Why is Queenstown harder to book than Dunedin?
Demand and housing: the Lakes have more work than trades most of the year, and many businesses are quoting weeks out. Putting your dates and flexibility in the request is what gets a usable answer rather than silence.
What does property management cost?
Commonly a percentage of rent collected plus a letting fee when a new tenant is found, and sometimes charges for inspections or paperwork. Ask for the annual total on your rent rather than the headline percentage.
What are the Healthy Homes standards?
New Zealand rules covering heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and draught stopping in rental properties, with compliance deadlines and required statements in the tenancy agreement. Ask whether the manager assesses and arranges the work.
Who chooses the tenant?
Usually the manager recommends and you decide, but the split varies. Ask what vetting they do, because that process is most of the value.
What happens when something breaks?
Most managers have a spend limit they can authorise without asking you, and the size of it matters. Too low and everything waits for you; too high and you find out afterwards.