High street letting agents - are they dying?

Are we seeing the death of the high street letting agent?

Online letting agents appear to be growing in their popularity. Does this mean we are seeing the final days of the traditional methods? Most say it is unlikely.

Not everyone is happy to have this kind of transaction take place online. Many are happier to deal with someone face to face. There exists a theory here as to why this is the case, and it basically boils down to trust and local expertise. Some believe this does not exist online.

What do you think? Do you feel the high street agent is having its final days? Or will they always be there?

Next time we will look at some of the advantages of online letting agents on comparison to the traditional route.

Please have a look at www.direct2landlord.co.uk to understand more about online letting agents and how they can help the private landlord.

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Online Letting agents instead of letting agents

Online letting agents - Where it is at

If you have looked at the different options available for you as a Landlord or Property Manager, then you will know it is somewhat of a maze out there. This only encourages us to talk and complain about the different options.

Question for you, did you know, the average cost of an online letting agent is £45? As you will know, your high street letting agent will ask for around £500 for a 'find-a-tenant' service. You will no doubt have your own opinion on the service you receive; there are different reports out there on the level of customer service received.

There are so many accounts of Landlords saving thousands when using an online letting agent, and we are constantly being praised for our service and pricing.

Fully managing your property

There are Landlords out there, who like to be involved in the complete management of their property; this would include arranging the viewings, being in control of collecting the rent and handling any maintenance issues. There are high street letting agents out there that provide this piece of mind, so that you know the above will be taken care of.

We should also mention at this point, there are also different levels of management available from online letting agents.

Vigilance is key

If you are vigilant when screening a tenant, and you will know what to look out for, if you have any future problems with them, they will be minimal. You need to have the attitude that rings true for many - it is not a case of if you are able to resolve a situation, it is a case of whether or not you can be bothered. This is your property, so hopefully you will be able to move to action when required. With this in mind, an online letting agent may be a great option for you.

There are many online resources for you to use should you need any help. For instance, LandlordZone are great for problem solving - they are very knowledgeable.

If you would like to talk about your different options, feel free to contact us today - www.direct2landlord.co.uk

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We hope you have found this interesting and helpful.

Energy Performance Certificate

Energy Performance Certificate - EPC

We are happy to share our knowledge, advice and experience with any that are in a similar position to us. We just like to make it easier for you to find the relevant information that you need.

Something you, as a Landlord, will need, is an Energy Performance Certificate or EPC. Put simply, before you even market your property, you must order an EPC for potential buyers or tenants.

What is an EPC?

This certificate contains information regarding your property's energy efficiency. Recommendations are made on how to reduce the amount of energy used and thereby save money.

The EPC is valid for 10 years, however, we recommend carrying out another certification being carried out if you make alterations to the property, only because things may have changed.

How do I get my EPC?

You will need a accredited assessor - for England, Wales and NI click here - for Scotland click here.

What will happen next?

You will receive a visit to the property in question. Data will be collected regarding the energy features, and then, using Government approved software, an Energy Performance Certificate will be produced.

An EPC will give the property an energy efficiency  rating from A (most efficient and desirable) through to G (least efficient).

I have my EPC - now what?

If there are potential buyers or tenants, depending on what you are doing, you need to have a copy available. If the property is being advertised, it will be necessary to leave a copy with the advertisers as well.

We hope you have found this helpful - Information is from Direct2Landlord - the competitive online letting agency, please check our site where you can Advertise a property for £39.

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Best options for Landlords

Choosing the best option for Landlords - Part I

Here at Direct2Landlord, we are often asked for our advice, knowledge and experience. We have put this together to benefit any that it may apply to. Hope you enjoy - Part II will follow shortly.

A Landlord has decided they need Letting agents for their property/properties. The questions arise, what next? Who should I choose?

The preferred method for making this kind of decision, is usually basing your choice on 'word of mouth'. A trusted recommendation is always a good starting point for Landlords. If you have not had anyone recommended to you, you have to look at the next best thing - a 'beauty parade' of your available options.

This is where a Landlord will pick a few they like the look of and then meet with these Letting Agents, most probably for the initial rental assessment to take place.

The Landlord will then be faced with the decision - who fits the bill? Please note, at this point, the Landlords decision should be based on a mixture of; the letting fees, the levels of service from the letting agent, how the Landlord perceives their working relationship potential, and finally, it will probably be down to how much you, as the Landlord, like them.

As the Landlord you should try to put yourself in your prospective tenants shoes.  Where will your tenant be looking for their next home? What age are they? Are they Internet savvy? Or are they the type that 'walk into the offices of the Letting Agents', as tradition used to be.

The value of the house should also have a bearing on where you place it. If this is a low cost per month rental option, you may not want to choose an upmarket Letting Agent.

If they cater for a wider audience, you may well consider them.

The rental assessment will give you, as the Landlord, an idea of the rental value. This can be useful for novice Landlords who may not be familiar with the Lettings market, or even for a Landlord who does not live in that area, and therefore does not know the local market.

For those with experience, they will know what rent they can achieve, and therefore the rental assessment will have little or no value to them.

Shortly, we shall release part II - here we will look at Marketing the property, Tenant viewings, Cost comparisons, Time frame, DIY management, best advice, management and other options.

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10 Things Every Landlord Should Know before choosing a Letting Agent

We are keen to help out every Landlord; we offer what we feel to be the best solution on the market. Coupled with our solution, is our knowledge, experience and advice. We would like to share this with you.

We will be releasing blogs over the coming weeks around the topic - '10 Things every landlord should know before choosing a letting agent'.

Below are the 10 topics:

1. Is the Lettings Agent a Landlord themselves?
2. How often does the Lettings Agent network and share knowledge and strategies with other active property investors?
3. How systemically streamlined is the Letting Agent's back office administration?
4. How much quality time can the Lettings Agent devote to you?
5. How Transparent are the Lettings Agent's services?
6. How digitally and socially connected is the Letting Agent?
7. What kind of structured advice does the Letting Agent offer?
8. Can the Letting Agent deliver a consistent nationwide service?
9. How easy is it to make contact with the Letting Agent?
10. Are they affordable?

Over the next few weeks, we will look at each of these topics. If you know anyone who this may be of interest to, please share this with them.

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All comments and feedback are welcome. You may want to subscribe so you do not miss any of the blogs that will be released.