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It’s possible that when your tenants move out, you’ll be faced with a long list of repairs and replacements. Even if all it takes is a fresh coat of paint or a few screws to secure some wobbly shelves, preparing the home for the next set of tenants may necessitate investing more time and money on your side. This can include the need to hire an inventory clerk.

Inventory and check-out reports, such as those generated by Looksy Inventories, are essential if your tenants are causing damage or loss to your property and leaving it unsuitable to rent. In order to avoid paying out of pocket, you may use the proof in these documents to legally keep some or all of your tenant’s deposit.

There are a lot of landlords out there who don’t know where to start when it comes to finding how to hire an inventory clerk and a company to handle their property management needs. Read on to find out more.

What Does An Inventory Clerk Do?

Before a home can be rented out, you need to hire an inventory clerk to meticulously document the property’s condition and contents. Whether they are individuals or part of a larger property management company, they provide services to clients.

When a renter moves into a property, an inventory clerk will document the current state of each fixture and meter reading. Afterwards, they will return to inspect the property towards the conclusion of the tenancy period. You might also want to hire an inventory clerk to carry out interim or mid-term inspections.

For the most part, the condition of the rental property when the tenant vacates determines whether or not they get their whole deposit back. When a tenant’s tenancy ends, the inventory clerk and the property management team will serve as unbiased witnesses to any changes within the property.

What Do Inventory Clerks Record?

An inventory report serves as documentation of the property’s condition at the beginning of the tenancy. In addition to the furnishings in the house, this covers everything from the state of the appliances to the condition of the windows, doors and locks to the ceiling and walls to the flooring and blinds.

As soon as a tenant moves into a property, an inventory should be agreed upon and updated, if required, by all parties involved. In order to establish that a property has been damaged and should be repaired from the tenancy deposit, an agreed-upon report will be necessary.

How To Hire An Inventory Clerk

Inventories are used on a daily basis by landlords and letting agencies. A new inventory report is needed for each new tenancy, and this report is often created by an inventory clerk. This person might either be employed by the rental firm or recruited on an independent contractor basis.

Inventory clerks can be found by contacting a lettings agency and asking about their methods, or by performing your own search. Search for inventory clerks in Kent or Sevenoaks or Bromley or Folkestone, and you’ll find Looksy Inventories – as well as in many other places in between. Get in touch today if you need to hire an inventory clerk; we can help you.

As a landlord or even as a letting agent, you might think that hiring an expert inventory clerk to carry out your property inventory reports is a waste of money. After all, you could do it yourself and not have to pay anything – it wouldn’t take long, and it’s just a box-ticking exercise, right?

Wrong.

There is a lot more to property inventory reports than ticking some boxes, and, when done right, it’s a long process, sometimes taking many hours for a larger property. Can you really afford to spend all that time in one house or flat when you have other things to do? Let’s look at exactly why outsourcing your inventory reports is a good idea, and you’ll soon understand why engaging Looksy Inventories to help you is the best – and most cost-effective – thing to do.

Why Outsourcing Property Inventory Reports Is Your Best Option

When a third party carries out your property inventory reports, they will be impartial, thorough, and professional. They are objective. This can be hugely important should anything have to go to adjudication.

Inventory clerks are well-versed in all scenarios and have extensive expertise. We know what to look for.

Expert property inventory clerks are focused on providing inventory reports, interim inspections, check-ins and check-outs, so we are specialised and adept at dealing with a variety of difficult and sometimes strained situations (especially at check out) that agency staff may not be equipped to handle.

Specialists provide high-quality, complete inventory reports that are highly regarded by legal organisations in the event of a dispute.

Inventory clerks have the requisite skills, aptitude, and training for the work, which necessitates a different set of abilities than an agency or landlord.

Inventory clerks are highly trained and work hard to ensure that there are no difficulties with the quality of the property inventory reports so that the adjudicators are satisfied.

