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why choose mcconnell bourn?

your success

mcconnell bourn believes one thing:

our success is your success

renting out a property can bring rewarding returns, but if you have to constantly tend to demand, damage, disputes or delays from tenants, reward can easily become resentment – leaving you to worry about whether your property is in safe hands. having to tend to all these frustrations can quickly steal time – time you might not have spare.

mcconell bourn knows all about the nightmares that can surface in the property rental market, which is why we’ve refined a process that ensures your experience with us can only ever be smooth.

from property promotion to suitable tenant sourcing, regular inspections, maintenance, dispute control and rent collection, right through to keeping you regularly informed (without you having to look for the answers), at mcconnell bourn we’re on the ball.

what really matters at mcconnell bourn...

it’d be easy to think our priority at mcconnell bourn is your property.

actually, it isn’t...what really drives us is your ambitions. we listen to you, then professionally apply our skills and commitment to ensure that we help you you meet your ambitions in the most efficient and shortest time possible. it’s simple...

our success is your success

attracting attention to your property

we don’t just take lots of little pictures to ‘show off’ your property...

we look at the bigger picture.

where you advertise has a big impact on the kind of prospective tenants that enquire about your property. using our experience and a proven mixture of marketing media, mcconnell bourn maximises the exposure of your property to the right market, promoting your property in areas such as:

sydney metropolitan newspapers
local newspapers
signage
relocation companies
listings on our website and other property portals

this is all done quickly and effectively using the processes and people that have helped make mcconnell bourn what it is today - one of the most reputable, outstanding and unique boutique real estate agents in the ku-ring-gai region.

sit back and enjoy the show...

choosing the right tenant

choosing the right tenant is key to making sure you’re happy once your property is occupied...

whenever a prospective tenant submits an application, as part of the screening process we look closely at the following documents and information:

current driver’s license
valid passport
reference checks
employment stability
ability to pay full rent on time
desire to maintain your property to a high standard

if all of these criteria are met, there’s a chance of a successful application. if just one area cannot be met, we won’t process the application, instead opting for an applicant who meets all the requirments.

we never have (and never will) process an application simply to fill a property. our pride in our standards is too high, and if we can’t be sure that prospective tenant is going to be a reliable tenant, we won’t carry out the application.

collecting rent and arrears

money money money...

many people take pride in keeping payments up to date. that’s the kind of people we are, and the kind of people we aim to select as tenants for your property.

to make rent payments easy, all our tenants are supplied with a lodgement book by which they can deposit their rent directly into our trust account when their rent is due.

this way tenants can quickly and easily pay their rent automatically, and this tends to reduce our tenants falling into arrears.

but what if a tenant falls into arrears?

mcconnell bourn monitors arrears on a daily basis as a priority.

if any tenant fails to pay their rent on time, we contact them immediately to establish why the payment is delayed. most tenants respond quickly to a phone call or a reminder letter.

any tenant who doesn’t respond within seven days is issued a termination notice, giving them fourteen days to vacate the property. if this ever happens, we’ll be in touch with you at every stage of the way, keeping you totally informed.

rent assessments

in order to maximise the yield from your investment it makes sense to regularly review the rental value of your property.

we take into consideration factors such as current market rents of similar properties, the vacancy factor in the area of your property and of course the general appeal and condition of your property.

if we believe a rent increase is justified we will consult with you, and seek your instructions.

outgoings

our comprehensive management agency agreement ensures that we can arrange payments of all the standard property outgoings from your rental payments. such accounts include council rates, strata levies and water rates (where the property is separately metered we will automatically invoice the tenant for any additional water usage).

tenant management

our experience is that establishing a strong relationship with your tenant is essential in ensuring that your interests as a landlord and investor are protected. maintaining a strong tenant relationship allows clears lines of expectations, understanding and communication, ensuring that the tenants needs are always known.

repairs and maintenance

any requests for repairs or maintenance are closely monitored and acted on as in accordance with your initial instructions.

