Martin gets a makeover!

Martin & Co announce the successful re-launch of their website www.martinco.com . After working with web designers and developers at The Property Jungle and Search Engine Optimisation specialists Vertical Leap the new site is now live.

“As a property search site it was essential that this function remained core to the new site as well as maintaining the established branding that Martin & Co is renowned for nationwide. The Property Jungle recognised this requirement and were able to work with us to develop a bespoke site to support all the users’ requirements,” commented Mark Burdge Sales & Marketing Director.

The Web is widely used for property searches with over 80% of people starting their research online. This makes it an ideal marketing tool for the fast moving world of lettings. “Fierce competition in our industry makes investment in an effective website that is easily found through search engines such as Google crucial,” he added.

The new Martin & Co website features individually managed office homepages, an Intranet to improve inter-office and company-wide communications as well as social networking and “search engine friendly” functionality.

"Working with Martin and Co and delivering a solution that makes a real difference to the way they do business has been a very rewarding exercise" said Mike Smithson from The Property Jungle, "Our experience and solid track record of delivering property industry websites that work enabled us to understand their business and requirements and build them a tool that helps them get on with the business of renting properties".

Portsmouth based search engine marketing specialists Vertical Leap worked with the Martin & Co head office team and Property Jungle to optimise the site. Although it is early days, with over 170 office pages locally optimised, Martin & Co are expecting to see increased exposure online, as well as an improvement in the customer experience. Google trends have already recognised Martin & Co as a “rising star”.

Landlords and tenants alike can benefit from a number of improvements to the new site. These include enhanced property search tools, unbiased information about letting and/or renting a property providing helpful hints and tips, jargon busters to help explain the technical “lingo” used in the world of lettings, FAQ’s, and information guides. Tenants are able to receive regular property updates via text and/or email and landlords can also benefit from their property being featured as property of the week. Martin Co can even be followed on Twitter.

Finally Mark added, “We are delighted with the feedback we have had to date on the new site and we are already planning phase two. It’s great to be able to work with suppliers such as The Property Jungle and Vertical Leap who understand and share our ambition and vision and this is crucial if we are to continue to be a major player in the lettings sector both on and off-line.”


Contact:

For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Leading letting agent Martin & Co opens in Macclesfield

There’s great news in store for landlords and tenants in Macclesfield as the latest office of Martin & Co – the UK’s largest and fastest-growing network of specialist letting agents opens its doors on 4th June.

The new Martin & Co franchise – located at 21 Church Street in refurbished premises is owned and managed by husband and wife team – Michael and Margaret Clark.

No strangers to running their own business Michael and Margaret have worked together for the last 25 years. Michael a Building Engineer is a Director of a new build and property development company and Margaret has worked with him to grow this business.

No strangers to property, Michael originally looked at moving into estate agency but saw the changes in the housing market and researched lettings to discover this was bucking the current downward trend of the property sector as a whole.

“Selecting Martin & Co was the easy bit!” commented Michael. “We wanted to continue being in control of our futures and in charge of our own financial destinies. We have seen Martin & Co grow as a brand and felt that buying into a proven franchise model would give us the specialist support we needed to run our own lettings business,” he added. “We are both looking forward to the challenges this will bring.”

During the summer months the Clark’s will be joined by their son Alexander a Business Studies graduate – so it really will be a family affair.

As a team we aim to deliver the most professional lettings and property management service in the area and endorse the award winning customer service Martin & Co is known for.

A choice of service levels is available to suit individual landlord requirements – ranging from tenant-find, to a fully managed service, A range of additional specialist information and advice is also offered, including advice on buy-to-let, credit-referencing of prospective tenants, and insurance products.

Both Michael and Margaret are confident about the prospects for the lettings market in the area, as the trend continues to swing from property ownership towards lettings. “With all the difficulties being experienced in the housing market, demand is clearly on the increase.”

So, all in all, it looks like an open and shut case for getting down to Martin & Co right away!

Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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New Owner for Award-Winning Letting Agency in Tunbridge Wells

The UK’s largest dedicated letting agency , Martin & Co, has just announced a new franchisee at the helm of its Tunbridge Wells office – with new offices opening in early July in Vale Road just off the High Street.

David Rogers has many years experience in running an effective lettings operations and property developments in the South East. As a landlord himself, David also highly aware of the issues landlords face. “The Martin & Co franchise is precisely the right vehicle for me to deliver the level of service I would expect to receive myself. Indeed, the exceptional training, systems and support the company provides gives me a flying head start, combined with a large portfolio of existing managed properties”, he said.

“Martin & Co has won numerous awards for customer service and success in lettings recently. This platform, combined with the fact that my wife Jackie will also be involved in the business, means that we expect to forge strong and enjoyable relationships with our valued clients, as we deliver a personal, accountable and effective way of letting and managing property investments for amateur and professional landlords alike.

“Landlords and tenants alike can be assured of our comprehensive transparency, integrity, fairness, reliability and professionalism – ideals which form the very core of our approach to business.

“Landlords seeking advice about anything from avoiding vacant periods, to tenancy deposit schemes, protected rents, insurance, Energy Performance Certificates, lease agreements, maximising returns, etc are most welcome to contact me personally on 012345678 and I promise you will receive straight-talking, good advice every time” continued David.

Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Meet the team of Chelmsford

Stephen Frost FARLA
Principal
Born in Chelmsford in 1971, Stephen is married with 3 Children and currently lives in Leigh on Sea.
Stephen has always been in finance services and Customer services. He has spent the last 12 years working for various different letting agencies across Essex with each move being an upwards career progression. He was an Area Sales Manager for a large corporate Letting Agent for 5 years and most recently was a Regional Operations Director for Martin & Co, a role which involved overseeing of 37 Martin & Co offices and the training and business development of each office. Stephen took over the franchise in October 2008.

In his spare time Stephen can be found running the local Cub Scout group and is an active member of his parish Church. Hobbies include football, walking his Labradoodle.



Graham Bell
Senior Lettings Negotiator

Graham Joined the team after spending the past 9 years in the industry most recently working for another well respected franchised letting agent.
Graham said “I am delighted to be part of the Martin & Co team. This is a great opportunity for me joining at a time of expansion. The company has established a superb name and reputation across Chelmsford and I am looking forward to contributing to the success of the branch.”

Graham’s hobbies include football, live music and travel.



Rea French
Lettings Negotiator

Rea joined the team in February as Negotiator and has been busy letting lots of property. Since leaving school Rea has worked in various Customer Service positions and always strives to succeed to the best of her ability.

Rea said she was attracted to the position as it gave ideal opportunity to develop her selling skills. Rea has a twin sister also working in lettings so there is a good sibling rivalry in Duke Street.

Hobbies include her family and dog Bella, exercise and chocolate!




Nina Kaszina
Lettings Coordinator/Property Management Asst

Nina joined the team at the beginning of June as part of the continued growth of the business. Whilst studying for her degree for the past 3 years she worked for an award winning Hertfordshire ARLA licensed letting agency and brings to the Team a wealth of knowledge and a depth of excellent customer service skills.

Nina said that she was attracted to the role because of the passion and belief there is for the brand and the excellent training offered from the Martin & Co Training Academy.

Hobbies include gym, drama, Theatre and cocktails!

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No change to gas safety duties for landlords when gas safe register takes over

Gas Safe Register, the new gas safety body replacing the CORGI gas register in Great Britain on 1 April. Only Gas Safe registered engineers will be authorised to carry out this work from the beginning of April.

If you let a property, you must make sure that pipe work, appliances and flues provided for tenants and customers are maintained in a safe condition and you need to have an annual gas safety check.

Franchise owner Stephen Frost from Martin & Co Chelmsford commented “Landlords have a legal duty to keep tenants and customers safe by making sure the gas appliances in properties are suitably maintained. As part of the fully managed service we offer, we can arrange for this to be carried out by one of our approved Gas Safe registered engineers on behalf of the landlord.

