Are you a landlord in NW London and unhappy with your letting agent?

Many landlords choose to put up with poor service from their letting agent rather than deal with the hassle of switching agents in the middle of a tenancy. Most will wait for their current tenancy to end and then make a move. Others won’t even do that, fearing that all letting agents are the same and that changing will be more hassle than it’s worth. This apathy is what bad letting agents rely upon, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

Not all letting agents are the same! We believe that a letting agent should provide you with excellent service, expert knowledge, professionalism, and helpful advice from when they first start finding you a tenant to when that happy tenant leaves.

We believe that happy tenants make happy landlords. The happier your tenant is with their home, the more likely they are to stay longer, thus avoiding any rental voids, and the more likely they are to take good care of your property.

If you are unhappy with your letting agent’s service, then it is highly likely that your tenant is too.

So what can you do? The first thing is, obviously, to talk to your letting agent. Discuss your concerns and ask them how they will be dealing with them and what they will be doing in the future in order to avoid these concerns arising again. This conversation may be enough to alleviate your worries. Just remember that actions speak louder than words. If you feel you are simply being placated each time you raise an issue, then it may be a sign that it is time to change agents.

Before that, though, you will need to check the contract that you have signed with them. Is there a notice period that you need to give or a fee that you have to pay in order to cancel the agreement mid-tenancy?

Once you have found this out, everything else is easy. Choose the new letting agent that you would like to take over managing your property. Don’t forget to check reviews and get recommendations from people you trust.

Once you have informed your current agent that you intend to change agents, your new letting agent can take over. They can collect all the paperwork and arrange for the name of the managing agent to be changed on the tenancy deposit scheme.

If you are changing your agent in the middle of a tenancy, you should give your tenants a call to assure them that it won’t affect their occupancy at all. Then your new agent can pop round to meet your tenant, do a quick property inspection, ensure that all paperwork is up-to-date and give them the new bank details that they will need to start sending their rent to.

That’s it; everything changed. It’s much easier than most people think it will be. Then you can relax knowing that your property is being looked after, and you no longer need to worry about it.

If you are a landlord and are not 100% happy with the way that your letting agent in NW London is managing it, then give us a call on 020 7759 2199 and we will be delighted to discuss how Vita Properties can help you make renting out your property stress-free.

Whether you are looking to sell your property or simply wish to make your home look more inviting to visitors, the very first thing you should consider is often the one most people overlook. They are so busy thinking about their interior decor and the tidiness of their homes that they often forget that the very first thing that people see is the front of their property. If your home’s kerb appeal could do with being spruced up but you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry; we have a few tips that will help you turn the front of your property from drab to fab in no time.

Front garden

If you have a front garden, then ensure that the grass is neatly mown. Clear your path of weeds and use a pressure washer to make it look its best. If you have borders, make sure that they are weeded and plant some nice flowers to help make your home look visually attractive.

Front Door

If the paint is starting to peel off of your front door or the hardware, like the handle or knocker, are looking a bit old and unloved, visitors may get the impression that the rest of your home is uncared for too. Treat your door to a fresh coat of paint and a shiny new door handle/knocker and your door will go from creating a sense of foreboding to being a welcoming entrance.

House number

Make sure that your house number is clearly visible. This will help both visitors and delivery drivers! If your house number is looking a bit old and tatty, consider replacing it with a shiny new one that reflects the care you take of your property.

Windows

Clean windows not only maximise the amount of natural light that you get inside your home, but they also affect the feel of your home from the outside. Clean windows make a home look cared for, and a loved home will always have more kerb appeal than a neglected one.

Exterior Lights

Many potential viewers will do a drive-by viewing before deciding whether to view the inside of your property. Due to working hours, most of these will be done in the evening, and most guests to your home will also visit in the evening, so ensuring that your exterior lights are all working is essential to make sure that your home is bathed in welcoming light and not shrouded in darkness.

Gates, fences and hedges

Check that your garden gate and fence are in good condition. Oil the hinges and check that the latch is in good working order. Replace broken fence panels and neatly trim any hedges.

