Plymouth Letting Agents

A lot of property investors still choose to manage their own properties, but a great deal of property investors do decide to use letting agents for just a few of the reasons I’ve listed below:

• You don’t have to deal with tenants ringing you in the middle of the night

• You don’t have to directly deal with your tenants

• A letting agents fees are tax deductible so it usually works out very good value for money.

But that said said and done, just how do you find a good letting agent?

• Personally the way I choose a good letting agent is by;
  

• Getting other recommendations from people whom I trust

• By randomly visiting 2 or 3 letting agents in person

• Subtly testing their organisational skills by asking them to post a copy of their T&C’s or by asking them to email their contact details and to doubly confirm the price quoted to you at a later stage. Finally;

Never judge a book by it’s cover. Try to get some reviews wherever possible to back up there claims.

Plymouth Letting Agent

All about Plymouth, Devon

Plymouth is my hometown. I love it here for the simple fact that it is so close to the sea. Plymouth has a rich maritime history which still continues to this day.

Plymouth’s history is so rich, in fact that it actually goes back to the beginning of the Bronze Age, with the first inhabitants settling at Mount Batten.

Plymouth’s biggest claim to fame is that it is the birth place of modern day America, with the pilgrim father’s first left Plymouth Rock via the Mayflower steps.

Fast forward a few hundred years to modern day Plymouth, where it is not a bustling city home to approximately 250,000 Plymouthians.

Plymouth also has exceptionally easy access to Spain and France via it’s shipping port. If you don’t fancy a foreign holidays, (or just plain can’t afford it in these days of austerity), then the good news is you are only ever a few miles from the nearest beach, both in Devon and neighbouring Cornwall. 

Plymouth Letting Agent

Who are the best Letting Agents in Plymouth?

When choosing a letting agent, from Plymouth or otherwise there are always some keys things you should consider.

Just how reputable are they? How long have they been trading? How many properties do they manage. Can you obtain any feedback from previous tenants. What about online reviews, things like Google Places, Yell.com can you find details of previous tenants.

As with any major purchase, they old phrase ‘Buyer beware’ still applies. Although there are many reputable lettings agents some are not so. (As I have had to find out first hand in the past)

The best advice I can possibly give is to do your homework on the property agent first. By spending a little time now to fact check will pale into insignificance when you weight up how much money you could save by merely shopping around first.

Plymouth Letting Agent

Plymouth Estate Agent

Best Estate Agents in Plymouth?

Looking for an estate agent can be tricky at the best of times. There are so many to choose from, how do you go about making the best choice? Do you go for the cheapest, the most established or a chain of estate agents?

Personally I’m not a fan of the big chains, you seem to get regarded as just another number. It always seems to lack the personal touch which is why I prefer to stick with an independent estate agent whenever I can.

I have had a very good experience with The Property Group, based in Plymouth who steered me in the right direction when I didn’t have all the answers. Highly recommended:

Plymouth Estate Agent

With the current decline in the economy, more and more people are looking into ways in managing their financial status. Let alone, the goal to be able to have their own property, purchased through hard work but with people struggling financially, they have it hard doing so. Not to mention that prices of such properties tend to fluctuate every now and then and the more time that people spend saving up money, the more it is likely for them to lose the chance to buy a house at a low price. With these factors, it could be discouraging to even work hard towards such a goal.

Thanks to the “rent-to-buy” alternative, people can potentially achieve this goal. Based on recent studies, more and more families in the UK are taking advantage of this option as their main method to attain their dream of buying their own house. To mention a number of benefits, a standard “rent-to-buy” scheme only requires at least a 3-5% of the home value as a deposit to start with. Not only will this give you more time to save up money especially with the recession the world is experiencing, but it increases the chance of you getting your target property. You do not even need to neither bother with a mortgage nor worry about a bad credit rating.

This option also allows you to settle in the home and make payments like any other tenant, giving you a chance to create a good-standing payment history. And by establishing a good payment history, this will also repair any damages to your credit rating which can potentially open up opportunities. As long as you as the tenant demonstrate permanent employment, a decent monthly earning and an effort to do better when it comes to payments then the company or firm should have no reason to give special considerations. Moreover, you can also avoid repossession and any “chain effects” which refers to any drawbacks caused by failed sales transactions from other parties you are also dependent on.