Franchise owner Stephen added, “Landlords and tenants should never attempt to install or repair a gas appliance themselves. This is breaking the law and puts lives at risk.”

“Our tenants and customers safety is a top priority for us at Martin & Co Chelmsford.

We will ensure that any gas safety record provided to our clients from 1st April 2009 will only be produced by engineers approved and listed on the Gas Safe Register.

For more information please visit http://martinco.com

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Martin & Co Aldershot Celebrate Start

“Ahead of target” are three words that any business likes to hear, but to be comfortably ahead of your targets less than a year on from signing your franchise agreement, as with Martin & Co’s Aldershot office, is an impressive achievement. In their first six months of trading the business was comfortably ahead of targets by £8,000, had employed their first member of staff and had helped 60 tenants move in!

The opening year has been hard work but worth it according to franchise owner Richard Oldaker, “James and I have both worked flat out this year to make sure that our business is successfully established and are looking forward to reaping the rewards in the future. We aim to stick to the business plan we built with Martin & Co, we will always keep a very close rein on costs (always easier when it’s your own money), year 2 should see us earning closer to the sort of money we were used to and year three should take us into unchartered territory.”

Fellow franchise owner and colleague James Wiggins admits that despite both he and Richard having a background in sales they have still learnt a lot in their first year. “The big learning curve for us has been the running of the business side of things as this has been completely new to us. Fortunately, the support we have received from Martin & Co (particularly in the build up towards launch) has been great and they have pointed us in the right direction when it has come to getting finance in place and making sure we launched on time. The other thing that has been really exciting for us has been being able to start a fresh and be building a solid reputation within our area.”

On owning their own business, both felt that they had made the right decision with Martin & Co. “Coming in to work every day you get the feeling that you are creating something which is great, best of all it belongs to you.” James comments. For Richard it is the independence that he enjoys most “For me being in control of my own destiny is great, not having to bow down to corporate regional managers or a managing director’s decisions is nice. Especially as I always felt I could have done a better job than some of my old bosses anyway!” So far the friends and colleagues have enjoyed their working relationship adds Richard “We always make sure our decisions are made jointly and we haven’t had a falling out yet, so let’s hope it stays that way!”

Richard strongly recommends the franchise route to anyone looking to own their own business. “James and I were confident about getting the business off the ground having turned around flagging estate agencies in the past; however we weren’t confident with all the things involved with getting to the point of opening the doors. The funding, shop fit, business plans, legalities of lettings , software systems, accounts, joining the Ombudsman and NALS, the list is never ending. We were guided through the process and have had continued support since launching from our operations director, who always pushes us to do more and more business!”


Contact:
James Wiggins & Richard Oldaker – 01252 311974, richard.oldaker@martinco.com & james.wiggins@martinco.com

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Martin & Co shortlisted for National Award

Martin & Co, the UK’s No1 letting agent , has been shortlisted for the Negotiator Awards 2009. The lettings specialist has been nominated in the “ Letting Agent of the Year (National Chain)” category.

Martin & Co are a franchised network dedicated to lettings . With over 170 offices throughout the UK, Martin & Co are no strangers to success having won the “Best Large Letting Chain” award (ESTAS 2009) and recognised as Franchisor of the Year at the previous year’s Negotiator Awards.

On being shortlisted for the awards, Managing Director Ian Wilson commented, “This is great news having been shortlisted for a second year in a row. We are absolutely delighted as we are up against stiff competition.”

Ian added, “I am also pleased that father and daughter team Bob and Claire Urwin, franchise owners of Martin & Co Oxford have also been shortlisted for “The letting agency newcomer award. This office have a track record in winning awards having won Martin & Co’s Brand Ambassador Award and a Silver ESTAS award for the region both in April this year!”

Clare Bettelley, The editor of The Negotiator, the leading magazine for the world of estate agency, said: “We’ve had a terrific response and Martin & Co has done brilliantly to get shortlisted from such a huge field. We’re delighted that we’re able to organise a ceremony to reward those firms that are delivering industry best practice”.

The event is the premier nationwide estate agency awards scheme in the UK, and the trophies will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane on Wednesday 11 November.

