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Published: 23 September 2021

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LETTING GO: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO SWITCH MANAGING AGENTS

How do you feel about your current managing agent? If you're reading this, perhaps you have some doubts.

Whether your buy-to-let is for additional income or your long-term financial freedom, it's vital to have complete confidence and comfort in your choice of letting agent. From the moment you first ask them to find you a tenant, and throughout their time looking after your investment, you should feel protected and prioritised by their abilities and actions.

Feeling disheartened about the management of your property can come from any number of reasons, and it usually boils down to one or more of:

- poor value for money

- excessive void periods and loss of rent

- continually finding troublesome tenants

- overcharging for repairs

- unnecessary expenses incurred

- inadequate upkeep & maintenance

- unhelpful or rude attitude

- failing to carry out inspections

- lack of communication

- chaotic compliance and paperwork.

These are all valid concerns, so if you think it's time to change your letting agent, follow our tips for your next best steps.

If you own a buy-to-let property in Liverpool and are looking for a new managing agent, we can help you make the switch smoothly and swiftly. Just pick up the phone to 0151 280 4047 or send us a message at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get your fresh start underway

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Published: 23 September 2021

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PRETTY VACANT: HOW TO STYLE YOUR BUY-TO-LET WITHOUT USING FURNITURE

Empty rooms can look a bit sad, and there are plenty of uninviting photographs out there of vacant buy-to-lets. It's a constant challenge for landlords and letting agents when the demand from tenants is for unfurnished property, but when homes never look their best when they're empty.

With no comfy couches or well-dressed beds to draw someone's attention, your property needs to work harder to secure the best tenant and the highest rent. The good news is that with surprisingly little time and expense, you can turn empty rooms into welcoming spaces without buying any furniture.

By giving your buy-to-let a few clever styling touches, you can improve its visibility, increase its popularity and maximise its income and performance. More than that, by reducing the potential for wear and tear and keeping your tenants for longer, you'll minimise changeovers, void periods and tedious admin.

Whether you're in the middle of a purchase, halfway through renovating or simply between tenancies, follow our tips to give your empty buy-to-let all it needs to stand head and shoulders above the competition.

If you're a landlord with a rental property in Liverpool, we're here to help you get it looking the part. Call for a chat on 0151 280 4047 or send us a message at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for some expert input.

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Published: 14 September 2021

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GROWTH OR YIELD: WHICH BUY-TO-LET STRATEGY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

"At least one in six people on The Sunday Times Rich List owes their wealth to property or the world of home ownership in some way". Those are the words of Robert Watts, the man who compiles The Sunday Times Rich List.

Building a successful lettings portfolio is an exciting route to financial freedom, and picking a direction for your buy-to-let business ultimately comes down to two choices: capital growth or rental yield.

When it comes to choosing between them, you'll find strong proponents of both whenever you ask the question. For some, capital growth is the be-all and end-all of being a landlord, while others extol the benefits of immediate income and higher yields. You'll also find many successful landlords operating in each camp, with some even managing to combine both strategies.

Comfortable retirement, financial freedom, a change of career, supporting children, expanding a business, earning passive income and being your own boss are all motivators for becoming a landlord. Whatever your goals, building a sustainable portfolio of buy-to-let homes can make them possible.

Whether you're looking to increase the size of your lettings portfolio, add a second strategy to your current one, or even if you're just about to go looking for your first buy-to-let investment, this week's blog has something for you.

If you'd prefer to talk in person about the market for rental property in Liverpool, call us for a chat on 0151 280 4047 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get all your questions answered.

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Published: 14 September 2021

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HIRING CONTRACTORS: A LANDLORD’S GUIDE TO FINDING TRADESPEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST

Whenever you ask someone if they know a good contractor, you’ll never be far from a tale of woe: the plumber who never turned up; the electrician who bodged the job; the builder who overcharged and left a huge mess.

It’s taken us many years to build a circle of reliable contractors, and we’ve had plenty of upsets along the way. Unfortunately, even the good ones go bad, get too busy, or simply disappear, so we keep our eggs in more than one basket to ensure we have a backup plan.

One thing that makes the life of a managing agent easier is that we look after multiple homes. Our calls take priority because of the amount of work we provide through regular maintenance, compliance checks, general repairs and, of course, the odd emergency.

It can be more challenging to build close relationships with contractors when you’re a landlord with a single rental property or a small portfolio, but with our checklist of tips, you’ll find it easier to spot the ones you can trust.

And if you’d rather someone else did all the legwork, why not ask us to take care of everything for you? Call us on 0151 280 4047 or drop us a line at YOUR EMAIL to see if we’re a match.

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