Garage

While your visitors/viewers will not be entering your property through your garage doors, they do affect the first impression that they will have of your home, so make sure that they are in good condition and consider sprucing them up with a fresh coat of paint if necessary. Potential buyers will want to take a look in your garage, so make sure that it is clean and tidy.

If you would like more advice on how to improve your NW London property’s kerb appeal, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 020 7759 2199 or send us an email to enquiries@vitaproperties.uk  and we will be delighted to help you.

There are many reasons why people downsize in NW London. Selling your home and buying a smaller one is known as downsizing. If you are considering it but are still unsure if it is the best choice for you, we have listed the top five reasons why people downsize below.

Maintenance

The upkeep of larger homes is much more labour-intensive than that of smaller homes. This includes both the weekly cleaning and basic maintenance in addition to repairs. Perhaps you are discovering that you are less mobile than you once were, or maybe your priorities have changed, and you now place a higher priority on spending time with family and friends than on carrying out home maintenance. By choosing to downsize, you can spend less time maintaining your home and more time doing the activities you enjoy.

Space 

Families need more space as they grow, so you’ve probably moved around a lot over the years to make room for your growing family. However, after your children have grown up and left the nest, you could start to feel as though you are rattling around in a large empty house with numerous unoccupied bedrooms. It might be time to think about downsizing if you have more rooms than you know what to do with.

Health

Your health may be suffering as a result of having to maintain such a large home. It’s also possible that you have developed mobility problems and are having trouble navigating your house, even with modifications. In addition to being simpler to maintain, downsizing into a home without stairs can help with or be a good plan for any future possible mobility issues.

How do you feel while you are at home?

Your home should make you feel content, secure, and at ease. If your house doesn’t make you feel these ways, it’s time to start thinking about moving. This is especially true if staying at home makes you feel depressed, isolated, or afraid. Even if relocating won’t necessarily fix all of your problems, a new beginning in a new area might present you with the chance to meet new people and feel safer.

Bills

Costs increase with the size of the property. You may be considering downsizing to lower the size of your bills and make your monthly outgoings more manageable due to the dramatic increases in energy costs and the rising cost of living. Alternately, you might find that your outgoings have begun to exceed your incomings if you’ve recently retired or if you or your partner have started to cut back on working hours. Your bills may become easier to manage if you downsize.

Choosing to downsize can be an emotional decision. If you would like to have an honest and sympathetic discussion about whether downsizing is right for you please give us a call on 020 7759 2199  or send us an enquiries@vitaproperties.uk and we will be happy to help you reach the right decision for you.

Home staging is the process of getting your house ready for a prospective buyer to view. Setting the scene can help potential buyers view your property in the best possible light. It is intended to draw attention to your home’s strengths rather than mask any flaws.

When staging their homes, people frequently make a few big mistakes. Here at Vita Properties, we have identified the top three home staging no-nos: 

Old-fashioned or worn-out bathrooms and kitchens

Bathrooms and kitchens have the power to make or break a sale. The expense may be putting you off renovating these rooms before you move, but potential buyers will also be apprehensive about the cost of doing them up. They might even cause them to worry about whether other areas of the property have been neglected. It is a good idea to prioritise updating these rooms before putting your property on the market because no amount of artfully positioned plants or tastefully organised cookware can make outdated or worn-out kitchens and bathrooms look better.

Defective Flooring

Rugs are excellent for unifying the decor in a space or separating areas in a multipurpose room. However, they are useless for covering up flooring issues. The majority of flooring problems can be felt when stepped on, so adding a rug to cover them up can appear dishonest and turn off potential buyers.

Rugs might, to some extent, help to make an ageing carpet look better, but realistically, they will not be able to entirely cover up a worn-out or unclean carpet. Having your carpets steam cleaned can help if you can’t afford to replace them.

