Loading...

The importance of having a pro-active letting agent

The importance of having a pro-active letting agent

Letting agents come in many different shapes and sizes today. From those that are agile and favour the face-to-face approach (like Storeys) to the big operations with offices all over the country, there are plenty to choose from. We have been letting agents in Hackney for some time now and, in our experience, whatever else you opt for in a letting agent it's important to find a business that is proactive.

Why do you need a proactive letting agent?

  • They will pick up the phone first. There is probably nothing more frustrating when you're paying a fee to someone to have to repeatedly call and email them to get a response. This is a common complaint among landlords, particularly when they are working with larger agencies and being passed around from one person to another. A proactive letting agent should call you with updates or information before you start asking for it - or at the very least be quick about returning those messages.
  • You'll get good tenants, not just any tenants. Lazy letting agents will fill properties with the first available tenants who come along and won't take much trouble to establish whether they're going to be a good fit. This can have all sorts of consequences, from eventual eviction proceedings to tenants who have constant issues because their expectations are too high. A proactive letting agent will take care to ensure that you get good tenants who are right for the property, as that makes life easier all round.
  • A proactive letting agent provides protection from tenants. Often, if tenants - or potential tenants - can't get hold of a letting agent they will take steps to find the contact details for a landlord. This could mean unwelcome contact and landlords being forced into discussions or negotiations that the letting agent should be handling on your behalf. This simply doesn't happen with a proactive letting agent who is earning their fee by dealing with tenant needs, questions and queries in a timely way.
  • Your property won't sit empty. Empty properties eat into cash flow and generate nothing in income terms. If you're not working with a letting agent who makes your property a priority then it could be sitting empty even during peak times, such as the summer months. A proactive agent will ensure that you don't miss out on opportunities to generate income and could make a big difference to your finances as a result.
  • Finding new and innovative ways to generate income. If you're working with a proactive letting agent then you have a problem solver on your side who will go the extra mile to find ways to make your property work. So, for example, your agent might fight tenants for short-term lets - or Air BnB - to keep generating income in between long-term tenancies.

These are just some of the reasons why a proactive letting agent can make such a big difference to every landlord's experience. We are proactive letting agents in Hackney and we'd love to show you how much better your experience can be - get in touch if you'd like to know more.

12 September 2019Written by Andrew Blythe

Hear what our clients have to say

Declan

Google reviews

Francesca

Google reviews

Services

Residential lettings
We pride ourselves on being genuine industry experts, providing a positive experience, from enquiry to after care. Storeys focuses exclusively on lettings, and we value properties, we don’t just list them. Knowledge and innovation mean we can be competitive on costs while also delivering an individually tailored service.
Property management
Storeys is a bespoke offering based on the fundamental principle of value for money – we want happy customers. Paperless tech and eSigning deliver efficiency and convenience, no high street office minimises costs. The result is a streamlined service nimble enough to tailor what we do to suit your needs.
Valuation
Aesthetics, natural light, building quality, and overall finish – these aren’t ‘extras’ in a Storeys valuation, they’re as much a part of the process as size, condition and location. We look at individual property potential, not generic criteria. Factors like space for modern living arrangements, such as flexible working, are incorporated too. Our valuations are all the more accurate and successful for it. There is a perfect tenant for every property if you know how to find them.
Short-term lettings
Providing value for tenants and continuity for landlords, Storeys short-term lets run from 4 weeks to 6 months. We work with major London relocation teams and a global contacts network to match international tenants to perfect London properties.
Vacant property Management
We can manage your vacant property in-between tenancies or refurbishment, giving you peace of mind that the property is being looked after and inspected on a regular basis.
Superior Marketing
There is just no comparison between static photos and VR when it comes to property marketing. VR allows tenants to do a virtual walk around and get a realistic feel for the property - their expectations are grounded in reality, and properly managed. This makes VR a very effective tool, not just for generating interest and viewings but also converting those to offers. That’s why we partner with VRPM to create a virtual reality perspective for every property we handle.
Airbnb Management
We can manage your Airbnb account and make sure each booking runs smoothly, keys are always available for handover and the property is ready for the next occupation. This can run very well alongside our short-term corporate letting service.
Rent Protection
If your tenant defaults on the rent, Storeys have you covered. We also cover your legal expsenses and pay you rental income if your property is vacant whilst we remarket for new tenants. Don’t worry Storeys have your back.*ask a member of the team for more info. This service is included for every Storeys managed property.
Right Move
Zoopla
The Property Ombudsman Lettings
TDS
CMP