Each inventory report may cost up to 50% more if performed in-house – inventory clerks save you time and money with their skilled service.

Professional inventory services reflect highly on agents and landlords and improve their image in the eyes of the general public and business customers.

Professional, complete inventory reports impress landlords and show that the agency is offering a professional service and trying to safeguard the landlord’s property by using the best-qualified employees to prepare and furnish these reports.

External inventory clerks provide agencies and landlords a competitive advantage by freeing up their time and money.

Contact Looksy Inventories Today

To discuss costs, book a report, or to talk more about what we can do, please don’t hesitate to contact Looksy Inventories today. We are ready to help you.

Landlords must understand what their tenants want in rentals. What attributes do renters search for in a property? What should landlords look for when buying a buy-to-let property? What turns off tenants?

Some landlords fail to understand precisely what tenants want, while some tenants struggle to locate a house that suits their requirements. In this post, we will discuss the top attributes that tenants look for in a rental and what landlords can do to increase tenant interest.

Location

People wanting to rent homes place a high value on location. Most people want to be near to local shops, facilities, and public transportation, as well as their employment.

Of course, if you already have a rental property, you cannot move it. When considering acquiring a buy-to-let property, landlords should consider the location as well as the sort of tenants it would appeal to.

Tenants prefer not to reside too far away from local facilities. This is particularly true if they do not have a car and transportation options are restricted. It’s crucial to have a supermarket, GP, pharmacy, and other services nearby, and school catchment areas are a key concern for families.

Because location of rentals is a major determining factor for renters, landlords should mention all surrounding facilities in the property advertisement description.

Safety & Security

Every tenant wants to feel secure in their home. Most individuals would not prefer to rent a house in a high-crime area, thus location and safety often go hand in hand.

Renters like the confidence of a functional security system with alarms and robust locks on windows and doors, in addition to the area’s crime rate. As a result, landlords must ensure that the rental property has an operational security system.

Landlords can make their tenants feel safer by installing CCTV, adding additional locks and a peephole to the front door, and ensuring all safety certifications are in place, in addition to having a functional security system.

A mid-term inspection to see the property is also suggested for landlords to check that everything in their property is safe and functional. This also allows the renter to address any questions or concerns they may have.

Outdoor Space

Many renters like having their own outside area in rentals, whether it’s a garden, patio, or balcony. If such possibilities aren’t available, being close to a neighbourhood park is frequently a huge draw for tenants, particularly those with small children.

Having outside space allows residents to enjoy the sunlight during the warmer months, hold outdoor gatherings for family and friends, and have a separate spot to relax in. Outdoor space has been especially popular during the pandemic since individuals were confined to their houses for so long and realised how crucial it was to have that outside space.

If the house has a garden, upgrading and enhancing it might help to attract more potential renters. This demonstrates to tenants that the landlord is concerned about the property and prepared to make adjustments. It may also boost the property’s value.

Open Plan Rentals

Open floor layouts are becoming more popular. Nowadays, many homes include an open-plan kitchen and dining room, which makes even the tiniest areas appear much bigger. This allows renters a lot more freedom, enabling them to use it as a dining room, lounge area, or even an at-home office space. Open-plan layouts are often suitable for student leases and HMO residences with community areas.

Landlords may want to consider demolishing a wall in their kitchen or living room to create a place for an open-plan space. If an open-plan concept is not a possibility, landlords should consider eliminating large pieces of furniture that may take up a lot of space in particular areas.

Parking & Transport Links

Transport connections are a key draw for renters, particularly students and commuters. Of course, you can’t modify the transportation options in your region, but you may emphasise them in your property advertisement. Transport connectivity, as well as the overall location, should be considered when acquiring a buy-to-let property. Nearby bus, subway, or tram stations may pique your curiosity, as will easy access to main roadways, particularly in commuter towns.

Having a dedicated parking place is essential for drivers. If landlords have the opportunity, providing renters with access to a parking area or garage would be much welcomed. This not only gives convenience, but it also adds security by enabling residents to be near to their automobile.

