Harcourts Sheppard’s Leap into Cloud-Based Property Management

Harcourts Sheppard, managing 772 properties in South Australia, faced a critical turning point in 2018. With their previous property management software becoming obsolete, the agency needed a modern, cloud-based platform to streamline operations and support growth. Referred by peers within the Harcourts network, they chose to explore OurProperty as a solution.

Sarah from Harcourts Sheppard reflects:

“We were managing large teams and wanted to increase efficiency, reduce costs and potentially headcount. It seemed like a risk at the time, but it was an opportunity to modernise.”

Adapting to Change

Before transitioning to OurProperty, the agency encountered several operational challenges:

• Forced Migration: Their previous system was being phased out and alternatives felt outdated and didn’t meet the agency’s needs.
• Concerns with Trustless Accounting: South Australian legislation raised concerns about adopting a trustless accounting model, particularly around compliance
• Data Security: Cloud-based storage raised privacy and security questions as there were no local backups
• Operational Inefficiencies: Manual processes, paper-based documentation and limited integrations slowed productivity and hindered scalability.
  Sarah adds, “It was a bit of a risk at the time, but staying with an antiquated system didn’t make sense, so we took the chance.”

Welcoming a Streamlined, Cloud-Based Platform

OurProperty enabled Harcourts Sheppard to modernise and automate their property management operations. Key benefits immediately realised included:

• Paperless Operations: Transitioning to a fully paperless system eliminated manual filing and simplified documentation management
• Improved Scheduling: Automated booking and scheduling of inspections saved time and streamlined workflows
• Arrears Management: Automated arrears management significantly reduced arrears, improving cash flow and landlord satisfaction
• Integrated Maintenance and Apps: Multiple tools were consolidated into one cohesive system, improving efficiency. Sarah notes, “Scheduling and booking routines now save us so much time compared to how we used to work.”

“The platform is always tweaking and improving. It saves time, streamlines processes and makes property management more efficient overall. It’s a system that’s ever-evolving, and while we continue to share feedback, the time savings and streamlined systems are worth it.”

Final Thoughts: A Step Toward Modern Property Management

Harcourts Sheppard’s adoption of OurProperty marked a bold step toward modernising property management. While there are still challenges to overcome, the platform has delivered measurable efficiency gains, reduced arrears and enabled the agency to operate more effectively.

“It’s made our processes more efficient and allowed us to go paperless. As it continues to evolve, it will get even better.”

Looking to streamline your property management operations?

Contact us today or book a demo to see how OurProperty can support your agency’s transformation.