why choose etimon? · 1- why choose etimon? choosing the right property agent to manage your...
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1- Why choose Etimon? Choosing the right property agent to manage your property is a must for any landlord. Etimon are
one of Scotland’s leading independent property agents with expertise in lettings, sales and
investments. We treat each landlord individually and will design a package of support to meet your
specific requirements. There are some key benefits that we provide to all our clients.
Our Expertise
We know the Scottish property market and
will ensure you receive the right level of
support and advice to generate maximum
yield value on your Scottish property. We are
fully trained to meet the ARLA, RICS and CIH
requirements.
Our People
Renowned for their expertise and dedication,
our staff are hand-picked from the very best
in the industry. We know English is not
everyone’s first language, so we offer foreign
language speakers to aid international tenants
and landlords.
Customer Service
Everyone you deal with at Etimon will ensure
you are kept up-to-date every step of the way
from initial marketing through to tenant
departure. Customer service is top of our
agenda and we ensure all our landlords
receive a personal and highly professional
service.
Property Management Services
We’ll look after all aspects of your property
from refurbishments to repairs, tenant
marketing to property checks. Whether you
have one buy to let property, or a large rental
portfolio, we are confident that our services
will not disappoint.
Tenant Selection
From families, young professionals, corporate
lets to international relocations, we attract
quality tenants from all walks of life and
ensure they have a quality experience while
living in your property.
Our Marketing
Your rental properties will enjoy superior
marketing in the national press, magazine and
local publications, along with exposure on
over 40 major property websites including
Zoopla, Lettingweb and Rightmove,
guaranteeing maximum exposure to quality
tenants.
“Best letting agency in Scotland! Etimon
property manage a very large portfolio that
my family own, they really look after our
properties and go above and beyond to get
tasks done that we require. They thoroughly
vet the tenants and are very strict with
tenants, this in turn means our properties are
well looked after, no damage is done and rent
is always paid in full on time. Well done
Etimon!”
Sofia Stellar, Private Landlord
Glasgow
2 – How should I present my property?
Whether it’s your own home or a rental investment, it’s important to think about the kind of tenant
you are trying to attract and present your property accordingly. We are happy to advise you on the
expectations of your particular market. However, as a general guide, when refurbishing an
investment property, you should consider the following
Professional Cleaning
Prior to occupation, all properties should be
professionally cleaned. When the property is
returned, the tenant is expected to do the
same. Any outside space should also be left in
seasonal good order.
Wall Colours and Flooring
We recommend keeping your options open to
appeal to a wider audience. Keep the decor
simple and neutral. Wooden or good quality
laminate flooring are very desirable and easy
to maintain.
Technology
Many tenants want properties that can
support the latest technologies, so it’s
important to ensure that any required cabling
is added during refurbishment.
Communal Areas & Facilities
Communal areas and/ or entrance hallways
should ensure a good first impression. Also
bear in mind the “kerb appeal” of the
exterior. Ensure various recycling facilities are
provided.
Furnished or Un-Furnished?
By taking a flexible view on this question, you
will reach a far wider range of potential
tenants. Simply furnishing a property won’t
necessarily affect the rental price, but the
quality of the furnishings certainly will. A fully
furnished property should have good quality
furniture, kitchenware, crockery, linen and
laundry facilities. An unfurnished property
should have working, safety checked
appliances and window fittings.
Kitchens, Bathrooms and other Rooms
Kitchens should be equipped with at least a
cooker, fridge/freezer and washing machine.
Invest in good quality appliances with long
guarantees. Bathrooms should have high
quality fittings and be well lit. Power showers
and fully tiled floors and walls are preferred
and good ventilation is essential. Choose
well-designed, good quality fixtures and
fittings throughout the property, that will not
date. There should also be ample wardrobe
space in the bedrooms.
3 - What are the legal safety requirements?
All landlords should ensure that they provide tenants with the highest quality accommodation, that
their property is well managed and that all legal obligations are being met. However, navigating your
way through the minefield of laws, regulations and best practice regarding safety can be daunting.
