5-minute read
Buying a property to rent out is a big decision that could impact your finances for many years to come.
Viewing properties is an important part of the process and although this can be exciting, it’s not uncommon for emotions to get in the way.
This can lead to rash decisions, or forgetting to ask crucial questions.
And as a landlord, there are specialist criteria to consider compared to viewing a house you’re planning to live in. To get the most out of viewings, you need to be prepared and have an idea of what you’re looking for.
Read our buying a house checklist for landlords to give yourself the best chance of a successful viewing and making the right buying decision.
Whether you’re buying a house to rent out or to live in yourself, it’s crucial that you know what to look for on a property viewing.
Below we outline the main things to take into account and the key questions to ask when viewing the exterior and interior of a property.
Properties come in all shapes and sizes, but they’ll all come with a kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and some kind of living space.
Here’s what you need to consider for each individual space.
As a landlord, you’ll be viewing a property through the eyes of your future tenants. As well as working out whether the property is suitable for people to live in, there are also legal obligations to consider.
Here are some key things for landlords to consider on a viewing:
Before you put in an offer on a property, take the time to find out some key information about the local area. For example, are there strong transport links, plus local shops, pubs, and restaurants? And if you’re thinking of renting to a family, good local schools will be a priority.
Knowing this information can help you to decide on the type of tenant you want to rent to as well as how much to offer.
Other key bits of information include asking the estate agent why the property is being sold, whether it’s been a rental before, and how much things like council tax and buildings insurance could cost.
Read our guide to buy-to-let investment for more tips on buying a rental property.
Alongside all the things you need to look out for as part of our checklist, here are some more ideas to get the most out of your viewings when buying a rental property:
What are your tips for viewing a buy-to-let property? Let us know in the comments below.
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Conor Shilling
Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years’ experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor’s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance.
We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer
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