Furnished or unfurnished – which is best?
A higher percentage of property in our area is unfurnished but some tenants need a furnished property.
Usually means a minimum of carpets, curtains, lampshades and cooker, although the remaining kitchen “white-goods” i.e. fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine are often included.
Usually means fully furnished with beds, wardrobes, sofas, chairs and tables, soft furnishing such as rugs, curtains, carpets, cooker, “white goods” and a selection of kitchen equpiment (all in good working order). Personal items such as clothes, photos and ornaments should be removed.
These will need to be of good standard and durable quality also conform to the fire regulations, easily cleaned, look modern and stylish – co-ordinating colours and textiles etc.
In both cases remember to keep it fresh, neutral and spotlessly clean – Follow these simple rules and you will attract good tenants.
In our opinion, it is essential to get a professional and independent inventory taken at the start and end of each tenancy. We find that this generally alleviates any problems at the end of the tenancy and we can make the arrangements for you. Since the advent of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) in April 2007, tenants can now legally challenge deposit deductions for dilapidations without cost to them. Having a strong chain of evidence to support the deductions is now mandatory if landlords are not to be left with the bills for such damage.
You will have responsbilities for providing these, see more details in our Landlord FAQ section where there are guides you can download.
It is important to keep an open mind about your potential tenants and do not set unrealistic expectations as this can reduce your target market. We will talk this through with you to evaluate what factors are most important to you. It is your balance of tenant selectivity and market size that matters and we will be sympathetic to that, acting on your behalf at all times. We carry out referencing on all applicants to check their suitability, history of renting and ability to afford the rental payments. Taking this information into account and considering other factors – such as whether the tenant is looking for a long-term home or if they are moving into the catchment area of a certain school, both of which indicate they will stay for several years – we will help you to select the right tenant.
An estimated 48% of people in the UK own a pet, so ruling them out as tenants can mean you will be missing out on a selection of good tenants. By considering tenants with pets you will open your property up to a much larger audience and accepting a cat or a dog is well worth considering. If you accept pets you can arrange to be covered by an increased tenancy deposit and add special clauses within the tenancy agreement.
We will be able to advise you on the perfect asking price for your property based on factors such as its location, size, décor and the current market conditions but often tenants wiil want to negotiate the price. You need weigh up the pros and cons – sometimes it is not worth holding out for the price you want but to accept a lower offer to get the property rented rather than have it empty. We will advise you whether to hold out or not, but we always respect it is your choice.
Based on the size and situation of the property, we can advise on whether you may require regular maintenance such as a gardener or cleaner and whether to include this in the rental.