Presenting the property for rental Properties that are well maintained attract and retain tenants. They also justify a good rental price, so present your investment property in a clean, tidy and well-maintained manner.  Installing heating is a huge bonus in Queenstown.

Renovating? Be practical rather than decorating according to your personal preferences - e.g. choose durable carpets, fixtures and fittings; don't over-capitalise; choose reliable whiteware brands that can be serviced locally.

To furnish, or not to furnish? Our property managers will be happy advise, according to your specific situation. Generally, (partly) furnished properties do well in Queenstown because many tenants are here for a short time (12 months or less), and do not move to town with furniture.

How do you appraise a property for rental?  Our property appraisals are FREE! We visit the property and assess key factors, including:

• Location - e.g. desirable, convenient, central?
• Positioning - e.g. elevated, sun, views?
• Accessibility - e.g. good access, busy/quiet road, driveway design?
• Construction - e.g. type, materials, quality, age, style?
• Configuration - e.g. size/scale, bedrooms/bathrooms, parking?
• Heating - e.g. double glazing, in-built heating, insulation?
• Presentation - e.g. landscaped, freshly painted, clean/tidy?

With this information, the Property Manager compares the property with market standards/trends and provides a rental estimate range.

How do you set rent levels? Marketplace trends are powerful and partially dictate rental accommodation rates.  through the simple economics of supply and demand.  Queenstown is also characterised by its seasonal peaks and troughs, which impact rents. Our recommendation to owners is that there is always a balance to be had, and rent levels should be fair, reasonable and in line with the market. Rents are reviewed every six months, in consultation with the property owner.

How would/does QAC advertise my rental property? In several targetted ways, each designed for maximum impact!

• Online: we utilise the popular TradeMe.co.nz website at discounted rates, and our QAC website (where you will be right now!) is top in Google searches for Queenstown rental accommodation.
• Print media: we advertise rentals via front and full page listings in The Lakes Weekly Bulletin (LWB), the go-to publication for tenants in town. (We reach owners through regular brand advertising in The Property Press.) See PDF samples at base of page.
• Office/walk-ins: we have two downtown locations that carry RENTING NOW! listings brochures and advertising posters, one on Shotover Street (Locations Realty) and our QAC/Goodstays office (corner Camp/Shotover Streets). In our office, prospective tenants get help and assistance from our team, and can view rentals on our gallery display.

How would/does QAC maintain my rental property?  Our in-house Maintenance Manager inspects your rental regularly, performing on-the-spot "little jobs" such as tightening door handles or latches.

Moisture and condensation can ravage homes in Queenstown, so our Maintenance Manager is vigilent in checking for moisture damage, and can run a moisture reading for free (independent contractors would charge around $500 for this service). Larger maintenance and repairs, gardening and domestic cleaning are out-sourced to our network of reliable contractors - NO disbursement fees! Any work over $350 (NZD) is cleared with you, the owner, before being undertaken.

What about insurance?  Insurance is an essential component to owning an investment property.  We advise our clients to speak with insurance brokers Rothbury Insurance Brokers (Central Otago). They can then provide a menu of options, recommendations and pricing according to circumstances. 

What to look for in a property manager? Property management is a business that specialises in looking after your investment property.  Being a good property manager is a lot more than finding tenants; it's about property management, maintenance and marketing.

At QAC we have a mild obsession with service and work hard to provide services that are excellent value for money. Our business culture is deeply rooted in integrity and we believe in the necessity to innovate in order to be the best at what we do. Part of being the BEST is ticking these property management boxes:

• ADVERTISE, ACCESSSIBLE | always check how a property manager advertises and if they're easily accessible. At QAC, we run high profile, strategic advertising that reaches our target audiences very effectively. Our office is downtown and someone from our team is on duty 24/7. Thanks to our advertising and great service, QAC is the go-to Queenstown property manager for tenants. We also run a 24 emergency maintenance line for tenants.
• FIRST IMPRESSION? | trust your perceptions. Is the property manager and the company's brand professional? Competent, knowledgeable, thorough? Look for an open and honest approach; beware "property chat" that promises a lot, is derogatory about the competition, but in the end delivers very little.
• ASK | about background and qualifications.  At QAC, our property managers are all qualified REINZ agents (Real Estate Institute of New Zealand); our team is also full of highly experienced professionals in marketing, management and administration, hospitality. Our team are all landlords themselves, are or have been tenants, and have extensive working experience both in Queenstown, the rest of New Zealand, and overseas.
• CARE | does the property manager operate with clear goals that will look after your investment?  Is their tenant checking thorough? Is their property maintenance thorough? How do they manage issues such as rent arrears? Are the easy to contact?