Moving to a new house or flat can seem daunting but that’s where a letting agency comes into its own.
Many clients may only ever encounter these property professionals over the phone, but they’re working hard behind the scenes to make sure flitting into a dream property goes as smoothly as possible.
So, what’s it like to work in a letting office . . . and could this be the job for you?
Well, this really is a role for go-getters.
You shouldn’t expect the phones to start ringing off the hook as soon as it turns 9am, you should positively look forward to it.
Property managers, letting agents and admin staff have a passion for problem solving for customers, both via email and over the phone.
This means communication skills are key for these roles – offering timely and reassuring customer service makes prospective tenants feel they really are being listened to and cared for.
And, of course, it’s rewarding for a pro like yourself to know you’ve made their day.
Not everything is done over the phone or internet, however. Clients will regularly pop into the office to ask for advice on whether a property suits their needs.
They will also come in to sign leases, which can be a formal and witnessed document.
In a climate where the best lease properties are rare, and when the most eager clients want viewings as early as possible, top notch organisational skills are needed, as well as attention to detail in order to maximise the number of viewings in a day.
In this area IT skills will make it easier to work the online diary and reply to emails efficiently. Having good knowledge of locations – or being a whizz at taking top tips in geography and market desirability from s1homes – is handy too.
If you don’t fancy a desk job, the role of viewing agent means you can find yourself all over the country, showing viewers around properties and answering questions.
This is ideal if you’re confident and like interacting with people.
Meanwhile, the maintenance team are busy priding themselves on dealing with issues in properties and liaising with contractors to fix problems such as leaking taps or poltergeists (no we’re kidding, that’s a different department).
It’s all in a day’s work at the letting agency . . . where your mission is to make leasing a home fun not fraught.