Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.  I have decided to do the maintenance myself and save the $500p.a.  I think I was taking the PMs suggestions too seriously.  I will keep a log book of when I do the inspections, change batteries and clean smoke alarms.   I think this forum is a great way to collect information from others and make a mo…[Read more]

Is anyone else using professionals to do the maintenance or do you do it yourselves?  I kind of feel that the PMs are using scare tactics to encourage me to use someone else. 

We just signed a contract for a house and went through the solicitors to request early access to construct fences. We received a definite NO even though the contract is now unconditional. Makes me wonder if we had approached the agent instead of the solicitor, the outcome might have been different.