I'm on my 3rd agency and would like to hear other's thoughts on this topic:
An agency has 2 groups of customers - those who rent and the owners. Most agencies go with 'the customer is always right' as far as the renter is concerned. However, when it comes to owners - the owners usually get the blame for problems.
In any relationship, you can only really judge the other party by the way they behave when things go wrong. My experience and that of others seems to show that letting agencies fail miserably in this respect - and the bigger they are, the worse it is.
Keith.
Letting Agencies
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- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 4:27 pm
- Location: Slapton, Devon
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Letting Agencies
Keith
www.larches-cottage.co.uk
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
www.larches-cottage.co.uk
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
We've never let anyone manage, advertise or let our properties on our behalf. We've always taken the view that no-one has such a vested interest in doing a good job and getting it right as we do.
I've never heard anything about a letting agency that has persuaded me to do otherwise than do it ourselves.
In the 22 years we've been letting two guests have written to the advertising site to complain. The complaint was passed to us and we responded. In both cases that was the end of the matter - the 'agency' just acted as a liaison and, at the end of the day, I'm sure they understood that we were the party paying their wages.
I've never heard anything about a letting agency that has persuaded me to do otherwise than do it ourselves.
In the 22 years we've been letting two guests have written to the advertising site to complain. The complaint was passed to us and we responded. In both cases that was the end of the matter - the 'agency' just acted as a liaison and, at the end of the day, I'm sure they understood that we were the party paying their wages.
- charles cawley
- Posts: 1205
- Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:53 pm
- Location: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Borders
We run country holiday lets in one of the lowest areas for rent in the UK in a brutally competitive area.
The basic principle applies. Respect your largest customers and source of income the most. In the case of holiday letting owners not only contribute the most but provide, in effect, the stock.
Of course fully attention to guests should be given but it is a catastrophic error to under value owners. Without them there would be no business for agencies as much as without guests the same thing would apply.
A sound relationship between agents and owners is absolutely essential.
The basic principle applies. Respect your largest customers and source of income the most. In the case of holiday letting owners not only contribute the most but provide, in effect, the stock.
Of course fully attention to guests should be given but it is a catastrophic error to under value owners. Without them there would be no business for agencies as much as without guests the same thing would apply.
A sound relationship between agents and owners is absolutely essential.
No web-site for now.
Advice about holiday letting
Advice about holiday letting
Sounds like you could certainly teach the major listing sites a thing or too Charles. If only they shared your view. Have you ever considered a major takeover bid?charles cawley wrote: The basic principle applies. Respect your largest customers and source of income the most. In the case of holiday letting owners not only contribute the most but provide, in effect, the stock.
Of course fully attention to guests should be given but it is a catastrophic error to under value owners. Without them there would be no business for agencies as much as without guests the same thing would apply.