If you are thinking about a job change and would like something that you can do with your partner, then you may consider the idea of becoming a landlord.
You might have been left a property from an inheritance and not sure what to do with it.
Keeping the property would be the best investment even in the tough economic times of today.
Ever since the Second World War property has always been one sure investment and property investors always do well.
What it will entail is basically the management of the property and tenant.
If you have plenty of time and want to use your property or properties as your only income then you can make it a full time job and ensure you get the right tenants who look after your property and pay rent on time each month.
You can arrange all the viewings and do all the necessary checks.
You can write your own tenancy agreement and collect the rent yourself.
If you're lucky you will get a professional tenant who will pay their rent on time and look after your property.
If you're not so lucky you might get the tenant from hell.
They could wreck your property and refuse to pay rent.
This is where the real headache begins.
But if you did your homework and make this your job you shouldn't be in this situation.
Some landlords outsource all of this to a property letting agent.
Many people have properties as a sideline and carry on working elsewhere.
They don't have the time to run these properties so find a letting agent to do all the running.
If you find a good company they will cover everything and more leaving you free to get on with your own job and life.
They will be in charge of collecting the rents which gives you peace of mind that your rent will be in your bank on the decided day.
When a property is empty it will need to be filled as soon as possible so there is the advertising and showing possible tenants around job to do.
This is seamlessly carried out by agencies.
They do this all the time so it's just another day in their job.
Many have their own websites or places where they advertise the property.
When a tenant leaves they will check the property for any repairs or maintenance needed and just send you a report of work needed and when it will be carried out.
Many agencies have builders and decorators on their books so any work that needs to be done will be carried out immediately.
With a professional agency they understand that a property empty is not a great investment so they will be doing everything they can to get new tenants for the property.
Also they handle the signing of the short hold tenancy agreement.
So the choice is yours, you either do all the work yourself or outsource it to a property management company.
Obviously a letting agency will require a fee and this is where you need to weight up the costs.
You need to decide if you want to be a hands-on landlord or a hands-off landlord.
If your thinking of using the professionals have a look round as some companies offer different packages and it would be worth going through them to make sure you get the right service that will suit you and your needs.