Landlords: How clean is your house?

This week, Lea Beven of Limecastle gives it both barrels to all of the stubborn landlords out there – clean your house or prepare for an empty property:

I like to be up front and honest about the property business with you and to give you a blog that is real and actually useful, so this week, I have a reality check for all of the stubborn landlords out there with empty property.

Last week I wasted too much time with property that will never be let out unless certain issues are addressed.

There's a lesson to be learned with empty property – there is a reason that it's empty.

Either it's not being marketed properly or, if you are getting the viewings in, it is often it is your own fault (did I dare to say that?)

I can walk into a property that has been on the market for a while and within 30 seconds tell you exactly why your property is vacant.

It's whether or not you 're willing to hear it. Come on – challenge me!

Clean

If you want to rent your property out fast then, please, make sure it's clean.

We can get the viewings in no problem and sell everything to them – except for the dirt!

We have one lovely property in a cute village that we have done many viewings on in the last 4 weeks and, basically, the only thing letting it down is that the bathroom and kitchen are filthy and the light bulbs don't work.

The landlords have been told several times, but the property remains untouched.

More importantly nobody will rent it! The landlord has already lost one month's rent and a cleaner would have zipped in and out in about 3 hours and only cost £35.

It is important to put yourself in the tenant's shoes; one that has the choice of many clean and tidy properties.

We all want the perfect tenant in our property, but when a property is not clean, then that type of tenant will not look twice.

The biggest request I get from landlords is that they want someone to look after the property, to keep it clean and in good order.

If what tenants come to view doesn't match that, why would they feel inspired to keep it nice?

This week we are looking for a new apprentice to work with us in our expanding lettings department as covering 4 counties with over 500 rooms requires some skill and more manpower.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn all about property, but you'll need some balls to take this position; we like to keep it real here!

Tip of the week – if you show a rough property, then expect a rough tenant!