Undesirable odours

No matter how spotless or tastefully designed your property is, if it smells terrible, most people will be put off. It is best to take care of any lingering aromas like pet odour, cigarette smoke, or other unpleasant odours before you begin having viewings. No amount of plug-ins or scented candles can effectively mask odours that are already there, and they may even create an unpleasant combination of scents. If you want to get the best price possible for your property, choosing to have your furniture, carpets, and rugs professionally cleaned can be a very valuable investment.

It’s crucial to take a critical look at your home when you are preparing to put it on the market. Identifying any areas that need a bit of sprucing up or that could be enhanced with a little bit of staging can make a real difference to both how long it takes for your property to sell and its sale price. We know how hard it is to view your own home through impartial eyes, so we are always happy to come out and give you our professional and tactful opinion.

If you are thinking of putting your home in NW London on the market please do give us a call on  020 7759 2199 and we will be delighted to assist you.

Over pricing

Zoopla has conducted research on the effect of the initial price properties were listed for on their final sale price. They discovered that properties that were overpriced can take on average two months longer to sell than properties that start with a realistic sale price.

One of the key filters on property websites is price, so if your property is overpriced, fewer people are going to see it and those that do will be comparing it, likely unfavourably, to others in that price bracket.

Inevitably, you will have to lower your price as your property remains unsold. Buyers, however, are always more interested in seeing properties that are new to the market, as they believe that there must be something wrong with properties that have been on the market for a while.

Over personalised

You are selling your buyers their future home. If you have covered the walls with posters or personal photos consider taking them down. That way, buyers can see the potential of a room without being overwhelmed by your personal belongings.

Neutral tones

When you put your property on the market you need to remember that if your taste is rather eccentric, it can delay your property selling and maybe even lower the price you eventually get for your home. Buyers like properties that they can put their own stamp on. If you have any particularly garishly decorated rooms, do consider redecorating in neutral tones to increase your chances of a quick sale.

Take children and pets out

Potential buyers want to be able to look around your home in peace. Being trailed by children and pets, especially if they are allergic to or terrified of your four-legged friends, can not only make them feel uncomfortable but will also ruin their opportunity to look at your home properly.

Clean and declutter

Dirty houses immediately make a bad impression, and clutter can make even a large house feel claustrophobic. Take some time to declutter and clean your house. Cleaning windows can increase the amount of natural light entering your home; if it is evening, turn on your lights to create a warm glow. Making coffee and baking bread during viewings is a cliché, but the smell of furniture polish and fresh flowers is an easy way to make a home feel loved and cared for.

Choose the right estate agent

Choosing the first estate agent who comes to value your home or selecting an agent simply because they suggest the highest price can lead to problems further down the line. Take time to ask several agents to value your home and discuss with them why they think your property is worth the value they have suggested. Ask for examples of other local properties that they have sold in recent months, the prices they have achieved for them, and the length of time that it has taken to sell them. Reviews from past clients are invaluable when choosing an estate agent to trust to sell your property.

If you are considering selling your property in NW London and would like to know more about how we can help you, please give us a call on 020 7759 2199 or send an email to enquiries@vitaproperties.uk.

Purchasing a buy-to-let property can be an excellent and rewarding investment. If you choose the correct property, then a good long-term income from your investment is nearly guaranteed. However, as with all investments, there are always risks. To try to mitigate these, here are a few things that you should bear in mind when looking for your perfect buy-to-let property.

Know your target market

Who is your target market? If your target market is students or young professionals, you need to keep in mind their budget and ensure that you do not purchase a property that will be too expensive for them to afford. Remember at all times when viewing potential properties that you are not looking to fall in love with a property for yourself. Buying a rental property should be a decision made with your head, not your heart. Having said that, it can often help if you try to view a property through a potential tenant’s eyes, as that will allow you to see the things that might put a tenant off of your property.

Location, location, location

Look at local amenities and transport links and choose an area that will be attractive to your target market. For example, students will need to be close to their lecture halls and local amenities. Being within walking distance of local restaurants and bars would make your property even more attractive to them. Families, on the other hand, will be interested in the catchment areas of the local schools and how peaceful the area is. It can be wise to invest in areas that you know well, as your knowledge can help you select a tenant who will enjoy living there. Remember, happy tenants equal long-term renters, which means fewer rental voids!