the management agency agreement outlines your clear instructions to us in the regard of repairs and maintenance. however should a repair of an urgent nature (as specified in the residential tenancy agreement) be reported, we need to attend to this as soon as possible as these items are considered essential services. urgent repairs as defined in the residential tenancy agreement are :

a burst water service
a blocked or broken lavatory system
a serious roof leak
a gas leak
a dangerous electrical fault
flooding or serious flood damage
serious storm or fire damage
a failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply to the premises
a failure or breakdown of any essential service on the premises for hot water, cooking, heating or laundering
any fault or damage that causes the premises to be unsafe or not secure
any other damage listed in a regulation made under the residential tenancies act 1987

we maintain complete records of any maintenance completed on your property for future reference.

repairs carried out on your behalf are paid for from the rent monies held in trust. full details are printed on your monthly rent statements with a copy of the relevant invoices attached for your reference.

inspections

experience + innovation + passion = mcconnell bourn

an integral part of managing your investment is to ensure that all inspections are conducted regularly and thoroughly. these inspections include:

initial inspection

prior to a tenancy commencing, we will carry out a carefully detailed condition report. also, if so instructed, we will take photographs prior to the tenants commencing. the report and photographs are critical in protecting your investment as it will be referred to at the end of the tenancy to guarantee that the distribution of rental bond is fair and accurate.

regular inspections

regular inspections of your property provides you with an update on the condition of your investment. once inspected, we forward you a written report detailing the condition of your property and accordingly recommend any routine maintenance that may be necessary. of course, we are delighted if you wish to accompany us on any such inspection.

outgoing inspections

when the tenancy is being terminated, by either party, we will conduct an outgoing inspection of your property. this inspection allows us to

arrange suitable access and inspection times with the outgoing tenant to show the property (if required)
re evaluate your property for its rental value assess and recommend any maintenance work if required prior to a new tenancy
ensure that the tenant has thoroughly cleaned your property

final inspection

a final inspection of your property is conducted immediately after the tenant has vacated. this inspection determines an accurate rental bond refund. at your request, photographic and or video records can be taken to ensure your rights are protected.

settling any disputes

our view is, that if a problem does arise and is handled professionally and expediently, most disputes between landlords and tenants can be solved.

at mcconnell bourn we pride ourselves on our strong communication skills and relationships we have with our landlords and tenants. this allows us to be open and honest with both parties throughout the entire tenancy period. however, if a problem does arise and is handled professionally and expediently most disputes between landlords and tenants can be solved. the majority of disputes are over rent increases, repairs and rental bond claims.

initially, the property manager acts as a negotiator in disputes between the landlord and tenant. however, if after negotiations the parties have not been able to agree it may be necessary to apply to the residential tenancies tribunal for a hearing.

this tribunal is an independent third party who will hear both sides of the dispute and make a decision on the matter. the findings of the residential tenancies tribunal are final and may not always be to be the landlord’s satisfaction, so it is always beneficial to try and resolve any problems in their initial stages.

the cost of applying to the residential tenancies tribunal is $30.00 to the landlord and as your agent we represent you at the hearing, preparing your case. this preparation may include obtaining quotes, taking photographs of your property for repairs or damages caused by the tenant, or researching the current rental market for comparisons in the case if the dispute over the value of a rent increases.

regular financial reports to keep you informed

we will keep you fully informed on the state of your investment by providing you with a detailed monthly statement.

this statement outlines the previous rent period, rent collected and any disbursements made on your behalf (ie repairs, outgoings). the balance payable to you will be electronically deposited into your specified account for maximum ease and convenience.

yearly financial statements

at the end of the financial year (july) we will provide you with a yearly financial statement, which gives you a summary of income and expenditure for your property. this report will hopefully save you a great deal of time and money when dealing with your accountant

landlord insurance – recommendations

having all appropriate insurances in place covering the full value of any loss during a tenancy just makes good financial sense.

as a property investor you pay the costs of maintaining your investments, council rates, body corporate fees, repairs and probably a mortgage.

what would happen if your tenant damaged your property or stopped paying the rent? the bond money gives some protection, but this rarely covers the costs of major damage. landlord’s insurance provides financial protection against the wrongful actions of tenants and loss of rent.we strongly recommend that you ensure you are adequately covered including public liability.