Conducting Viewings Correctly
A viewing is your chance to really sell your your
property as a short term home. It is also a chance for you to get a feel for the tenant. Given this, it is important that the viewing goes well. To ensure that, it is important to be organised.
Arrive at the property in plenty of time and make sure it is clean and tidy; this includes the outside, remember first impressions count. Make sure you have the details of the tenants with you. This will help you to remember names and mean that you can make notes of specific questions they had or concerns you have. Remember to greet them at the door to the property and welcome them in.
Guide them through each room and point out any specific features and pay particular attention to any areas that you covered in the property description. Don't forget to show them any outside areas or balconies. Answer any questions that the viewers have and be clear about what you expect from them.
Remember that you cannot discriminate against potential tenants based on race, religion sexual orientation or disability. But if you have a legitimate reason, you can refuse to rent to a specific person. For example, the property is unsuitable for their needs, and physical changes to the property cannot be accommodated. Also if the viewer does not want to agree to the terms of the tenancy you can ask your letting agents not to take the enquiry any further.
Post Perfect Pictures
How do you ensure that your accommodation is high on the list of potential homes for tenants? The answer is to include photographs in your listings. However, this only works if you take the right photographs in the right way.
When compiling property descriptions photographs can present elements of your accommodation that cannot easily be put into a limited space. They're also great for providing evidence of the descriptions you give, for example, a newly decorated
living room, or well-furnished bedroom.
Photographs should encourage potential tenants to want to view the property. While they do not necessarily need to be taken by a professional they do need to be of a high quality. They should be clear and taken in good light. It is also important that the rooms in your property are taken from the right angles. They should present the rooms in the best possible way and give a fair indication of the size and shape of the rooms. Take at least one picture of the outside of the property. While photo shopping pictures isn’t acceptable, it is ok to crop them to avoid neighbouring properties, particularly if it doesn’t present yours in the best possible light. As well as following these tips, ensure that the property is tidy before the pictures are taken and try to avoid taking them on an overcast or wet day as this will make them look dull.
Checking Out Procedures
Properties require you to take the same care at the end of the tenancy as they do at the start. When your tenant leaves you will need to complete a checking out procedure before their deposit can be returned and the
property can be let to new tenants.
The main purpose of a checking out procedure for your property is to determine how much of the tenant's deposit is to be returned. It also enables you to ensure that all of the tenants personal items have been removed and that all keys have been returned. The property inspection should be undertaken with the tenant present wherever possible. This means that minor disagreements can be settled at the time.
The original inventory, including photographs, should be used as the basis for comparison. Remember that you need to allow for acceptable wear and tear on the property given the amount of time that the tenancy has been in place for. Check through each room of the house with the tenant and highlight any areas for concern. These might be areas that have not been left clean, missing items, or damage. It is good practice to give the tenant the opportunity to put things right themselves.
When an agreement is reached, or there is no cause for concern, the amount of deposit to be returned can be agreed and the process of returning the deposit started. Don't forget to collect meter readings as part of this process and to collect all keys from the tenant.
These are sure fire ways to make sure letting goes without a hitch and who wouldn't want that?