If you are a student moving away from home into leased housing, it can be both an exciting and daunting idea, and there is a lot to think about when selecting the perfect home for the next 12 months. University students and parents often assume that student living is the most cost-effective and socially good alternative, but they fail to consider the benefits of private housing. We give more information on renting a private residence, as well as the benefits of moving into private housing.

What Is Private Housing?

Private housing refers to a property that is held by a landlord – either a person or a property business – and is rented out to tenants. Tenants will often engage through a letting agency operating on behalf of the landlord or directly with the individual landlord.

Costs & Budgeting

Because you have the ability to tailor your expenses to reflect how much you approximately use, living in private housing may result in lower utility costs. Your provider will assist you in determining the best bundle depending on each individual’s daily use. Living with your friends could also help you save money on expenses and help you budget. Remember that full-time students are free from council tax, but you must notify your council that you are qualified in order to prevent getting an unexpected charge.

Bills are included in the rent for some homes for university students, which can be extremely reassuring. You won’t have to worry about finding the lowest energy provider or the best internet packages; all you’ll have to think about is your rent in this kind of private housing.

Location

When initially browsing for somewhere to live, it’s normal to get drawn in by the cheap costs for student accommodation and become carried away with arranging viewings, but if the property is miles away from university, you’ll spend a significant amount of money and time on the commute alone. It may have an impact on your social life since your friends may be unwilling to travel the lengthy distance, and you could feel excluded from the spontaneous nightlife. You will also need all of the time you have due to your university timetable. Often, there will be private housing available to rent near university campuses, shops, and entertainment in a variety of pricing levels. All it takes is the correct search.

Who Will You Be Living With?

Uncertainty about who you will be living with can be frightening. When you move into private housing, you have the option of living alone or choosing who and how many people you want to live with. This can make starting life at university a lot easier.

Quality Of Private Housing For Students

The standard of student housing for rent has evolved throughout time. In contrast to the typically antiseptic atmosphere of student halls, many landlords provide a contemporary, safe, and homey ambiance. You may frequently discover houses with a lot more character, and you may also be able to customise your home to your preference (subject to the landlords approval).

It’s crucial to emotionally prepare for moving. To move is to make a plan. It is to make a list, make a decision, coordinate, sort, and manage. But more than this, no matter how excited you might be to do it, it’s also to uproot, to search through forgotten items, to relive memories, and finally to pack or give them away.

Moving is both physically and emotionally demanding. You’re employing muscles you’ve forgotten about and organising massive quantities of data. But, in the middle of it all, you’re also swapping a location where you have a plethora of memories for a place where you’re likely to have none. You’re giving up a known history in exchange for an uncertain future. You’re exchanging walls that have seen birthdays, anniversaries, first steps, new friendships, amazing dinners, fresh flowers, tiny moments, and final encounters for walls that have no value. This is not easy, at least not for most people. This is why it’s so important to emotionally prepare for moving.

So here’s a list of the best methods for dealing with emotions when moving.

Say Goodbye

Spending time with family and friends before going away is the ideal way to say your heartfelt goodbyes and emotionally prepare for moving. Organise a goodbye party, invite your friends over to watch a sports event on TV, or play a card game. Or why not take them out to a good restaurant for dinner, to see the newest blockbuster, or just to have a long walk in the park? These golden hours with your loved ones are the ideal time to warn them of the impending shift, exchange contact information, and plan when, where, and how often you will meet again.

It’s also necessary to say farewell to your favourite spots since you may not be able to see them again for years. Take one final trip around your neighbourhood or to your favourite sites – simply try to recapture the positive memories associated with each location. Hopefully, these condensed unforgettable mental pictures can come in handy later on while you’re attempting to acclimatise to your new surroundings.

