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Advice from Letting Agents on How Landlords Can Eliminate Void Periods

Written on July 12, 2010 – 9:42 am | by admin

Periods of prolonged void have always plagued landlords with their reduction in profits, but some Sheffield based agents from Belvoir Estate have come forward with some simple steps those who let their property can take to help survive in what can be a cut throat market.

Representative Rick Flay has been reported as saying that with the tough market of today, agents and tenants are finding it more crucial to keep lines of communication open. Landlords need to avoid all the void periods they can to maximize their return on investment and to do this, Flay advises thinking with the future tenant in mind. The first step is to go with a color scheme reflecting a natural palette with a wider level of popular appeal. This helps avoiding turning off potential tenants who want to consider a place, but may not be interested in a more risky color scheme. In addition, natural tones enhance the perception of the room’s size and bring in more light, as well.

Another tip that Flay offered was making sure that all rental properties have modern appliances in the kitchen and newer bathroom fixtures. It is not about spending a lot of money, he said, it is about making sure that tenants know a place is properly cared for so that they place a higher value on it subconsciously. With cupboard doors being a low price improvement and bathroom tiles being a cheap way to make any bathroom look brand new, there are many things a landlord can do to raise their asking price and encourage a renter to sign the contract.

First impressions are made within moments and a few hours of work up front can go a long way towards giving landlords the advantage in those first few moments that a tenant checks out a new place. Weeding, rubbish removal and other small touches can quickly lift the appearance of a place. If a rental is not priced at the top of the potential market value then it is also likely to rent much more quickly. This means tenants will be able to stay more long term and the slight reduction in overall tenancy income can be made up for by the fact that a vacancy in a competitively priced unit is highly unlikely. Those who are making use of a buy to let investment should certainly consider Unoccupied Property Insurance to make sure they retain their profits on what they purchase.

To really win over even the most hesitant prospective renter, double glazing is also advised. This allows for the warmth of winter months to be retained within the house and lowers the heating bill. This means tenants who are budget conscious can save money by choosing a landlord who has taken this into consideration. Security concerns can also be allayed by double glazed windows – a key factor in certain locations.

Landlords who want to be able to let their properties should always consider their options in terms of rent guaranteed insurance. An excellent selection of options are just a click away at www.justlandlords.co.uk