Right Estate Agents Cuffley and Goffs Oak

Right Estate Agents understand that every landlord worries about getting stuck with a tenant who doesn’t pay the rent or doesn’t look after their property, such concerns are only natural, but you can act swiftly to stop a bad problem from getting worse if you know the tell-tale signs to look out for. These are:
 


Late Payments: Alarm bells should start ringing if your tenant is consistently late paying their rent. Don’t panic if their first debit or standing order is a few days overdue or fails to appear at all, as often this can be down to a clerical error at the bank. Speak to the tenant and ask them if there’s a problem and remind them that the rent should always be paid by the due date. However, if you get a couple of late payments in a row, you should ask them directly if they’re having difficulty with the rent and discuss how you can sort this out.

Refusing access: You should include a clause in your tenancy agreement stating that the tenant must grant you reasonable access to carry out routine inspections. You ought to carry out maintenance checks at least once every six months, so if they keep refusing you access to the property it might be that they’ve got something to hide. You should remind them that by refusing to let you inspect the property they’re breaking the terms of their tenancy agreement, which is a reason for eviction.

Constant complaining: If you suspect that tenants are starting to find things to moan about it could be that they’re trying to find excuses to withhold their rent. This most usually happens in the last two months of the tenancy, when tenants become nervous that they might not get back all of their deposit. If you respond promptly to any maintenance issues you’ll take away their ammunition and hopefully give them less to complain about.

Unhappy neighbours: Those who live in close proximity to your rental property can be your eyes and ears when you’re not around. We’re not suggesting you should ask them to spy on your tenants, but you should encourage them to let you know if they’re disturbed by any anti-social behaviour on your property, which might be a sign that they’re not taking care of it.

The silent treatment: If a tenant stops paying their rent and fails to answer your calls, letters or emails, there’s only one way this is going to end and that’s with their eviction. Move fast to start proceedings to avoid rent arrears building up.

If you would like some assistance to find your perfect property/sell or let your property please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.
 

At Right Estate Agents we all know that selling your home can be a minefield, and it can often take a lot more time than you initially expected.
 




To speed up the process we asked some industry experts for their top tips to help you sell your home fast:
 
Kerb appeal
Potential buyers form an impression within seconds of seeing your property. To make a good impression, it’s important to give your home kerb appeal so paint the front door, tidy the garden and get out the hanging baskets.

De-clutter
Buyers need to picture themselves living in your property and it can be hard to see through walls and walls of family photos so de-clutter and try to make the place as neutral as possible.

Create an atmosphere
It’s a cliché but nice smells like freshly baked bread and flowers on display can make a big difference to making your home stand apart from others.

Animals and viewings don’t mix
Make sure pets are elsewhere and out of the way during viewings and that you have got rid of the cat litter tray.

Listen to your agent
It’s an estate agent’s job to give honest and impartial advice so take this on board when preparing your home for sale and chances are you’ll find a buyer in no time.

Instruct the right agent
Choose the agent that does the most business in that particular location.

Don’t be greedy
Ask a price that will entice interest.

Keep the place looking its best
Obvious? It’s amazing how many people present their properties badly

Instruct a good solicitor
Engage with a good solicitor, even prior to agreeing a sale.

Have all your paperwork to hand
Planning permissions, building regulations, insurance etc.

Price
Market for a competitive to low guide price to create a competitive frenzy to let the property find its own value

Open house
Hold an open house as above to create that frenzy (mini auction)

Utilise all tools at your / agents disposal
Professional photography, audio tours, enhanced internet marketing to stand out from the crowd online and to increase your click through rate.
Keep an eye on the competition by signing up to instant alerts to be the first in the queue when a property hits Rightmove.

Home staging
Stage your house for the viewing day by de–cluttering, opening curtains and switching on lights moving cars off the drive, mowing lawns and tending to the frontage as first impressions count.

Be accommodating at viewings
Be as accommodating as possible with viewings particularly on the open house by going out and leaving your agent to it.
 
 If you would like some assistance to find your perfect property/sell or let your property please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.

Conveyancing is very time consuming and complex, so you will need to employ either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer to do it for you.





Here are our top tips on choosing and using a conveyancer…

1. Get at least three conveyancers' quotes. Ask friends, family and your estate agent for recommendations
2. Tell your conveyancer if you want answers to any specific questions in advance
3. Let them know when you would like to exchange contracts and complete. Tell them you will require regular updates of how the sale is progressing
4. Try to negotiate a no sale - no fee deal, so if the deal falls through you don't pay anything
5. Check and compare quotes carefully making sure they are like for like.

Once you have appointed a conveyancer, you will need to…

1. Give them some basic information to get started such as your mortgage roll number - so they can check you own the property and proof of your ID
2. Complete a detailed questionnaire on the property, covering things like who owns the boundaries and whether you have had any disputes with neighbours. It is a legal requirement to answer truthfully
3. Complete a form showing what fixtures and fittings are included in the sale
4. Answer conveyancing queries as soon as you can. Use registered post or deliver documents by hand.

Exchange of Contracts
In England and Wales, Exchange of Contracts is the last stage of the legal process after which a buyer cannot pull out (without losing their deposit).

A date for completion is usually set for at least two weeks after the exchange date, giving you time to arrange removals. Your conveyancer will call your agent to tell them when the buyer's money has arrived so they can give the keys to the new owner.

Check the conveyancer's completion statement carefully - it should reflect the original quotation!

If you would like some assistance to find your perfect property/sell or let your property please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.

These days, an increasing number of people are renting and the quality and range of rented accommodation is better than ever.
Renting is usually cheaper than owning and bills are more predictable too, which is great news for those who prefer stable finances. And with fewer outgoings, you can save more.

Renting offers more flexibility than owning - you can move somewhere else relatively quickly - useful if you plan to move for a new job or are going away to study. Also, it's less hassle than being an owner as you won't need to pay for property maintenance - most of that will be done for you.
What type of property should I look for?

First of all, think carefully about the type of property you'd like to rent and which best suits your lifestyle.
For example, if you are only there during the week, a small place might do just fine. If security is important, then a ground floor flat may be out. If you have a car, then a parking space is a must.
Do you want furnished or unfurnished accommodation or would something that's just part-furnished be okay? Often it doesn't make much difference to the rent.
If it's furnished and you are sharing with others, do you trust them to look after the furniture - because you may lose some or all of your deposit to pay for damage even if they are responsible for it?

Other key questions to ask yourself:

• Is a purpose built shower essential or can you make do with a shower attachment in the bath?
• What facilities are there for washing and drying clothes?
• Does the property have all the appliances you need?
• Do you need a garden?
• Are you prepared to share with someone else - if so, could you share with a live-in landlord?

Where should I look?

It can be difficult to find good property to rent. Sifting through adverts in newspapers is hard work and the time from print to publication often means that by the time you see the ad, the property has long since been rented to someone else.
If you are prepared to share, you may be lucky and know someone who is looking for a flatmate. If your workplace has an intranet site, find out if it has a section that lists properties for rent. Many universities and colleges have an accommodation office, so if you are a student, find out what yours has to offer.
Another great place to look is the internet! There are many different portals, most of which you can register your requirements on and receive updates of the properties that gets put on the market, like Rightmove and Zoopla.

If you would like some assistance to find your perfect property/sell or let your property please contact Right Estate Agents on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website.