|
Page 7 of 8
Expenses
Once you have chosen an agent, you should walk through the property together to reach an agreement about the actual state of your rental property.
You may choose to photograph/video the property as proof of its condition
at that time. The agent will then write up a Property Condition Report that
explains the state of the property.
The Property Condition Report will be used as the basis for comparison if the
tenant leaves the property in a poor condition not attributable to normal
wear and tear.
It is recommended that you make sure any particular areas of concern you have are included in the Written Authority and the lease agreement
with the tenant. For instance, you may decide that you want the agent
to inspect your driveway for oil stains during property inspections, and for
the tenant to remove any oil stains they have made before vacating the
property.
Other contentious issues that are best dealt with at this initial stage are whether pets are allowed, and who bears the responsibility for maintaining
gardens, lawns and pools.
If you intend to leave any furniture or other items on the property then you may wish to make an inventory of the furniture detailing each item and its
condition. Photographs can again be helpful by providing visual evidence
of the initial condition of the furniture or future reference. Once agreement
has been reached between you and the agent about the items and their
condition, the inventory can then be attached to the agent’s Written Authority,
as well as the lease agreement with the tenant to confirm their responsibilities.
An agent will generally charge more for looking after a furnished property
because of the extra work involved.
|
