Are you looking to purchase your first rental property? Or perhaps you’re thinking about how best to expand your existing portfolio?  Either way, ensuring your next purchase is appealing to tenants as well as providing you with an attractive return later down the line is an important balancing act.

Stephanie Caine, Lettings Director, gives her top tips of what to consider before making an offer on what you think may be the perfect property…

1.       Location Location Location 

This is likely to be high on your priority list already, but rental properties are often always about Location, Location, Location. For young professionals in particular, being within a commutable distance of key towns or cities is a must, whilst families will also be keen to live nearby leisure facilities, supermarkets and community hubs. The Rushcliffe area has all these facilities which are easily accessible as well as having excellent schooling. 

2.       Parking

Again, whilst this is an obvious one, parking is high on the priority list for many tenants, in particular those living beyond key commuter towns and cities. With the number of two-car households increasing by more than half a million in the last year alone, it’s almost guaranteed that prospective tenants will enquire about parking, if at least for their guests. If you have your heart set on a property without parking, try sourcing a council permit for local public parking, as this can make a great alternative and sometimes help yield a slighty higher rent, too.

3.       Smart, neutral & well presented

If there are any outstanding DIY jobs we would recommend that these are completed before marketing your investment to potential tenants. This will make it more appealing and demonstrates to applicants that you are a good landlord who will look after the property.  We recommend the property is well presented throughout with the colour scheme, including flooring, being neutral and redecorated on a routine basis between tenancies.

4.       Safety and Security

Security often goes hand-in-hand with location.  A safe environment is a powerful motivator for tenants, particularly if they are looking to make a house a long term home.  Providing the property with secure door locking systems and a security alarm can help tenants feel more secure.

5.       Outdoor space

It is not necessary to get concerned over garden space with a private dwelling, tenants do look to see where the nearest open space is available. A lot of apartment developments in Rushcliffe now have communal gardens.  However, if your budget allows you, we recommend that you look at properties with a smart manageable low maintained garden. The garden to be tidy, cleared of weeds and grass cut before new tenancies. It does not have to be lawned; having a private backyard, patio or balcony is certainly an attractive offering for tenants.  Being able to enjoy fresh air and sunshine is a big factor for many tenants, so purchasing a property within an outdoor feature will certainly help boost interest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW OUR AGENCY CAN ASSIST YOU WITH A BUY-TO-LET in the RUSHCLIFFE area contact us Tel: 0115 9811888 to speak to one of our property experts.

Teenager who has already bought first shared ownership home reveals how she did it

You can do it too...

Megan Stafford bought her first home at 19 - a two-bed town house in Rushcliffe.

How did she do it? We get the inside tips on achieving the home buying dream.

Yorkshire Building Society state that average age of a first-time buyer has increased slightly over the past decade from 30 to 31 years old, so Megan's purchase does buck the trend.

But she had her heart set on buying a home with her partner, Dale Dickinson, 21, and her career choice certainly put her in a position to know how she could achieve her ambition.

Joining estate agents Royston and Lund as an apprentice sales negotiator, she said: "I had never even thought about going into estate agency, but I knew that it would be a great challenge for me, and Royston & Lund was the place I wanted to be."

Whilst completing her apprenticeship with the firm in 2018, Megan, who is originally from Carlton, became familiar with the process of buying a house and knowing who she would need to appoint for help along the way really benefited her.

She also found out about the shared ownership scheme and quickly realised the benefits and the step on to the property ladder that it would provide.

Shared ownership is a government-backed scheme where you can buy between a quarter and three-quarters of a property and then rent the rest at a reduced rate. Before deciding if the scheme is for you, you need to consider what you can afford, what deposit you can save and understand the monthly payment breakdown.

Megan said: "Before working at Royston & Lund I wasn’t aware of shared ownership, despite it being a help to buy scheme regulated by the government. I think the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme is much more widely advertised than shared ownership.

"One of the things that put me off as a young first-time buyer was that I thought I would need to put down a large deposit when actually I found out I could put down as little as 5%. If more people knew how much money they could save through buying instead of renting, I think it would encourage them to explore this option.”

The Nottingham couple were living at home with their parents before they decided to make the move of living together and began saving for their first home.

