A few weeks before Christmas, the Keyzapp team attended The Negotiator Conference in London, one of the largest annual forums for those working in the sales and lettings industry.
While the debate about the strengths of traditional versus online agencies burnt on, the clear success message was about customer service.
We were not only there to demonstrate the benefits of our Key Management System; we were there to listen and learn from those who have and continue to innovate and lead the sales and lettings industry.
From the Minister of Housing, Brandon Lewis down, the "customer first" message was clear. This was echoed again during "The Great Debate: The Future of Estate Agency." The winning property companies in 2016 will be those that focus on the customer, whether buying, selling, renting or letting.
We were left with no doubt that in 2016 everyone involved in the property sector has to think hard about what the customer wants. No one can guarantee home ownership, but we can work together to make sure that everyone has the option to live in good, well managed rented accommodation.
The lettings market is having to evolve to meet ever higher demands. Changing legislation and tax laws due to come in 2016 and again in 2017, will impact private landlords and this will put pressure on lettings agents to retain the maximum number of properties they can. The competition will increase and so the need for excellent customer service all-round will become more evident - not that it shouldn't already be so!
Tenants need to be happy and landlords need to be happy. Personal attitude is, of course, essential, but there are processes that can be improved and there are increasing numbers of tools and services being developed that will cut the time (and cost) of many administrative procedures. Many of these, like Keyzapp, were being demonstrated at The Negotiator Conference showcase.
We made more contacts and post-event sales than we could have hoped for. Keyzapp literally sold itself. It is simple to use and set-up, but in a working week can save hundreds of man hours spent otherwise searching for misplaced keys.
These hundreds of man hours can instead be sent servicing customers and clients. Knowing where a key is vital. Vital for security, maintenance and in the negotiation process. If you can't find a key. You can't show a property. If you can't show a property, the purpose of your business and your landlords using you is gone.
This was just one example of tools, often cloud-based, that are being developed to bring 21st customer service efficiencies into a sector where the people looking for homes and those making good quality properties available, deserve to be treated well.
As we enter 2016, Keyzapp will continue to work closely with lettings and sales agents and facilities and management companies across the UK and Europe to ensure that key management is no longer the nightmare everyone tell us it is!
If you have any key management concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to look at how we can address these with you.
Happy New Year! #2016