The monthly payment is shouldered by the tenant alone and independent of any other factors. Paying a regular rent is a bad investment which leads to a dead end versus a “rent-to-buy” scheme which opens up the possibility of owning the property eventually. At the same time, this will help you to manage your budget on a monthly basis and every payment given for the rent gets you closer to he goal of having the house. Moreover, the price is fixed unlike attempting to buy a property on the market with a price that can change on a regular basis. You also have the privilege of remodeling your home or decorating it suitable to your lifestyle and any increase in its value will be yours at the time of purchase. This is useful if for appraisal purposes. Be advised however that some landlords prefer to be given a heads up before any changes are made.

The “rent-to-buy” scheme also gives the benefit of purchasing the property at anytime that you already have the funds to completely purchase it. At any time that the “Option” period no longer becomes available, you still have the chance to negotiate with the landlord or just move to another location. And once everything is said and done, you can start inviting friends and family members at your place which you can confidently and proudly say your home. Overall, the “Rent-to-Buy” system is a reliable alternative when planning to buy your dream home. You can check further details online and or advertisements about the scheme and when you are ready to get the property you desire, you can simply take the first step towards it through the “Rent-to-Buy” scheme.
           
After the housing market crash of 2007/08 it has been harder to get a mortgage without a sizable deposit. One hundred percent mortgages are a thing of the past and banks are now making sure that they buffer themselves against repossessions. The economic situation has made it increasingly difficult for first time buyers with no deposit to get on the market. With less buyers available it has also meant that some home owners are unable to sell their properties for the amount that they would like.

The situation is a frustrating one for potential buyers who are able to afford the mortgage payments on a property but are unable to secure a mortgage agreement. Rent to Buy is a scheme new to the U.K which enables first time buyers to get on the property ladder and in turn help more owners sell their properties. Rent to buy has been used for years in Australia and the US and is now being introduced in the UK to help ease the current property situation.

The rent to buy system works as follows. A property agent or owner will agree on a selling price with the owner of a property to be paid at a determined point in the future. The agent agrees a deal with a buyer once one has been found wherein the buyer agrees to rent the property for an agreed period of time. Either a portion or all of the rent from the first year will be allocated to the price of the property which over time will grow into a decent deposit. The resulting deposit will then help the buyer to secure a mortgage and purchase the property.

The rent to buy option gives the benefits of an income with a potential sale to sellers and an opportunity for buyers to save up a deposit which will greatly increase their chances of securing a mortgage.
           

Recent news reports of unscrupulous people taking over someone’s home and renting it out to either one or more tenants means that if you are a homeowner, a landlord or a tenant, you need to take precautions to avoid being scammed!

If you are a prospective tenant hunting for a property, then it’s vital to follow our top 15 ways to spot a fake landlord BEFORE you hand over any money!

To avoid having to ask these questions altogether, only rent from an ARLA or NALS registered letting agent that is also ideally a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme. They are responsible for agents that have joined their organisations to abide by strict codes of conduct and this means that they are more likely to ensure a property is let legally, including ensuring the landlord owns the property and has, if required, the lender’s permission to rent it.

Avoid a Fake Landlord BEFORE you view a property:

1. Check where the advert is from. If it’s from sites where landlord’s can advertise for free, or for less than 50, find out how the website vets the properties and landlords. If they do NO vetting be very cautious!

2. Ask for the landlord’s full name and address and ideally a land line phone number. Be suspicious if they don’t give these details and only give an email address/mobile.

3. Ask if the landlord is a member of any accreditation schemes eg NLA, RLA and/or a local authority scheme, check they are members.

4. Confirm your appointment with them ideally on the land line number.

5. For a small fee (around 4) check on-line at Land Registry that the landlord does own the property. Download the Title Register details which says who owns the property.

How to SPOT a Fake Landlord when viewing a property:

This is a document that tells you how much your utility bills will be (very important!) and is a legal requirement for most rental properties (except properties that aren’t let on a ‘self contained basis’, such as licensed HMOs and renting a room).

7. When looking around the home ask what’s happened to the previous tenants and if you can have a reference from them.

8. Ask to see the existing gas and any electrical safety certificates. If the previous tenants have just moved out, then the certificates should still be in date, or if they are just out of date, confirm with the gas/electricity company that they did the work for your landlord.

9. Ask the landlord how much deposit they take, how it will be paid (eg cash/cheque/BACs) and which Tenancy Deposit Scheme it will be held in. It should be held in one of three schemes: My Deposits (custodial and safest scheme); Tenancy Dispute Service or My Deposits.

(These are insurance schemes, so if your landlord/agent goes bust, runs off with the money as long as you have evidence it was paid to them you can get your money back.)

Check on-line that they are a member of the scheme they say they are!

