It’s important that we look after the safety of our employees and customers, and since 2006 whilst we’ve shut our offices at night, weekends and holidays we have been available for our customers. We have proved this time and time again by agreeing house sales on Christmas Day, Boxing day, Hogmanay and New Year’s Day. I’ve even agreed a house sale while sitting on a beach in Spain and halfway up Mount Everest. There’s not much you can’t achieve if you really put your mind to it.
If you’ve been one of our customers before you’ll know this is no different to any other time when we’ve had to work remotely during our holiday periods.
As a result, we already have the tools and technology to work remotely so you could say we’ve accidentally been preparing for a moment like this.
So, I know you’re going to ask how do we do viewings, valuations, tenant move ins and move outs and what does this mean for you as our customers?
SELLERS: Well for sellers currently on the market what we typically do at a time like this is take enquiries, qualify buyers and continue to bank the interest so that when we are able to do viewings again, we hit the ground running.
For homeowners in FIFE that want a valuation we can adapt to virtual valuations which means we don’t need to physically meet or visit the property but can take as much information about your property over the phone, do some homework, call you back via facetime, WhatsApp, skype or messenger so you can take us around the property and we can discuss and advise the best way forward. More importantly we can give you the right advice and facts to make an informed decision. If you’re ready to come to market, we can even do the paperwork remotely in preparation for when the government says it’s ok to proceed. We have done this several times in the past and when the property has come to market, we’ve often achieved a result beyond the customers’ expectations. Main Street Strathkinness springs to mind where the home report was £150,000 and we achieved £185,000. I have never met the owner to this day but often spoke to them using various other channels of communication.
BUYERS: As well as taking enquiries and answering questions about certain properties we already have several home tours on our property listings and You Tube channel and we can continue to produce and provide personalised home tours for certain properties sent directly to your inbox. If you love the house that much and decide to make an offer we can partner you up with one of our preferred solicitors that won’t charge you the earth and they will give you the best advice on how to proceed. Recently we sold a 2-bedroom apartment at our St Michaels Church development in Cupar to an overseas buyer and it’s not even finished yet but after discussing it with us he loves the concept, finish and design.
MORTGAGE: So before we go on to rentals if you still need to arrange a mortgage or find out what you can afford we can put you in touch with one of our preferred mortgage partners who have a sterling reputation for getting great results, making savings where others can’t and making everything so easy.
Right, LANDLORDS! What are we doing for you? What’s happening about the rent?
All our rents are paid via standing order or bank transfer and we do not handle any cash. So, rents will still continued to be paid. Also, if you call any of our office numbers it comes direct to our mobiles so we’re always contactable. Rest assured that we have the capacity to work remotely as I have done for the last 27 years including holiday periods so you and your property are well looked after. I could remember being called out to a tenanted property on Christmas morning when their radiator fell off the wall and was able to stop any damage from occurring immediately to the downstairs property as a result of being proactive. Similar to sellers if you are a landlord looking for an appraisal or advice on your property, we have all the facilities and capability to do virtual valuations.
TENANTS: Finally, one of our most important customers. Our tenants: Again, we are contactable by the usual channels including social media. Any repairs should be reported as normal and they will be prioritised in conjunction with the current guidelines.
If your rental payment is an issue then you need to contact us immediately so we can help.
If you are a tenant due to leave or move in, again we have the remote processes in place to enable us to do this and we will contact you in good time to advise you. If you wish to delay the move out or move in again contact us.
If you’ve made it to the end “Congratulations” How was it for you?
I’m sure you’ll agree we’ve tried our very best to give you all the information we can but we know there will be further questions so please pick up the phone, send us an email, WhatsApp us, contact us any way you can and we’ll endeavour to help.
Above all stay safe and we’ll get through this together.
Until next time I’m Jim Parker, Fife Properties Managing Director.
