When running a property services group that handles repairs and maintenance for letting agents, organisation and efficiency are paramount. For one company based in Nottinghamshire, this meant dealing with a mountain of paperwork, scattered notes, and a constant struggle to find essential information. However, everything changed when they discovered Fergus, allowing them to streamline their processes and bringing a new level of professionalism to their business.
Able Property Services group has been in operation since November 2017. Taking over the company in September 2020, Managing Director Martin Richardson aimed to enhance efficiency and provide top-notch services in repairs, maintenance, kitchen and bathroom fittings.
Life before Fergus
Before adopting Fergus, managing the business was quite the challenge. The company relied on a mass of paper-based documents, causing chaos and inefficiency. With pieces of paper flying around and the constant struggle to locate important documents, the team faced difficulties in organising jobs, quotes, and invoices. According to Martin, "everything was signed off on paper," and finding essential information became a frantic search.
“I was always trying to find out all the bits to bring together, bringing everything together to invoice at the end of the jobs was a bit of a headache.”
The Fergus Impact
Fergus proved to be a game-changer for Able Property Services. By bringing their processes into the digital realm, Fergus transformed the way they operated. From the initial introduction to a job to the pricing and acceptance of quotes, everything was synchronised and managed efficiently through Fergus' digital platform.
In addition to streamlining their operations, Fergus also enhanced the Able Property’s professionalism. The quotes generated through Fergus were not only comprehensive but looked far more professional than the competition's:
“Sometimes our quotes will be more than other companies, but because ours look more professional, customers feel more confident going with us.”
As a result, customers felt more confident and trusting in their services. Furthermore, all documentation, including photographs, was centralised, making it easier to resolve any discrepancies or queries that might arise.
Martin found that, overall, Fergus massively reduced paperwork and admin time, allowing them to focus more on providing excellent services to their customers. Moreover, the ability to access Fergus remotely brought newfound flexibility to their workflow.
“If I get to a site early and I've got 20 minutes, I can load up the laptop and clear some of the work rather than just sit there waiting for clients to let us in the property.”
Whether waiting for estate agents or clients, dead times that were once wasted could now be utilised for remote administration and learning, boosting overall productivity.
Training with Fergus
For Able Property Services, receiving high-quality onboarding and training support was key to ensuring their team could get on board. The support they received ranged from basic level assistance to more complex issues, ensuring that the transition to Fergus was smooth and seamless.
“If something comes up, we’re able to contact Fergus either via the chat facility that's on the website or with the onboarding training with Izzy, who has been a star with resolving any problems!”
Moreover, the integration of Fergus with their accounting tool, QuickBooks, was a significant advantage. With payments seamlessly transferred between the two platforms, the team could easily track outstanding payments, job statuses, and performance metrics, such as quotes-to-jobs conversion rates.
Making admin more efficient and growing profits
With Fergus, Able Property Services found a comprehensive solution that not only simplified their operations but also enhanced their professional image. Gone were the days of paperwork chaos and frantic searches for essential information. Through Fergus' digital platform, the team could efficiently manage their jobs, quotes, and invoices, while also enjoying the benefits of remote access and seamless integration with QuickBooks. Embracing Fergus truly transformed their business, allowing them to focus on what they do best – delivering top-notch repairs and maintenance services to their clients in Nottinghamshire.
Ready to take control of your business with Fergus?
Dan Pollard