Get Plenty Of Rest

Being well rested is essential for coping with emotional stress and will make you feel a lot more emotionally prepared for moving. Make every effort to plan ahead of time and obtain at least eight hours of sleep. This is an important aspect of being emotionally prepared. There’s no need to add to the burden by being fatigued. Make sure you know when the moving staff will arrive so you can set an alarm and be prepared.

Take Care Of The Little Things

It is often the small things that wear us down and make us more vulnerable to high levels of emotional stress. So, the day before, fill up all of your vehicles with fuel. Make sure all of the documentation you need is in a secure location where you can easily access it and where it won’t be mistaken for rubbish or placed in an inconspicuous box. Keep your home and car keys in the same area to make it easier to find them. Do as much cleaning as you can ahead of time so that you have one less thing to worry about at the end of the move. Having those items taken care of will help to lessen stress on moving day.

Moving is not always easy on the emotions, but with little mental preparation and these ideas, you can start to reduce the stress and emotionally prepare for moving.

Winter is here, and with it, as many landlords are aware, comes the season of boiler troubles. With energy costs growing at an alarming rate (global wholesale gas prices have grown by an amazing 250 percent since January 2021), it’s time for everyone to ensure that their properties are operating as effectively as possible and that everything is in working condition before the big freeze. In this way, landlords can protect their property as much as possible.

Taking proactive actions is always preferable to dealing with issues as they arise, and everyone wants happy renters. Furthermore, private rental prices in England increased by 1.5 percent, 1.2 percent in Wales, and 1.6 percent in Scotland in the year to October 2021, so in order to maximise your rental income, your property should be as appealing as possible – and in winter, that means making sure they are warm and comfortable. Here’s a brief checklist of items to think about.

Have The Boiler Serviced

This should be a yearly occurrence since it is an excellent means of detecting problems before they occur and preventing irate tenants who are left without heat on the coldest day of the year. When the heating system is put into hibernation throughout the summer, difficulties might arise when it is turned back on. A normal yearly servicing is usually less expensive than an emergency plumber call-out and landlords are always liable for boiler upkeep and repair. Landlords can protect their property by putting this in their schedule.

Bleed The Radiators

Regular maintenance improves performance and keeps temperatures consistent across a property, helping landlords protect their property even more. Also, ensure that extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms are operational – damp and mould issues may arise if they are not.

Have Chimneys Swept

Chimney sweeping should be another yearly occurrence if landlords want to protect their property. Carbon deposits from open flames or wood burners can accumulate fast, and chimney fires are a genuine danger. Keep in mind that chimney sweeps might be quite busy at this time of year. Check that the smoke alarms are also operational. Hard-wired smoke detectors are preferable to battery-operated ones since they are more dependable and cannot be deactivated.

Insulate Internal Pipes

Ensure that any exterior pipes, as well as pipes in the loft, are properly insulated. If the property is left unattended for any length of time during the winter, there is a genuine danger of pipes freezing, which can be easily prevented by wrapping pipes in foam sleeves, but can cause hundreds of pounds of damage if neglected.

Insulate Windows And Doors

Although double glazing should be fitted as standard if landlords want to protect their property, draughty windows and doors may be easily sealed with tape as a do-it-yourself project. If the loft isn’t insulated, it should be a first concern.

Check The Roof

Look for any loose or missing tiles and get them replaced before tenants notice any leaks. To avoid clogs, gutters must be cleaned of leaves and debris. While you’re at it, cleaning front and rear gardens and walks will make the property seem immediately more inviting to current and possible new renters.

What is your greatest dream? Everyone has a dream, and if yours is to own and run a hotel, you might think that it will always be just that; a dream. However, it could be a possibility if you can secure the financial lending for it. That may sound as though it is easier said than done, but what if you could do it? What if you could realize your dream? It may not be out of reach – here are some of the things a lender will want to see and know before loaning any money to you. Are you ready to take the next step? 

