Property Management expert to set up business on the coast

Prominent local real estate identity David Priest is opening a property management business based in Ocean Grove, with his service, DJP Property Services, also taking in the key suburbs from Torquay to Queenscliff and St Leonards to Clifton Springs.

“It’s about time landlords get what they pay for relative to the management and lease fees that are deducted from rental payments,” Mr Priest said.

David has been in real estate his entire life starting in the UK and then migrating to Australia in the 80s.

In addition he has been teaching property management for the last 12 years at various TAFE colleges and Universities, and for the last eight years at Holmesglen and the Real Estate Institute in Camberwell where he is currently contracted.

“What I teach in property management is primarily a general understanding of the Residential Tenancy Act but the feedback from the public suggest that their properties are far from being managed properly.

“Being a licensee, my comments are not aimed at REIV agencies that do the right thing by their landlords, but more so at the agencies that continually take short cuts, quite often at the landlord or even the tenant’s expense.

“One of my pet hates in the management process is the condition report, which is a legal requirement if a bond is taken.

“This one document is the main fall-down area in property management in my opinion, and one that continually costs landlords time and money.

“How long would you think it takes for a property manager to do a comprehensive condition report?

“I have heard recently an agency allowing as little as 20 minutes, ridiculous! I believe two hours for a three-bedroom home, and four hours for a four-bedroom home if the job was done properly, after all what is the landlord paying management fees for?

“Don’t forget the condition report also covers the exterior, the garden, garage and sheds where applicable.

“I have seen some agencies use the same document from years which is never updated unless the tenant points something out whereby it is then handwritten into the current document.”

David will continue as one of the senior trainers at the REIV, which will keep him up to date with legislative changes, new ideas and techniques, but his day to day activity will be concentrated towards giving landlords a value for money management service.

David can be contacted on 0419 591 010 or [email protected].