How long to find a tenant?

[Ponyofdoom]

I reckon its been a good 8-10 weeks since my flat was advertised to let. One guy said he would take it, but had to pull out (for non-flat related reasons). I thought it was a landlords' market at the moment... Does this sound too long? The agent (who was rubbish initially) has just dropped the price, I did think it was too high initially..it is a lovely flat, just been refurbished too. Any thoughts/experiences appreciated thanks

I don't know - but my house has never been empty more than a month - the agent has never had any problem finding people to look at and rent it. It's reasonably priced, in an OK area in the south east.

Depends on your area maybe? I know that I'm holding off on a move to London until after the olympics for instance - or perhaps there's a glut of similar properties on the market?

What reasons are people viewing it giving for not renting?

Thanks ChunkyPickle. It is in a nice part of a very nice village in the South East, just 10 mins from a town with lots of work/train station. There has been little feedback, just one comment that it was too small. It is actually a 2 bed with decent sized rooms, but the kitchen is a small galley kitchen. I am thinking it's the letting agents as there have been various things they have done/are doing wrong, plus their office is not local enough. I thought if it was on Rightmove that would be enough but I am now thinking I made a mistake there..

Similar quandry here. I have had my house for ten years and always let it myself and had tenants lined up to go in as soon as it was ready. Just had a nightmare of a time and completely re furbed it and decided to use an agent because I don't want to see or hear from the damned thing for a while, else I might explode.

Was listed on the 1st June and had 2 viewings that I know of and no bites.

Going to give it another couple of weeks and then ditch the agent and do it myself I think. Or maybe another agent. Who knows! But can't see what the problem is, it is priced right, actually its priced on the low end of right to tempt long termers, and is lovely inside, everything is brand new. Including the bloody walls .

Where are all of these tenants I see sayingf they can't get decent accomodation? I have some!!

when I was renting our house out last year it took ages - we had to drop the price and I also did a bit of promotion myself - put the link on gumtree, mumsnet local and social networks - and I think in a shop window - then I got more viewings and a tenant - was out of area so couldn't do it all myself but would have done if had been there

Ah well at least it's not just me! How would you 'do it yourself' out of interest; I know that only agencies can use Rightmove? My agents were so rubbish that they put a big spelling mistake in the advert, they put 'sorted after' instead of 'sought after'! Then got the postcode wrong TWICE so that initially it was in the wrong village, then it was in the ropey council street! Agh!

Ah thanks AnOtherName I cross posted. That's helpful.

Mainly through word of mouth, put a sign in the window with my mobile number. I've never had a problem getting intrest, its the sorting and checking that is a faff on to do yourself, so I will pass that on to my accountant or solicitor to do.

I just wanted to close the door and forget about it for a while but it looks like I might have to do it anyway. Might try another agent, but will they be any better?

Just don't know whats going on. Will ring agent on monday and light a rocket under them!

Shame none of you have a place in London. A very good friend of mine and model tenant is desperate to find somewhere as her landlady has gone batshit crazy but thanks to the Olympics there is just no availability, and what there is is ridiculously overpriced.

[unhelpful]

I went round all the agents in the local town, and picked the one that I got the best feeling from - and I have to say they've been excellent - in stark contrast to when my parents rented a place they had out and the agent failed to report problems, let the tenant run off without paying (yet still refunded the deposit), and kept that hidden from them..

Go with gut instinct - a good agent makes life sooo easy when renting.

If it's any help, we avoided all the letting agents locally and went private as we cannot afford to pay the admin fees. I should imagine with things how they are financially just now, people just cannot/don't want to fork out for fee after fee after fee and then on each renewal too.

Id second social networks, and Ive been particularly lucky with Gumtree too

I'm a bit thick old fashioned when it comes to technology, don't have facebook etc. Is Gumtree easy enough to use? Do you have to pay/have a profile etc or is it easy enough for a novice?

gumtree v easy and free - some people set up another email - although I didn't as you do get some oddballs
the mumsnet section local to you would be well worth posting in as well - I found my house I am renting through my local one

I shall have a proper look at gumtree tomorrow. I did have a wander over there after your earlier post but got distracted by random things bit of a butterfly when trying to concentrate.

Then I put harry potter on and all was lost to a well of tears .

rhubarbgarden I have a lovely one bed flat avail in nw London
from august. Pm me if interested!

Watching thread with interest anyway as hoping to avoid using the dreaded foxtons this time around....

2/3 bed in west London.
Listed with agents and gumtree.
Feeling nervous as it has been two weeks. Was over priced though [angry]@agents trying to convince me of this!!!