Soon to be landlord.

bee78

GDB2222 wrote: »

Can I make a suggestion - get a quote for moving the study downstairs and making good. It may not be that much, and it's a much better solution.

Yes, I am onto it now......will let all of you, what the quote as well....thanks for suggesting

bee78

Hello guys,

I have got quote now to remove study, and to put downstairs, and redo the room as a bedroom, it is coming up to £1200-in that region.

We simply cant afford it....and the couple who viwed have clearly said no, and having extra bedroom upstairs is must. I guess I have to respect that.

So I have ask the agent now to market the house as 3 bedroom house, and feature the study sep, and highlight the potential of the room downstairs being used as bedroom and also lower rent to 875. Well that would represent what we are offering better...and it is not misleading.


Okay guys...thanks for all your help...and advice....will update if there is any further news.....

ognum

bee78 wrote: »

Hello guys,

I have got quote now to remove study, and to put downstairs, and redo the room as a bedroom, it is coming up to £1200-in that region.

We simply cant afford it....and the couple who viwed have clearly said no, and having extra bedroom upstairs is must. I guess I have to respect that.

So I have ask the agent now to market the house as 3 bedroom house, and feature the study sep, and highlight the potential of the room downstairs being used as bedroom and also lower rent to 875. Well that would represent what we are offering better...and it is not misleading.


Okay guys...thanks for all your help...and advice....will update if there is any further news.....

have you consider saying to the couple that viewed that you will reduce the rent if they accept the upstairs study!

it's amazing what people will accept if you offer a rent reduction.

bee78

ognum wrote: »

have you consider saying to the couple that viewed that you will reduce the rent if they accept the upstairs study!

it's amazing what people will accept if you offer a rent reduction.

Yes, but it was £ 900 then.....I guess if they see the ad in a few days...they will see the reduction themselves...and if they want they will contact the agent themselves. The coupe clearly know what they are looking for...I guess I just have to leave it to them to come back to us.

ognum

bee78 wrote: »

Yes, but it was £ 900 then.....I guess if they see the ad in a few days...they will see the reduction themselves...and if they want they will contact the agent themselves. The coupe clearly know what they are looking for...I guess I just have to leave it to them to come back to us.

Well you are probably right but it does hurt in my opinion to be proactive.

Werdnal

bee78 wrote: »

Yes, but it was £ 900 then.....I guess if they see the ad in a few days...they will see the reduction themselves...and if they want they will contact the agent themselves. The coupe clearly know what they are looking for...I guess I just have to leave it to them to come back to us.

Yesterday you were fretting over whether you would get any tenants at all. Today you have some almost lined up, who love the property, like you and sound ideal, yet now you are not willing to make a quick call and have a chat over a possible compromise.

No-one is saying you need to grovel to them to get them to take it, or even snap up the first tenants who come along, but you seem to be chopping and changing your priorities here. In 24 hours its gone from "help, am I going to get any interest in my property", to "I can't be arsed to ring them back, they'll see the ad anyway". Make up your mind!

Surely a quick chat about how to meet in the middle is worth a shot - nothing to lose really is there?

GDB2222

Totally agree with Werdnal.

Also, I find it hard to believe that the £1200 can't be found between you and the incoming tenants, eg say to the tenants: If you pay £600 towards the moving of the study, we'll give you £50/month off the rent for 12 months (12x£50 = £600). As you are planning to knock £25 off the rent anyway, and any new incoming tenant will probably barter you down another £25, that £600 is in reality costing you next to nothing.

Can't you do the making good and decorating yourself? That would save most of teh other £600.

Use your loaf, Bee, and don't lose a good tenant over next to nothing.

bee78

Okay guys....

The couple clearly said that the rent is not issue...but the fourth bedroom is. So I want to respect that.....and leave it up to them.

About tearing the study apart and redoing the study ourselves....I think I have to be realistic about the whole thing....I don't think we can do it ourselves....with the amount of work involved...the room will need wall paper stripping,painting, new carpets, the study would have to be fitted as it is not suitable for free standing. And no, the couple don't want anything to do with the work involved.

I am being proactive about acting on feedback...the house is going to go as 3 bed..rent lowered. This is all a new game for me..and I am learning maybe slowly.......:o

zzzLazyDaisy

Can't you just take the study out and store it somewhere? Chances are the tenants won't want it anyway. Perhaps at that point they'll acept the fourth bedroom as it is and agree to redecorate the bedroom themselves in their own time?

I have to say that you seem to be remarkably laid back about losing a potential tenant for the sake of some compromising.

franklee

What about the half way houses, removing just the desk and leaving the wall units. Or removing all the study furniture, wrapping and storing in the loft. This would save the reinstatement down stairs costs as it seems a shame to carve up a downstairs room if no one really wants a study there. You can always exclude the loft from the tenancy if you want.

Also how much did the study cost you in the first place? What multiple of 900 is it which will give you the number of months rent this is issue costs.

The problems I can see with the three bed plus study approach is that as the tenants pay council tax based on the bigger house and utility bills the redundant room will still be costing them. Also the rent at 875 sounds high for a three bed. So you may end up falling between tenants in wanting a three bed person who will be happy to pay that bit extra or a four bed person prepared to compromise for paying that bit less.

What does your agent say, they should know the local market.

Edit: Cross posted with zzzLazyDaisy suggesting the same just before me