My partner and I attended the PIN Investor Letting Workshop in Feb 2008 with no expectations as we already considered ourselves to be rather knowledgeable in the art of letting property.  We have a few properties on our books and have been using standard contracts and 'gut feel' screening to place tenants and manage the properties.  Needless to say, we were in for quite a surprise on the day. 

Within the first 15 minutes, we realized that we had better start taking some notes as we clearly had LOTS to learn.  We started the session going through the legalities of renting properties out ... I was amazed at how many things I did not know pertaining to both landlord as well as tenant privileges.  It was not long into this session that we also found out that the advice we have received from other guru's in the property market would see us lands us in trouble if followed and done in the matter they advocate.

Karen and Sean then shared some 'nuggets of wisdom' on how to find and screen the right tenants, how to manage them and how to evict them legally if they become non-performing tenants.  We received some key contact information and most of all - we were given AND taken through (step-by-step) a legally sound contract for residential letting that favors the landlord and empowers him to deal with all types of issues.

We walked out of the seminar feeling that it was money well spent and have recommended it to our friends that are currently dabbling in property investment.  We then sat down and went through our letting agencies methods, contracts and administration.  We ended up giving them notice as we felt (after discussions with them) that we were better equipped to handle the letting process than they were.  I was, in fact, getting a huge kick informing them of issues that they were not aware of. 

As a matter of fact ... of the 3 places where we've used the new contract and new practices that we were taught, we have yet to receive a late payment (or non-payment) on the rent or experience any problems with the tenants. 

I can recommend this course as the one course you MUST do before renting out your own or someone else's property (rental agents ... take note!).  It is money well spent and the support received from Sean and Karen on the PIN forums after the course rounds off the total package rather nicely.  All queries were answered within 24 hours (or less!).  Well done Sean and Karen.  Keep up the good work and keep the education coming!". Eugené L. Pienaar - JHB

What I derived from the course was the interaction with the other course participants, which one can learn from and also network with in the future. The course itself is an eye opener especially if you want to run with the letting process from start to finish yourself. The legal aspects I found very much as the most important part of the course.

The detail of the course also spells what to do on a step-by-step basis to reduce the letting process risk to a minimum though there is no guarantee that your investment will be looked after by the tenants. Ideas on where the letting market is and how to go about dealing with your tenant, was also of great value. The course however needed more time in order to digest the nutritional value of the workshop. Keep up the good work. -  Ebrahiem Kammies

Anyone who seeks to venture into the world of property investing should definitely not miss the opportunity to register for the ‘Calculating Residential Investment Course ‘ . Wow what a learning curve for me . I thoroughly enjoyed  the examples used – which were so practical -and the various scenarios presented in every example and how that impacted on a particular investment . To go along with that the inside info provided was great . It certainly opened my eyes wide open and also the confidence as to what I need to know , ask and look for in a particular investment deal . Thanx for a great course . Demitri Giannais - JHB