The sponsors of the awards include The Digital Property Group, FindaProperty.com, Primelocation.com and the Fully Furnished Group.

Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Award-Winning Letting Agency Opens in Staines

The UK’s largest letting agency , Martin & Co has opens the doors of its latest office on 10th July, in Staines. Situated at 137 High Street, the award-winning agency offers a dedicated letting service for landlords and tenants, and is set to take property lettings to the next level in the Staines area, according to the new franchise owners Eric and Susan Milburn – a husband and wife team with a passion for excellence!

Eric and Susan – successful businesspeople, property developers and landlords themselves, really understand the needs of today’s landlord, and approached Martin & Co as they had been impressed with their successful letting formula and wanted to hit the ground running with their new lettings venture.

“Clearly, lettings are rapidly taking over from home ownership in the UK and the Martin & Co franchise is precisely the right vehicle for us to deliver the level of service we would expect to receive ourselves. Indeed, the exceptional training, systems and support the company provides gives us a flying head start”, said Eric. “It also fits well with our long-term aim to involve our two daughters in the business in the future”, said Susan.


Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Award-Winning Letting Agency Opens in Balham

The UK’s largest letting agency , Martin & Co has just opened the doors of its latest branch, in Balham. Situated in Balham Hill, the award-winning agency offers a dedicated letting service for landlords and tenants, and is set to take property lettings to the next level in the Balham area, according to the new franchise owner, Naveed Salim.

Naveed, with a degree in economics and a strong background in a progressive retail environment where customer service was king, approached Martin & Co as he had been impressed with their system-driven approach to lettings .

“The Martin & Co franchise is precisely the right vehicle for me to deliver the level of service I would expect to receive myself. Indeed, the exceptional training, systems and support the company provides gives me a flying head start”, he said, “it also fits well with my long-term aim to develop a respected business that will be an asset for my family in the future – so I’m in it for the long run!” says Naveed


Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Redundancy Allowed me to seize the Martin & Co Opportunity

Martin &Co Wimbledon franchise owner, Ian Waldron, shares his views on why redundancy can be just the beginning, not the end

“I had always like the idea of owning my own business but the prospect seemed daunting, however when I was made redundant it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my situation. Franchising presented the perfect opportunity to own my own business whilst minimising the risks of starting independently.”

“I have always had a genuine interest in property and with my financial background in the city I knew that the trend was moving away from sales and towards lettings . However I had limited knowledge of the lettings industry but with the comprehensive training courses that Martin & Co provides combined with the continued support on offer I felt confident that lettings was the right industry for me.”

“The first time I saw a Martin & Co board in my area I was immediately interested. The distinctive branding that they provide is unlike anything I would have been able to do on my own. With Martin & Co our clients benefit from our office’s local knowledge and expertise backed by the power of a national brand, without choosing the franchise route it would have taken years to build up the brand awareness I already have.”

“Due to the success of Martin & Co as a brand and the fact that their business model has been tried and tested over a number of years, it meant the process of obtaining funding was fairly straight forward. Yes banks are going to ask probing questions but the business plan that Martin & Co provide all new franchises with settled any doubts the banks I went to originally had.”

“It is difficult for me to offer advice to anyone who has been made redundant as each individual case is different, and buying a franchise does require an investment. However redundancy can often offer the opportunity for reflection and change in an individual’s lifestyle which in other circumstances may have never been possible. As long as the franchisee is willing to put in the hard work required and is eager to learn lots of new skills then buying a franchise can be a great option. I love being my own boss and know that my job and my future is secure. People tend to mention redundancy in negative terms but it doesn’t have to be doom and gloom, I have gone from being made redundant to owning a growing business in an industry that I have a real passion for.”

Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Martin & Co confirmed as Best Large Letting Chain

Letting agency Martin & Co has just been awarded the UK’s “Best Large Letting Chain” at the Estate and Letting Agency Awards (ESTAs) in London on 8th April.

