NOV 2019 JUST R ENTAL S LT D M REINZ
A Gloomy Outlook
I sit here at my desk looking outside at the gloomy weather, with cold winds and sudden showers. Where is the sunshine? Not only is there gloomy weather, but there is gloom in the rental market too. Not much is happening. I wrote about how slow things were last month and here we go again. Nothing has changed. Properties are slow to rent and Trade Me enquiries are down. Yes, we take prospective tenants to view properties. Week after week, they either do not apply or the ones that do apply will change their mind after you have done all the checks and written up the agreement.
without being neurotic. There is no Comfort mode, just Sport, Sport + and Track, and since I was leaving the city, I started in Sport. All very civil. Over the harbour bridge, a few more revs were introduced and the soundtrack increased, but the V8 kept its deep baritone note, it felt warm and comforting. I was in no hurry, just enjoying the firm yet comfortable ride. Free of watchful eyes, I changed up the pace a little, pushing the drive mode button on the leather-clad sports wheel to Sports +. Immediately many things happen behind the scenes (to do with steering and throttle response and suspension), but all I needed to know was the revs increased and so did the fun. The bonded aluminium chassis feels stoic in the corners and AM Dynamic Torque Vectoring System lets you corner like a champ. You feel like a racing driver and the eight-speed, rear-mounted ZF gearbox selects the perfect gear time after time after time, it’s an absolute thrill. Finding an appropriate venue, I engaged Track mode, time to unleash the sound, gearshift and aggression of all 503 horses and 685Nm. It takes a mere 3.5 seconds from 0-100km/h, the roar resonates around the cabin, it’s addictive. Just as a footnote here, the ZF is great, but I also enjoyed using the paddles for (seemingly) more control. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the Vantage, certainly initially as the V8 roars into life, but once you get moving you find out how friendly it is to get along with. "It all starts with sport" I was told when I picked it up and although it was a comment meant as a reference to the drive modes, it could just as well have summed up the entire Vantage experience. It’s a thrill ride yet a grand tourer. It’s modern yet vicious. It’s prestigious yet sporty. Above all, it’s a new iconic Aston Martin Vantage.
We have lowered rent and put new photos on Trade Me but, as I have said before, there is no sense of urgency. Our properties are well-presented and in good areas but we are struggling with some of them. We are renting of course, but they are certainly taking longer that they should do. Of course, school holidays and the long weekend coming up do not help. Also, the wintry weather is keeping people away. Maybe when the sun decides to shine and the weather is warmer, we shall see some movement. Just Rentals is always busy in the office with new regulations, keeping our landlords up to date, getting letters out for the three-monthly inspections, organising tradespeople for maintenance jobs, answering emails, sorting out tenants' problems, chasing up arrears, sending out water bills, and more. Yes, there is a lot more involved than just renting the properties. Of course, renting properties is our top priority. We are having a good turnout this Saturday. We have a few properties to show and the viewing tracker informs us that there are many people interested and lots of bookings to go through. Hope the sun shines! ROLL ON SUMMER! Good Renting, Sylvia Lund AREINZ
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