In this three-minute read, we look at why a landlord needs a professional mindset, and what can go wrong if emotions cloud your judgment. There’s a line in the classic film The Godfather that neatly sums up what landlords need to know about letting properties. “It’s nothing personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business,” drawls a brooding Michael Corleone as he plots a daring and...
October 2020
In this 90-second speed read, we discover how something so simple to do can have such big positive effects. This month sees the world’s biggest drawing festival take place. Throughout October, there are activities taking place across the globe to encourage people to pick up a pencil and pen and start getting creative. Due to Covid-19, many of these are now taking place online. And at the end of...
In this three-minute read, we look at the ten most important things a landlord needs to succeed. If you’re contemplating becoming a landlord, here’s a helpful checklist explaining what it takes to let a property. You may wonder why a checklist is necessary. After all, how hard can it be? You buy a property, find a tenant, and boom, you’ve got the whole landlord game figured out....
In this three-minute read, we look at ways to make your home more energy efficient. With 40% of UK carbon emissions coming from households, the road to a cleaner, greener planet starts at home. First, the good news (yes, there is some) In 1990, the average UK home generated 12.8 tonnes of CO2. (To get this figure, the Committee on Climate Change analysed data on heating, electricity,...
In this two-minute read, we look at why movers in Rayleigh & Hockley need to act now if they want to save thousands of pounds in cash. The legendary American author Mark Twain famously said this about procrastination: ‘Never put off till tomorrow which may be done the day after tomorrow.’ And while it might be a useful mantra when doing something mundane like mowing the lawn or some home...
In this 90-second speed read, we look at the things people are stopping and starting in October. 2020 will go down in history as the year when life stopped, albeit temporarily. And with local lockdowns coming into force, that feeling of stop-starting stuff is still around. It’s a little like the hockley cokey but with stop-start replacing in-out. This all makes it a little ironic that...
In this three-minute read, we look at the unusual things that tenants have left behind after moving out and explain how landlords can avoid post-tenancy clean-up bills. End-of-tenancy checks can spring all manner of surprises on landlords. Take, for example, the landlord in north-west London who discovered an abandoned kitten when taking possession of a property back in August. The tenants had shot...
In this three-minute read, we look at the dos and don’ts of photography when it comes to marketing a property. When selling or letting a property, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of getting the imagery right. As most buyers and renters spend hours scrolling through property portals before arranging viewings, first impressions are crucial. So why then do so many people get it...
In this three-minute read, we look at ways to keep your body and mind active in October. 1 Plant some bulbs Bulbs are easy to plant, can go in either the ground or pots, require virtually no looking after and pack a colourful punch. What’s not to like? Plant daffodils, tulips and hyacinths for spring blooms and alliums and lilies for summer flowers. 2 Play conkers Every October, thousands of...
In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can manage tenants who are noisy, aggressive or destructive. Let’s start with the good news: the vast majority of tenants pay their rent on time and cause their landlords very little, if any, grief. Now for the not so good news: a small percentage of tenants wreak havoc. They infuriate the neighbours, damage property and behave in a violent and...