Holiday rental

I received an email from the RE agent saying they had clients looking for a 2BR condo from 22-28 April (what they call Holy Week here) and they were offering $US1500. It only took a heartbeat for me to email back and say "they can have mine!". With that sort of money I could go off on a holiday of my own, which has always been the plan.
The agent didn't realise that I wanted to rent my place out (why was he sending me the emails then?), and that opportunity had already gone, but after some negotiations we have agreed that he will start marketing my place at between $800 and $1200 a week (depending on the season). Because it's not a permanent thing the income is not declared and I just pay 10% commission.

Easter is still 2 weeks away and it's possible that there might be some last-minute enquiries.  Otherwise, he says that usually I would have a few months' notice, time to organise my own trip, packup and move out.

I need to buy more towels, some small electrical items and a lockable cupboard to store my own stuff in. So that's my task for the next few days. I also need to continue working on my folder for tenants, telling them where to find the laundromat and how to get to the cinema, etc.

It's all pretty exciting! The agents get a security deposit against any breakages, and can arrange cleaning and key handover, for the time being I am happy to let them handle it. Although I did it myself with my Italian home, by the time you pay fees to be on rental websites, answer 1001 queries (I ended up disconnecting my phone it was so crazy) and negotiate conditions, it's easier to have someone else do it.

So, off to the shops again! I'm doing a price comparison between the items I need to buy - iron, toaster, hairdryer, and so far it's pretty amazing what the differences can be.  So far I have found an electric jug in only one shop - coffee makers seem to be de rigueur here instead.