By saving and cutting back on non-essential items, the pair were able to put down a 5% deposit on a two-bed town house, priced at around £180,000. Moving to their new home in June this year, the couple currently own over 35% percent of the property value with the option to buy more in the future.

Megan said: “There’s no timescale on saving money for a mortgage, but it is possible. Being aware of how much you want to save from the beginning really helps you stay on track and knowing you’ll be buying a house is a great incentive.

“If we hadn’t found out about shared ownership, we would still be living with family and struggling to save for a large deposit.”

Val Shakespeare, director at Royston & Lund, said: “It’s important to know the process of buying a house and who you will need to help you during the process. Due to Megan’s job, she had the information readily available as she was immersed in the world of selling homes every day.

“For many young people who dreaming about getting on the property ladder, shared ownership might not be on their radar. However, buying your first home early is a brilliant step and can help you save money in the long run instead of trying to rent and save up for a deposit simultaneously.”

Megan said: “My advice for young first-time buyers would be to ask estate agents, financial advisors and/or solicitors as many questions as possible and make sure you shop around before you buy.”

A lot has changed for Megan and her partner - who have further plans for the future.

“Getting onto the property ladder can be difficult if you aren’t aware of what schemes are available. Many people my age are not ready to buy a property, but if you know what you want to achieve, anything is possible.”

The cricket season may well be coming to an end but as one of the main sponsors of the club, Directors Gary Lund and Liaqat Ali were both delighed to be invited to Keyworth Cricket Club's Presentation Evenings last week.  

Gary was thrilled to present the 'R&L Spirit of Cricket Award' for the Junior section to a thoroughly deserved Victoria Ball. 

The winner of the award for the Seniors was presented to Tom Rock by Liaqat.

Well done to everyone at Keyworth Cricket Club, we look forward to working with you next season!  

This month, The Guild of Property Professionals caught up with Val Shakespeare, Sales Director to discuss her idea of a perfect home and top tips for working in the property sector.

Tell us about yourself

I have 38 years of experience in the property industry and I’ve worked for the company for 17 years. 

Tell us about Royston & Lund

Royston & Lund was founded in 1994 to offer a professional estate agency service in West Bridgford, Nottingham. Today, the business still operates from the same premises on Gordon Road; a prime position right in the heart of West Bridgford town centre.

In 2018, we opened a second office in Keyworth, which is also thriving. We now employ 25 staff and are ranked by Rightmove as the leading estate agent in our area.

Describe your typical day

My typical day starts with an early morning team meeting to discuss events from the previous day as well as planning for the day ahead, sharing tips, knowledge and tea with our team. My role includes managing the sales office, head of new homes, HR, compliance, maintenance and facilities manager - as you can imagine, my days are often varied!

Why do customers choose Royston & Lund?

We are extremely proud to employ the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the area. We work as a team to provide a friendly, effective service. As independent agents we rely heavily on reputation. We endeavour to always do a fantastic job so that our clients recommend us time and time again.  After 25 years of operating in West Bridgford, we feel we have gained the trust of our community. As testament to this, we were named ‘Best Estate Agent in the UK’ at the prestigious ESTA awards in 2018.

What is next for the property market in your area? 

We are seeing a lot of new developments in our area.  Period properties in close proximity to the town centre are particularly sought after. There is a definite shortage of this style of property and we hope to see more of this style coming on to the market over the coming months.  

What charities do you support in your local area?

Last Christmas, we did some fundraising for a local homeless charity, The Friary, with the amazing help of the local community we managed to raise £550. This fantastic cause helps homeless and vulnerable adults to rebuild their lives by offering practical services, advice and emotional support.  We have also supported other charities such as, Children in Need, Comic Relief and Macmillan.

We sponsor local cricket teams, West Bridgfordians Cricket Club and Keyworth Cricket Club. In addition to this, we support four of our local schools with the Royston & Lund Sporting Achievement Award; the schools include Abbey Road, Pierrepoint Gamston, Edwalton and West Bridgford Juniors.  

If you became the Housing Minister for a day, what would you change?  

I would make the house buying process much simpler; I think one way of doing this would be by reintroducing the HiP (Home Information Pack). 

Can you give six tips for anyone who wants to work in the property sector? 

