SHARP-EYED readers will no doubt have noticed that The Letting Company has gone. The familiar blue circle is no longer on view in the city centre. But since the name has changed to Slater Hogg & Howison, it's really more of a branding exercise than anything else.
The Letting Company was the name for the company's letting division. Now what it means, says property manager Gary Mitchell, is that there is the benefit of one established brand name in Slater Hogg & Howison, built up over the years. It allows for an increase of uniformity throughout the company.
Making sure that the image is right up to date, the premises in West George Street have been designed on a similar basis to the new-look Bearsden office, which is the look that is to be extended through other branches of the agency.
''It simply allows us to get full benefit,'' says Mitchell. ''Customers benefit from access to our network of 28 branches, on a more integrated basis. Our team is headed by Mrs Audrey Ross as office manager, and the remainder of the staff concentrate on individual aspects. One deals with inspection of properties, one deals with new inventories and final check-outs, and so on.''
With a background of experience in property management, developing a specialist letting service in the private sector, and having trained as a valuer, Mitchell complements the varied expertise of the other staff.
''We concentrate here on properties in the central belt,'' says Mitchell, ''which really means we go from the west coast to the east.
However, the west end of the city is obviously a main focal point: that covers the largest proportion of the properties in our current portfolio.''
He makes the further point that they are keen to see an extension of rental interest in the Park area of Glasgow.
Specialist advice is available to clients, with the proviso that the capital involvement can be fairly high, but also with the reassurance that the end result can be very worthwhile. ''We have a specialist letting service,'' he adds, ''which includes the buy-to-rent scheme where individuals can purchase a property for investment purposes, and where we can offer to manage property for a client.
''We also provide full advice on insurance relating to letting, on regulations such as the need for a valid gas safety certificate, and the regulations relating to letting a fully furnished property.''
Looking through the portfolio brings to light a good selection of available properties. There is a detached villa in Houston with its three public rooms, four bedrooms, and gas-fired central heating. It goes for #880 a month.
Or you can opt for the conversion of a former church in Milngavie, which offers one public room and two bedrooms, again with gas-fired central heating, at #800 a month.
Moving south to Burnside, there is a coach house with one or two public rooms, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and ample parking space, going for #775 a month, furnished.
Thinking of a flat, perhaps. You could go back to Milngavie and try a modern one with one public room, two bedrooms and electric heating: going for #675. You can still come down the scale a bit, without losing out on the looks, by choosing a flat in Busby with one public room, two bedrooms and gas-fired central heating, at #500 a month.
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