So what must you do and where do you start?
Gas Safety
If your property has a gas supply, you will
need to have a Gas Engineer carry out a safety
check on all gas installation and appliances
annually. This includes the gas meter, boilers,
heated water tanks, fires and cookers. You
must supply the tenant with a copy of the Gas
Safety Certificate (GSC) which is issued by the
engineer.
Electrical Safety
Fixed wiring (Electrical Installation Condition
Report or EICR) checks must be carried out at
least every five years.
Anything that is movable and fitted with a
plug should be on the PAT report. Everything
in the property which uses the electrical
supply must be on either EICR or PAT, unless it
belongs to the tenant.
Carbon Monoxide
Mains powered carbon monoxide (CO)
detectors must be fitted in any space which
contains a carbon based fuel appliance
(excluding cooking appliances) e.g. a gas/oil
boiler, gas/oil fire, wood burning stove or
open coal fire. There should also be one in any
bedroom or living room which is bypassed by
a flue.
Fire Safety
Mains powered smoke detectors must be
installed in the living room and all circulation
areas/hallways and a mains powered heat
detector in the kitchen. All alarms should be
interlinked. It is best practice to provide a fire
blanket and/or extinguisher in the kitchen and
these should be maintained and serviced
regularly.
Legionnaires’ Disease
Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that the
risk of exposure of tenants to Legionnaires’
Disease is properly assessed and controlled. A
risk assessment should be carried out and
regularly reviewed and control measures
should be implemented.
Furniture and Furnishings
To minimise the risk of fire, the Furniture and
Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
set out requirements for all soft furnishings.
It’s illegal to provide furnishings that don’t
comply. Each item of furniture or furnishings
must have a label attached to it stating
compliance with the regulations.
These guidelines apply to any property that is not a HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)
4 – How will Etimon Manage my Property?
Managing a property can be a full-time job which is difficult if you are already in employment or live
overseas. At Etimon we take care of all aspects of your property management requirements to
ensure you have complete peace of mind that your property is being looked after by our experts.
Comprehensive Management Service
Our property management team will take care
of every aspect of letting your property. From
ensuring annual safety inspections are
completed to 24 hour emergency cover, it’s a
solution for complete peace of mind. Tenants
choose to remain in properties for longer
when it is managed by a professional agent.
Furthermore, corporate tenants often insist
that the property is professionally managed.
Our complete service includes:
• Peace of mind 24 hours a day
• Preparing your property to let
• Meeting your legal safety
requirements
• Transfer of utilities
• No tenant contact required
• Excellent property manager to
property ratio
• Repairs carried out by vetted
tradesmen at competitive rates
• Deposit claims negotiated
• Client accounting and detailed
monthly rental statements
• Property inspected every 4 to 6
months
• Up to date market values provided at
time of renewal
Dedicated Point of contact
At Etimon we will provide a dedicated point of
contact who will manage all aspects of your
properties. And when that person is not
around, someone else within our experienced
team will look after you, ensuring you have
consistent service.
Safety Controls and Certification
As industry legislation increases on safety
requirements, you can be assured that our
team is on hand to advise on current safety
regulations around gas, electricity, fire and
furnishings, organising certifications where
required. We can also arrange the installation
of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Preparing your property to Let
We can help you with preparing your property
to let, this includes a full renovation if
required. We can guide you on how you
should present your property and get it ready
for renting.
Meeting your legal safety requirements
We only work with experienced and qualified
engineers, electricians and tradesmen. We
can help you get all the legal safety
compliance and certification in place.
Value for Money
Our property managers ensure that value for
money is offered at every stage. Many
tradesmen charge our clients at rates below
those available to members of the general
public.
Qualified Tradesmen
Contractors engaged on your behalf will need
to meet strict quality control criteria covering
everything from trade qualifications right
through to adequate liability insurance.
Transfer of Utilities
We ensure Gas, Electricity and Council tax are
correctly transferred onto each new tenant’s
name and tenants are correctly billed.
