We're very excited to announce that Rob D's new book came out yesterday and we may be biased, but we think it is his best yet. In this week's special episode of The Property Podcast, we are going to discuss 'How to be a landlord', with tips from the book, and from all sorts of other places.
Also, we have Meetups next week. The evening's are lighter so there's no excuse not to join your nearest get together. Find all the details here.
You'll need to listen to the episode in full to get all of this week's tips and info, but here are some notes you may want to jot down.
You can make property management a lot easier with some little tricks and processes.
Communicating with tenants:
Chasing up rent:
Dealing with emergencies:
Dealing with routine maintenance:
Inspections:
Conclusion:
Oh, and of course the first thing you need to do is purchase a book that tells you exactly How to be a Landlord, right? Funnily enough, we know just the book.
Obviously the biggest news story of the week is Rob's new book but we also gather the Prime Minister has called a snap General Election. We'll obviously keep you fully up to date over what this means for you in property terms.
This week's resource of the week is obviously Rob's book - make sure you get yourself a copy!
Have you ordered your copy of the book? What is your must-add tip that you would include on How to be a Landlord?
Let us know and join the conversation over in the forum!
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It's time for another couple of questions in this week's edition of 'Ask Rob & Rob'. This week Rob (yes, another one) and Daniel...
...ask Rob & Rob...One property or two? PLUS: Selling a property within 6 months
The Robs give their take on these topics. What do you think? Head over to the forum to discuss.
ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB!
Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind.
Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply).
Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead.
The Property Hub Summit is the place to get all your questions personally answered by Rob & Rob, and build a network of other smart, motivated investors.
Over the course of a full day at a swanky hotel we'll help you set your goals, form a plan to get you there, overcome your obstacles, and give you the support system you need to make sure nothing gets in your way.
Just don't hang around - there are only four Summits each year, and just 16 places available at each!
Interested? Click here to find out more.
What makes the perfect rental property? This week The Robs give their tips on what to do and what to avoid, in order to create the ideal rental property for both you and your tenants.
What is more trouble than it's worth? What is an absolute essential? The Robs give you their take on how to make your property work for you and ensure it gets tenanted quickly and with no fuss.
In other news, we're putting the finishing touches to the next edition of the magazine, it will be with you very soon and includes and interview with Grand Designs presenter McCloud (yes, we're pretty excited about that too). PLUS there is a webinar coming up just for magazine subscribers which you will be very excited about, so watch this space.
Rob D has finally completed his new book 'How to be a Landlord' and we all think it's his best one to date. Keep an eye on your inbox for news on that very soon.
Now, back to the subject in hand this week - what do you need to do to create the ideal rental property?
Flooring:
- Good quality laminate is good for kitchens, bathrooms and high-traffic areas. Make sure it won’t easily rip or warp, don't skimp.
- Dark coloured carpets only! Good underlay makes cheap carpet feel thicker.
Walls:
- Paint straight onto plaster if you can
- Mainly white or very light grey paint – same colour and brand in every property
- Feature wall
- Water-resistant eggshell or acrylic paint in bathroom and kitchen
Bathrooms:
- Shower over bath rather than shower tray
- Electric shower so it’s not dependent on boiler
- If possible, second bathroom or at least another toilet so if one breaks it’s not an emergency
Kitchens:
- Replacing cupboard doors and work surface might be enough to make it look new
- Avoid integrated appliances. A
Gardens:
- Pave over as much as possible
- If you can convert some into driveway or parking, do.
Electrics:
- Plenty of plug sockets
- Maybe USB sockets
- Get an electrical safety check because will probably need one soon anyway
Safety:
- Hard-wired smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with boiler and as appliances, heat detector in kitchen
Furnishing:
- Avoid as much as possible - including appliances if you can get away with it
General:
- Don’t impose your own taste! Keep it simple
- Don’t over-spec. Rental refurb is very different from a flip (or your own home)
- Be active in overseeing the project
There's no bad landlords round here of course, but this will definitely be a big issue for those who are not playing fair and by the rules. Can't be a bad thing, right? Absolutely, provided that it is correctly administered of course! Read more here.
So this week's resource of the week is commutefrom.com which helps you decide where to buy a house around London. It tells you which stations are within your preferred commute time of the central London station nearest to your work. It also tells you information like the average house prices, crime rates, and schools in the area. Clever stuff, huh?
What did we miss? Did you disagree with any points? What do you always make sure you do?
Let us know your take on this important subject and join the conversation over in the forum!
Reviews are really important in helping other people to find the show, so by way of thanks we read out every single review we receive on air.
If you’d like to hear your name on the show, leave us a review on iTunes here.
Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on iTunes.
It's time for another couple of questions in this week's edition of 'Ask Rob & Rob'. This week two listeners...
