Yes, I am short

We have a lovely flat right up in the eaves of a block near the Manor Hospital in Oxford which has such restricted head height in the bathroom that even the current Chinese tenants have to sit down to have a shower.

I had a phone enquiry about the flat this evening and don't ask me how I ended up talking about height but I did and I had to tell the lady that it wouldn't be worth even looking at.

Perhaps she thought she was talking to a leckie who was being a bit cheeky so she sent this email follow up tonight.

"I called this evening to enquire after this flat, and was informed that my Fiancee might not fit. He is 6'5". I would appreciate it if you could keep me abreast of any new flats that are available with rents up to £900 a month"

We don't usually measure room sizes for lettings but I will have to raise my awareness of ceiling heights from now on.

November

Firstly, I must apologise for something. If you look at any of our rightmove property listings you will see that they have some pretty whacky reference numbers. I started doing it because people I know in the business were always asking me how many properties we had and I didn't want to tell them in case they fell off their chairs. Lots of other agents look at our listings - Mr H and Mrs Y you know who you are! Most agents use the same references that they have on their property files which would be a bit of a giveaway so to keep them guessing, I made up ridiculous reference numbers.


Up until now it hasn't been a problem but this week I've had phone messages and calls from people who have used the reference numbers to tell me about the property they want to see and the conversations have gone something like this:

Caller: I am calling about property number 9888997899939.

Me: Ok..... what does the property look like in the photo?

Caller: It's a house I think

Me: In Clarendon Close or Boswell Road or Reliance Way?

Caller: I don't know

Me: Just let me get rightmove on my screen and I'll see..............

Yikes. I must stop doing it. From now on I promise to use shorter references but you'll still be guessing!

A whole year has gone by since I last posted about fireworks at the Baldons, doesn't time fly?

This year I managed to beat FK to the roadside banner

and someone else sponsored the Hog Roast.

The fire was big, The sparklers were lovely

and the fireworks were loud and sparkly.

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!