Deposit Deduction Negotiations
As your managing agent, we put a useful
distance between you and your tenant whilst
negotiations are carried out by us on your
behalf. Our goal is to manage this process in
the most effective and efficient way providing
you with a smooth amicable synergy
throughout tenancy negotiations.
Rent Collection
We have a dedicated accounts team who will
ensure your tenants rent is collected on time,
every month, taking the hassle away from
you. We will pay this rent direct into your
chosen bank account and provide you with a
rental statement.
Credit Control
We will manage your tenants to ensure they
pay on time, managing any bad debt or late
payments as part of this control process.
Property inspections every
4 to 6 months
We ensure your property is inspected every 4
to 6 months and any repairs identified,
working with you to create an action plan to
ensure these repairs are addressed and
managed correctly.
5 – How will Etimon Market my Property?
Having started out our business with our own ‘To-Let’ properties, we know exactly what needs to be
done to make a rental property stand out! It’s not just about listing the number of bedrooms and
size of the rooms. At Etimon we look for the added value features that make your property
marketable.
As well as promoting the properties on our
website, we also use a wide range of
marketing communication platforms including
social media, advertising To-Let boards and
exposure on over 40 major property websites
including for example Zoopla, Lettingweb and
Rightmove.
We have a database of over 5000 local
and international tenants all vetted
and looking for properties like yours.
So you know your property is in good
hands with Etimon.
We can advertise your property with these websites, publications and media
platforms:
6 – What are Etimon’s Levels of Service?
Whether you’re letting a mansion or a maisonette, it’s a working relationship between you, your
agent and your tenant. After Etimon finds your ideal tenant at a rental income that suits you, there
are three ways we can help:
1. FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
We’ll handle all aspects of your rental property, providing a full management service and letting
you step back completely.
2. LET AND RENT COLLECTION
The same excellent service as our let only package, but we’ll also collect rent on your behalf.
3. LET ONLY
Ideally for landlords who prefer to be more hands-on, we’ll market the property, verify tenant
credentials and handle the final paperwork, but let you take the lead on day-to-day
management.
Whether you own a single flat or a portfolio of properties we’ll tailor our service to suit you. All our
valuations are based on sound research and our fee structure is transparent; just one reason our
landlords keep coming back
7 – What are the Costs of Letting out my Property?
There are several costs involved in letting a property, both from a landlord and tenant perspective.
It’s important to factor in a contingency fund for the following:
Before you Let the property
• Redecoration & professional cleaning
• Furniture and furnishings
• Safety compliance: Gas, Electrical & Fire
safety
• Landlord Registration & EPC
From the start and during the tenancy
• Agent’s fees, depending on your level of
service
• Any ‘extras’ negotiated by the tenants,
such as furniture or equipment for the
property
• Check-in and inventory reports
• Maintenance and repairs
• Any void periods where the property is
empty
• Building and contents insurance for any
fixtures, fittings and furnishings you own
• Tax on your gross rental income (contact
your nearest Tax Enquiry Office for
information)
At the end of the tenancy
• Agent’s fees, depending on your level of
service
• Any ‘extras’ negotiated by the tenants,
such as furniture or equipment for the
property
• Check-in and inventory reports
• Maintenance and repairs
• Any void periods where the property is
empty
• Building and contents insurance for any
fixtures, fittings and furnishings you own
• Tax on your gross rental income (contact
your nearest Tax Enquiry Office for
information)
Steps involved in Letting your Property
As a new landlord, you need to ensure you have the right arrangements in place prior to a tenant
taking up residency. We’ve created a landlord checklist to help guide you. The Team at Etimon can
help guide you through every step:
1. Mortgage – Inform your mortgage lender that you are going to let out your property. -
You will need a mortgage consent form
2. Insurances - You need to ensure you have adequate insurance in place for the property
and its contents to ensure you are fully protected against any eventuality
3. Taxes – Check tax implications
4. Repairing Standards - A privately rented property must meet the Repairing Standard as
follows,:
✓ the property must be wind and water tight and in all other respects reasonably
fit for people to live in.
