When it comes to viewing a property, first impressions matter for possible tenants so having all your ducks in a row will increase your chances of securing the property.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Be Organised and professional
Whether you are a first-time renter or you’ve been through a few properties in your lifetime, there are certain things that you need to do when looking to rent a property. From providing information about guarantors to taking off your shoes, being organised and knowing what to expect is the best way to guarantee your rental of a property.
So, here are a few ways to make an excellent first impression.
-Be polite and friendly
-Always show up on time, don’t leave them waiting
-Dress tidily
-When sending emails, always do a once-over for spelling mistakes.
2. Take off your shoes
When viewing a property, taking your shoes off without being asked will indicate to the agent or Landlord that you care for the property and have a level of respect that they are most likely looking for.
It’s the small things!
3. Ask responsible questions
Asking responsible questions will indicate that you are a responsible person. Prepare a few questions ahead of time. When viewing a property, it can be pretty overwhelming, and you’ll probably forget all the important questions, so write them down before the viewing.
Here are a few good questions:
-What band of council tax is the property located in?
-When do the bins get collected?
-Until what time can I use the washing machine?
4. Have your paperwork ready
If there is a long line of people interested in a specific apartment or property, the Landlord or agent may choose the first person who meets their criteria. As a result, prepare the information they’ll most likely require ahead of time. So that you appear professional, type everything up. Information needed:
-Addresses from the past and present
-Prior tenancies’ start and end dates, as well as contact information for previous landlords
-Employers you’ve worked for in the past, as well as their addresses and phone numbers
-Dates of your employment with them, as well as the amount of money you were paid.
-Names and contact information for up to three personal references – personal references are not required by all landlords, but it’s a good idea to be prepared.
-A letter of recommendation from your previous Landlord or hall of residence, as well as a letter of recommendation from your employer. (If you don’t have time to get these, just write down their contact information.) If you don’t have an employer, you can show your income and where it comes from with copies of your bank statements.)
Anything else that demonstrates a strong track record of paying your rent on time, such as a printout of a prior or current rent account or bank bills indicating that you pay the whole amount on the same day every month.
5. Line up a guarantor (Just in case)
Can you offer any details about your possible guarantor, such as their work and whether or not they own their property, if you already know that this Landlord or their agent will require a guarantor?
6. What to Do if You Can’t Get a Guarantor
If you know you won’t secure a guarantee, consider whether you should try to persuade your Landlord to waive the requirement. See What options do you have if you can’t find a guarantor? for additional information.
At Mortoo Homes, we deal with the whole tenant screening process. Potential tenants will be met with our kind and polite services while our landlords can relax knowing that everything is being done correctly and to a high standard.