Tip 1

I believe solid customer service and excellent communication are the key skills for anyone looking to start off in the industry.  

Tip 2

Having empathy and patience with people is a must and a sense of humour often helps! 

Tip 3

An understanding of the property market is essential along with knowledge of different house types/styles/periods.  

Tip 4

Having a great understanding of the local market and the wider area as well; in terms of amenities, local schools, employers and events etc are invaluable knowledge for anyone looking to move to the area. 

Tip 5

Professionalism is a key point to remember when dealing with clients, solicitors and other professionals.

Tip 6

Master multi-tasking for those particularly busy periods!

What makes the perfect home for you? 

Modern, clean lines, a spacious ground floor space, plenty of light meaning lots of glass, a nice south facing garden, good local schooling and amenities in close proximity.  Oh, and somewhere with enough space for my two chocolate Labradors.   

Do you have any news you would like to share?

We have just celebrated our 25th birthday! I am so immensely proud of the team’s hard work throughout the years, we have managed to maintain an excellent rapport within the West Bridgford and Keyworth communities. We want to say a big thank you to our customers and we look forward to continuing to offer them great advice and the best possible service.

We are seeking a Weekend Assistant to join our busy Lettings team.

Our Residential Lettings department in West Bridgford are currently recruiting for a motivated and enthusiastic Weekend Assistant.

Duties will include;

Meeting and greeting the general public, answering and assisting with our busy phones for both the Lettings and Property Management sectors. Arranging viewings and valuations on a computerised diary system and dealing with property repairs as well as general office tasks.

Applicants must have first class communication skills and an excellent confident telephone manner. 

Working hours: - Saturdays 8.45am – 4.00pm & Sundays 9.50am – 12.00pm 

Please email your CV for consideration, with a covering letter to Mrs Stephanie Caine.

Email: [email protected] 

Closing date for applications: Monday 02^nd September 2019

Below article from Nottinghamshire Live: 

Twenty-five years ago, Notts County footballer, Gary Lund took a new professional path.  He became an estate agent.  Alongside established property professionals, Chris Royston and Liaqat Ali, the West Bridgford estate agency firm Royston and Lund was born. It was 1994, John Major was prime minister, Forrest Gump was the biggest blockbuster and Wet Wet Wet were the nation's favourite with number one hit ‘Love is all around’.

Gary, director of Royston & Lund, said: “When we first began, we wanted to open in a prime location covering West Bridgford and the surrounding areas. Chris and Liaqat had worked there for more than five years and had already forged a name for providing an excellent service based on sound local market knowledge.

"I can’t quite believe it’s been 25 years, we started out small, but we have since grown our team and our business. We now have two offices - West Bridgford and Keyworth - with more than 30 staff and have been recognised as one of the best estate agents in the area."

They opened their office with just seven properties for sale but soon established themselves in the area.

Gary added: “I am so immensely proud of the team’s hard work throughout the years, we have managed to maintain an excellent rapport within West Bridgford and further afield."

The team now includes both residential sales and lettings departments, and offers advice on a gamut of property related topics.  Val Shakespeare, sales director, may be found at the helm of the West Bridgford office.  She said: "We are delighted to celebrate our 25-years in business, and to have been part of the West Bridgford, and now Keyworth business communities, for so many successful years.

“Our longevity and continued success is very much down to the amazing team of staff at Royston and Lund. They are an absolute credit to the business. They are always passionate about what we do and are super conscientious in ensuring that our customers receive the best service. We always put our customers first to make sure that the house buying or letting experience is as smooth as possible.”

The team marked the occasion with an party to celebrate their 25th Anniversary and said thank you to their staff with cupcakes and bubbles. Now ready for the next 25 years, Val says that the company is always reviewing its growth plans and looking out for opportunities where they can expand their business.

Please note that our offices will be closed this coming Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2019.  Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday 27th August.

WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE LONG WEEKEND IN THE SUN!

EMERGENCIES ONLY PLEASE for 'managed' properties - Please understand that a contractor will only attend to genuine emergency concerns at their own discretion, with attendance being if there is a risk of substantial damage to a property or danger to tenant/life (this does not include the facility of attending to tenants being locked out).

When our offices are closed, should you be a tenant of one of our managed properties with an emergency call out request please contact one of the listed contractors relevant to your emergency and leave a detailed message for them to return your call:

For general builders including plumbing, please try Matthew Hayes – 07980113746, Mark Adamson – 07973659775, John Firth - 07850780819 or Linton Vickers - 07800532269.

Boiler/heating emergencies Matthew Heather 07879897437

Steve Rollason for drains on 07948406537   Electrician -  Martyn Lacey Tel: 07854153988, ARB (Andy Beaver)  Tel: 07966246727  or Scott Waterman Tel: 07856287837.

We would also request that you check your move in letter for individual property information as to whether your landlord has got British Gas or Homeserve call-out cover or a similar policy in place with a preferred tradesman. If this is the case please contact them direct and quote your postcode and the membership number. 

Thank you. 

The Latest winner of the Royston & Lund Sporting Achievement Award winner at Pierrepont Gamston Primary School is Darcey Graham.  

Whether in the classroom or on the sporting field, Darcey demonstrates impeccable effort and enthusiasm with an admiral drive to succeed. Darcey has tried her hand in every sport and excelled in many, also having shown a love and great talent for cricket (rather fittingly with the success of both men’s and ladies cricket).  She is an exceptional hockey player, a key member of the girls football team and is an amazing role model showing great sportsmanship.

The presentation was made in the annual Leavers Assembly, where the head of year, Mr Sharp was delighted to also receive the £200 donated to the school to spend on sporting equipment assisted by Darcey. 

Darcey is pictured receiving the award from Director Liaqat Ali.

We are delighted to announce the latest winner of the Royston & Lund Sporting Achievement Award as Jacob Hughes.  Jacob is a pupil at Abbey Road Primary School; he partakes in numerous sporting activities and is a real team player.  He plays cricket for Notts youngsters and is apparently an amazing goalkeeper too.  Jacob is an inspiration to his fellow pupils at Abbey Road and recently helped the school Athletics Team in winning the overall Highest Achievers School Award in the Rushcliffe Area Sports Day. 

The presentation was made to a full house in assembly and rather fittingly, the children's entrance was to the theme tune for the BBC's cricket coverage! He received a rapturous round of applause when he accepted a large trophy, with a smaller replica to keep; in addition to this £200 was donated to the school to spend on sporting equipment of his choice. 

Watch this space for the upcoming award at Pierrepont Gamston.

Jacob is pictured receiving the award from Director Liaqat Ali.

WEEKEND ASSISTANT POSITION AVAILABLE

Our residential Sales department in West Bridgford are currently recruiting for a motivated and enthusiastic Weekend Assistant.

Duties will include;

✔️Meeting and greeting the general public, answering and assisting with our busy phones for sales.

✔️Arranging viewings and valuations on a computerised diary system and general office tasks.

✔️Applicants must have first class communication skills and an excellent confident telephone manner. Computer knowledge is required.

✔️Working hours:- Saturdays 9.00am – 4.00pm & Sundays 10.00am – 12.00pm

Please email your CV for consideration, with a covering letter to Val Shakespeare

Email: [email protected]

WEEKEND ASSISTANT POSITION AVAILABLE

Our residential lettings department in West Bridgford are currently recruiting for a motivated and enthusiastic Weekend Assistant.

Duties will include;

✔️Meeting and greeting the general public, answering and assisting with our busy phones for lettings.

✔️Arranging viewings and valuations on a computerised diary system and general office tasks.

✔️Applicants must have first class communication skills and an excellent confident telephone manner. Computer knowledge is required.

✔️Working hours:- Saturdays 9.00am – 4.00pm & Sundays 10.00am – 12.00pm

Please email your CV for consideration, with a covering letter to Stephanie Caine

Email: [email protected]

ACCOMPANIED VIEWER REQUIRED
Due to high demand we require property viewers to show potential buyers around properties to help successfully let a targeted number of properties covering West Bridgford and the surrounding areas.

✔️Customer service and good communication skills is a must.

✔️A full driving license valid in the UK and use of your own vehicle is essential for this role.

The ideal candidate will be required to work Saturdays between the hours of 9.30am – 4.00pm with the flexibility to extend these hours as and when required. Holiday cover will also be required.

Please email your CV for consideration, with a covering letter to Val Shakespeare

Email: [email protected]