✓ the structure and exterior (including drains, gutters and external pipes) must be
in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.
✓ installations for supplying water, gas and electricity and for sanitation, space
heating and heating water must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper
working order.
✓ any fixtures, fittings and appliances that the landlord provides under the
tenancy must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.
✓ any furnishings that the landlord provides under the tenancy must be capable of
being used safely for the purpose for which they are designed.
✓ the property must have a satisfactory way of detecting fires and for giving
warning in the event of a fire or suspected fire.
✓ the property must have satisfactory provision for giving warning if carbon
monoxide is present in a concentration that is hazardous to health.
5. Repairs, Refurbishment and Decoration
- Prepare your property for renting, complete repairs and undertake refurbishments as
required.
- Decorate the property
6. Furniture and Appliances - install appliances and furniture (what you provide depends
on if you are renting the property furnished or un-furnished)
7. Safety Checks - There are several safety checks you should have in place to manage the
safety of your property and your tenant.
✓ For properties with a gas supply, a valid annual Landlord’s Gas Safety certificate
is required
✓ A PAT test (portable appliance test) is carried out annually on all portable
electrical equipment that is provided to the Tenant (does not include the
tenant’s equipment)
✓ An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is require every 3 to 5 years
✓ Provision of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This lasts for 10 years
✓ All furnishings must comply with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety)
Regulations 1988 Act
✓ Mains powered Smoke Detectors must be installed in the living rooms and all
circulation areas/hallways and a mains powered heat detector in the kitchen.
✓ Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in all rooms with gas and/or
solid fuel appliances.
✓ Conduct Legionnaires risk assessment
8. Maintenance checks - Prior to letting the property, ensure all assets are in good working
order, for example all chimneys are swept, boiler is serviced, tanks filled and light bulbs
working.
9. Professional cleaning - Organise to have your property professionally cleaned prior to
the tenant moving in. The tenant will be expected to leave the property in the same
condition when they exit the property.
10. Inventory Check-in - Organise a professional inventory of all the items in the property
and ensure the tenant signs a check-in report which records the condition of the
property and your assets at the time of moving in. Also remember to organise a check-
out on the last day of your tenant’s tenancy to record the condition of the property and
assets in their final condition.
11. Register as a Landlord - with ‘Landlord Registration Scotland’
12. Marketing your property - through all channels and conduct viewings. Erect a To Let
Board and advertise on all the major marketing websites for maximum exposure.
13. Find a Tenant - Identify a suitable tenant and conduct vetting process.
14. Lease Signing - Provide Lease and Tenancy documentation to tenant and have them
signed. There are a number of documents that will require completed as part of this
process. At Etimon we will ensure all documentation are signed and complete.
15. Rent and Deposit Collection - Collect tenants rental and deposit. Lodge deposit with
Safe Deposit Scotland and provide the tenant with the DAN number and confirmation
deposit lodgement.
16. Keys - You will be required to provide a set of keys for every tenant living in the property
and an extra set for Etimon if we are appointed as your property agent.
17. Tenant Information - Provide tenant with information on repairs, emergencies and local
amenity information.
18. Manuals - Provide copies of manuals for your tenants (washing machine, boiler, cooker
etc). It’s also helpful to provide a guide to local amenities such as doctor, dentist, shops
to help your tenant find their way around at the start of their tenancy.
19. Inform Council and Utility companies - Advise your local council and utility companies
that the property is being rented and a new point of contact will be provided to take
over payment of the bills.
20. Regular Inspections and Maintenance - Conduct settling in visit, 6 weeks into the
tenancy. And then every 6 months thereafter. This is vital to ensure the tenant is
looking after your property and also to ensure tenant does not have any issues.
21. Tenant vacates - Once the tenant wishes to leave, they must give the appropriate
notice. A Check out inspection must be carried out, and necessary deductions taken.
Remaining deposit is returned to the tenant via Safe Deposit Scotland the property is
prepared for Re-Letting and the full process starts again!
The above steps are a general summary of what is required when letting a property. The team at
Etimon can help you every step of the way and take care of everything. So you can sit back, relax
and see your rental coming in every month!
