A new side hustle you probably didn’t know existed is helping people pocket thousands of extra dollars a year, just by inspecting properties for others.

Sydney woman Rose Le Sebvrer has been attending rental inspections on behalf of others for five years, earning up to $1000 in a single week.

The 58-year-old juggles these gigs part-time, alongside her regular work in strata insurance photography and evaluation.

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She started during COVID when many overseas renters couldn’t enter Australia.

Now, most of her customers are either interstate or overseas, or simply don’t have the time to attend inspections themselves.

“My biggest day was when I did seven properties and made about $400 that day,” Le Sebvrer told www.20304050.best.

She charges a minimum of $60 per property inspection, which usually takes about half an hour, but the price increases if more time is needed.

One job in the Blue Mountains involved more than two hours of driving and paid $200.

Her time is calculated from when she leaves for the property to when she finishes the comprehensive written report for the client.

With her background in the property industry, Le Sebvrer knows exactly what to include in each inspection report.

She starts with an outside video showing the street view, including traffic noise, nearby coffee spots, and the ease of access to parking.

Inside the property, she takes photos and videos of each room, noting issues such as mould, water flow, lighting, cupboard functionality and the condition of carpets.

One Brisbane client used her service to inspect properties in Sydney and secured a place within three weeks.

“She said for her to fly down each Saturday for the opens, what I charged was much cheaper,” Le Sebvrer said.

Record surge in inspection services

According to Airtasker, Melbourne has the highest demand for people attending rental inspections on behalf of others, followed by Brisbane and Sydney.

April recorded the biggest year-on-year monthly spike on the platform, with demand for rental inspection tasks doubling.

March saw an 86 per cent increase compared to the previous year, February rose 70 per cent, and January climbed 49 per cent.

Ray White Eastern Beaches principal James Hayashi said relocation agents have been around for a long time but have become more common in recent years, especially in the high-end buying market.

The increased demand has encouraged more people to take on these inspection jobs.

Le Sebvrer said she was busiest in Sydney between 2023 and 2024, but demand has since eased as more providers have entered the market.

Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics Nicola Powell said the rise of these services is easy to understand.

“It makes sense to have a service like this in the rental market, especially for people who are time-poor or unable to attend inspections themselves,” she said.

“Inspecting multiple properties can be very time-consuming, and if you’re moving from interstate or overseas, this kind of service saves you time and gives you access to an impartial person who can provide a property report on the rental.”

“If a service gets somebody into the right home quicker, then I think the choice should be there for someone to be able to use.”

Handy but risky

For real estate agents, however, the picture isn’t entirely positive.

A Sydney-based real estate agent, who prefers to be called Frank, said some agents, including himself, may prioritise applicants who attend inspections in person.

“It’s definitely better if the renter comes to inspect the apartment themselves,” he said.

“They’re the ones we’ll be dealing with in the end, after all.”

Powell added that property managers also prefer prospective tenants to view the home themselves, ensuring it meets expectations before signing a lease.

“The last thing they want is [for someone] to sign a lease and then try to break it because the property wasn’t what they thought it was,” she said.

This side hustle is no doubt a useful option for those short on time or based overseas, but experts advise renters to attend inspections themselves where possible — not only to better understand the property but to boost their chances of securing the lease.