10. Ask for a copy of the contract that you will need to sign on move in day, so you can get it checked beforehand.

If the landlord can’t supply all or any of the paperwork mentioned above - DO NOT RENT FROM THEM!

Avoid a Fake Landlord on Check in Day:

1. Never hand over any cash or wire the money until you have received the keys.

2. Unless you are letting through a high street letting agent that is a member of NALS or ARLA (and the Property Ombudsman), don’t hand over your deposit unless you have actually gained access to the property.

3. Make sure the landlord has done a full inventory. This is a document that lists all the things that are in the property and describes the quality of the decor. For example it might say ‘stain on the living room carpet, near the fireplace’ and ideally this statement would be backed up by a photograph. If there is no inventory, be very wary of renting the property without doing one yourself and taking lots of photos. If you don’t when it comes to asking for your deposit back, there might be a dispute as the landlord might take money off for a new carpet in the living room because of a stain that was there before you moved in!

4. If there is no contract to sign and this contract has no mention of a tenancy deposit scheme where your deposit will be protected, do not sign! Check it with a specialist lettings legal company first.

5. Check that the gas and electrical safety certificates are real and up to date.

However much you ‘fall in love’ with a property, or however desperate you are to rent one, don’t cut the corners described above. If you do try to rent too quickly, you might miss that the place is freezing cold, despite having all the radiators on, a fake landlord might put you under pressure to secure the property via a deposit.
           
If you have extra piece of property or home you can rent them out and earn great profits. Being a landlord and to rent the property is beneficial for you when you want to get great returns for your investment. This is the right business for most of the people who have property.

But in order to run your real estate and property business smoothly and hassle free you require understanding certain points. First of all it is essential for you that you have all your papers ready with you. These papers may include insurance, loans, mortgage, lease agreement, etc. This will save you from all the hassles which you can experience in future if you do not have papers ready with you.

As prices of the property and homes vary from town to town and depend on the area, it is very important that you fix the most competitive prices for the property you are going to rent. You can search over internet and can contact other similar businesses to get the idea about the real market prices that can give you maximum profits.

Most of the time landlords do not search for the tenants on their own. Also they do not want to waste their money for many promotions methods. The best and the easiest way that can work for them are to search for the online letting agents that can help them in contacting with the tenants. It is easy for you and your tenant to get in contact via these brokers who charge one time fees for their services.

But while getting in contact with the agents it is essential that you give them the proper instructions about the tenants you are looking for. These agents are very helpful for you and can help you out in earning great profits from the real estate and property business.

Being an estate agent involves helping people to sell and buy their properties. Even though it is straight forward in theory, there are places of specialization. There are estate agents that purely deal with commercial property, cheap residential and some expensive properties.

The type of agent that a person decides to be is more often than not based on the area they are in. Or where their offices are located.

Being an estate agent requires communication. The way that a buyer or seller is dealt with can be the deciding factor as to how successful an estate agent is. The ability to do large calculations and think logically is also useful.

Most sellers want their properties to be sold quickly and sold at the best possible price, without any problems along the way. Often for an estate agents expertise they are paid between 0.5 and 1.5% of the sale price of the property. The price will often vary depending on services in the area.

Having knowledge of the area the property is being sold in is a must, as an agent will need to give property owners an estimate of how much their property will sell for. At this stage it is also the agents job to recommend the pricing scheme i.e. whether it should be “fixed” or “offers over”.

Helping a buyer is a little different, the buyer will want an estate agent to find them a property that fits the needs of their use at the lowest price possible. Usually buyers do not have the time to look for properties for themselves. This means an estate agents can help by looking for the buyer, and negotiating different deals, and setting up viewings of properties.

Extra services an estate agent may offer are insurance, and conveyancing services. There are a range of agents that even handle the whole process of selling a property from start to finish, even including finding a buyer, getting a survey report and assisting the buyer get funds for the property.

If you want an easy stress free sell of a property, an agent taking care of the whole process can be very useful. Problems that can occur when an estate agent is selling a property are, the buyer taking the property off the market, even though a buyer was found. The buyer that is found may not be able to qualify for funding, even though the paper work has been done. And in some cases the completion of the sale is only possible when the property is sold.

The life of an property agent can be hard at times, especially where viewing is only possible at certain times, such as the weekends. This is normally the case if clients are only available to look at properties then, because they are working during the week. In such cases they will need to fix a time out side there working routine to see the property.

The good thing about properties is that people will always need them. Because of this reason, the property market can be a very profitable one, if you are smart and position your self correctly.
           
