October!

Another month of madness has passed and there are tall tales to tell but this is just a quick note about the postal strikes planned for the end of this week and the start of next.

You can contact us by email on bluedoorlettings@aol.com or greg@bdea.co.uk or rachel@bdea.co.uk or even monkey@bdea.co.uk

We do try to answer the phone if you call the office but you might have better luck ringing around 7pm when everyone else has gone home from work and is eating their dinner.
Try 01235 524800 or 07855 524500. Texting is good too.

If you want to send us documents you can fax them or send them as email attachments.

We send out draft copies of offer letters, confirmations of tenancy to landlords and draft agreements by email so you don't need to worry about information for you from us getting lost in the post.

If you want to give us money it is easier and cheaper for you to use telephone or internet banking to make a direct transfer to us. No stamp, no trip to the post box or bank charge for the service. We can send you a receipt by email too.

So, percentages

You will know that Bluedoor is all about fixed fees. Same work = same price. Rent of house is irrelevant.

Our local competitors are trying to make their proposition look better by advertising low percentage rates. Andrew's most recent one is full management for 8%. Tempting until you get the old calculator out and do the maths.

On a £1200 rent that's £96.00 and that's before VAT. Even on a relatively modest rent of £850 its still more than our fixed £65+VAT.

We have just let a lovely house in Abingdon for £1600 pcm and the fee the landlord will pay us equates to a percentage of 4%.

So we've been a bit naughty and got a banner ad on the front of the Property Weekly with words to that effect. Keep a look out for it. You can collect the paper from your local agent or register free to read it online.

And remember, don't do a deal with anyone who talks percentages without checking your calculator first!

Oh nooooo pass me a bowl

For anyone who tried to contact us by phone on Wednesday we sincerely apologise for our inability to raise our heads for long enough to find out where the ringing was coming from.

We were all struck down by the horrendous vomiting bug which is apparently skulking the streets of Abingdon infecting those who are usually hard as nails and of cast iron consitutions.

Thank you to those who left us get well messages and I am pleased to say that bar slight queasiness Blue Door is back 'on' now and back to normal. Well, things are as normal as they can be when a tenant rings at 7.00 in the evening to tell you he has had a fire in his kitchen.

Please, whether you are a tenant or an ordinary householder, get up from your 'puter NOW and check the BATTERY in your smoke alarm. Check that it is connected and press the 'test' button or get someone else to do it while you put your fingers in your ears.

Thankfully, the tenant is ok if a little embarrassed and this should all look fine once it's been cleaned and repainted.

If you ever want any advice on fire safety we are good friends with Abingdon's Fire Reduction Officer and we can get him to visit you and tell you how to protect yourself and your home.
Our number is 01235 524800 so give us a call and we'll put you in touch.

Every now and then we get a property to let that is beautifully preserved in original1980s style and hasn't been touched since. This one falls in to the category of places I wouldn't have liked to take a girlfriend back to, back in the days when I did that kind of thing.

I am so tempted to advertise it in the style of Ralph Bending: something like "It's not pretty, it's not in a cool position and frankly its drab but it will do for a place to sleep (alone) and keep your stuff dry."

If you are looking for a house with an upstairs and a garden in Kidders under £650pcm this is all there is so if you need a large holdall and aren't too fussed about its lack of beauty or funky features give me a ring on 01235 524800 and I'll show you round.