The Wharf: Home Front – June 19, 2008

Q. I am being relocated overseas with my company and have decided to let my property out whilst I’m away. I have had it on the market with one agent for the past couple of weeks with no interest at all so far, I was under the impression that rentals were busy as the sales market has been affected by the credit crunch? Have you any advice, I am leaving the UK in 3 weeks?

A. Rentals are definitely much busier than sales right now as many are deciding to rent rather than buy in this uncertain market. Rentals are slightly different to sales in that you don’t have to tie yourself into a sole agency agreement. It is very acceptable to market a rental property with several agents as the fee arrangements are completely different to sales. The Terms and conditions for rentals allow landlords to market with several agents and only the agent that secures a let on the property collects a fee. With this in mind I would suggest that you immediately appoint several other agents to act on your behalf which will obviously open up other opportunities and give you the overall coverage that you are looking for right now. I would also suggest that you listen very carefully to your agents advice with regards to pricing, getting this right is paramount in securing a tenancy within your desired time frame.

“I have known Dawn in a professional capacity for a very long time, as we used to work together for a number of years. She has a comprehensive knowledge of the Docklands real estate market, but this is not her strongest point. What makes Dawn stand out as an agent is the effort she puts into every deal, the relationships she builds with everyone and the passion she has for what she does. Dawn and Gabriella have been managing my investment property for more than 3 years. I now live overseas and I feel so comfortable knowing they are really looking after my interest, whilst at the same time always being fair and transparent with the tenants. Nothing is big enough job for those ladies and everytime I say ‘thank you – I am so grateful for what you do’, the reply is ‘It’s my job’. I really cannot recommend this wonderful team enough!”

Daniela WeatherillOverseas Landlord

“We are incredibly happy with the service that Dawn Sandoval Residential provide. They offer a personal but very professional service, and we feel secure and confident with their management which is key when letting out a property.”

Amy Facey

“Dawn Sandoval Residential and associates have managed several transactions on our behalf, and each time they have gone above and beyond our expectations. We trust the team highly, and I honestly couldn’t recommend them enough.”

Neil Chinniah

“The Dawn Sandoval Residential team took the time to properly understand what I was looking for. At every stage of the process, I knew they were doing their best for me and valued me as a customer. I have no hesitation in recommending their services in the highest possible terms.”

Andrew Simmonds – Management Consultant

“Dawn Sandoval Residential offer a real personal service. Their response rates are excellent, and we have a sense that they care about our tenants and properties. We cannot recommend them highly enough.”

Cathy & Paul Betts

“Dawn Sandoval Residential have great insights into the property market in London and especially around Canary Wharf. They work very hard to understand their clients’ requirements, and we would highly recommend them.”

David & Ginette Marks