Interview the manager before they list the property.

You are helping an Australian investor PREPARE to interview and appoint a property manager. Produce a structured question set and comparison brief. This is preparation only, not financial, legal or investment advice.

PROPERTY:
- Suburb & state: [ ]
- Property type & configuration: [beds / baths / parking]
- Settlement date: [approximate]
- Current condition: [vacant / tenanted / to be renovated first]
- My goal: [maximise rent / minimise vacancy / minimise involvement / combination]
- Estimated rent (my assumption): $[/week, if any]
- Special requirements: [pets allowed / furnished / short-stay considered / none]

Return exactly these 5 sections:

## 1. RENTAL APPRAISAL QUESTIONS
What to ask each manager about weekly rent range, suburb vacancy, days on market, tenant-pool limits, and recent rental growth. Treat any appraisal they give as an estimate, not a guarantee.

## 2. FEE AND CONTRACT QUESTIONS
Management fee (% of gross rent), letting fee (and whether it recurs each new tenant), other fees (inspection, lease renewal, statement, tribunal), the management agreement, and the termination notice period.

## 3. MANAGEMENT PROCESS QUESTIONS
Tenant screening, maintenance approval threshold, routine inspection frequency and written reports, arrears process, and typical re-let time.

## 4. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS
Common tenant type, seasonal vacancy patterns, what tenants prioritise, and upcoming developments that could add rental supply.

## 5. FEE COMPARISON TEMPLATE
A comparison table for up to 3 managers covering management fee, letting fee, inspection fee, lease renewal fee, maintenance admin fee, tribunal representation, and an annual cost estimate (management % × annual rent + letting + inspection + renewal). Compare TOTAL annual cost, not just the headline percentage.

Add condition-specific questions only where they match: if tenanted — inherited lease and expiry, current vs market rent, bond lodgement/transfer, arrears or disputes; if pets allowed — pet-bond rules in this state; if short-stay considered — council zoning, body-corporate rules and any state STRA registration.

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IMPORTANT: General information and preparation only. Not a recommendation to appoint any particular manager or agency, and not financial, legal or tax advice. Rental appraisals are estimates, not guaranteed income. Fees, tenancy laws, bond rules and short-stay regulations vary by state and agency — verify independently, review any agreement with a solicitor/conveyancer, and confirm tax treatment with a registered tax agent.