PropertyPro Newsletter XXV – July 2010

Hello to everybody!

Hasn't it been good to see the sun? Picnics, Pimms, T-shirts, the smell of suncream - so many feel good factors and long may it last. Even the recent rainy days were welcomed, if only to squash any threat of a hosepipe ban.


This newsletter features our interface to Google Property, and includes tips on a couple of reports that you may want to try out.

Google Property

Google has launched its property portal to the UK market and it is likely that this will become significant.

To access the service, end users go to www.google.co.uk, select Maps from the top menu, enter the area that they are interested in and "Search Maps". Details about the area will be shown and there are menu options above the map. From the "More" menu item they can tick "Property" and this will show sales and rental properties.

Selection options are then shown above the thumbnail photos that show on the left of the screen so that users can narrow the results to closer fit their requirements.





At this stage, this process is a little cumbersome and the coverage with property is inconsistent. However, it is very likely that Google will make this process more easily accessible as the amount and standard of the available data improves.

PropertyPro and Google Property

Google have made it clear that uploads will always be free for agents and that they prefer a direct feed. We have a feed available that will help you to get your properties listed on the portal to maximum effect and for all supported customers this is free of charge.

You may notice that underneath the majority of properties listed, there is a link to the software provider or portal that has sourced the data. Unlike other software providers, with the feed from PropertyPro, the link will be directly to the property details on your own website.* This helps to promote traffic to your site and also maximises your marketing message.

If you haven't already got the interface installed please contact the support team on 01788 862555 and they will be happy to assist. It takes a bit of time to install and it helps if you can provide details of a Google account that you will use to look at the statistics. Once in place the properties start to show within 48 hours and then are updated daily.

Usually when Google get involved in a market, they do so with the intention of becoming a very major player. It is likely that this channel will become an important source of enquiries and ensuring that your properties and links to your company's website are included means that you will be well placed as this becomes more popular.

*provided that your website uses our property references (which most do)

Reporting Tips

Have you thought about sending SMS text reminders in the morning to applicants who have viewings booked for that day? Here's how you can use the List of Viewings report for a quick way of doing it:

• Run the report 'List of Viewings' under Management Reports. (From the front screen, choose Reports, Management Reports)
  
  
  
  
  
• List all confirmed appointments due for the day by specifying the date range
  
  
  
  
  
• Double click on the appointment for which you wish to send a reminder.
  
  
• Without changing any information, click OK. This will close the appointment and trigger the SMS confirmation screen and you can choose who is to be sent a reminder.
  
  
  

If you don't already have SMS set up on your system, we provide the SMS facility as part of the standard licence, with no additional hardware requirements and no set up charge. All you have to pay for is the price of the messages which is 9p plus vat per message (8p plus vat for over 1000 messages per month). There is a minimum charge of £7.50 plus vat per month to cover administration costs, which includes the first 83 text messages.

If you would like to go ahead with this please contact Sales on 01788 862550.




Still on the subject of reports, there are 2 that I am sure you will find particularly useful to take with you on a valuation, namely the Comparables Report and the Matching Customers Report, both of which take seconds to run.

These are excellent reports for analysing your database and substantiating price negotiations.

Comparables Report

The Comparables Report allows you to report on a specific date range and an ideal time to run this report is prior to a valuation visit so that it can be discussed with your prospective vendor. The advantage of course is that these are your properties and you will know the marketing history.

You can generate the report from the property record by choosing View, Comparable Properties - or from the front screen choose Property Search. The report does not use prices, but number of rooms, type of property, and location.

• Click the Comparables button and then choose Comparables Report.
  
  
  
  
• You can now specify the date range that you would like to report on.
  
  
  
  
  
• You will then be asked if you would like to include customers who have viewed these properties (and if you would like the names sanitised):
  
  
  
  
• Click edit to generate this report in Word.
  
  

The report can display full details or just the summary by clicking the Summary button:

View Matching Customers Report

This is one of my favourite reports as it can be used for different purposes and in this instance can be generated prior to valuation to demonstrate how many customers you have that match at one price, and then again how many match at a lower price. Both versions can be printed and taken along to be discussed (the report can be generated with sanitised names for this purpose).

This report could give you the winning edge over another agent competing for the same instruction.

• Enter a benchmark price into the property record and select View, Matching Customers.
  
  
• Specify a date range for those last contacted.
  
  
  
  The resulting screen lists all customers whose search requirements match at that price, and shows contact information as well as status.
  
  (The colour coding denotes whether they match on their first, second, or third etc. search)
  
  
  
  
• Click edit to generate the report in Word.

Now enter a different price and run the report again. In just a few minutes you have a price comparison that you can show your new customer, which will go a long way to gaining their confidence.

Marketing Keywords

I read an article recently that suggested a few keywords that you may want to 'throw in' now and again in marketing activities. As I am an avid Thesaurus user, I found them very interesting. Of course I am sure you probably already use all of them and more!

transparency, approachability, security, discretion, humour, integrity, enthusiasm, dedication, results.

"a willingness to listen understand and respond" - "consideration of your daily routine" - "empathy with your situation" - "an understanding of your reasons for moving"

"Your authority in your local market" - "straight-talking good advice" - "your knowledge of other agents' stock"

PropertyPro Training

When was the last time you or your colleagues had any refresher training? And how much of what you know has been handed down by others?

Do remember that we run a new user day each month alternating between Admin and Negotiator. If you have a new starter, then please send them along for training. From their viewpoint it eases the pressure of operating a new software program whilst getting used to a new office environment and procedures.

The second session each month is generally on a theme - however, the content is dependent on the needs and questions of those who attend. Over the past months the refresher training has proved very popular. Although the content for the session is suggested, I will also ask whether there is anything in particular anybody would like to cover and also maybe skip because it is not required. This means that the session could cover anything from Newspaper Advertising to Lettings but will always ensure that everyone is up to date with the latest version.


The next 2 open training days are for new negotiators :

Wednesday 21st July - New User (Negotiator) Property Search, Mailing properties, Appointments, Offers and Chain

Wednesday 4th August - New User (Negotiator) Property Search, Mailing properties, Appointments, Offers and Chain

Don't forget that if a half day session is more convenient for you, please call. Telephone training may also be available for a small charge provided that a suitable remote connection is available


We look forward to a visit from you very soon!


Finally, is there anybody else in your office who might also want to receive our newsletter? If so, please let us have their email address and we will add them to the mailing list.

Kind regards

Kate

Kate Hoare (Training Manager)
kate@propertypro.co.uk
Direct dial: 01788 862517

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