Investment Life Cycle
Putting your money into property is a popular investment choice. But what if you don’t know
where to start? Etimon is here to help with every step of your property journey.
Our range of services allows us to aid with every step of your property journey and our huge
database of potential clients, from tenants to investor landlords, allows us to maximise your
investment’s potential.
1. Source Property
Many Investors have turned to property as a profitable investment.
At Etimon, we track the market through our property search tools to identify properties that
will generate good rental values and an excellent investment yield during the period the property
remains in your ownership.
We will agree your criteria upfront and secure the best property for your investment at the best
price. We also check the long term valuation of the property with an independent surveyor and
engage a lawyer to handle all the legalities of the purchase.
Legal implications
We will guide you through the legal minefield of buying a property and signpost to professional
people to ensure your investment is viable. Overseas investors have a number of steps to go through
such as registering with HMRC, NRL (non-resident landlord) and Landlord Registration
Scotland. Etimon has a wealth of experience guiding investors through this process.
Our aim is to secure you the best property investment possible.
2. Refurbishment
We want to ensure you get the maximum ROI (return on investment) for your property so any
repairs or refurbishments required for the property after purchase can be managed by the Etimon
team. Using our network of experienced contractors and suppliers, we will ensure your property is
refurbished to the highest quality standard possible within your budget. We will agree a fixed price
upfront and complete the refurbishment within the shortest time period, ensuring you get your
property on the market as soon as possible.
We look at where we can add value to a property, adding rooms, moving the location of rooms, or
creating the illusion of more space and ensure that any renovations have building warrant
approval. Our refurbishment services include:
• Maintaining original features
• New kitchen
• New bathroom
• Decoration
• Flooring
• Central Heating
• Double glazed windows
• Rewiring
• Good quality furniture
Our aim is to ensure you receive higher rents for your property, increased value of the property
overall and a reduction in maintenance charges.
3. Finding the Right Tenants
Through our network of online sources and our ever growing database of tenant enquiries, we will
ensure we find the right tenant for your property investment. Through our property management
service we will look after your tenant so you don’t have to worry.
We will also put some checks in place to ensure both you and your tenants are covered in case any
issues arise:
✓ We vet every single tenant, check their references and obtain a credit check.
✓ We take a deposit from every tenant to safeguard against any damages or breakages. This
deposit is lodged with Safe Deposit Scotland throughout the term of the tenancy
✓ A full inventory is prepared and a check-in inventory signed by the tenant to ensure there is
a record of all items in the property, with an inventory check-out report created on
departure.
✓ We have a dedicated Maintenance team and Out of hour’s emergency contractors to ensure
tenants are well looked after and any property concerns rectified quickly and with minimum
fuss.
4. Manage Property
Our aim is to give you full peace of mind.
We can take the responsibility of looking after your tenant and property away from you, providing a
full property management service which relives you of being a full-time landlord and giving you the
peace of mind of knowing your property is being looked after. That’s why we look after several
hundred properties on behalf of local and international landlords in Glasgow and the surrounding
areas.
5.Grow Portfolio
Some investors are happy to only invest in one property. However, if you have the ambition to grow
your property investment portfolio, we can work with you to ensure you have the correct funding in
place to grow your portfolio.
Re-mortgage
Once you know how much equity you have to invest in a second property, a mortgage advisor will
help you work out the best buy-to-let mortgage options available to you to purchase additional
properties. We can help signpost you to the right people to manage this process.
Re-invest
Reinvesting this equity in additional properties is the next step. We can help you decide whether it
would be best to invest in one or more properties. We know growing a property portfolio is not a
quick process. Our expert team can help you set the processes in place to achieve you long term
goals.
6. Exit
As part of our ongoing service, we will re-evaluate your property on yearly basis to assess it
value. Once the market value of the property has increased to your expectation level, Etimon can
help you sell the property for the best price possible.
To find out more about our range of services and if our letting service is right
for you, contact our customer services team on 0141 218 4426 or email
info@etimon.co.uk
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