Bored
one evening, I watched an episode of Watchdog. One of the stories was about a rogue
letting agent, who, in simple terms, received rent payments and failed to pass
them on to the landlords – instead claiming they had ‘defaulted’.
The
link below is an example of what happened to an agent back in 2015 in Warrington.
Letting agency leaves Warrington landlords struggling
Letting
Agents and their Fees
As you
can see, this isn’t a new story to hit Watchdog (or the headlines for that
matter), but it struck a chord with me.
So
many people are quick to judge lettings agents and beat them down on their
fees. In writing this blog I always try to maintain an impartial balance with
my articles and buy to let information. ‘What’s the point?’ I hear you ask. The
point is nothing new – you get what you pay for. You can find many examples in all walks of
life that prove this very argument.
Have
you ever wondered why some agents will reduce their fees to such a point to
undercut everyone else? Perhaps it’s desperation…
You
have to ask yourself: if an agent is so quick to slash their fees… why? Equally, are you truly going to
receive the service that you are being promised? Will you deal with a dedicated
department? Are they actually local and can they even point to Warrington on
a map?
A Word of
Advice
My advice is simple.
Hunt
out a couple of good local agents – recommendation is always the best way. If
you don’t know the local area, you can always look at letting agents’ reviews
on sites like Google.
Ask specific questions
about how they manage a property. How many staff are in that department? Are you
allocated an individual account or property manager? Where are they based? Do
they guarantee the rent? If so, how does it work? Can they guarantee the
condition of the property? How do they deal with rent arrears? What are
their referencing procedures? What regulations do you need to conform to? Are
they a member of The Property Ombudsman for Lettings or an ARLA registered
agent?
Can they give you
details of a landlord that you can call to speak to about their experience? Or
can they supply testimonials?
Whilst
fees do come into play, they should not be the main focus when choosing an
agent. May I suggest that if you can’t afford to pay an agent their worth,
perhaps you should consider carefully about investing in property. Ultimately,
choosing a good agent will save you in the long run and they are likely to be
looking after one of your biggest assets.
Ask
yourself this: can you afford to allow your home to be vacant or have a tenant
residing in it without receiving income? More importantly… why should you?
A Cheap
Warrington Letting Agent Example
I would like to leave you a link to a property forum going into more detail regarding the "rogue" agent very close to home in 2015. Click the link below for more information.
If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.
Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235338. If you are in the area, feel free to pop into the office – we are based on 6 Bankside, Crosfield St, WA1 1UP. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.
Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.
Follow The Buy-To-Let Property Investment Market in Warrington
Warrington Property Market LinkedIn Page
Hamlet Homes Letting Agents Warrington Facebook Page
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Warrington Investment Property Specialist Hamlet Homes Website
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