How to arrange a viewing of a property

If you’ve never rented before, finding somewhere to live might seem overwhelming or intimidating. To help simplify the process of finding your next home, we’re breaking down how to arrange a viewing of a property and move forward with signing your tenancy agreement. With these simple tips, arranging viewings will be a breeze!

How to find a student property

Before you can search for a student property, you need to decide on your preferences and non-negotiables. What location do you want to live in? Are you looking for a shared house or a studio apartment? What’s your maximum budget? Do you already have housemates you want to live with or are you looking for a single room? Deciding the answer to each of these questions will help shape and inform your search. 

You can then start to look online for student accommodation in your area. Not all properties can be rented to students so looking on a platform, like StuRents, which is designed specifically to showcase student accommodation can make it easier to find somewhere to view. You can filter by all the preferences you’d previously decided on to create a shortlist of properties you’d like to view. 

How to arrange a viewing of a property: enquiry methods 

Once you’ve found a property you’re interested in, it’s always a good idea to view it in person before booking it. Some accommodations can look very different in pictures or videos compared to in real life! Getting a first-hand feel for the space is definitely the way to go if you can. 

You’ll need to contact the landlord or property manager to arrange a viewing. There are a few different ways you can do this, depending on your preferences and how quickly you expect a response. 

Email 

If there is an email address on the listing you’re looking at, you can organise a viewing via email. Be sure to include the address of the property you’re enquiring about in the subject line and state that you are interested in booking a viewing. Including your contact details and availability will increase your chances of a prompt, useful response too. 

Message 

Sending a message to the landlord or property manager is probably the easiest way to organise a viewing. When you click ‘contact us’ on a StuRents listing, you can then select ‘Message’. Fill in your name and contact details so they can get back to you as quickly as possible. You can then select your enquiry type: do you want to request more details, arrange a viewing, or book the property immediately? If you’re arranging a viewing of a property, share the days and times you’re available to view with the property manager so they can organise a viewing as quickly as possible without unnecessary back and forth.

Call 

There’s no denying it, the rental market moves fast. In recent years, the competition for student accommodation has become more fierce. If you see a property you like the look of, it’s a good idea to organise a viewing as quickly as possible, so you can progress with signing the tenancy agreement if it's a good fit. Calling the landlord or property manager directly is usually the fastest way to arrange a viewing of a property. You don’t need to wait for a response, you can organise and ask any questions in the moment. 

They will probably also ask about your search preferences and might be able to help point you in the direction of other suitable properties, which can be very helpful when house-hunting. You might not get this help if you just email or message!

How to send bulk enquiries

If you have lots of properties you’re interested in viewing, sending a bulk enquiry can help to speed things up. After all, who wants to send the same message over and over again? Just follow these simple steps to send a bulk enquiry on the StuRents platform:

• Add properties you’re interested in to your shortlist (just click the heart at the top of the listing! ❤️)
• Click ‘Shortlist’ at the top right of the StuRents page
• Click ‘Send multiple enquiries’
• Select the properties from your shortlist you want to enquire about
• Fill in your details and add your message, including the days and times you are available to view 
• Send!

What’s next?

Once you’ve found the right property, you just need to get in touch with the landlord or property manager you’ve already spoken to and let them know you’d like to proceed with renting the property. They will then send you the tenancy agreement for review along with any other details. You might be asked to pay a holding deposit while you sign the contract and undergo referencing checks, but this will depend on the property you rent. 

Make arranging property viewings easier with StuRents 

StuRents is designed to make house-hunting easier for students. Looking to make your student housing search stress-free? Search on StuRents today and find your next home away from home. 

Need more house-hunting tips? Check out our blog on the best ten questions to ask when viewing a student property.