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Real Talk For Property Investors
Real Talk for Property Investors by EXCLUSIVELY MANAGED; the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the real world of managing investment properties in Brisbane.
I’m Samantha Eason; Principal and Licensee of Exclusively Managed, Property Management agency located in Brisbane. Each episode, I share the untold stories, hard lessons, and everyday realities that come with property management, from difficult tenants and dodgy maintenance to untrained managers and costly mistakes that could’ve been avoided.
This isn’t a sugar coated industry podcast. It’s honest, practical, and straight to the point, with a few laughs along the way. Whether you’re a property investor, landlord, or simply curious about what really goes on behind the scenes, Talking Property Management gives you the insight you didn’t know you needed.
I’ll be sharing real life experiences, expert advice, and proven strategies to help you avoid pitfalls, protect your assets, and get the most out of your investment.
And who knows… I might just be talking about your property manager in the next episode.
Real Talk For Property Investors
Under 5 Minutes: Your Rent Raising Roadmap
Struggling with rental increases? You're not alone. The delicate balance between protecting your investment returns and keeping good tenants is one of property management's greatest challenges.
Rent reviews shouldn't feel like walking a tightrope. Remember, this is about protecting your investment's long-term performance through consistent, strategic management decisions.
Want personalised advice on your rental strategy? Reach out to Exclusively Managed today to learn how we help property investors maximise returns while maintaining tenant satisfaction.
Share this episode with fellow investors who might be struggling with rental increase decisions or leave us a quick review if you found these insights valuable!
If you have any questions or scenarios you would like us to discuss on an upcoming episode, please email samantha.eason@exclusivelymanaged.com.au or visit https://www.exclusivelymanaged.com.au/
Donate to the sleepbus foundation here.
https://www.sleepbus.org/services/sleepbusfund
Welcome to Talking Property Management. I'm your host, samantha Eason, and in today's episode we're tackling one of the biggest decisions property owners face raising the rent. Whether you're managing one property or an entire portfolio, rent increases can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to protect your cash flow, but you don't want to lose good tenants, so how do you find the balance? And that's exactly what we are going to talk about on today's episode. So let's start with the basics, why rent increases matter.
Speaker 1:Rent is the single largest source of income for your investment property and if you're not reviewing and adjusting it regularly, you're likely falling behind the market and your return is suffering. Now I know many landlords hesitate to raise rents. Maybe you've had a tenant for years, they always pay on time and you don't want to rock the boat. But here's the thing costs rise and we, especially in the last few years, have definitely found that, as well as tenants, council rates, insurance premiums, maintenance, trades, all of it. It's gone up and unfortunately, your rent should too. Staying stagnant for too long only makes it harder to play catch up later. What's the best approach? What is the smarter way to increase rent? Our recommendation is simple Raise the rent modestly every year, not dramatically, just a small, consistent increase, something that feels manageable to your tenant but ensures that you're staying aligned with the market. Why? Because tenants expect living costs to go up a little each year. It's far easier to accept a $10 to $20 weekly increase than a $100 to $200 jump after three years of nothing. That kind of shock is what causes your good tenants to walk away.
Speaker 1:Consistency and communication is key, and it's easy to add value to justify the rent. What if you've already at the top of the current market? Then it's time to create new value. Think small improvements that make a big difference Air conditioning, dishwashers, remote control, garage access, exhaust fans or even something simple like upgraded blinds or a covered outdoor area. These enhancements improve tenant experience and often allow you to raise the rent with minimal resistance, especially when you're able to say we've just upgraded the property and this is what similar homes are renting for. And a bonus, these upgrades can often be tax deductible or depreciated over time.
Speaker 1:You need to start communicating with confidence. One thing we teach and exclusively managed, is this clear, confident communication helps you retain great tenants even when prices change. When you raise the rent, explain it. Let your tenants know your expenses have increased or that improvements have been made, be transparent and, most importantly, human. A respectful, well-managed rent review is rarely the reason someone leaves. It in fact shows the tenants that you run a professional investment and it makes them feel secure.
Speaker 1:To wrap this very quick episode up, the most important thing to take away from today is to raise your rent modestly and annually. Do invest in the small upgrades to increase value. Communicate clearly and fairly. Don't undervalue your property out of fear. Remember this is about long-term performance. Small decisions today shape your cash flow tomorrow. If you're unsure about your current rental rate or you need help reviewing your lease renewals, please get in touch At Exclusively Managed. We're here to help our clients grow their return while keeping their tenants happy. Thank you for listening to Talking Property Management. If this episode helped you, please share it with another investor or leave us a quick review. I'm Samantha Eason. See you next time.
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