The prestigious award was presented to Ian Wilson Managing Director of Martin & Co by media personality and journalist Phil Spencer of Channel 4’s “Location, Location, Location”, who said “these awards are particularly special, and a true reflection on excellence in customer service as they are the only awards in the industry which are voted for by the landlords themselves. They are not easily won, and require a letting agency to achieve a consistently high level of service to their clients over a 12 month period.” Over 30,000 questionnaires were sent out to customers across the UK

Phil added, “It's fantastic to see agents getting the credit they deserve after all the negative press they receive. Throughout the property industry there is a constant need to improve customer service and these awards go along way to help agents focus on keeping clients happy. He adds "After all the most powerful marketing tool for Agents is word of mouth so customer satisfaction is key."

On receiving the award, Ian Wilson said “It is a privilege to win such an award, and it is a tribute to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our staff, But more than that, it is a reflection of a blend of the proven system of which we are very proud, with our unswerving aim only to recruit, and help our franchisees recruit, the very best in the business – those who really care! In an industry where numerous sales-base estate agents have recently forayed into lettings, the award has clearly demonstrated that people prefer to work with a dedicated lettings specialist. I am especially pleased that it was our customers themselves who voted for us, and I’d like to thank all those who took the trouble to show their appreciation by taking part in the independent survey.”

The sponsors of the 2009 event included Globrix, PSC, RICS, Estate Agent Today and The London Paper and the Awards were organised by Awards for Business Ltd ( http://www.estateagentoftheyear.com/previous-winners.html ).

(No strangers to awards success, Martin & Co also won Franchisor of the Year last November.)

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Letting Agent Franchise Owners Toast Rapid Success

Over 250 people attended Martin & Co’s national conference and awards ceremony last weekend to share in a celebration of a business that is clearly bucking the trend. Martin and Co is the UK’s largest dedicated letting agency , with over 160 franchised offices , and was celebrating an annual increase in revenue of over 40%.

Managing Director, Ian Wilson commented that every year is a record year, but that this year’s growth is extraordinary. He said, “Despite modest gains in the letting industry overall, the integrity, professionalism and straight-talking, good advice of our franchisees is taking the business to new heights of success all round – both in terms of revenue and customer service.

“One of my greatest pleasures was to see our founder and Chairman, Richard Martin presenting awards to several of our new franchisees who, in their first year of trading have achieved incredible success. It seems only a few weeks ago that they were enquiring about the possibility of buying a Martin and Co franchise, and I am delighted that our training, ethos and methodology have once again worked in their favour.”

The event follows close on the heels of two recent major awards for the company itself – “Franchisor of the Year” and “Best Large Letting Chain”, which can only help position Martin and Co as one of the most reliable and successful franchise operations in the UK.

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First Foreign Olympic Monies into UK

The Weymouth office of the UK’s largest dedicated letting agency , Martin & Co is among the first businesses to directly benefit from foreign revenues as a direct result of the Olympics – some three years before the event itself!

The Canadian Sailing Team has just rented a four bedroom house, complete with swimming pool, through Martin & Co in order to accommodate its team members as they train in waters close to the actual sailing course.

Martin and Co’s local franchise owner David James said, “We were pleasantly surprised to receive the enquiry from Canada, and it certainly proves that our international connections are paying dividends. And of course the landlord was delighted as this tenancy runs right up to 2012 and is backed by a charitable foundation.”

“With Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy confirmed as the official venue for the Olympic Sailing events in 2012 we are looking forward to working with others involved in the Olympics.”

“We are delighted to be the first Martin & Co office to be working with an Olympic team, but with a UK network the company is in a great position to work with other sportsmen and women who will be visiting the UK in the run up to the Olympics in 2012”, added David.

Contact:
For further information about Martin & Co nationally please contact Marketing Manager Jayne Codling 01202 405543 or email jayne.codling@martinco.com

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Tips on How to Find No Fee Apartments in Manhattan NYC

Finding a residential apartment in Manhattan, NYC requires a lot of hard work and people often make mistakes in a hurry. They end up compromising quality to save a couple grand on rent. Or sign a contract and hand over signed checks without having the apartment inspected properly. This may take a huge toll later.

