Starting up · Estate & letting agents

Starting a lettings or estate agency?

The best time to sort the enquiries, viewings and repair reports is before they pile up. I'll set up what a new agency needs from day one, in your name, and show you it working before your first customer.

Or call 01206 636 400, or , my AI assistant.

What I'd set up for you

Set up right, from day one.

A website from day one

A fast site with booking and enquiries built in, on a domain in your name. Yours once it's paid for.

From day oneLive before you open, so customers can find you and book.

Enquiries answered instantly

Every call, email and portal enquiry gets a reply and a viewing slot.

From day oneSet up before you open, so no early enquiry is missed.

Repairs triaged

Tenants report repairs with photos. Urgent ones come straight to you.

From day oneHours saved in the busy first months.

Listings from your photos

Property descriptions drafted from photos and notes, in your house style.

From day oneGood first impressions, from your very first customers.

Records ready for tax

Receipts photographed and logged in software that's ready for Making Tax Digital. Your accountant, or you, does the tax.

From day oneTidy records from the first sale, so the year end isn't a shoebox of receipts.

Making Tax Digital dates →

Something else on your mind?

Tell me what eats your week. If AI won't save you real time, I'll tell you.

Book a free chat →

Every business is different. I start by sitting down with you to see how your week actually works, then suggest only what will save you real time.

An example · made up

Student let season

Two hundred enquiries in a fortnight. Each one gets a reply and a viewing slot, so you spend your time showing houses.

With the University of Essex at Wivenhoe Park, student lets in Colchester turn over every summer. Fast replies win the best tenants.

16:47
07700 900309mobile
07700 9003090:00
  1. AI assistant: Hello, thanks for calling. I'm the lettings team's AI assistant. How can I help?
  2. Caller: Is the two-bed flat in Lexden still available? Can I view it?
  3. AI assistant: Yes, it's available from 1 December. There are viewings on Thursday at 5:30pm or Saturday at 11am. Can I take your name and number?
  4. Caller: Saturday, please. It's Tom, 07700 900461.
  5. AI assistant: Thanks, Tom. You're booked for Saturday at 11. I'll text you the address and a reminder.

A call to a letting agent: a made-up example, in your device's own voice.

Hear Amy take a call

Brisewood Lettings

A student tenant rings late at night with water coming through the ceiling.

Made-up call, 1:16. Amy is the same AI assistant that answers 01206 636 400.

Read the call
  1. Amy Hello, you're through to Brisewood Lettings. I'm Amy, Casey's AI assistant, here out of hours. Calls are recorded so Casey gets your message. How can I help?
  2. Caller Hi, um, there's water coming through our kitchen ceiling. Like, actually dripping. I think it's from the bathroom upstairs.
  3. Amy That sounds stressful. First, is anyone hurt, or in any danger?
  4. Caller No, no, we're all fine. Just panicking.
  5. Amy Okay. If that changes, call 999. Can I take your name and address?
  6. Caller Zara Ahmed. It's one of your student houses in Greenstead, by the uni.
  7. Amy Thanks, Zara. I'll just check your tenancy.
  8. Amy Got it. A leak through a ceiling is urgent, so I've sent Casey an urgent alert with your details, and Casey will ring you back as soon as possible. Is this the best number?
  9. Caller Yes, it's my mobile.
  10. Amy Great. If you can, text a photo of the ceiling to this number. It helps Casey send the right person.
  11. Caller Okay. I'll do that now.
  12. Amy Thanks, Zara. Casey has everything, so keep your phone close.
Prices for new businesses

Pick the pieces. Fixed quote first.

There's no set start-up bundle: you choose what you need now, and add more later. You always get a fixed quote before anything starts. I'm not VAT registered, so there's no VAT to add.

  • Free chatFree
    20 minutes, by phone or in person. No obligation.
  • A websitefrom £495
    A fast site with booking and enquiries built in. Yours once it's paid for.
  • Calls answered, booking, quotes and invoicesfrom £495
    Set up and tested with you, in your own accounts. The usual start if you'll have a team.
  • Just you? The Solo packagefrom £195
    One visit and three time-savers, such as calls answered, booking and records ready for tax. Then care from £49 a month.
  • Records ready for tax, on their ownpriced after a free chat
    Usually one of your Solo time-savers, or set up alongside the rest.
  • Care planfrom £99/mo
    Monitoring, fixes, small changes and a monthly report. 30-day rolling. Solo care from £49 a month.
Colchester · In person · Done for you

Open for business. Home for tea.

Book a free 20-minute chat. Tell me what you're starting and when, and I'll tell you honestly what's worth setting up now and what can wait.

Book a free chat

01206 636 400WhatsAppcharlie@backbyteatime.co.uk

Free · 20 minutes · no hard sell

Book a free chat

The quickest way is a message or a call. I'll arrange a time, on the phone or in person.

WhatsApp me Call 01206 636 400

or chat here

Or email me directlycharlie@backbyteatime.co.uk