Day: 20 April 2022

When a tenant gets in touch, don’t faff about – a prompt response will save you time and money in the long run. A three-minute read.

 

Picture this: you’re frantically busy at work, scrambling to meet an urgent deadline when your phone pings.

It’s your tenant raising what seems like a pretty minor issue, so you make a mental note to get back to them in a few hours when things calm down.

But time flies, and before you know it, days have passed, and you still haven’t taken action to address the issue raised.

Most landlords will be familiar with this scenario, although you could easily substitute ‘urgent work deadline’ for ‘important family commitment’ or ‘life in general’.

While time management is a challenge for us all, it’s not good practice to drag your heels when addressing tenant concerns.

Here are six reasons why you should always respond to tenants in a timely fashion.

 

• Build trust– Ignoring your tenant sends a message that you’re not that bothered – about them or the state of your property. To build a good rapport (one that encourages your tenant to stay long term), you need to be responsive.

 

• Nip problems in the bud– Issues like leaks and damp will only get worse (and more expensive to fix) the longer you leave them. Address problems before they escalate into serious repair jobs.

 

• Health and safety– It can be difficult to tell if an issue is a minor quibble or a major safety risk unless you investigate. Ignoring a concern or jumping to conclusions without knowing the facts could put your property and your tenant’s safety at risk.

 

• Avoid getting fined– Your tenant could be raising a valid issue – one that, if left unaddressed, could land you with a hefty fine from the local authority for breaching health and safety regulations.

 

• Insurance – Failing to act on an issue that has been raised could invalidate your insurance and leave you footing the bill after a major incident, such as a burst pipe or fire.

 

• Good karma– What goes around comes around. If you ignore a tenant’s texts and emails, what do you think they’ll do when you try to get in touch with them?

 

In today’s digital world, people expect a quick response day and night. If this 24/7 obligation is too onerous for you, get a letting agent to manage the property – they’ll be the ones on call round-the-clock instead of you.

 

Get in touch with us here at Chamberlains to learn more about our property management services.

 

Selling a home is not a solo project – well, not if you hope to achieve top selling price. A three-minute read.

If there’s one piece of property advice worth remembering, it’s this: be wary of anyone who tells you that selling a home is so easy that you should do it yourself.

Many things in life are easy, like singing Baa Baa Black Sheep out of key or eating a whole packet of chocolate biscuits/family-sized crisps in one afternoon.

But what’s not a doddle is achieving top asking price for a property (and if you’re going to the effort of selling your home, that’s what you want, right?).

It takes a team with expertise and experience across a range of areas to nail a great sale.

Not even the most ingenious multi-tasker has the skills to cover all the bases themselves.

Here’s a list of who should be on your home-selling team.

 

Estate agent – a good agent will be an expert on the local area and get the asking price just right. They should be a pro at viewings and negotiations and have a savvy social media strategy to generate interest in your property.

 

Photographer – All top agents use a professional photographer for marketing photos. Most viewers start their property search online and expect to see high-quality images (not shadowy snaps that make a property look like a crime scene).

 

Conveyancer/Solicitor – Once the sale is agreed, you’ll need a good solicitor or conveyancer to handle the paperwork. Shop around or ask for word-of-mouth recommendations to find the right professional, as a good conveyancer/solicitor can speed up the process.

 

Removal firm – On the day you complete, you’ll want the logistics to run smoothly – and for your treasured possessions to be handled with care.

 

Proactive seller – Sellers are vital members of the team, too! A proactive seller rids their home of clutter, so that it shines in the marketing photos, and keeps the property tidy for viewings.

 

And a few special mentions

If you’re selling up to move to a new property, your team will also include a mortgage adviser to land you the best deal and a surveyor to inspect any property you’re considering buying.

 

Here at Chamberlains, we believe that selling a home is a team sport. Get in touch to find out more about our friendly, expert team.