|
Q) What is the Property
Assistant?
The Property Assistant is an automated documentation solution for
property professionals. Its job is to save time and effort when
creating detailed property particulars.
The Property Assistant consists of a suite of easy to use productivity
applications, which run on a handheld PDA computer and Windows PC.
Q) Why would real
estate agents want to use the Property Assistant?
The Property Assistant significantly improves productivity and accuracy
when creating property documents, your documents are ready immeditaly
onsite.
This is all quickly done without typing or dictation using a mobile
hand held computer and our software which has been designed to be
efficient and easy to use.
As you enter the details with the touch screen interface, you can
see your finished documents immediately. This ensures you have an
accurate and complete description of the property. The Property
Assistant also saves you time in the office since all the details
are already typed up without any spelling or grammatical errors.
Novice estate agents are able to create accurate property particulars
because they are guided through the data capture and documentation
process. And the Property Assistant enables efficient onsite teamwork
so that a senior and novice estate agent can get the job done even
faster working together.
Q) How good are
the documents that the Property Assistant creates?
The Property Assistant is able to create very detailed property
documents that look like you spent hours making notes and then typing
them up.
The Property Assistant has a deep understanding of the English
language. It has the ability to describe everything in more detail
than you normally require, and produces perfect English phrases
and sentences every time.
The software automatically adds the right punctuation, grammar
and structure to your documents, even for the most complex of descriptions.
You can also extend the vocabulary to suit your region or writing
style.
Top of page
Q) How
many words does the Property Assistant have?
The Property Assistant currently has over six thousand words and
phrases specially researched for the UK real estate industry.
This dictionary contains words that are used by property particulars
and have been chosen to comply with the Property Misdescriptions
Act. Every word has been checked against the Oxford UK English dictionary.
We also carried out extensive research into the terms and phrases
used by leading UK manufacturers of property fixtures and fittings.
This extensive research was carried out by reading and collecting
many brochures on windows, conservatories, kitchens, garage doors
etc. to find out how they describe and promote their products to
ensure the full vocabulary is detailed and passes PMA standards.
Top of page
Q) Can I add my own words
to the dictionary?
Yes, you can. The dictionary is fully expandable using the included
Document Designer application. You can add new words or phrases
under any heading to suit your region or to match your style of
writing.
The Document Designer also enables you to centrally manage your
property vocabulary to ensure a consistent quality to your created
documentation.
We also have extended professional version: the Document
Designer Professional. This enhanced version enables any
document structure or custom vocabulary to be created. It is especially
popular with commercial property agents, lettings agents, surveyors
and inventory clerks. Please contact us for further details about
the professional version.
Top of page
Q) What types of properties
can the Property Assistant describe?
The Property Assistant has a detailed property vocabulary for residential
property. This rich level of detail is necessary so that large or
expensive properties can be described which always demand comprehensive
detailing.
For the average property, you can make use of its exceptional detailing
to promote just the unique features that make the property unique.
This dictionary is also very useful in helping the agent bring
out the best in low budget/inexpensive property which is hard to
differentiate from one another, because at first glance there seems
to be few unique details to promote or differentiate between.
For buyers on the bottom end of the ladder, every little benefit
adds significant value to their purchase because traditionally low
cost housing comes with minimal property details.
The Property Assistant really can help you find those extra little
details to make your particulars stand out.
Top of page
Q) Is the Property
Assistant easy to use for real estate agents?
Yes. The Property Assistant has been designed especially for estate
agents who are too busy to become computer experts, and don’t
want to waste time on site.
It takes very little time or effort to learn how to use the Property
Assistant software because the user interface has been designed
especially for ease of use.
User training is minimal and can be done by watching our tutorial
or by working with an experienced user. Many users do not need any
training at all because it is intuitive and easy to use.
In addition, the Property Assistant comes with a detailed guidebook
covering all its operations and features.
Once installed, it should take less than 20 minutes for a novice
user to start using the application productively.
Top of page
Q) How quickly can
the Property Assistant enter details?
With a few taps on the Overview screen, you can add and enter details.
No typing is required either.
You can also use the Capture screen to create a fully detailed
description if you want to; it just requires ticking a few checkboxes.
Top of page
Q) Is the Property
Assistant faster than using a dictaphone, notepad and office secretary
?
The Property Assistant offers many advantages including speed
compared to traditional methods of recording and creating property
details.
The Property Assistant does not require any one to type up the
details in the office because it does it for you.
You can check and edit your work on site ensuring that the details
are fully described and accurate.
A Dictaphone does enable rapid data entry but is much slower for
checking and editing because you have to listen to your recordings.
Dictaphones are also a major cause of errors which are hard to correct
easily, and for junior estate agents a Dictaphone solution easily
leads to low quality documentation.
The Property Assistant enables you to work efficiently as a team,
and enables the junior estate agents to do all the work - rather
than just holding the tape measure and accompanying the senior estate
agent around the house!
Top of page
Q) Can I edit my documents on the PC?
Yes. You can edit the document in a smart way using the Property
Manager software included with the Property Assistant software.
Instead of typing on the PC you can make changes to the document
just like the Property Assistant except that you have a larger screen
so you can see everything in one place.
It is very easy to send the document from the handheld computer
to the PC using the included Property Manager PC software.
The Property Manager is able to save the document as MS Word RTF
format, Text or HTML or XML. You can even cut and paste the text
to your favourite application.
Top of page
Q) Can you
make the documents style look just like my standard property documents
?
Yes. We enable you to use your own template document (Your
company logo, address, header, footer etc ) and we follow your chosen
font and text size so that each document will have your own unique
company branding.
The Property Manager is able to save the document as MS Word RTF
format, Text or HTML. You can even cut and paste the text to your
favourite application.
Top of page
Q) How can I synhronise to the PC and print
my documents?
It is very easy to send the document from the handheld computer
to the PC using our included Property Manager PC software.
The Property Manager is able to save the document as MS Word RTF
format, Text or HTML. You can even cut and paste the text to your
favourite application.
Top of page
Q) Do you integrate
with other estate agent software?
We can integrate with any estate agent software that uses XML
for its data import or export. This format is very common in estate
agent software because it is used to send property details to the
portal web sites.
Please let us know if your current estate agent software is XML
compatible and we can supply you with the correct XML integration
files.
Top of page
Q) Do you sell the handheld PDA devices too?
No. We only sell the Property Assistant software that runs on the
handheld devices. You are free to choose from variety devices to
get the best deal available. We recommend our parter: Totalpda
because they offer the best discounts and support service.
Top of page
Q) What Handheld computers do you recommend?
If you are looking for a fast handheld computer with colour screen
we only recommend the Compaq Ipaq 38xx PocketPC devices, which start
from about £250 excluding VAT.
If you are looking for an inexpensive and easy to use solution,
we recommend any Palm OS device with 8mb ram fitted. Prices start
from £140 excluding VAT.
Top of page
|