Your Costs 

Of course, the most important thing that a lender will want to know is the costs involved. There is the initial purchase, but there are also many ongoing costs such as hotel linen, cleaning, staff, food, entertainment, security, a website, marketing, and so much more. You need to be able to show that you have thought about them all and understand the outgoings. You also need to have calculated potential income so that you can offset the figures against one another and come up with the profit that you are hoping to make. 

As well as this, you should consider whether any changes or improvements will need to be made – this is especially true if you are buying an older property or if you are buying a building that has not been used as a hotel before. 

A business plan will help you with all of this when you want to buy a hotel. Most companies, including the hotel industry, cannot thrive in an internet age without a sound marketing plan. Relying on recurring business is not regarded as a viable long-term strategy, and lenders would be wary if this were the case.

The Initial Down Payment 

It is highly unlikely that any lender will pay you one hundred percent of what you need to buy the hotel in the first place. Instead, they will lend you a smaller percentage, and you will need to pay a down payment to cover the rest. This is standard practice and is the same as buying any property, except that the down payment for a hotel is sure to be substantially higher. 

The money can come from your savings, a remortgage on your home, or you could speak to friends and family to help you. It might even be possible to raise money through crowdfunding or by finding an angel investor. Selling a current business to pay for a new one could be a risky strategy, but if you can sell it for a larger sum than you need for the hotel, you will have money to live off while the new business grows. 

Hotel Experience 

In many cases, a lender will want to see that you have previous hotel experience before you buy a hotel. They will want to know that you can run a hotel efficiently and that you already understand exactly what it takes. If you do have previous experience, perhaps because you worked as a hotel manager in the past, this is an easy box to tick, but if you are starting fresh, what can you do? 

The best thing to do is to have a good manager on board. If you can show that you already have an experienced person ready to start work and provide evidence to the lender that they have been successful in the past, they will be more likely to lend. 

A Suitable Property 

The lender will also want to know as much about the property you are hoping to buy as you can tell them. Is it in good repair? Is it in a good location? What has it been used for previously? Explaining all of this and determining exactly why you feel it would be a good choice to become a successful hotel will help them make their all-important decision. 

The location of any hospitality or tourist firm will be critical to its success when you buy a hotel. A lender will look more favorably on a hotel company seeking financing if its proximity (for example, near transportation hubs, office buildings, and entertainment centers) is recognized as a key factor in affecting its profitability.

Occupancy Rates 

The profitability of a hotel is heavily reliant on occupancy rates. If revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rates (ADR) are high, this will undoubtedly benefit lenders.

If you are purchasing an established hotel company whose RevPAR is presently lower than it should be, a lender will want to know what your business strategy is to increase this number in order to increase the hotel’s profitability. 

Demand for rooms has rocketed in recent months, coinciding with a huge shortage in the number of rooms available in the UK. Unsurprisingly this has resulted in many tenants struggling to find places to rent. In fact, a recent SpareRoom survey of over 6,000 renters found that 96% of Brits are struggling to find accommodation at the moment*. Interestingly, we saw the opposite happen last summer, with landlords desperate to fill empty rooms but tenants reluctant, or simply unable, to move.

The increase in demand has been driven by people coming into the market, rather than moving within it. According to the same poll of over 6,000 renters, many are moving back out of parents’ or friends’ houses, flatsharing after renting on their own or owning a property, and overseas students (and students in general) are starting to return to cities. This results in a lot of people looking for rooms without vacating their current property, putting pressure on the market.

SpareRoom’s research reveals exactly where these people are moving from:

–           Another Flatshare – 29% 

–           Parent’s home – 25%

–           Outside UK – 14%

–           A friend’s house/flat – 10%

–           My own rented properly (not shared with anyone else) – 6%

–           Partner’s house/flat – 5%

–           Student accommodation – 4%

–           A property I own – 1%

–           Other – 6%

Flatshare site SpareRoom surveyed over 400 landlords to find out what has caused this drop in supply**. 

