They should be updating you regularly flagging issues before they blow up and making sure your tenants are happy, respectful, and complying with the terms of the lease.

Property management should give you peace of mind, not more to worry about if you are in the market for a property manager or you're not 100% happy with the one you've got. Here are a few quick questions you can ask to get the full picture. How many properties does each property manager look after?

Because if it's 200 plus, they're not going to have time for your property. How quickly do you feel vacancies and how do you market for lease? The quality of tens makes a huge difference. Who do I speak to when I need help? A direct contact is better than a rotating team of strangers. How often will I hear from you?

You shouldn't need to chase. They should be ahead of it. We've structured our team, so each landlord has a dedicated manager, someone they know by name and someone who actually cares about the outcome for your property. So if you've got an investment property here in Southport, whether it's a brand new property or something you've had for years, take the time to check in on how it's being managed because it's not just about rent in the bank, it's about long-term value.

Tenant relationships, avoiding legal headaches and keeping your life simple. If you ever wanna have a chat about how we do things, even just for comparison's sake, I'm more than happy to talk it through. No pressure, just an open and honest conversation. I. I'm Andrew Wright. This has been Selling Southport.

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone you know. I'll see you on the next episode. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening to the Selling Southport podcast. I hope today's episode has given you some valuable insights and practical advice on the local real estate market. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, I'm here to share my extensive experience and guide you every step of the way.

If you have any questions or want to discuss your next property move, don't hesitate to reach out. Your success is my priority. Stay tuned for more expert tips and updates on the Southport property scene.