HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LETTING AGENT?
Two things which we believe you need from your letting agent and we can happily provide are:-
1. Local knowledge ensures you find the right people for your property at the right price, helping you find the 'best' tenants, not just the first ones to apply!
2. Legal knowledge to help you and the tenants avoid any potential problems and stringent codes of practice to ensure you receive a quality service.
How many agents really have both?
To help you find the best agent to deal with your property requirements you might wish to consider the following.
- How do I ensure my agent is fully regulated?
Did you know that a Letting Agent (even one that is part of an already established Estate Agent) does not legally have to be qualified or regulated in order to be able to act on your behalf?
This can inevitably lead to clients being disappointed with the service they receive and cause many landlords to find themselves inadvertently on the wrong side of the law. Thankfully by choosing a regulated agent who is a member of the following organisations you can be assured that they are bound by stringent codes of practice, and therefore are much better placed to help protect both landlords and tenants.
RICS - Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
NAEA - National Association of Estate Agents
ARLA - Association of Residential Letting Agents
OEA - Ombudsman of Estate Agents
- How do I know my agent is actually qualified to know what they are talking about?
Some letting agents have no actual qualifications at all, and although many agents have managers who are qualified you need to know, what happens when they are not there? Check that the lettings team as a whole all have the relevant qualifications.
- How much regular contact should I have with my agent?
Some landlords do not want to be contacted by their agent every week and some landlords want daily updates. In order to ensure you are getting the best service enquire with the valuer how often you would like to be kept updated. Any good agent will call you as often as requested to give you updates on marketing and viewings whilst your property is on the market.
- How does my agent ensure they are update with current legislation?
Any regulated agent will have set procedures in place to ensure they keep staff up to date with training and qualifications. A good agent will also ensure that they keep you updated as to legislative changes throughout your tenancy.
AT MONKS WE'VE GOT IT COVERED
Monks have made every effort to ensure our staff are as qualified as possible to deal with your property. All staff have either qualified or are in the process of qualifying with ARLA and have years of experience of working within the rental sector.
Monks Chartered Surveyors are also members of RICS and OEA
By being members of the 3 most influential organisations in the Lettings industry you can be assured that you will be offered a first class service by a company that has actively ensured all its staff are up to date with current legislation and are fully qualified to deal with any queries you may have.
MONKS offer free no obligation valuations to everyone!
At the valuation the valuer will provide you with information regarding
§ How much rent the property could achieve
§ Assured Shorthold Tenancies (What it means for you)
§ Landlord and tenant obligations
§ Insurance, Mortgage restrictions (if applicable) and tax implications (if applicable)
§ The best marketing strategy
§ The service offered and fee structure
MONKS valuations team can also offer specialist advice on
§ Rent Reviews
§ Lettings Law and Legislation
§ Serving Notices
§ Deposit Returns
§ Overseas Landlord Tax
§ Houses of Multiple Occupation
§ The Deposit Scheme
We also make no extra charge for the following:
§ Free distinctive To Let Board
§ Free Internet Advertising on Rightmove and Monks own website
§ Free Accompanied Viewings
§ Free Newspaper Advertising
§ Free Property Consultation including advice on how best to present your property
§ Free check our report and liaison with the tenant on both managed and non managed tenancies.
§ Free deposit registration.
Using Monks will not only ensure you receive a quality service but will mean you get a quality tenant that you feel comfortable with to live in your property.
Don't forget, your property is probably the most valuable asset you have; make sure you let us look after it for you!