Here, Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group, warns of the dangers of renting out your home while on holiday.
Some home owners find it worth their while to employ a professional renting agent, even if this does mean that they will have to sacrifice 20% - 30% of the sum paid to them.
Whether you go it alone or use an agent, says Rawson, certain precautions should be taken and these are absolute musts.
"Regrettably, there is the type of tenant who will feel that every rand he has spent on rent is a rand too much and who will be deliberately neglectful and sloppy while on holiday. The owner needs to take every step to protect his property from such tenants and to set up conditions to force the tenant to behave reasonably well. Fortunately the vast majority of tenants are trustworthy and as it can be very rewarding to rent a home short term on a high fee, it is definitely worthwhile taking the trouble to ensure that the tenant is 'contained' without making him feel that he is in a military boot camp."