Here are some tips that will help you to find the best no fee apartment in the most desired location of downtown. Follow these instructions to find the best residential apartment in lower Manhattan or any other part of the NYC.

No fee Manhattan Apartment Tips:

1. Do not commit anything on your first visit; take some time to do the basic inspections before you hand over the signed checks.

2. Make sure to see a number of apartments in the same location so that you can get an idea of the price range and standard features and facilities.

3. Evaluate whether the rent is reasonable or not – this can be done by visiting other apartments in the area or by consulting your acquaintances. If you are new in Manhattan, ask a savvy friend to accompany you on your venture.

4. Inspect if the apartment is clean and properly painted. If the owner promises to get the apartment painted before you move in, make sure to get it in writing.

5. Check places like the bathroom wall, kitchen sink, crack on the walls etc. for any sign of roaches, molds, mildews and rodents. These pests make your home unhealthy.

6. Is the living room spacious enough? Is there any dining alcove – how spacious is this?

7. See the type of ceiling the apartment has – a beamed ceiling is often preferred over the other types. Most modern no fee apartment in Manhattan and East Village apartments have beamed ceiling.

8. What type of flooring does it have – ebony-finished wood flooring offers a contemporary look; on the other hand, natural-finished wood flooring is popular for its classical style. Inquire if you can choose the type of flooring or not. It’s a question of aesthetics after all!

9. Are the windows large enough? Do they open and close properly?

10. What type of hardware is used on the doors? What is the style of the doors?

11. Inspect the kitchen – cupboards and cabinets should be large and properly organized.

12. Make sure the fixtures in the bathroom are working properly; check if the bathroom tiles and marble have any cracks, leaks or any other defects. If yes, then show it to the landlord and see if they would repair it before you move in; get it in writing.

13. Is the bedroom spacious enough to accommodate you and your dreams? Are there some closets, cabinets and wardrobes? Is the room airy enough? Does it look healthy?

These are some basic tips to help you find a suitable apartment in Manhattan, NYC. If you still feel puzzled, get help from professional real estate agents or contact no fee apartment rental companies and communities in NYC directly.

Author’s Bio: Stanley Gallor is a self published author who writes about real estate industry, no fee apartments and rental services. For no fee Manhattan apartment and Stuyvesant apartments , he recommends you to visit: http://www.stuytown.com

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How to Find NYC No Fee Apartments – A Comprehensive Guide

Finding NYC no fee apartments is not an easy job. New York City has been the most populous city of the United States since 1790. The NY metropolitan area is the most populous urban area of the world. NYC is a leading global city that contributes to many national and international affairs including finance, commerce, education, politics, culture, entertainment and fashion. Finding your slice of space in such a high-rank city is going to take time and work.

That’s why most people choose to pay a fee to a broker, ideally 10% to 15% of the annual rent, just to make the apartment finding process easier. But when you look for no fee apartments, and opt to pay a brokerage to the middleman, it does not remain ‘no fee’ any more right? You can actually find no fee apartments yourself; let’s see how:

Contact buildings’ management companies directly and inquire how they can help you. Many management companies that offer no-fee rentals, allow people to eliminate the middleman by renting directly through their office. No hassles, no fee – finding NYC no fee apartments cannot be easier than this!

You can begin the process sitting right at your home. Chances are high that most of the apartment rental companies, if not all, have their own websites. Visit their websites to get a general idea about the apartments. The following list will help you refine your search for a New York City apartment for rent:

1. Go online and search for no fee apartment companies in your preferred location – New York City, Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island.

2. Bookmark the websites in your browser or prepare a hard copy list of websites.

3. Now, start visiting the websites one by one and note the essential information such as charges for 1 or 2 bedroom apartments, location of the building, amenities etc.

Make sure you know your requirements very well before you start your apartment search. You should look for an apartment that is close to your work place, school or university. Or, look for an apartment that is located at the heart of the city so that commuting to any other part becomes easy.

