So far 2018 has been hectic or what…??!!  Time seems to be running through my hands like water.  As a landlord and a property manager my daily workload is varied and that’s what I like about my life (afterall, as the saying goes – ‘variety is the spice of life’).  The planned stuff mixed in with the unplanned keeps a working day interesting.  However, if you are prone to anxiety attacks and don’t like uncertainty of a day in the life of a property manager, then perhaps you would be best advised to seek out the assistance of an expert…

So, the short answer to the question posed by a friend of mine (who is also a self-managing Walsall landlord) is that landlords don’t need to use the services of a Walsall letting agent.  Many Walsall landlords decide to be hands-on and undertake the whole lettings process themselves.

I started investing in Walsall buy-to-let property nineteen years ago in 1999 and I was keen to learn and control the whole process myself.  I was wary of entrusting others with what was ultimately my financial future and my thoughts were that no agent could possibly care about my Walsall property as much as me.

I appreciate other landlords may share a similar viewpoint, wanting to do all the work themselves.  I am happy to point this person in the right direction, ensuring they approach the magnitude of letting a property in the right way.  For example, I would strongly advise joining a landlord association, which goes a long way to providing you with the tools and documentation required to do the job, alongside keeping you updated on the latest and fast changing environment of legislation.  Here is a free landlord guide to all my Blog reading friends which you can download and keep (if you want a hardcopy just get in touch).

Ashmore Lettings Landlord Guide

One major difficulty for today’s private self-managing landlord is finding the best tenants in the quickest time possible.  Traditional classified adverts have largely made way for an increasingly online society, whereby tenants (particularly the better quality ones) are now using the property portals (e.g. Rightmove) and social media (e.g Facebook) to find their next home.

To help connect Walsall’s DIY landlords with tenants, I set-up a Facebook group called ‘Walsall Houses To Let, For Sale or Wanted’, which is free for everyone to join and participate in (search for it on Facebook and click ‘join’ or use this link if you’re viewing this article online https://www.facebook.com/groups/walsallproperty/).  It allows landlords to post details and photos of their available properties and for tenants to post their requirements for property, in and around Walsall.  Many local service providers such as Surveyors, Cleaners & Removal companies are also advertising in the group.  Clicking on the picture below should also take you directly to the group.

For many though, Walsall buy-to-let is seen as an investment rather than a second job.  These landlords appreciate that a (good) Walsall letting agent is better equipped to take on the process as they often don’t have the time, knowledge or inclination to do the work themselves.

For these people, who often lack the hours required to conduct viewings, undertake thorough tenant referencing and keep on top of the admin involved in managing a rental property, whilst staying up-to-date with the ever-changing legislation, they may want to use a letting agent.

A competent Walsall letting agent who is diligent, pays attention to detail, treats each property as if it were their own, carries out a rigorous referencing process, makes their charges crystal clear from the outset and deals with maintenance issues quickly…should be well worth the fee they charge to a landlord who simply doesn’t have the time or desire to take this on.

If you’d like to talk to me about how to do the job yourself or whether I, an experienced landlord and property manager can help you with the management of your property, please feel free to give me a call to see if we are a right fit for each other on 01922 311016.

Email: salekm@ashmorelettings.co.uk