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News & Blog
The latest property news & information from a trusted source.
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Landlords
Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property
Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property As all private landlords know, keeping your rental property looking sharp can be a job that falls further down the to do list every time the lease is renewed. So, to help ease this burden, we have pulled together a few top tips on how to get the most out of your rental property: Top Tip 1- Improve the appearance of the front of the property. Whether it’s a house or a flat, improvements can be made to be sure the front of your property is in tip top condition. This could mean spraying some weed killer down your front steps or drive way or even just getting a new door mat for your communal hall. Whatever you do, first impressions count and small changes can be crucial for demanding higher monthly rent from your tenants. Top Tip 2- Clean, clean and clean some more No one wants to move in to a dirty home, let alone pay a premium for it! After each tenant leaves, make sure the property has been thoroughly cleaned. This responsibility normally lies with the tenant however it is always a good idea to get professional cleaners in after the lease is finished, or if you don’t mind and want to save yourself a bit of cash, do it yourself! Whatever you choose, make sure your tenants are moving in to a home where you would be happy to live in. Chances are, they are more likely to keep it that way! Top Tip 3- Rent review Charging too little or too much rent can be a problem. Make sure you are keeping up to date with the value of your property by making a valuation appointment with your letting agent. This is paramount to ensure you are not being undercut. However, it is a risk, so make sure you weigh up all the options before committing. Top Tip 4- Maintenance Check the general maintenance of the property regularly. This can avoid small problems becoming much larger problems, and probably save you some money in the long run. Having regular inspections means that you are more likely to spot issues such as damp or wear and tear which your tenants might not pick up on. Top Tip 5- Add special extras Finally, if your property is in a competitive market, you may want to think about adding that little something extra to add that luxury touch. This can be anything from high spec kitchen appliances like kettles, toasters and microwaves to built-in surround systems like Sonos if you are really splashing out. Whatever you do, remember, the more you put in, the more you get out!
Hints & Tips
Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget
Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget So, you want to live an Instagram-able champagne lifestyle but you’re a student. You’ve got books to buy, rent to pay, bills, food… we get it. It also doesn’t help that on your downtime you scroll through social media to find a plethora of posts from your […]
General
The impact of Brexit on the Scottish Property Market
The impact of Brexit on the Scottish Property Market As things stand, the Brexit deadline has been extended until October 31st, with no clear progress as of yet on what terms the UK will ultimately leave the EU. As might be expected, this Brexit deadlock has made uncertainty the watchword of the day and, much […]
HMO Properties, News
Meet Carolanne Waters: HMO Specialist
Meet Carolanne Waters: HMO Specialist Name: Carolanne Waters Job title? HMO Specialist What your job entails? I arrange House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Licences for landlords that want to rent out their properties to 3 or more unrelated persons in the one flat. I liaise with Glasgow City Council, Fire Scotland and Licensing to ensure […]
Landlords, Letting
The Danger of Unqualified Letting Agents
The Danger of Unqualified Letting Agents Is your letting agent qualified to manage your properties and ensure you meet your obligations as a fit and proper landlord? Let’s hope so, as the protection of tenants is a high profile cause for the Scottish Executive. Time and time again, we discover when taking on new landlords […]
News
What’s the outlook for the Scottish property market? January 2019
What’s the outlook for the Scottish property market? January 2019 The end of 2018 saw much fanfare in the press about the Scottish property market outperforming the rest of the UK. Glasgow and Edinburgh both saw growth greater than anywhere else in the UK, outside London. Both Scottish cities saw average house price growth of […]
Buy To Let, HMO Properties, Investment, Letting, Student Accommodation
Become A Parent Investor With Cairn
Become A Parent Investor With Cairn For many, when their children go to university or college there are only a few options open to them; continue to have them live at home, have them register for a space in the student halls, or look for a private rental property they can stay in while in […]
News
10 Years of Home Reports in Scotland
10 Years of Home Reports in Scotland Home Reports have been a well-known part of Scotland’s property landscape since December 2008. These reports provide some of the most essential facts about the quality of a home to ensure buyers and sellers are fully informed before entering any negotiations. Home Reports were first introduced to improve […]
Guides, News
How can your garden grow (your house value?)
How can your garden grow (your house value?) We Brits love our gardens. So much so, Zoopla has recently reported that we are willing to pay a huge £27,000 premium to buy a property with a garden and a sizeable £243 a month extra in rent. Those in London and North East England are spending […]
