Are Putterills best prepared to let my property?

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1 I would have no hesitation in recommending Putterills. They are very customer focused and their maintenance and accounts departments are first class. Mr A Are Putterills best prepared to let my property? Landlords should consider a number of factors when choosing a Letting agent. Marketing strengths Securing an early tenancy as a result of good comprehensive marketing can minimize the void period and the associated loss of rental income. Putterills invest heavily in both the press and internet advertising in order to generate constant enquiries from potential tenants, working towards getting your property let as quickly as possible. Does the agent care about who they let my property to? At Putterills we believe that selecting the right tenant is just as important as securing an early tenancy and maximizing the rental income. This will reduce later potential issues with rent arrears and dilapidation disputes at the end of the tenancy. Who is best to look after my property after it has been let? Consideration should be given to the ongoing protection of your investment property. Most Landlords will instruct an agent to manage the property for them. Putterills has a dedicated management team, with trained property managers who deal with maintenance and accounts matters. Are they regulated? Landlords should ensure that their agent is a member of a regulatory body and as such will be required to comply with a code of conduct, has professional indemnity insurance and ongoing training obligations, operate ring-fenced client accounts, offers client money protection and is subject to an independent annual audit

2 Putterills have not only found me reliable tenants they have handled all subsequent parts of the letting with sound professionalism, instilling confidence and trust. Documentation and follow-up is first class. Mr R Raising standards throughout Hertfordshire Standards do vary significantly in the industry and Landlords should choose who to use with great care. Strict codes of conduct Our commitment to offering the highest level of customer service is demonstrated by our longstanding membership of the industry regulatory body for letting agents (ARLA). We are also members of the Property Ombudsman for and licensed under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. National award winning local agents Over the past few years Putterills has received 3 awards in the National Estate Agency of The Year Awards. We have been delighted to receive this recognition

3 Setting us apart from our competition Landlords need confidence that their property is being professionally handled by an experienced lettings agent. I have eight let properties of differing sizes and have used Putterills for the last 7 years. They have always been quick to relet at good rents and have given me excellent service. Mr L Letting specialists We take the business of lettings seriously at Putterills and as such supply an extensive landlords guide to our clients which is both informative and transparent in respect of our fee charges. It points out relevant legislation affecting residential investment properties, some of which is rarely practiced by several of our competitors. Your property is a major investment and letting it demands careful planning and good professional advice to best protect your interests. We offer clients a choice of 3 services. Let Only, Rent Collection or Full Management. Extensive Marketing Putterills are amongst the largest property advertisers in The Herts Advertiser, Welwyn and Hatfield Times, The Advertiser and The Comet. Large database of existing applicants. All our properties receive online exposure on several websites including Rightmove and Zoopla. Office network All our properties are advertised and accessible to potential tenants in each of our 10 prominently positioned offices throughout Hertfordshire

4 I am delighted to endorse the services of Putterills, who have provided a first class exceptional service in finding good tenants and fully managing my properties in a pro-active and efficient manner without any voids or need for me to be involved in the process. Of the four different agents I use for my extensive property portfolio, Putterills are by far the most professional and best organised team I deal with. My 8 units are in good hands and I whole-heartedly recommend the Putterills team! Mr D How do I make sure my property is cared for? The ongoing management of your property is key to protecting your investment. Whether it be maintenance or accounts related, at Putterills we recognize the importance of these post-letting services. Having taken great care in the design and creation of two schemes of luxury apartments, we wanted a professional company to deal with the management of them. Our decision to instruct Putterills has proved to be most successful. From the accurate advice and information given at the outset, through the careful vetting and introduction of suitable tenants by the professional yet friendly sales team to the provision of a first class maintenance service, Putterills have demonstrated an excellent ability in all respects. Mr M Dedicated property management and accounts departments We pride ourselves on the quality of our property management service with most Landlords opting for the full management package. We believe that a property needs to be well cared for to keep your tenant happy and maintain full occupancy. Future tenants will also be easier to attract. Once we receive your rental income, it is promptly passed on by direct bank transfer, together with a statement of account. We only use tried and tested contractors, most of whom we have worked with over the years. Property inspections, legal advice, gas and electricity safety checks, independent professional inventories and negotiating schedule of dilapidations at the end of the tenancy (whenever possible) are also some of the other prominent benefits to the service we offer. We understand the needs of a Landlord and focus our energies and service to achieve this. Many Landlords find our property management services beneficial in maintaining their property investment and giving them piece of mind