Go big?

Smaller properties often have fewer rental voids than larger properties, as it can be harder to find tenants for larger, high-rent properties. That is not to say that you should not invest in a larger property, but you must be especially aware that if you do, you should take care to ensure that it is both attractive to your target market in terms of the make and type of property and in a good location for them.

Do your homework

Property prices rise and fall. Large profits can be made from rental income when interest rates are low, but rising interest rates can be a cause for concern for landlords. Make sure that you are aware of current trends in the market and keep on top of them even after you purchase your buy-to-let property in order to ensure that you are aware of and therefore can prepare for any upcoming issues.

If you are considering purchasing a buy-to-let property in NW London and have any questions or would like to join our early bird list to become one of the first to find out about our new listings then please give us a call on 020 7759 2199 or send an email toenquiries@vitaproperties.uk and we will be delighted to assist you.

The rising cost of living is affecting everyone, and online forums are buzzing with tips on how to reduce your outgoings. If you need some money-saving tips, then look no further. We have rounded up our favourites here.

Don’t leave devices on standby
‘Vampire devices’ are estimated to cost the average household £147 a year.

LED bulbs
Switching to LED bulbs may be an expensive upfront cost, but they can use up to 85% less energy to run than a traditional 60W bulb. They also tend to last significantly longer, so they will pay for themselves in months.

Use a comparison website
Check that you are on the cheapest energy tariff possible by using an online comparison website.

Smart thermostats
These automatically turn your heating down when you leave the house, so you can avoid paying to heat your home when no-one is there. 

Don’t use your tumble dryer
Take advantage of the warmer days to dry your washing outside or invest in a heated drying rack for rainy days.

Nighttime savings
Check to see if your energy company charges less for energy used at particular times of the day. Many companies charge less for energy between 10pm and 5am.

Don’t put too much in
It might seem like a sensible idea to put as much in your washing machine or tumble dryer as you can to avoid having to run it a second time, but if your machine is too full, it will not only struggle to adequately wash or dry your clothes, but it will also use more energy to run as it has to work harder.

30 degrees
Your washing machine can use up to 50% less energy when it is run on a 30-degree cycle instead of a 40-60 degree one, and experts say that your clothes will be just as clean.

Eco cycles
These do take longer, but they are more energy efficient.

Dryer Balls
These separate the washing inside your tumble dryer, which allows the air to circulate better. This, in turn, helps the water evaporate quicker.

Look down
Most supermarkets stock cheaper versions of items on the lower shelves, so make sure that you always look down.

Look for yellow stickers
Supermarkets often reduce the price of stock that will shortly be out of date throughout the day. If you are undecided about what to have for dinner, this can be a great way to get a bargain.

Batch cook
Batch cooking saves energy as you cook several meals at once in your oven. Use your microwave to reheat these meals, as it is much more energy efficient to reheat food in there than in the oven.

Just a cuppa
Only put as much water in your kettle as you need, so that you are not wasting energy boiling water you won’t use. Use your kettle to boil your cooking water before putting it in the pan, as it will use less energy than a hob to bring the water to the boil.

Bulk up
Use frozen vegetables to bulk up recipes that contain mince. Lasagne, shepherd’s pie, and spaghetti bolognese all work well with 50/50 quantities of mince and frozen vegetables, and it may even encourage your children to eat more vegetables.

If the rising cost of living is making you consider downsizing in NW London then please do give us a call on 020 7759 2199 or send us an email to enquiries@vitaproperties.uk and we will be happy to help you to come to the best decision for your family.

According to Which?, 28% of people experience a property purchase falling through. So here are our top tips on how to keep the house-buying process progressing smoothly so you can avoid it happening to you.

Avoid joining a chain if you can!

