Choosing a letting agent for your property can be difficult, as you need to find somebody who can be trusted to ensure the property is looked after as you expect it to be and that it is advertised well when it is available for rent.
While your face-to-face meetings with the agent will reveal a lot, you also need to look for a few qualities that tend to define lettings agents. If yours lacks any of these it may be time to start looking for a new one.
Local Knowledge
Any lettings agent you work with should have comprehensive knowledge of the property market on the national level, of course, but local knowledge is what is really going to count when it comes to getting your property rented out. Your agent should understand what types of property are in demand in the areas where they work and what factors local renters consider before moving into a property. This will inform the way the property is advertised.
Attention to Detail
Lettings agents are responsible for many things when they take control of your property and they must have excellent eyes for detail to ensure nothing is missed. This means they must be capable of spotting maintenance problems in addition to being able to point out the small changes landlords can make to their properties to make them more attractive.
Tenacity
Being able to locate potential clients is only part of the job of a lettings agent. Yours should be trying constantly to ensure your properties have tenants and that their needs are met. They will follow up on all visits and make the effort with the tenants that already rent from you. Laziness leads to mistakes being made that can affect tenant relationships and slow down the process of getting new tenants for vacant properties.
Presentable
Appearances count in the property industry, so your lettings agent needs to put forth a professional appearance at all times. This is critical when meeting prospective tenants, as a poorly-presented lettings agent can make the viewer uneasy about the prospect of working with them, as presentation is a reflection of the pride and respect the organization has for its own work.
Honesty
A key trait in all who work in property, honesty, and transparency ensures that all actions carried out in relation to the property are above board and that you are informed at all times. It also gives you peace of mind, so you can feel safe in the knowledge that your lettings agent is acting in your best interests. Be wary of any who try to baffle you with industry terminology or avoid pointed questions.
Technologically Adept
Technology plays a major role in the modern market, as lettings agents need to be able to advertise properties online as well as handle a lot of computerised paperwork. The former is particularly important because most people searching for properties will check the web before arranging any viewings. This means your lettings agent must be capable of representing you and your properties online as well as they do in person.
