Edwards Estate Agents

Letting Guide

1. Market Appraisal

We visit you at your property, this meeting is called a ‘property valuation’ and we use it to assess your requirements, establish who your property is likely to appeal to, agree on how much rent we think you should be able to achieve and suggest any recommended improvements to help ensure you maximise the potential of your property.

We base our valuations on comparable evidence using actual properties recently let within your area. We also take into account a number of other factors such as market conditions, the location of your property, the size of your accommodation and, if furnished, the standard of furnishings.


2. Preparing your property

Target Market

Our comprehensive experience enables us to understand the type of tenant that will be suitable for all types of property.

Presentation

Properties that look good achieve higher rents and are let more quickly. So it really is worth taking time to ensure your property is presented to the highest possible standard.

As a general guide, the following ideas work well when letting a property:

  • Before marketing your property, do ensure that it is in good decorative order and sound structural condition.
  • If you’re living in the property whilst it is being marketed, do make sure that you keep it clean and banish clutter.
  • Keep the decorations neutral – the property will look cleaner and is more likely to fit in with your tenants’ personal belongings.
  • If your property is unfurnished, you will need to supply carpets, floor coverings, curtains, light fittings, cooker and possibly white goods if required.

Every property is individual, but we have a great deal of lettings’ experience and are always happy to help you maximise the potential of your rental property.


3. Finding the right tenant

Marketing your property

The key to letting your property quickly is to ensure it gets maximum exposure to the right people. To achieve this, we can use a range of marketing methods, including:

  • Our accessible town centre show room.
  • Websites – our properties are on all the major property portals including rightmove as well as our own high-profile website.
  • We advertise in the local press and other relevant publications.
  • Our ‘To Let’ boards are prominent and distinctive.
  • We have a large client bank of tenants registered with us who are ready to move into rented homes.

Viewings

If you want us to accompany the viewings, they will be carried out by our fully-trained staff who are able to spot essential buying signals and take the lettings process forward.

We try to be as flexible as possible by offering peak viewing times such as lunchtimes and weekends.


4. Signing up your tenant

Once we have found a tenant that we are both happy with, we will request a deposit to reserve your property and a completed Tenancy Application form. As soon as these are received, we will progress to taking up references.

Tenant References

Referencing is our main way of assessing a potential tenant. It’s so important that we use an independent agency experienced in this field.

Once we receive a Tenancy Application and a deposit to secure the property, we will contact our referencing agency and they will arrange a formal credit check, confirm their employment status and income, and any previous landlord references.

These checks are assessed and communicated to you for approval before the tenancy is agreed.


5. Our Services

Full management

If you don’t live near your property or don’t have the time to deal with issues such as finding suitable tenants, collecting rent, and arranging contractors, this service is for you. Under this ‘full management’ letting service we will take care of everything – you can just sit back and enjoy the income your property generates.

Rent collection

If you’re happy to deal with any property maintenance issues that might arise and sort out suitable contractors, but don’t want to find tenants and collect rent, this is the service for you. When you choose our ‘Rent Collection’ service, we market your property to find you a suitable tenant and then collect the rent securely on your behalf.

Let only

This service is ideal if you’re an experienced landlord but don’t want to go to the trouble of finding a tenant and setting up the tenancy. If you choose ‘Let Only’ we will get your property let and your tenancy up and running and then hand it over to you. You are then responsible for rent collection.


6. Managing and ending the tenancy

Most properties are let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies for 6 or 12 months. You cannot regain possession of your property before the end of the tenancy unless terms have been breached, or your tenant agrees to that earlier repossession.

Even at the end of the tenancy, there are certain regulations you need to follow. For example, you need to give a minimum of two months’ notice in writing if you want your tenants to vacate the property on the final date of the contract.

We are very proactive in managing all the properties on our books and will write to you and your tenants whenever necessary to ensure you don’t miss important dates.

For more information on the above please contact us either by phone on 01789 414222 (option 3) or email lettings@movewithedwards.co.uk

E-Mail
info@movewithedwards.co.uk

Post
1 Birmingham Road,
Stratford upon Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 0AA

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Edwards Estate Agents
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Tel: 01789 414 222