LETTINGSnews
insurance
Beware of the Heathrow Syndrome
Snowbound Heathrow at the height of the Christmas holiday season provided an
object lesson in the speed at which a glitch becomes a disaster. Glitches can also turn to disaster for agents who are not in control along every step of the way, especially in a buoyant market such as we are currently experiencing. “The general shortage of housing, the mortgage famine, the return of the accidental landlord and the plight of the first time buyers are all driving increasing volumes of people through letting agents’ doors,” pointed out Michael Portman, MD of Let Insurance Services. However, the parallels with
an overcrowded airport are plain. One glitch and systems that are not honed in advance can fail. Every part of the administrative chain has to be both efficient and staff friendly, satisfying a number of different requirements for clients – landlords and tenants alike. This is when the back office systems should come into their own. Today, 90 per cent of letting
agents with Let Insurance Services and National Residential are tuned into the benefits of controlling their own insurance and referencing needs. The applications, quotes, referencing and paperwork are all kept under the agents’ own roof and available 24/7. “It can be blizzard
conditions outside the busiest lettings office in town, yet vital parts of the successful lettings transaction can be carried out unhindered through our Quote and Buy systems whatever the volumes. And you can always talk to us too, especially about referencing. This sometimes requires a level of human intervention and understanding that traditional referencing companies are unable to offer,” Michael Portman added.
www.letinsurance.co.uk
inventory technology An ‘app’ to replace the inventory clerk?
Fieldmarshall is a new app, available on iPhone and iPod, which turns the
complicated inventory process into the simplest of tasks. It will be available on iPad and Android in April 2011. Fieldmarshall is aimed at
letting agents, landlords and the inventory clerk too, as a mobile phone app and website which records and stores inventories, inspections and checkouts. Director of Fieldmarshall, Ivan
Rose says, “After 15 years in the industry our team of letting agents and computer experts have found a way to streamline field property management.”
Fieldmarshall combines property details, with photographs with tick box checklists, which all convert to a clear record, safely stored and archived and of course providing a printable report. But the simplicity allows almost anyone to do what was once a specialist task for inventory clerks, as it leads you through, in a totally comprehensive and easy to follow
process, an inventory, check-out or inspection. The agent can take a full inventory on a mobile phone, such as the iPhone or iPod, taking pictures and recording details as he goes. The software will be available on iPad too, but until Apple build in a camera it will require manual picture upload. “We believe it will transform the
way field management data is recorded,” adds Ivan. “The inventory, inspection or checkout are taken at the property with little or no effort needed to produce a final professional report. Reports are on demand globally as soon as the capture has been uploaded.” Traditionally inventory reporting
has been a two step process; record the details at the property and then return to the office and complete the report. Fieldmarshall combines this into a single step – capture the details at the property and then press ‘upload’. Reports are then automatically available for download via the very secure website. Simplicity aside, this single step process could result in a great cost benefits.
“The real benefits are a
significant cost saving and a reduction in the time taken to produce a report with the security of knowing your data is safely backed up and available at any time,” says Ivan. “Fieldmarshall can half the time
taken to prepare an inventory and then store it where it can be accessed and printed from anywhere in the world – instantly.” Automated SMS tenant and landlord appointment reminders are sent automatically from the system, as are emails to utilities and data collation for arbitration disputes. The check out report will read a selected inventory and show any change, highlighting any dilapidation, missing items or indeed items the tenant has left behind. The report will empower the user, Fieldmarshall says, resulting in a fair and unbiased dispute hearing, significantly reducing conflict which in turn enhances landlord relationships. Fieldmarshall is offering a free trial, so log on and try it out.
www.fieldmarshalluk.com
training GLM Seminar 2011 –confirmed date
The Guild of Letting and Management Annual Seminar will take place on 5 May 2011, at the Emirates Stadium, Highbury, London. There’ll be no footie on that day, so no distractions from the programme of top speakers and lettings experts. The Guild of
Letting & Management strives to influence and shape the private rented sector. It is a leader in developing standards for efficient and effective, business practices and is highly valued by skilled professionals. This year will be one of the most important years
for the lettings business and understanding the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead will be the real key to success.
There are early bird discounts
for GLM members, NALS members and BTEC students. Log on to
www.guild-let.co.uk for full details.
PROPERTYdrum FEBRUARY 2011 37
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