Recent content by reviewThePlan

Price can help identify a duplicate, but two units may share an asking price. Use several signals together.

Check the current tenancy paperwork before sending a formal proposal. The permissible method and timing can depend on the agreement and circumstances, and the rules can change, so use current England-specific guidance or obtain advice if anything is unclear. If the tenant leaves, keep the rent...

The useful distinction in this thread is between evidence and reassurance. Verified affordability, coherent explanations and responsive communication provide evidence. Salary prestige, a promise to stay for years, or a reference full of praise may merely feel reassuring. Combine the applicant...

Is £1,375 based on comparable completed lets, or just the marketing estimate? Also, is the townhouse fully standalone, or does the title make it responsible for common areas or shared repairs? Those two answers could move the calculation more than tweaking the vacancy allowance. The financing...

Mobile usability is another place where demos can mislead. Don’t test only whether someone can open a record on a phone; test whether they can add viewing notes, attach the correct document and identify the next task without returning to a desktop. A short pilot using a few representative cases...

What exactly does “student housing” mean here: a normal flat marketed to students, a purpose-built student unit, or a property with an existing occupancy arrangement? Also, is it leasehold and are you using a mortgage? Those details could change both the work and whether a lender is comfortable...

I would not present it as citywide yet. Purpose-built student accommodation, individual units marketed to students and ordinary apartments near campuses can behave very differently. If all three are in the sample, 18 days may reflect the property-type mix more than underlying demand. At minimum...

Bruno’s financing point is important. Proof of available deposit and a lender’s general willingness to lend are not the same as approval for this building. The offer could say that you are ready to proceed promptly, while remaining subject to satisfactory survey, legal work and lender valuation...

Be strict about location. “Birmingham” is too broad for a clean comparison at this price range. Start with the same few streets or genuinely competing neighbourhoods, then widen only if necessary. Property condition, tenure, shared-building costs and the insurance position could outweigh a...

One practical improvement is to ask each contact what they need from you before the final week, not merely what you need from them. That can expose an unsigned item, unanswered query or funding question while there is still time to deal with it.

Before that final decision, compare with less unusual properties. Country homes may be the wrong sample if the objective is dependable rental cash flow rather than owning that property type.

I can accept the advertised figures and try to value the flat, or assume one of them is wrong and discard the comparison entirely. Neither feels comfortable without checking the source documents. The listing describes a London 1-bed new-build flat at £241,800 with approximately 2,530 sq ft. It...

Before deciding, write down the real cost of each option: likely vacancy time, reletting work, deposit handling, outstanding maintenance and the tenant’s payment record. Then compare that with the extra annual income from a realistic increase, not just the headline market figure. If retaining...

The phrase “electrical checks” needs expanding before tender. Does the price cover inspection only, identified remedial work, alterations for the kitchen and bathrooms, or replacement of anything unsuitable? Also ask whether opening walls or ceilings, fire-stopping penetrations and subsequent...

I want one clearly accountable service from assessment through follow-up, but providers seem to use “energy assessment” for very different packages. This is for a London studio priced at about £471,900, and some offers appear to include negotiation or document coordination while others provide...