10 steps sound like too much? We could try to push a gimmicky "3 steps to success" approach, but realistically you know this isn't a trivial purchase so you need to do your homework.
We can, of course, split the 10 steps into 3 categories, if that helps...
It's as easy as A-B-C!
A - Have a quick look around
1 - Familiarise with the layout, menus, and help - Let's start at the very beginning. Before we look into property records, tenancies, and management workflows, let's explore the basics of how the system is laid out, how you find your way round the menus, and how to get help if you need it.
2 - Watch the short sub-5-minute videos - Nobody wants to have to start reading lengthy help articles (well, maybe just this one!), or watch hour-long demos. We have broken down all you need to know into a series of short videos (less than 5 minutes each) which guide you through the key areas.
B - Try it for yourself with some basic setup
3 - Configure your own agency setup - Before you start adding any data, take a few minutes to set your VAT registration status, consider your management fee structure, default fee values, and learn how to create additional user accounts to share this trial within your team.
4 - Set up some basic records- Let's dig a little deeper now. Get your hands dirty by starting to add some real data in the form of landlords, properties and tenants. Learn how to create and update records, and perform some basic but common CRM and property management functions.
5 - Choose a start or conversion date - Everything before this start date is historic, everything after it is managed solely in Elevate. This is a key date in many ways, from defining your opening balances, to how it applies rent. We'll explain its importance, and help you choose a suitable date.
We're keen to chat to you in more detail at any stage during your trial to learn more about your agency and what you are looking for. Now that the overview videos have given you a gut feeling of whether Elevate may tick your boxes, and you've had a quick play around adding some basic data to the system, it may be a good time to call us or drop us an email to chat further.
C - Get stuck into property management and accounts
6 - Create tenancies, apply rent and deposits - Now that your conversion date is set, Elevate can accurately apply rent and charges. Add some of your own tenants, create tenancies, and let the system automatically apply rent and security deposits, all under your full control.
7 - Define your opening balances - In order to get the most from your account as quickly as possible, you'll need the data to be realistic. On your conversion date, you'll have money in your actual client accounts belonging to landlords, tenants will owe you rent, and properties will have outstanding charges. Enter these opening balances to allow you to effectively record receipts and payments.
8 - Generate statements and make payouts - Once you have recorded rent receipts and applied management fees and any expenses, it's time to run the end-of-month statements. See how these reflect the activity on property portfolios, pay rent to landlords, and realise your commission fees.
9 - Reconcile your client bank accounts - A key element of making the software work for you, indeed one your core requirements, is the ability to quickly, easily, and regularly reconcile your bank accounts. Reach for your actual bank statement, and reconcile your Elevate accounts with ease.
10 - Customise your agency's account - To really put your own stamp on your new Elevate account, let's look now at adding your own branding and letterhead, defining your own document templates, and choosing your own SMS sender ID to personalise text messages.
There is obviously much, more more to learn about Elevate and what it can offer your agency. There are other training resources which dive deeper into those areas once you have mastered the basics.
Feel free to explore the full suite of short videos on the Elevate playlist on our YouTube channel.
However, the immediate priority is to ensure that these 10 steps deliver the quickest results, and get you that feeling of achievement and satisfaction that Elevate is the right solution for you.
Stick with the plan outlined above for one full period, e.g. a full calendar month, and we're confident that you'll be happy with the results.
And, of course, shout for help at any stage.
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