Most investors aim for zero days vacant… but here’s why we don’t.

At Mint, we hear it all the time: “We want no vacancy between renters.” Totally fair. It feels logical, right? Less time empty means more rent collected. But here’s the thing… zero vacancy isn’t always the win it sounds like. Sometimes, a short pause between renters is the smartest move you can make for your long-term return.

Let’s break down why we plan for a little breathing room between leases… and how that can actually leave you better off.

The one-week buffer we build in (on purpose)

When your renter gives notice, we don’t rush to cram in another lease the next day. We usually allow at least one week between renters. That gap gives us time to do things properly: exit inspection, maintenance, professional cleaning, rekeying, and preparing the property for marketing. No frantic overlap, no half-baked photos, no handovers that feel like a relay race with the baton dropped mid-sprint.

It’s not a delay. It’s strategy.

The numbers: how a short vacancy can work in your favour

Say your property usually rents for $550 a week. If we hold off advertising until your current renter vacates, take a week to prepare, and then lease it at $570 a week instead, here’s how that plays out:

• You lose $550 from the one-week vacancy
• But you gain $20 extra per week for the next 12 months… that’s $1,040
  

Take away the $550 from that gain, and you’re still $490 better off over the year. And that’s not even factoring in the value of securing a longer-term renter or avoiding rushed maintenance surprises.

It’s a case of giving up a little now to earn more later, and doing it with a plan.

Yes, we plan for this, and so can you

We’ll always be upfront about how a vacancy week affects your income, and we help you plan for it. It’s not a surprise, and it’s not a setback. It’s part of smart, proactive property management. Just like budgeting for insurance, rates or maintenance, it’s built in, not tacked on.

Better presentation means better rent

We don’t advertise your property until it’s ready to put its best foot forward. Why? Because renters scroll listings the same way buyers do… judging by the first photo before reading a single word. And that photo needs to do heavy lifting.

As this Domain article puts it: If your place is prepared and ready to go, the photographer can spend the time getting great photos. Less tidying, more time shooting. Better shots, better applications.

Put simply, presentation matters. And that one week gives us time to nail it.

Vacancy isn’t the enemy… rushing is

We’re not chasing a perfect calendar. We’re focused on consistent, high-quality returns. And that means placing the right renter, at the right rent, with the right handover.

If your property is coming up for lease, we’ll help you weigh up the financial impact of a short vacancy versus the long-term gains. We’ll do the maths with you. No guesswork. No fluff.

Want the numbers for your own property? Let’s have that chat before your next lease change. It could make all the difference.