Fred, We are providing the Protection Plus software but also figure that they might not update it as concientiously as we would. I like the idea of sending the printout to them ahead of time to have them prepare for our visit. They could then compare it with their printout (if they have made updates throughout the year) or just manually write on our printout things they want to add and delete.
Sandra, You definitely don't need to redo the entire inventory. There are various ways to do the update.
One method is by providing the Protection Plus software initially. Following your initial inventory you can ask the client to simply add any new items without the pictures. Next, prior to the inventory update they can run a report and email it to you or just print out a report to provide when you come to do the update. You would then review and find the items without pictures and enter those into your business software, take the pics and verify. This can make the process go faster. Once done you would just provide them with a new data CD and they can re-import into their Protection Plus software.
Others will simply have their laptop available and walk through each room, verifying the items and asking the client if any items have been added or removed.
Some also send a printed sheet to the client in advance with their rooms listed and ask them to note new and removed items prior to you showing up.
We are coming up on our first full year in our business and want to practice performing a yearly update. I am assuming that we would take their Data Export CD to load into our computer. From there I am having a hard time visualizing an efficient process that would provide a new comprehensive inventory.
1. Do you recommend that the customer note new or deleted items during the year in their print copy or Protection Plus data printed out? 2. Then we would go through their home with that print out to find the items to photograph? 3. It would probably be best if they send us the print out for us to make updates before arriving at their home for photographing.
This seems like an awkward and time consuming process.
Or does everyone recommend that we start from scratch. We have listed the cost as recommended at $99 so I really don't want to perform another '4hr' inventory.
Has anyone done a yearly update? Any ideas to make it an efficient process and have a small footprint for the customer's time?
It would be nice if they could generate a report/list of changes entered on their computer version after a certain date. We could use that list for making updates as well as going around the home - make sense? