Being a landlord is quite different from the way most other sources of income that are derived from an investment work.
Of course you can take on an active role if you deal in stocks and shares, although most investors buy ‘blue chips’ and leave well alone! Likewise in recent years crypto currencies have become popular but even here most ‘profits’ have come from buying early, sitting back and seeing prices go up.
Landlords find themselves in quite a different scenario. For one thing there are so many laws, rules and regulations that need to be taken into account. More than that, being responsible for the upkeep of what is essentially someone else’s home is a significant role to take on.
Christmas chaos
We’ve all got a story about a Christmas catastrophe when the cooker broke down and lunch was ruined on the day, or the boiler stopped working and the house was freezing cold as family arrived.
It’s bad enough when it happens to you and things need to be sorted out in double quick time – but when you get that phone call from a tenant it can really impact on the festivities.
That’s how the holiday season can become a time of stress for self-managing landlords.
Be prepared
Of course the best way to make sure that things don’t break down is by having them regularly serviced and looked after properly.
Using the skills of experienced and authorised contractors is the way to go about things. Sadly many landlords have to cut corners to save costs, or simply haven’t built up the contacts to have a list of reliable, trustworthy trades people who are there when needed.
Having been active in the rental sector for more than twenty five years we have experts on call who we trust to do their very best for our clients. All maintenance issues, from day to day works right through to Christmas emergency call outs are covered. What’s more all of our trusted contractors are vetted to ensure they have the correct insurance and professional membership in place.
The way to guarantee a contractor is the right person for the job is by having your own experience of the work they do. Ours have worked with us for many years, consistently working to the highest standards.
A gift to you
Christmas is a time of taking joy in giving to others. It’s also about having the sense of peace that comes from getting away from the pressures of day to day life. It’s why one of the most famous pop songs about this particular holiday is called ‘I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday’!
If you are a landlord with property in Taunton and the surrounding villages who is looking after things in a DIY self-managed fashion here’s an idea – give yourself a Christmas present this year by allowing us to look after your property for you!
It is a gift that will keep on giving every day of the year, including that panicked call from a tenant on Christmas Day…
Talk to us and make sure you are a Happy Christmas landlord this year. Call Jane or Nick on 01823 257 400, email info@townsend-property.co.uk or pop into the office at 16 Bridge Street, Taunton TA1 1UB 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