4. Now shortlist the apartment list you started with based on this data.

5. Finally, consider the features and facilities such as carpet area, interior design, plan of the apartment, neighboring areas etc. to pick the best home for you and your family.

If you already know an apartment rental service that offers affordable rental apartments in your destination, visit their website directly to learn about their rates, features and facilities; get ready to live in your dream home!

About the author: Stanley is a self published author who writes for web. For 2 bedroom NYC rental and Manhattan apartment, he recommends you to visit: http://www.petercoopernyc.com

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Tenancy Deposit Protection proves effective for The Deposit Protection Service’s largest client

On the second anniversary of the scheme (April 2007 – April 2009), figures have been released which show that protection of tenant’s deposits and the schemes have made real progress in their quest to deliver a more secure system for the public. According to the latest survey from The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), some 91% of tenants feel safer since tenancy deposit legislation was introduced 2 years ago.

“Martin & Co has over 13,000 deposits lodged with the DPS and a monetary value in excess of 10 million – making Martin & Co the DPS’s largest client both in terms of volume of deposits and value, and this scheme has been a great success for our customers” commented Ian Wilson Managing Director of Martin & Co.

“However, we are concerned about the number of DIY landlords and amateur letting agents (mostly those which have recently been annexed to an estate agency to bolster falling sales revenues) who ignore, or are unaware of, the legislation. Landlords should know that if they do not provide confirmation that their tenant’s money is formally protected under the scheme within fourteen days of accepting a deposit and to provide the tenant with compulsory information as prescribed by TDP legislation, the landlord can be liable for substantial penalties and also jeopardise their right to evict a problem tenant easily.

Ian added, “The issue was always whether tenants would get their deposit back at the end of their tenancy, and whether the landlord actually has the money to give back to the tenant.

“At Martin & Co we are committed to making it easy for landlords to comply with the increasing amount of mostly positive legislation that regulates the letting of a property. There is generally a low awareness of issues such as the important differences between the various tenancy deposit options and our role as a specialist letting agency is to clarify these, so that letting out, or renting, a property is as straightforward and secure as possible”


For more information please visit : http://martinco.com

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Buying Property in the French Alps in 2009

What is the position of a British buyer looking for Property for sale in the French Alps in 2009? Certainly the weak pound makes the French property purchase more expensive than in previous years. However, this can often be balanced out by buying from those who are more willing to negotiate on price. Furthermore, some British purchasers are reducing their exposure to the current exchange rate by taking out a French mortgage to fund their purchase; by doing so they are not required to convert the full amount from pounds to euros straight away.

Mortgages are themselves another factor making this the ideal time to buy property in the Alps. Interest rates around the world are at some of their lowest ever levels and lending by banks is being encouraged by national governments. Low mortgage rates and high rental occupancy in alpine resorts means it is once again possible to purchase a holiday home which covers its own costs – resorts like Chamonix, Morzine and St Gervais have excellent rental potential in both winter and summer seasons. It is increasingly possible to purchase resale apartments and chalets with existing rental agreements in place, which means it is possible to start making money almost from Day 1. For instance, you can currently buy a three-bed, two bathroom apartment in a piste-side residence in St Gervais, with open-air pool in summer, for 290,000€; the apartment has an excellent rentals history with bookings in place for the coming year. New-build leaseback schemes are also worth considering: for the investment purchaser they provide a guaranteed rental income of up to 4.2%, full property management and a VAT rebate on purchase (currently 19.6%). There are also a number of high quality leaseback apartments and chalets for sale in the resorts of Vallorcine (Chamonix), Flaine and Morillon.

Investment remains an important factor for many property buyers, especially with share prices deflated and savings rates reduced. Property prices in the French Alps have increased consistently over the last 10 to 20 years, driven by demand from discerning international buyers for alpine chalets and apartments. Prices this year are not expected to grow due to the economic downturn however prospects for continued long term capital growth remain excellent: strict building regulations in this part of the world ensure that supply remains restricted.

Why not look at the range of Ski Chalets in the French Alps today and see how you can benefit from the market at the moment.

For more information please visit http://www.ascendant-property.com

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