Finance for Property Management

There are several types of property-related companies.

Estate agents are concerned with the sale and purchase of homes and other properties, and can earn commission based on the sales price realised, or fees.

Property management companies look after property portfolios on behalf of their clients. These clients range from individuals with one property and those with property portfolios to investment companies with hundreds of properties.

Lettings agents are responsible for finding and vetting tenants and drawing up legal tenancy contracts, while property management agents will deal with all aspects of rental properties including dealing with maintenance and repair issues. Most will make charges for specific services and charging upfront and monthly fees.

Whatever area of the property business interests you, at Rangewell we can help you find the funds you need.

Understanding your funding options

Getting the most appropriate funding solution will depend on your particular business needs, including:

• Start-up Costs
• Maintaining cash flow
• Equipment
• Premises

At Rangewell, we can introduce you to the whole range of funding options, from lenders throughout the UK market. It means getting the funding answers that your event management needs.

Start-up costs

You could run an estate agency or property management company from home – all you really need is a laptop and the ability to travel around to visit properties and clients.

You will also need a website, where people can see what you offer and the properties you are working with.

However, although many businesses are going online, you may still need a high-street presence to attract the attention of potential buyers and tenants. Rent on suitable premises can be expensive. You will also need to budget for marketing, insurance and administrative support, and a vehicle to get to properties. You may need professional support from solicitors.

You should be able to calculate your needs as part of a detailed business plan. You may be surprised to find how large an investment may be required.

Many lenders can be unwilling to lend to startups, preferring to lend to established business which can demonstrate profitability from existing trading. Although you may be able to provide projections for your business, most would expect to see actual accounts for one or two year’s trading before making the decision to lend.

At Rangewell we know lenders who are able to take a more positive approach and can often help arrange funding for start-up ventures, based on solutions such as Secured or Unsecured loans.

We can also find solutions if you want to buy an existing estate agency or property management business. Although the costs may be much higher than those required for a startup, the ability to demonstrate profitability can help you secure the necessary sums at a competitive rate. One solution for acquisition is a ‘jigsaw’ finance deal, which uses a variety of funding types to provide the most cost-effective funding for each aspect of your finance needs.

We can also provide funding if you are considering opening another branch for your business - perhaps in a nearby town.

Maintaining your cashflow

Once your property management business is up and running you may have further funding needs. You will be faced with ongoing overheads even while you are building your business up to profitability. You will need to take on staff - you cannot show people around properties at the same time that you are negotiating or calling in tradespeople.

Marketing will be a substantial cost in the early months of your business. You will need a website and an online presence, which may require substantial investment. A website that can showcase properties for sale will require constant updating.

You may need to provide a steady cashflow for the initial period when you are concentrating on bringing in business. Working Capital Finance and a Revolving Credit Facility can both be useful in providing the additional funds you need.

Working Capital Finance

Working Capital Finance can help you stay afloat and pay staff and suppliers during the early stages of your business. It is designed to provide the operating expenses, from staff costs to supplier bills while cashflow is slow. It is a loan usually designed to be repaid in the short- to medium-term, once your telecoms business is fully on its feet.

Revolving Credit Facilities

Overdrafts are a well-known form of business finance, but banks may be reluctant to provide overdraft facilities since the credit crunch. Revolving Credit Facilities can be an alternative, providing a line of credit, with an agreed limit that you can call on when you need it. You only pay for the money you take out, so it can be a cost-effective way to raise funds if you need them.

Funding for your equipment

Your equipment needs may be small, at least in the early stages of your business, and you will need little more than a laptop, phone and printer, a camera and your vehicle. However, as your business grows, you may need the full suite of office equipment and furniture, and vehicles for staff.

At Rangewell we have found that Asset Funding can provide the most cost-effective solutions for most kinds of equipment you will use. Leasing and Hire Purchase let you spread the cost of the equipment you need, with fixed monthly repayments helping you to budget.

Hire Purchase

For basic equipment that you want to go on giving service for many years, Hire Purchase (HP) may provide the simple way to spread costs.

With Hire Purchase, you pay a deposit plus monthly instalments over a fixed term, between 12 and 72 months, after which the equipment becomes yours.

Payments are fixed, making it easy to plan ahead and to arrange an agreement that is tailored to your monthly turnover and budget. Office furniture might be ideal for HP finance. A digital camera suitable for interiors might be ideal for HP funding.

Leasing

If you want to use the latest equipment without the responsibility of owning it, leasing will give you freedom and flexibility and avoid the need to make any capital investment. There is usually no upfront cost to find, meaning that you can bring the latest equipment such as IT into your business. It can make higher cost items more affordable by spreading the cost across their economic life.

Funding for vehicles

A car will be essential for your estate agency while a van might be suitable for your property management business. They may be purchased outright using hire purchase or other loans. Business Contract Hire is an alternative. Costs are based on the purchase cost, less the value of the vehicle after the contract period, substantially reducing the costs, while letting you have the use of a prestige vehicle.

Find out more about Asset Finance here.

Tax Loans

Tax is an issue for every business. A large quarterly VAT or annual tax demand can cause problems with your cash flow, particularly when it falls at the same time as other costs.

Tax Loans help you to spread the cost of your tax demands into affordable monthly payments, helping ensure that ensuring that your business does not have to go through a cash flow drought.

Benefits of a Tax Loan:

• Better control of cash flow
• Fixed monthly payments
• Quick and simple to arrange
• Avoids issues with HMRC and potential penalties

Funding for premises

Your business will need premises. Even a serviced office suite will require an upfront payment, even if costs like energy and business rates are part of the agreement. If you want to move into your own office suite, you will also have additional costs, including power and business rates to budget for.

The costs will be higher still if you require retail premises. A good position on the high street will command a premium rent, but may be well worth it for the additional business that it attracts particularly if you are running an estate agency.

We can provide solutions for your premises leasing needs.

Renting may be unavoidable in the early days. However, renting premises restricts what you can do with your space, means ongoing costs, and puts your business at risk of rent increases. Buying premises with a Commercial Mortgage could be a sound investment, allowing you to build an interior to your needs as well as providing a valuable asset for your business.

Find out more about Commercial Mortgages.

How we help you capitalise your estate or letting agency business

Finding the most appropriate solution for your funding needs takes a thorough understanding both of the lending market, and the products available on it.

At Rangewell we have the expertise you need. We know the lenders who can offer the most competitive rates, and we find solutions for all types of finance including Unsecured & Secured Loans, Invoice Finance, Asset Finance, Merchant Cash Advance, Commercial Mortgages, Growth Finance and more, from both conventional and alternative lenders.

Whether you have a straightforward finance need or require a complicated ‘Jigsaw’ funding plan made up of a combination of products, we can work with you to find the answers

Call us now to get our experts working for you.

We can help with many types of funding for property professionals, including:

• finance for holiday lets
• finance for property developers
• finance for property management
• HMO finance
• property development finance
• property selling agents
• property surveyors and valuers