5 voluntarily follows the Code of Practice and Rules of Conduct laid down by their professional body. If an agent does not follow the code, they can be fined or in the worst cases expelled from membership of ARLA. The disciplinary process includes everything from cautions and warnings right through to more severe penalties of up to 5000 for each rule breached. You can be sure that the highest standards are upheld by ARLA members. something go wrong. It is a mandatory requirement that all their members belong to an independent redress scheme, the choice being either the Ombudsman Services: Property or the Property Ombudsman Service. This gives you the consumer an added level of unfortunate enough to suffer at the hands of malpractice by an ARLA letting agent, the association can take disciplinary action on your behalf. You are better protected and will get higher standards from ARLA members. Tel: E: lettings@putterills.co.uk W: We always recognize the benefits of using an ARLA qualified agent such as Putterills and the knowledge that they would have both technically and locally is invaluable. With the topics that were raised during the seminar and the ever-changing market that we are all in, events such as these should be supported to help raise the awareness of the current and changing market. Property Risks How can Putterills help my portfolio grow? The voice of Hertfordshire Property Putterills have been entrusted with editorial space within both The Comet and Welwyn & Hatfield Times Newspapers to inform on various subject matters affecting todays buy to let and rental markets. We are delighted to be recognised as a leading voice in Hertfordshire by the Archant media business and hope that our articles over the next 6 months are found to be both interesting and informative. Richard Selwyn, Director Buy to Let Department Putterills have recently opened a Buy to Let department in response to the growing demand across our network of offices. This specialist department, based in our Welwyn Village office ( ), will give practical advice on how best to overcome the many potential pitfalls when purchasing properties for investment purposes and how to take advantage of likely medium/long term capital growth. The service will also include sourcing suitable properties for purchase via our network of sales offices, evaluating rental values and yields and offer a one stop solution for all your property investment needs. PROPERTY MATTERS... BUY-TO-LET Market-leading mortgage service now offers more products and more choice A By RICHARD SELWYN Director Putterills RLA Mortgages offers a wide choice of buy-to-let products from the whole of the market, with information and support provided by a team of buy-tolet experts to help you find the right mortgage to suit your needs. Over the last 12 months there have been significant improvements in the buy-to-let mortgage market with more lenders and products now on offer to landlords. This means that ARLA Mortgages can provide an even wider choice to landlords, with up to 400 mortgage products available at any given time. Not only has the number of products for landlords increased, but lending criteria has also improved in a variety of ways. More lenders have recently expanded their product ranges to include loans up to 80% loan-to-value and it is also possible to borrow up to 85% loan-to-value with Kent Reliance. This is great news, especially for landlords who prefer to use highly geared property investments to maximise their profits. For landlords who would like to release equity from existing buy-to-let properties to expand their portfolios or move on to a more competitive interest rate, there is a good choice of remortgage products currently available. There is a wide selection of fixed and variable rates on offer, including deals with incentives such as free valuations and no legal fees. For those looking to purchase or remortgage a property that requires minor refurbishment works, The Mortgage Works (TMW) is currently offering a useful product for this type of investment. ARLA Mortgages benefits landlords in a number of other ways too. One of the key advantages of using this service is that they will have access to special mortgage deals that are not available on the high street or through regular mortgage brokers. The provider of ARLA Mortgages has longestablished relationships with all of the main buy-to-let lenders, which means that it is often selected to distribute highly competitive products on enhanced terms to landlords for limited periods of time. These include buy-tolet mortgages with Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, Leeds Building Society, Accord Mortgages, Kent Reliance and Skipton Building Society. You can use their free online buy-to-let mortgage finder at to get an instant personalised quote. Alternatively please telephone or info@arlamortgages.co.uk Tel: E: lettings@putterills.co.uk W: Considering a buy-to-let property? Knowledge is the most important tool that any potential landlord can either have or receive. If you want your property to rent quickly and have minimal periods when it s not let, it pays to do your homework to find out exactly what makes a good rental property. Failure to do so can have serious financial ramifications. It s important to go into property investment with your eyes open. over the next few months we shall cover various topics that we feel should be considered when looking to make an investment. Commercial sense v personal taste: too many investors purchase properties that they like which may not always prove to be the most suitable investment. what is most important to me, yield or capital appreciation? If I have a large capital sum, should I purchase one property with cash or more by raising some finance? House or flat, new or dated? Can I enhance the capital value of the property? location: how important are local amenities to a potential tenant? Is there good rental demand? How can I assess the likely rental income? Potential void periods: these should be allowed for when preparing your budget. on-going running costs. Should I look after the property myself or entrust the management to an agent? who can I trust for the best advice? A regulated licensed ARlA member agent would be a good place to start. Check out for up-to-date information. E PROPERTY MATTERS... LETTINGS Why use a licensed ARLA member? very year, unlicensed agents cause Britain s landlords and tenant s unnecessary stress and hassle and sometimes loss of money by giving incorrect or misleading advice or offering poor standards of customer service. Management Buy to Let The Association of Residential Agents (ARLA) is the only professional selfregulating body to be solely concerned with lettings and letting agents. By using a licensed ARLA agent you are guaranteed: That the agency is covered by ARLA s Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme. ARLA has the ability to make discretionary grants (up to pre-set limits) if you suffer financial loss due to the bankruptcy or dishonesty of the member and/or their firm. That the agency has Professional By RICHARD SELWYN Director Putterills can award payments of up to 25,000. As a member of the public: You can be sure you are dealing with an experienced and professional agent, by choosing an ARLA member lettings@putterills.co.uk Indemnity Insurance. This ensures you are financially covered for successful claims relating to members negligence, bad advice or mishandling of data. To be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give you professional up-to-date advice and guidance. All ARLA members are required to carry out at least a minimum level of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) each year and many do much more. Membership of the association is through formal qualification ensuring that ARLA member agents have the knowledge and experience to guide you through your property transaction as smoothly and painlessly as possible. Operating under strict rules of conduct, members must meet certain standards relating to professional and ethical practice. That you are dealing with an agent who Under the rules, agents are required to protect and promote their client s interests, while at all times acting in a fair and proper manner. If you are That you have a route to redress should protection. The Property Ombudsman Service lettings@putterills.co.uk Management Buy to Let

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