My people, let’s be honest: having an empty house is like throwing money away. You want a good tenant, you want your rent sharp-sharp (quickly), and you want your agent to perform magic! The truth is, your real estate agent is your closest paddy (friend) in this business. If your relationship is sweet, your house will rent fast. If it’s shaking, you’ll be waiting for ages.

This guide will show you the main Dos and Don’ts so you can partner like a professional and get that “To Let” sign out of your sight!

The “DOS”: How to Make Your Agent Happy and Productive

To kick things off, you must first provide a complete Agent File with no story-story (explanations). Give them clean copies of your Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Deed of Assignment so serious corporate tenants know the property is legitimate and not a 419 (scam) business.

You must also set a price that makes sense in your area. Ask your agent for the current rent of a similar property that just got rented in your estate, and be realistic.

If your house is overpriced because your tiles are “imported,” prepare to wait, as your agent knows the market and must be listened to. Crucially, before viewings even start, you must get the house ready.

Fix all the small issues like leaking taps, broken light bulbs, and stubborn door locks; these are deal-breakers that make tenants assume you are a difficult or stingy landlord. Finally, when the money comes in, you must pay the agent’s commission promptly.

They worked hard for that money, and paying them immediately will encourage the best agents to always bring their premium clients to your properties first.

The “DON’TS”: Things That Will Keep Your House Empty

On the flip side, there are things you should never do if you want to rent out fast. Firstly, don’t compete with your agent or yourself. The biggest yawa (problem) is when you give your house to ten agents who then post different prices online.

When a serious tenant sees the same house listed five times with five prices, they think it’s a scam and look elsewhere.

Choose a maximum of three reliable agents and give them the same, firm price. Secondly, don’t insist on coming for every viewing. Your presence can make the tenants shy and prevent them from freely discussing the house with their family, so trust your agent to handle the viewing and only step in when they say, “Oga/Madam, this person is serious and wants to pay now!”

Thirdly, you must never change the terms after an offer is accepted.

If the agent negotiates NGN 4.5 million and you agree, don’t change it to NGN 4.7 million at the last minute because you found a slightly better offer. This is called bad faith; the tenant will walk away, and you’ll spoil the agent’s reputation.

Finally, don’t insult the tenant’s offer or your agent’s negotiation skills. An empty house is a 100% loss, so if your price is NGN 3 million and the tenant offers NGN 2.8 million, be flexible.

You might lose the only serious person over a small amount, so always leave room for negotiation and be practical.

Final Thoughts

We know the Nigerian real estate market can be stressful, as it can be full of hidden fees and story-story. But honestly, you can remove all that anxiety by simply building a solid, clear relationship with your agent right from the start.

Trust them to vet the tenants, and they’ll trust you to pay their commission sharp-sharp.

When you both work together like that, you close the deal faster, avoid all the unnecessary drama, and secure the best possible value for your property and remember, myplace.ng is always on ground to make sure your listing reaches the best agents and tenants.