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Knowing the EIGHT Different Marketing and Inspection Fee Types (7 minutes)
Stop leaving money on the table, thinking that your management fee should absorb the cost of all of your services and start charging what you’re worth!
Did you know there are eight different types of marketing and inspection fees you can charge in your rent roll?
This video and article break down four marketing and four inspection fee types, helping you maximise your fee revenue and justify the value of your services.
From charging for professional photos and virtual tours to ingoing (move-in/PCR) and outgoing (move-out/final) inspections, these fees reflect the time and expertise you bring to managing other people’s valuable investment properties.
Learn how to introduce these fees confidently and overcome objections with proven scripts.
In this useful fee article, we’re going to dive into four different marketing fee types and four different inspection fee types.
You may be thinking, “I didn’t know there were so many fee types!” Well, there are—and understanding them can make a big difference to your bottom line and your ability pay better salaries, technology and training.
This content is taken straight from my book, the PM Fee Scripts Secrets, which covers 34 different fees and fee packages you can charge.
We’ve also included typical fees that agents are charging today.
The book is free—you just need to pay for shipping, as we’ve already covered the printing. You can find it at IGTCentral.com, along with our other books and podcasts.
Four Different Marketing Fee Types
- Standard Marketing Fee This fee covers the costs of listing properties on portals. In Australia, you’re likely familiar with the two major portals that charge fees. New Zealand has its own marketing portal costs as well. Make sure you’re covering those costs, and if you haven’t updated your fee recently, ensure you’re adjusting it, as portal charges tend to increase on a regular basis.
Don’t forget to factor in any additional marketing efforts, such as Facebook or LinkedIn campaigns. Always check your local legislation to ensure you can on-charge these costs. - Professional Photos If you’re taking professional photos for listings, you should be charging a fee to cover those costs. It’s a straightforward service, but make sure it’s reflected in your fee structure.
- Video Walkthrough Fee Offering video walkthroughs is becoming increasingly common. If you’re walking through the property with a camera or phone, narrating as you go, that takes time—editing and uploading included. You should be charging for this service, and the suggested fees are detailed in the book.
- Virtual Tour Fee Using high-tech tools like Matterport or 360-degree cameras to create virtual tours can be time-consuming and require expensive equipment. This is another service where you should be charging a fee for the value you provide.
Four Different Inspection Fee Types
- Ingoing Inspection / PCR- Property Condition Report The ingoing inspection, or property condition report, is very time-intensive. Agents in Western Australia are already charging for this, and it’s become the norm there. However, in other parts of Australia, many agents still aren’t charging this fee at all. But those who do, get this fee—and it’s completely justified, given the work involved.
- Outgoing Inspection Fee The final inspection after a tenant vacates is another heavy task, and it’s just as critical. Again, agents in some regions, like Western Australia, charge for this, but many still don’t. I started charging a final inspection fee over 20 years ago, and over three years, not one owner questioned it! It’s a necessary service that deserves to be paid for. As an FYI, we have recently started promoting this as a ‘tenant exit’ fee as the outgoing/move-out inspection is all but part of the overall process from when a tenant gives/is given notice right through to the bond/security deposit refund and all the work in between.
- Routine Inspection Fee Routine inspections involve booking, travel time, the actual inspection, and then generating new work orders or reports for the owner. Each inspection can easily take an hour, so why not charge for your time? Owners happily pay plumbers $150 to fix a leaky tap, so why wouldn’t they pay for your professional inspection services? As a property manager overseeing valuable assets and navigating complex legislation, your work is worth much more.
- Furniture Inventory Fee If you’re handling properties with furnished units, especially short-term rentals for Airbnb/Booking.com or student accommodations, you should charge for doing a furniture inventory. I don’t recommend dealing with furnished properties in long-term rentals, but when you do, you should be charging up to $250 per hour or a fixed fee, depending on the size of the property. It’s essential to reflect the value of your time and expertise.
Justifying Your Fees and Overcoming Objections
Many agents hesitate to charge these fees because they worry about owners pushing back. But here’s the truth: owners rarely question these fees.
The key is knowing how to present them. If you’re ever asked why you charge these fees, you need a solid script to explain the value you bring.
That’s where the PM Fee Scripts Secrets book comes in—it provides justification scripts for every fee, including how to handle the objection, “But the other agent is cheaper!”
Charge What You’re Worth!
At the end of the day, it’s all about knowing your worth and asking for it. The fees you charge should reflect the level of service you provide as a professional property manager. Whether it’s marketing or inspections, you deserve to be paid for the time, expertise, and resources you invest.
To explore these fees and more, grab a copy of the PM Fee Scripts Secrets book for free at IGTCentral.com—just cover the shipping. Take care, and start charging what you’re worth!
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