Western Australia’s apartment sales and property management specialist

Why rent when it’s cheaper to buy, says Amanda Spagnolo, who is selling two new offices at 217 Hay Street, Subiaco. “It is remarkable value for prime commercial real estate,” Amanda, project sales manager at M/Property, said.

They are the last remaining offices in the Rhythm by Match building, which has a total of 27 commercial offices and 9 apartments. Priced from $285,000 plus GST, No.11 is 75sq.m and comes with a car bay. No.18 is slightly bigger and has two bays. The 87sq.m office is on the market from $335,000 plus GST. “They are being offered at well below replacement value, creating an incredible opportunity for the future,” Amanda said. “Both have never been occupied so are brand new ready to fit out as desired.”

Other tenants in the building include a newsagent with a licensed post office, accountant, life coach, real estate agent and a beauty salon. The architect-designed building stands out from other commercial offices in the strip because of its timber-cladded façade. At its centre is a patterned, perforated screen that provides natural light into the common areas. For more details, phone Amanda on 0432 660 066 or info@itsamatch.com.au

The importance of professional real estate photography is crucial for first impressions in the competitive apartment market. How the apartment listing presents is imperative to ensure optimal engagement with prospective tenants.

We understand how contemporary tenants go about searching for property in the digital age and we maximise the marketing of your property by taking full advantage of all the media options on offer. We always recommend advertising online. When a prospective tenant is in the market to rent, the images of the property is the first engagement in determining whether the property is right for them. Eye-catching imagery is of utmost importance to ensure maximum value when listing your property online via property portals.

With the property market being highly competitive, it is important to have high quality, presentable and clear photos of your property ensuring it is as attractive and appealing as possible.

For owners of an investment property, one of the most frustrating times can be when your property is sitting vacant. Every week that goes by when you don’t have a tenant can have a negative effect of your projected yield.

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from a long vacancy period:

Appoint a Property Manager that you can trust:

• Find a Property Manager that you trust and follow their advice as they will be aware of the current market conditions

Understand the market value:

• It is important that when the time comes to advertise your property, that you do so at the market value
• Although it may be tempting to advertise at a higher rate, if your property is overpriced you are likely to generate less interest
• Your agent should complete a current market appraisal for you, comparing similar properties of the same size and location of your property

Advertise at the right time:

• It is appropriate to advertise 3-4 weeks before the property is available
• Advertising too early might mean that your campaign has lost momentum
• Advertising too late may cause delays as most tenants need to give 21-30 days’ notice to their current property.

Monitor the campaign and adapt if necessary:

• Once the listing is live, monitor is closely and adapt if you’re not receiving any interest or applications

Pay attention to presentation:

• Presenting your property is vital
• Make sure your property is clean and that all appliances are in good working order
• A run-down property will not attract prospective tenants

Consider additional inclusions:

• You may attract more interest if some appliances are included in the lease
• Washing machine, dryer, dishwasher or fridge freezer are good examples

Hold onto great tenants where possible:

• If you have a current tenant who pays on time and maintains the property, it is advisable to try and keep them
• If they wish to end the lease, contact them to see if re-negotiating the terms could keep them at the property