Careers at Andrews: Could You Be Our Next Lettings Agent?
Are you interested in working in the property market? As one of the leading residential property specialists in the South of England, we are ideally placed to help you achieve your career aspirations. Our team are our most valuable asset and we're committed to helping them reach their full potential.
If this sounds like a company you'd like to be a part of, we have a range of letting and management opportunities available at our branches. These include; Trainee Lettings Negotiator, Senior Lettings Negotiator and Lettings Manager. Visit the careers page of our Andrews website for more information.
In this post, we look at the role of a lettings agent, to help you decide if it's the perfect career move for you.
What is a Lettings Agent?
Being a lettings agent is about more than just finding tenants for properties.
Katherine Bishton, a Lettings Negotiator at our Bath Bear Flat , says of her role:
"As a lettings negotiator, our role covers a variety of tasks. This includes; speaking to landlords to give feedback and answering any questions they may have, speaking to applicants to find out their requirements, conducting viewings, doing paperwork for lets, instructing relets, logging keys, signing out if required and matching applicants to properties."
As such, the role requires a range of skills including:
Sales Skills
As a lettings agent, it's important to have the ability to 'sell'. Agents must encourage applicants to view suitable properties through constant communication, as well as having to demonstrate to landlords why they are the best person to let their property.
Excellent Communication Skills
A large portion of a lettings agent’s day is spent dealing with landlords, tenants and applicants, both over the phone and in person. It's important that agents maintain a helpful, honest and efficient attitude when dealing with the public.
Enthusiasm and Determination
Lettings agents are subject to both branch and personal targets, so enthusiasm and determination to excel is essential.
In-Depth Knowledge of the Lettings Market
As the first port of call for landlords and tenants, an in-depth knowledge of the lettings market is indispensable. After appropriate training, lettings agents are required to carry out property valuations and advise landlords of anticipated rental income and availability. They are also required to keep under review the letting price of properties and advise the landlord of any necessary adjustments.
Administration Skills
As with many jobs, lettings agents have to do their fair share of administration. This includes ensuring properties on the register have been updated, writing up and ensuring prompt distribution of the property files and arranging a written confirmation of the follow-up valuation letter.
"The main thing I love about my job is that no day is the same," says Katherine. "We work in an environment which is always busy and you get to meet and speak to people on a daily basis. You also get a great sense of achievement when you find someone their home."
What do Lettings Agents do Day-to-Day?
For Katherine a typical day in the life of a lettings agent begins with checking emails, looking at the property queues and any leads that have come in overnight. This is followed by a morning meeting, where the team go through the day's diary and the previous day's diary, before offers and viewings are allocated.
The rest of the day is divided up into the following tasks:
Gathering Viewing Feedback
Contacting tenants who attended viewings the previous day, to see whether they liked the property and are interested in renting it.
Processing Offers
Going through any offers made the previous day.
Contacting Landlords of New Properties
Calling new landlords to discuss starting the lettings process.
Attending Viewings
Showing tenants around properties and fitting the day's tasks around allocated viewings.
Due for Review
Qualifying whether existing tenants are still looking for a property to rent.
Sourcing New Properties
Proactively sourcing new properties by contacting existing landlords and sending out letters.
The Next Day’s Diary
Confirming viewings for the next day with applicants and tenants, if the property in question isn't vacant.
Tracking Emails
Keeping a record of what emails have been sent and tracking them to the property.
Getting Started in the Industry
So, do you think 'Lettings Agent' could be the perfect role for you? There are a variety of opportunities available in the industry to suit a range of different experience levels – some unpaid work experience can also be a good way to gage whether the role is a good fit.
"In Year 10, I went on work experience at a local lettings agent and from then on I always knew this is what I wanted to do," says Katherine. "After school, I studied Business Management at my local collage and from there I went to UWE in Bristol, where I studied BSc (Hons) Business in Property."
"My main advice if you want to work in the property market is that, if you are unsure whether it is for you, get some work experience, as this will help you to see what role you want to do."
Andrews has been operating since 1946 – that's a long time, and has enabled us to build up extensive property expertise. As such, we're ideally placed to help you achieve your career aspirations. We offer comprehensive on-the-job training, as well as the opportunity to develop your abilities through a structured ladder of progression.
To search for vacancies at Andrews, visit our career in property today.
