Here at Redbrick Properties we have been moving students into their new homes for years. 19 years to be exact, and we have learned quite a bit along the way, especially when it comes to managing your expectations.
Here are our Top 5 Tips for Moving Into Your New Property this summer:
Ensure you have completed every stage of the application process - We are unable to hand out keys to anyone in your tenancy unless every tenant has completed everything. Whether it's getting your parents to send your Guarantor Form to us, signing the tenancy agreement or paying over the rest of your deposit, make sure it is done as soon as possible after applying for your property because if you haven't done this, your housemates are not allowed their keys either.
Your Head-Tenant has been designated to pick up all keys - As Covid-19 is still doing the rounds we need to be as careful as possible when it comes to people visiting our office, so we have designated your Head-Tenant to pick up all the keys for your house. It will be a busy day so we would advise not picking up keys until mid-afternoon or even at a later date if you don't need to move in straight away. It would also be wise to let us know when to expect you so we can prepare your keys and Check-In report, so please ensure your Head-Tenant books in a slot.
Be patient - Many of the properties will need to be turned around in less than 24hrs so we will need to inspect them, have them cleaned and organise any maintenance that we were not aware of. If, for any reason your house has not be cleaned when you arrive, just be aware that cleaners will be on the way. It is very rare for this to happen, but it all depends on how the previous tenants left the house. There will also be maintenance issues that need addressing, and as per the tenancy agreement we have 28 days to put these right, but we will put the wheels in motion straight away and get these addresses as soon as we possibly can. These must be reported through our online maintenance system, FixFlo.
Be thorough - When you pick up keys we will email a link to an online Check-In which you will need to complete by walking around the house and noting down any issues that you do not want to get blamed for come the end of your tenancy. This can be anything from marks on walls to a broken piece of furniture. Be as detailed as possible, and take lots of photos which you will be able to upload to the Check-In report. Then email the report back to us to be approved. It's easy to do, but the more thorough you are the better as there may be issues that we missed.
Read the following blog - Top 5 Most Common Deposit Deductions - It will be invaluable come the end of your tenancy!
In the meantime, if you have still not completed your application, now is the time to do it, and if you need any help or have any questions whatsoever - just ask.