Valuation

The first step for most people is to understand the true value of the property they wish to let, its individual strengths, and the likely timescales they may be looking at based on current market performance. At Hamiltons Estate Agents, our locally based, experienced property valuers offer a free, no obligation, factual, and accurate appraisal of the current market value of your property. We will also advise on compliance and legislation issues and any preparation that may be required prior to letting. 

 

Instructing The Agent

With the valuation completed, you are now in a position to instruct us to market the property, whether that be now or in the future. Once you verify your desire to go ahead, the valuer will organise an appointment with you to professionally photograph your property, walk you through all the necessary paperwork, regulatory requirements, and our marketing agreement. Bearing in mind the importance of presentation, we will give you guidance, if necessary, on how to present each room to ensure our wide-angle camera captures and presents your property at its very best.

 

Marketing

Once you have instructed us by signing our marketing agreement and we have taken photographs, you will then be in a position to receive prospective tenants. Appointments to view your property are all accompanied by one of our trained negotiators, taking the focus off of you and onto the property. As established estate agents, we always have an extensive list of tenants that we will present your property to immediately, so viewings can, and often do, occur very quickly after instructions are received.

 

Feedback

We pride ourselves on our conscientious sales management and will keep you regularly appraised of your property's performance in the marketplace. We will also relay, as promptly as possible, the feedback from potential tenants who have viewed your property.

 

Offers

All offers we receive will be promptly relayed to you. Our trained negotiators, working on your behalf, will then help guide and advise you as to the way forward, with a view to always achieving for you, our client, the strongest tenant at the best possible price.

 

Let Agreed

Once a price has been agreed, we will take a holding deposit from the tenant and get them to complete and sign a Tenancy Application form. We provide a full after-let service and will therefore now begin chasing through the transaction and advising you and the tenants of the relevant steps you need to take, and give guidance and advice where appropriate. The let at this stage is still subject to satisfactory references and credit score conducted via Rent4Sure, an outsourced referencing agent.

 

Inventory

We advise all of our landlords to allow us to organise our outsourced inventory company, Hinch Property Management Services Ltd, to produce a comprehensive inventory, including photography, in order to professionally document the exact condition of the property at the start of the tenancy. This is critical, as deposits are held in protected schemes, which require evidence-based reports in order to find in a landlord's favour if dilapidations occur. This is a one-off charge, as they are updated for free at the end of each subsequent tenancy.

 

Referencing

 

We are always trying to find the strongest tenants, and to this end, all our tenants are comprehensively referenced.

 

Tenancy Agreement

 

This is the legally binding agreement containing all ongoing terms and conditions that will exist for the duration of the tenancy. This will be sent/emailed over to you for approval and signature (subject to your tenant passing referencing). Following this, an appointment will be arranged for your tenant to visit our offices and sign this endorsed Tenancy Agreement.

 

Rent and Deposit

 

Your tenant will be required to provide the agreed sum of rent and deposit before taking possession of the property. Rent is to be paid monthly in advance, commencing on the first day of the tenancy and then on the same day each month thereafter by bank account standing order.

 

The deposit is held for the full tenancy against loss, damage, or charges payable at the termination of the tenancy. Whilst this is usually the equivalent of five weeks' rent, as members of the Deposit Protection Service, all security deposits are sent away and held in accordance with Financial Conduct Authority client money regulations. It is returnable at the end of the tenancy, subject to a final inspection of the property. If a tenant does not agree with the findings of the check-out, they can put the deposit into dispute with the Deposit Protection Service. It is at this point the independent inventory becomes invaluable in securing any claim in your favour.

 

Check-In

 

We will arrange to meet your tenant at the property, go through the inventory with them, take meter readings, and check them in. Congratulations, your property is now officially let.