...ask Rob & Rob...What should I look for when offering finance to another investor? PLUS: Can I use a 2nd charge mortgage to borrow more?
The Robs give their take on these topics. What do you think? Head over to the forum to discuss.
ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB!
Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind.
Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply).
Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead.
The Property Hub Summit is the place to get all your questions personally answered by Rob & Rob, and build a network of other smart, motivated investors.
Over the course of a full day at a swanky hotel we'll help you set your goals, form a plan to get you there, overcome your obstacles, and give you the support system you need to make sure nothing gets in your way.
Just don't hang around - there are only four Summits each year, and just 16 places available at each!
Interested? Click here to find out more.
Last week it was Scotland v England (or Rob D v Rob B) at the Meetups as Rob D ventured to Edinburgh to our brilliant Meetup there, led by Karen & Bill. Rob B took over the helm at the King's Cross Meetup and both locations were very busy.
Rob D spent a bit more time putting the finishing touches to his new book 'How to be a Landlord' but we'll tell you more about that over the next couple of weeks.
Now on to this week's big topic - all about lease hold.
Something that puts some people off - and fear often comes from lack of knowledge. So let's get educated.
What is leasehold?
What you need to know
Things to check before you buy:
How to extend:
How to make money from leases:
This is a bit worrying in itself, but we're particularly concerned given that mortgages are cheaper than ever. What will happen when the cost of mortgages goes up? Take a look at this story here.
This week's resource of the week is Pocket Explore. This is an extension of a previous ROTW Get Pocket. Explore Pocket takes this a bit further and helps you find high quality blogs on any given subject. Check it out.
Have you invested in a leasehold or have you been put off?
Let us know your take on this important subject and join the conversation over in the forum!
Reviews are really important in helping other people to find the show, so by way of thanks we read out every single review we receive on air.
If you’d like to hear your name on the show, leave us a review on iTunes here.
Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on iTunes.
It's time for another couple of questions in this week's edition of 'Ask Rob & Rob'. This week Abdul & Ivan...
...ask Rob & Rob...How do assisted sales work? PLUS: What should I be aware of with Build To Rent schemes?
The Robs give their take on these topics. What do you think? Head over to the forum to discuss.
ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB!
Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind.
Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply).
Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead.
The Property Hub Summit is the place to get all your questions personally answered by Rob & Rob, and build a network of other smart, motivated investors.
Over the course of a full day at a swanky hotel we'll help you set your goals, form a plan to get you there, overcome your obstacles, and give you the support system you need to make sure nothing gets in your way.
Just don't hang around - there are only four Summits each year, and just 16 places available at each!
Interested? Click here to find out more.
Alastair prompted this week's podcast topic, and it's a very important one!
But what's been happening with The Robs this week? Rob D is putting the finishing touches to his new book which will be out on April 26th, we're all excited about this one as it is definitely needed.
The Robs will also be at the Meetups tonight - Rob B is stand in leader in King's Cross, but Rob D has travelled to Scotland to our rebooted Edinburgh Meetup. It's not too late to get your ticket to your local Meetup, and remember, there's zero selling, just good honest property chat over a few drinks.
Now on to this week's big topic - interest rates!
A brief history of interest rates
Why are rates so low?
How people misunderstand interest rates
What happens if rates go back to double-digits?
So how worried should we prepare for rates rising?
Conclusion
Billionaire Warren Buffet may not be known for his property investments but unsurprisingly he hasn't ignored property all together. He is well known for his long term approach to investment generally, and he's applied that same way of thinking to this property investment which has done amazingly well for him.
“Back Again?” is a Chrome extension that tracks how many times you’ve visited a page each day.
Good for helping you break habits or realise how addicted you are! Install it if you dare!
Do you worry about interest rates? What do you do to plan ahead for every eventuality?
Let us know your take on this important subject and join the conversation over in the forum!
Reviews are really important in helping other people to find the show, so by way of thanks we read out every single review we receive on air.
If you’d like to hear your name on the show, leave us a review on iTunes here.
Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on iTunes.
It's time for another couple of questions in this week's edition of 'Ask Rob & Rob'. This week two listeners...
...ask Rob & Rob...Do the Robs ever disagree? PLUS: Will the government changes mean fewer investors?
The Robs give their take on these topics. What do you think? Head over to the forum to discuss.
ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB!
Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind.
Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply).
Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead.
The Property Hub Summit is the place to get all your questions personally answered by Rob & Rob, and build a network of other smart, motivated investors.
Over the course of a full day at a swanky hotel we'll help you set your goals, form a plan to get you there, overcome your obstacles, and give you the support system you need to make sure nothing gets in your way.
Just don't hang around - there are only four Summits each year, and just 16 places available at each!
Interested? Click here to find out more.