Practical Advice To Help You Profit From Rental Property
10 Tips On Holding Viewings
If you are using a lettings agent to market your property, arranging viewings one of the activities that
would normally be carried out by the agent on your behalf. But if you are a landlord who is letting privately, it is an
activity that you will need to arrange yourself. If you are unable to be present at a viewing, you should
make sure that anyone you arrange to show the house is aware of all the details regarding the property.
Qualify the applicants when they first contact you. When potential tenants contact you have some questions ready so you
can find out if they meet your basic requirements. For example if you are seeking a female tenant for a room in shared accommodation you do
not want to spend time showing the property to a lady with a sixteen year old son whom she expects to stay with her. Similarly, if you
are seeking a minimum six month contract you do not want to spend time showing the property to someone who is only expecting to stay for a
couple of months.
Take some personal details of the potential tenants. It is useful to have a simple
form prepared with the details you think are important. You can refer to this later when choosing a tenant - if you have a number
of interested people. and set a time for them to come back for a proper viewing.
Make appointments to show people around to suit your circumstances. If you
have lots of spare time you may be able to show people as soon as they contact you. If your time is short you may want to fix a couple
of times every week when you are available to do viewings e.g. Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. All potential tenants will have to
arrange to see the property at one of these fixed times.
Give them space. Whilst you are showing people round, take note of what they say and
do, but do not follow them too closely. Allow them to make their own way through the house at their own pace. Don't rush them and
try not to be right on their shoulder at every turn, as this may put them off. Be available to answer any questions, but don't be in their
face.
Don't leave any valuables in obvious places. or you may find that you are moving house
with Similarly, there's no accounting for opportunists. a slightly lighter load than you would like. If the viewers want to have a quiet
moment of discussion, lock them in the bathroom to talk, for safety's sake. No don't do that, it was a joke. But the point is, you don't know
who you can trust these days, and you are asking for trouble if you leave strangers unattended in a room where you keep your jewellery not
all that well hidden.
Have a copy of all the particulars to hand. This can be a useful aid memoir. It should
include any facts that are relevant to the property about which the prospective tenants might ask. Many tenants will wander round in virtual
silence, but others will be well armed with dozens of questions to fire at you, so you need to be on your toes.
Point out the the good features of your home. Make sure that your prospective
tenants have noticed the nice view of the garden from the kitchen window, the spacious bedrooms, for example; and anything else which might
be attractive. Allow them to notice for themselves the less attractive features of your property.
Give the viewers time to discuss the property alone before they leave. Resist the
temptation to pressure them for a decision whilst they are viewing the property. You will probably be able to gauge their opinion anyway.
If your estate agent is not conducting the viewing, it can be a good idea to make sure that someone is
in the property with you when the hopeful tenants come to view your home. It's a sad fact that there are dangerous people around these days,
so there's no point taking any chances.