There's cowboys in them there towns......

A good friend of mine has recently been discussing with me his unsatisfactory dealings with a certain local letting agent. Forget the fact that he missed out on a rental income to the tune of a few thousand pounds, his gripe is that he feels he was completely hustled by supposed ‘experts’.

'X ' As I will call him (he even looks a bit like a secret agent) had never let out a property before and having been talked the talk by the local agent, and having received a healthy (realistically overinflated) rental valuation, he saw no reason not to list with Agent B.

Although he was assured the market was as strong as ever, his property lay tenantless, managers wouldn’t answer his calls and viewings were scarce. I won’t name names when it comes to which agents did what, but you can probably make a fairly educated guess as to which agent was excited to get him on the books and then failed to ever deliver a viewing.

If you’re thinking of letting out a property, how can you avoid falling into the hands of misleading agents?

Well, a good place to start would be the fantastic list of questions that Which? have compiled.

They recommend you visit at least three agents and understand all their fees and charges before you committ to anything and if they can’t answer all your questions satisfactorily, don’t list with them. Not everyone’s out to hustle you, you will find a decent letting agent if you do your homework.

You couldn't do better than the chaps at Moray Rentals in my opinion - but then they always make sure I get a cup of tea and a slice of David's wife's Dundee cake :-)

What to ask:
· How many similar properties do you have to let?
· How many are not being let now?
· How long does it usually take from advertising to getting a tenant?
· Is anyone currently looking for my sort of property?
· What qualifications do your staff have in letting?
· Are you in a trade association? If not, why not?
· How are disputes between owners and agents settled?
· What happens about repairs in the home?
· If the agency handles repairs, am I charged cost price, or with a mark-up?

Plus anything else you think relevant to your situation.

Be careful out there, not all cowboy's wear Stetsons and ride horses !

Until the next time,

Mr Jackson.