When one tenancy ends, the natural priority for a landlord is often getting the property let again. An empty property isn't producing rent, so wanting to minimise the gap is understandable. But there is a difference between avoiding unnecessary delay and rushing the next tenancy.

For many landlords, using a managing agent sounds straightforward: the agent collects the rent, deals with the tenant and arranges repairs when something goes wrong. Those things are part of it. But good property management involves considerably more.

When you find a property you want to buy, it is easy to assume that one thing matters above everything else: the price you offer. Price is important. But sellers are usually considering something else too: how likely is this buyer to actually complete the purchase?

Property viewings can go surprisingly quickly. You walk through the rooms, look at the kitchen, check the garden and start imagining whether your furniture will fit. Before long, you're back outside trying to remember exactly what you saw.