59% of landlords said they have fewer rooms to fill than this time last year, and almost half (43%) of those with fewer rooms said they’d filled all their rooms and they were now tenanted. But this isn’t the only reason why landlords have less availability currently: 

• 14% aren’t expanding their portfolio due to high house prices
• 10% aren’t expanding due to uncertainty in the market
• 9% have sold one or more of their properties
• 8% can’t develop properties due to a lack of tradespeople or materials
• 6% are planning on selling up and leaving the market

We asked landlords with fewer rooms which issues were currently affecting them the most – surprisingly the pandemic wasn’t a leading factor. Please see the results below: 

• Increased legislation – 26%
• Fewer tax breaks for Buy to Let – 22%
• The threat of further legislation – 22%
• Covid affecting their lettings business – 11%
• Shortage of tradespeople – 10%
• Shortage of building materials – 5%

Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom director comments: 

“There’s no doubt Covid hit the rental market hard. Last year it was landlords struggling to fill rooms – this year it’s tenants struggling to find them. But the pandemic isn’t what’s keeping landlords awake at night – it’s government policy.

Recent legislation and tax reform made it clear that the government wants to steer the private rented sector away from an over-reliance on smaller investors. More legislation seems inevitable. Although the Tenant Reform Bill has been put on ice until 2022, many landlords are concerned about what it will bring. What tenants want most is stricter regulations for dealing with rogue landlords, so it’s highly likely the sector will see further change in the coming months and years. Hopefully whatever the government chooses to do will target the real problem landlords and get them out of the market, making it a better place for landlords and tenants alike.”

You’re looking forward to your trip. Soon, you’ll be boarding an aircraft bound for an interesting destination! But, before you go, remember to perform the following three things:

Make Provisions for Expensive Hiccups

Perhaps your holiday Airbnb arrangements fall through and you need to get a hotel room immediately. Perhaps you’ve misplaced your luggage and need to buy some clothes and toiletries to get you through the rest of your journey. Your trip may not go as well as you would want, and you must be prepared to pay for any unexpected complications.

You should set aside a little emergency money before going on vacation to minimise financial stress. This might assist you in dealing with snafus that aren’t in your agenda.

Safeguard Your Home

If your house will be unoccupied while you are away, it will be exposed to home intruders or thieves. You don’t want to return from your lovely vacation to discover that your rooms have been ripped up and all of your things have been stolen.

What can you do to safeguard your home when you’re on holiday? Here are some actions you can take:

All of the doors and windows should be locked.

Remove any extra keys you’ve stashed outside. Burglars will check beneath the welcome mat and inside the mailbox.

While you’re gone, ask a neighbour or someone you trust to pick up the mail and water your lawn.

Keep some lights turned on. The power expenditures will be worth it for the added security.

Don’t publicise that you’ll be leaving your house vacant. Many individuals who post about their travels on social media are unaware that they are informing the world that their property would be simple to get into. This does not preclude you from sharing your good experience with your friends and family through social media. You should only write about your experience once you’ve returned home, not in real time.

If you’re very concerned, you may always ask a friend or family member to house-sit while you’re away.

Prepare for Lost Luggage

It is conceivable that you will arrive at your destination, but your baggage will not. If this occurs, you may go to the baggage claim window at the airport and notify them that your luggage are missing. They will attempt to monitor your baggage and see where they ended up. It will take some time. You may not receive your luggage back for a few days, if at all.

So, what can you do to prepare for this? Travel insurance is available via your credit card company or a travel agency for your holiday. If you permanently lose your baggage, the insurance may compensate you for the value of the luggage (up to the policy’s maximum).

You may also fill your carry-on luggage with stuff you’d need if your main suitcase were to be lost or stolen on the way to your destination. If you’re at a loss for what to bring, take a look at these items to put in your carry-on before you drive to the airport. When the rest of your stuff goes missing, you’ll be glad you packed wisely.

Missing baggage, house invasions, and unexpected bills are the last things you want to deal with while on vacation. Follow these pointers to avoid having these unpleasant discoveries mar your vacation.