This applies to your choices as both a buyer and a seller. Once you become part of a chain, you are subject to any issues, such as buyers pulling out, in the chain. Many of us do not choose a property with our heads but instead, let our hearts make the choice for us. However, if your heart happens to choose a property without a chain, then your head will definitely thank it for it as it can save a lot of headaches!

If you are lucky enough to have multiple offers made for your property, choosing the one that has no chain can turn out to be a savvy decision for the same reason.

Set a realistic timescale

Make sure that you have a discussion shortly after your offer has been accepted about your preferred timescales. While you may need to accept that buying and selling properties may take longer than you would like due to the complexity of the process, it helps if everyone is working towards the same date as it tends to focus minds.

Be organised

Make sure that all of your paperwork is in order so that you do not cause any delays. It can be particularly helpful to make sure that you have all of your paperwork to hand so that if a query should arise, you won’t have to delay responding while you find it. Making sure you are easy to get hold of can also mean small queries can be answered quickly, avoiding any hold-ups.

Make sure you choose the right estate agent

Estate agents are not all the same, so beware of selecting your agent based purely on their fees. Instead, select one based on their experience and ability to help keep your house sale moving. Looking at reviews is a great way to find out how an estate agent has handled previous house sales. It is also important when you are selecting an agent to make sure that you are on the same wavelength and get along. Remember, the way they treat you is also how they will treat any potential buyers.

Part of our job is to help progress your house sale and chase things up where necessary. We liaise with the buyer, seller, and solicitor and ensure your house sale and purchase go through as smoothly and stress-free as possible.

Think outside the chain

If something goes wrong in your chain, consider selling and renting a property to avoid losing your buyer. This also puts you in a strong position when you find another property to make an offer on, as you will then be chain-free.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you sell your property in NW London, please give us a call on 020 7759 2199 or send an email to enquiries@vitaproperties.uk.

All landlords want a good tenant. Even better is a good tenant who wishes to rent your property for a long time as it means you won’t be faced with rental voids or the stress of frequently having to find new tenants. Long-term tenants also tend to take better care of properties as they are more likely to treat them like their homes rather than as just temporary accommodation.

So how can you find your perfect tenant? Here at Vita Properties, we know that the best way to attract your ideal tenant is through targeted marketing and consistent good service. So what does that mean?

Identify your perfect tenant

A listing is just like a dating profile. If your ideal tenant finds the listing for your property online and doesn’t like the look of it then they won’t bother to consider it. So first take some time to think about who your ideal tenant is and then consider if there is anything you can do to make your property and your online advert more attractive to them.

Location, location, location

Highlight the proximity of the local services and attractions that your ideal tenants would use. For example, if you would like to rent to students then mentioning the distance to the university would be a good start. For families let them know which school’s catchment area your property falls within and for young professionals focus on distance to transport links and local nightlife.

Take an objective look

Try to see your property through the eyes of a potential tenant. Is your property in need of a fresh coat of paint or are there things that you have been meaning to fix but haven’t got around to yet? Things like this can be a red flag for a tenant as it may give them the impression that you are a neglectful landlord.

Research

Look at similar properties in your area to ascertain what your competition is offering and make sure that you are not trying to set your rental price too high in comparison to them. Good tenants always have their pick of properties so do not price yourself out of their search by setting your rent too high. It can also lead to it taking longer to find tenants so the rental void may cancel out any gain you make from the higher price.

Choose your letting agent carefully

If you want good, long-term tenants then choosing the right agent to manage your property long-term is as important as choosing an agent who will be able to market your property well and find tenants fast. The key to getting long-term tenants is to treat them well and if your managing agent does not do that then you will have a high turnover of tenants and word will soon get around amongst tenants that it is unwise to rent through that particular agent reducing your pool of potential tenants. Here at Vita Properties, we have been responsible for managing hundreds of properties in NW London and our happy landlords and tenants are proof that we truly are agents who care.

If you are a landlord and would like to discuss how we can help you both find good tenants and keep them long-term or are a potential tenant looking for a property to rent in NW London then please give us a call on 020 7759 2199 and we will be delighted to help you.