Author: Tom

  • Have you designed your customer experience?

    So many businesses I encounter have been designed by people inside the business for people inside the business. They open at times that suit themseleves not ncessarily what their customer’s want and they add steps to their processes that have no value for the customer.
    If only somebody would step outside the business and into the customer’s shoes they will see things differently. All too often I see silo organisations where the customer is passed
    from employee to employee, department to department or call centre to call centre.

    “Sorry you need to speak to the blah blah department’ or “I understand what you want but we cannot do that because it is not our policy”

    Design your key encounters to both elate the emotions of your customers and to exhibit operational excellence. Think first, then do. Start with your employees. Do whatโ€™s right for them. They, in turn, will be prepared to deliver a better customer experience. When customers tell their friends, a word-of-mouth chain reaction begins and your business
    grows.

    Design your customer experience around an adaptive system that can adjust to changing customer whims and marketplace demands. If you are still doing the same things you were doing 2 years ago you are doomed to be run over by a fast approaching competitor.

    I believe the key reason businesses don’t do this is because it is not easy, it is demanding BUT for those who take the step will embark on a rewarding journey.

    Step inside you customers shoes today and begin designing their experience.

  • Housing Minister releases new guidance for landlords and tenants

    Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently re-stated that it is not his intention to regulate the letting industry but instead wants to encourage responsible letting through the use of voluntary accreditation schemes for landlords and letting agents.

    Two new publications have been released this week that help prevent misunderstanding amongst landlords and tenants.

    Happy letting

  • Beware of the accidental letting agent – 6 questions to ask the agent

    The latest LSL Property Services / Acadametrics House Price Index for July 2011 reports that house prices in July fell by only 0.1%, reaching their lowest level since December 2009 following a 3% drop in Q2 2011. Transactions are down 5.9% year on year, as cheap mortgage deals fail to stimulate demand.

    A lack of means or desire to buy has led to some estate agents looking to compensate for the sales market to diversifying into the rental market (and anything else they think they can make a quick buck on!). The plus side is that landlords now have greater choice of who to use to let or manage their property.

    The downside is that many of these ‘accidental agents’ have little or no qualifications or experience of letting but attract landlords with ‘too good to be true’ agent fees, only to later close down and in some cases defraud their clients.

    Landlords are in the driving seat and do have the opportunity to shop around for the best agent or management company and the best tenants. However, with a thriving yet unregulated market come an increased number of people looking to cash in on it, so landlords should remember service levels and price usually come hand in hand.

    6 questions to ask when approaching an agent to let your property:

    1. Do the staff have any formal qualifications in letting or property management such as those awarded by the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP)?
    2. Does the business have any experience as landlords – have they walked in their customers’ shoes?
    3. Are they a member of any professional bodies such as the National Landlords Association (NLA)?
    4. Are they a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS)?
    5. Is the business covered by Public Liability (PL) and Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance?

    If they answer no to any of these questions then quickly move on to a better agent.

    Ask for a complete breakdown of all fees and in particular:

    • Set-up Fees
    • Tenancy Agreement Fees
    • Deposit Protection Fees
    • Tenancy Renewal Fees
    • Re-let Fees
    • VAT
    • Inventory Fees
    • Monthly Property Management Fees
    • Commission on maintenance and repair contracts
    • Cost of arranging an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Gas Safety Check
    • Check-Out Fees

    The list is endless but if you don’t ask they won’t tell you – 18 months down the road you realise that the price that was on the tin was not the price you have paid – I know because I have been there.

    Good luck and happy letting ๐Ÿ™‚