Businessman Mark Uttley and wife Lynsey
A Berkshire based businessman has grown a team of seven in just four years after spotting an opportunity with the increasing number of people renting their homes.
Entrepreneur Mark Uttley’s company produces paper-free inventories for landlords and letting agents, saving them time and money.
Inventory Clerk Berkshire Ltd – trading as VeriSmart Inventories – uses voice recognition technology allied with a copyrighted system to produce the documents at great speed.
Being completely independent means tenants are protected and the business model is working so well Mark plans to expand further.
His team, which includes his wife Lynsey, produces 200 inventories a month for letting agents and landlords, including national brands.
Verismart is a national operation with over 40 franchisees and is on the approved supplier lists of many of the largest national and regional letting agents.
Mark, who still owns a marketing company that he has run for 20 years, invested in the VeriSmart brand after spotting its potential.
He said: “We work across the county in all the major towns including Reading and Wokingham, as well as Camberley.
“There has been a growing trend in recent years for the number of property owners to decrease and the number of renters to increase.
“This ‘generation rent’ means there is far more demand for inventories to be compiled.
“I launched the business four years ago and now we have a team of clerks who carry out the visits and use the technology to produce the inventories.
“They also add photographs and when its complete copies are sent to the letting agents and the tenants.
“The tenant receives text message reminders to read the document and sign it off.
“The model works superbly because it saves the landlord and letting agents time and money – freeing them up for other work – and the tenant is protected and reassured.”
Jonathan Senior, chairman of VeriSmart, which developed the paper-free system, said: “It’s great to see that the hard work of Mark and his team is paying off in Berkshire.
“The unique VeriSmart technology and system is fast, efficient and accurate, but we still need good people to explain to others the benefits of using it.
“Business owners like Mark, who are up to date with all the latest legislation, help to ensure that our brand remains dominant.”
A report last year from accountancy firm PwC predicted that by 2025 more than half of those under 40 will be living in properties owned by private landlords.
By that year, a quarter of all households will be renting privately.
The younger generations who rent will be more used to using technology in their everyday lives – making VeriSmart even more attractive.
Notes to editors:
VeriSmart Inventories was re-branded in 2015 after developing its unique smart verification software that allows for the paper-free inventories to be compiled with speed and accuracy. The company was launched 25 years ago in the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation in Dorset, where it is still headquartered. The new technology allowed the business to adopt a franchise model. Some of its licensees make a substantial six figure income. It operates across England and now Wales.
For more information contact Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 01202 554601 or 07788392965
