Using an Estate Agent: Five Tenant Top Tops

If you are looking to find new rented accommodation a good place to start can be an estate agent’s, as they have a range of properties that they will be aware of they can show you a house that suits your needs, saving you time and effort. However it is worth remembering that estate agents are primarily there to make money, they may try and sell you something that they want to shift rather than what’s best for you. So before you approach an estate agent to find you a property to rent, remember these top tips:

1. Firstly you need to be aware of the estate agent fees, if these are high they will naturally push up the amount that you have to pay. Some estate agents may charge you fees, for example a proportion of one weeks rent, but many do not. Remember that it is in the estate agent’s interest to find you a property that suits your need, they should take their fee from the side of the landlord so it is possible to find a good, professional estate agent who does not charge you for their services. If you decide not to take the house or flat then the estate agent won’t get paid, remember this in terms of shopping around – you do have a certain amount of leverage.

2. Make sure you’ve seen a range of properties. To get the full benefit of using an estate agent you should use a company that has a wide portfolio of properties. Don’t just look at one house: shop around. If an estate agent only shows you a few properties then they could have a bad reputation or they could be discouraging clients by fees that are too expensive. A good estate agent will be letting and selling properties constantly whilst at the same time bringing in new properties so there should be a constant stream of different properties available. With this in mind be weary of large, big name estate agents who appear to have few properties on offer.

3. Work with an estate agent that you feel comfortable with. Estate agents are there to serve you, as such they should be polite and professional, if you feel bullied or the agent is condescending and manipulative then it is an indication that they are more worried about their own commission rather than your needs. Estate agents do work in a competitive environment, constantly reminded of quotas and compared to their colleagues so you may need to assert yourself. It is best to choose a customer-focused estate agent who makes it clear that you are in charge and who listens to what you are looking for.

4. To avoid a longer, drawn out process, when you find a property that you like and decide to put in an offer, make sure that the estate agent calls the landlord to confirm the offer amount before you leave. Estate agents may say that an offer has been accepted but at the end of the day it is the choice of the landlord. All agents should be in close contact with the landlord during the lettings process so be weary of agents that can’t guarantee a definite response to offers within one day. If they are unable to do this it suggests that there is inconsistency between the landlord and the estate agent – this will cause no end of problems in the long run, so it best left alone as your offer falling through when you assume it has been accepted could be extremely damaging for you.

5. Renting accommodation is a competitive place and estate agents will want to find good, responsible tenants who can pay the rent on time. Remember this as you will be asked for a range of information if you want to rent out a property, this will include bank statements, payslips or your employment contract, previous landlord references and identification (your passport). This may seem a little excessive but it demonstrates the importance of having this information in order so that you can progress with your offer as soon as possible. In the interests of your own safety it is important that the agent or landlord has subscribed to a data protection body to ensure that this personal information is kept securely.