Getting Your Property Ready For The Rental Market

Properties can be let either furnished or unfurnished. If you do let a property furnished all the essentials will be expected such as wardrobes, beds, sofas, dining table and chairs. Wear and tear on the property and any items provided are unavoidable. We will advise you on choosing on whether your property should be furnished or unfurnished. If you choose furnished we will advise you on the amount of furniture which is suitable depending on the property and market.

We advise and guide our landlords on the presentation of their property. The presentation plays an important role in how fast your property finds a tenant and the level of rent achieved. To help a rental property appeal to a wider market, we would suggest the following:

• Fresh decorations – light colours, such as white or off white are generally preferred.
• A modern and well equipped kitchen. If space permits, ideally, there should be a washing machine and separate tumble dryer or washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and microwave. All equipment must be in good working order. If you have instruction booklets, make them available, if not, it is advisable to leave clear written instructions on how to use appliances.
• Gardens should be left neat, well maintained, without any discarded items littering them and any lawns should be cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools.
• Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those which are of real or sentimental value.
• Sealant and grouting should be clean, cupboard hinges sound and work surfaces in good order. Any mould issues or minor issues can really affect a prospective tenant’s decision to rent the property.
• Double glazing, an efficient Central heating system and plenty of hot water is preferable amongst prospective tenants.
• Keep the windows clean, inside and out. Dirty windows and grubby net curtains exclude light and give a depressing and uncared-for impression.
• Keep clean all kitchen appliances including hob, grill, oven, microwave, shelving, rubber seals, dishwasher, extractor hood, fridge and freezer.
• Anything damaged in the property should be fixed. Ensure that all rooms are unlocked and accessible.
• Ensure the television is off.
• Make sure the property is vacuumed and tidy.
• Ensure all bulbs and lights are working.
• If viewing in daytime ensure all curtains and blinds are fully open to allow in maximum daylight. If the day is dull turn on the lights.

We will spend some time looking round your property to assess its rental value and advise you on the level of rent you are likely to achieve letting your property. At this point we will answer any questions you may have and determine the most suitable service to meet your requirements. We will discuss with you any work that may potentially increase the rental value of your property prior to letting. Our advice at this point is completely free and before you can let your property we ensure you have a firm understanding of all your legal obligations, responsibilities and rights.

Empty properties generate no rent, so we act fast to generate interest and find you a new tenant. As soon as you have decided to appoint us as your agent, we arrange an appointment to visit your property in order to take some internal and external photographs. Your property will be marketed in the followings ways.

• Advertising and marketing your property on our website.
• Emailing details to all potential applicants.
• Newspaper advertising where appropriate.

Tenant reference and credit checks help assess the applicant’s likelihood to pay. Reference and credit checks are absolutely crucial to help you find the ideal tenant. Before the tenancy starts, all necessary legal paperwork including an inventory will be prepared to provide a detailed schedule of the contents and their condition and the condition of the property. The inventory is a very important document because it protects both Tenant and Landlord from disagreements about these matters at the end of the Tenancy.

You should provide two sets of keys for our company’s use in addition to one set for each tenant. Where we will be managing the property we can arrange to have duplicates cut as required.