As professions go, being an estate agent is considered by many - the majority, in fact - to be one of the lowest, right down there alongside bankers. Years of bad service and unscrupulous, underhand practices have helped form this opinion of estate agents in the minds of the UK public.

In some, probably too many, cases the reputation is deserved. The tactics employed by some agents to simply make as much money as possible to the detriment of their clients, the house sellers and buyers, are deplorable. It is unfortunate that the actions of an admittedly significant minority of agents have tarnished the reputation of those estate agents that provide excellent service and always act in the best interests of their clients.

So what actions, exactly, have led to the low reputation of estate agents?

The most obvious and highly publicised is gazumping. This is when an agent continues to show potential buyers around a property even after the seller has accepted an offer. They do this in the hope they will receive a higher offer. If this happens the first buyer with an accepted offer is told another one has come in and they are no longer going to be buying the property, leaving them in a difficult situation, especially if they have sold their own property in expectation of completing the purchase.

Some agents also value homes at far lower than they should be - and then go on to sell them to friends or colleagues at that lower price!

Using scare tactics to force sellers into accepting a lower price than they wanted is another common practice. This can include ‘inventing’ a series of lower offers, tricking the seller into believing they’ll never get the asking price they wanted.

The opposite to this is never passing on offers to the seller that the agent thinks are too low in the hope of achieving a higher one in the future and thus getting a larger fee. The seller is completely unaware of these offers and is therefore not in a position to decide whether they want to accept it or not.

If the agent advises reducing the price - and therefore fails in their obligation to achieve the original asking price - it is reasonable to expect them to reduce their fee at the same time. Many agents refuse to do this, costing the seller more money once the house has sold.

A really common practice is for estate agents to value houses higher than they should be in an attempt to attract sellers. Believing their house to be worth more than they thought, the seller is easily tempted to sign with such an agent.

These COULD be described as underhand but not particularly ‘evil’. These next three examples, however, could be considered outright fraud.

Some agents have been known to give buyers fake documents in order to help them secure mortgages. They have also been known to provide completely fake evidence that properties in the same area have sold for more than they actually have. And lastly, some agents have even gone so far as to erect for sale / sold signs outside properties that they had absolutely nothing to do with.

It is no wonder that the reputation of estate agents is what it is when these sorts of practices are going on - and are still going on, even now. Finding an agent you can trust is not easy, though there are many out there. Talk to friends and relatives about agents they have used and the service they received. Ask the estate agents probing questions and don’t be fobbed off by their answers. Seek assurances about the way they will go about selling your house (or finding you one to buy) and, if possible, get those assurances in writing.

If possible, find a specialist estate agent in the area in which you’re selling or wish to buy. For example, if you want to buy in Manchester city centre, find a Manchester city centre estate agents and carry out your due diligence on them. Agents that have been around for many years with good reputations are likely to provide you with the best service, whether you’re a seller or a buyer.

Plymouth Letting Agent You may also be interested in French property for sale

When you even think you might be interested in moving, get a copy of your credit report so you can see exactly what you are up against. If you spot any errors, take the steps needed to have them erased from your file, if possible. Once you have cleaned up your credit report as best you can, it is a good idea to prepare an open letter explaining the circumstances that caused you to have poor credit. This can be given to any of your potential landlords when you began to seriously hunt for a new place to live.

Landlords and letting agents are people, too. You will surely be able to find several who can understand how you might have had a difficult period in life which negatively affected your credit. Most of them will be impressed with you because you took the time to try to patch up your credit and develop a plan of action before looking for an apartment. Your letter of explanation will be well received, too.

Basically, a landlord or property owner is interested in whether or not you are going to be able to pay the rent each month. They would also prefer that you did not own a 150 pound dog and throw loud parties every weekend, but let’s face it… they are in the rental business for the money they can make. It’s a good idea to have ready any sort of proof of your income you can come up with, as evidence that you will have no trouble paying the rent on time.

You can also get a letter of recommendation from your present landlord stating that your rent was always paid on time and in full each month to further plead your case. It wouldn’t hurt if your landlord or property manager also mentioned that you took good care of his property while you were renting from him.

If all else fails, you can usually make points with the landlord if you offer to pay a few month’s rent in advance. Also, make sure you are dressed appropriately when you go to look at the apartment. If you look neat and sincere, chances are you will walk out with the lease to your new apartment in hand. There really is such a thing as no credit check apartments, and one can be yours if you take the time to plan your approach so that you appear in a favorable light.

Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies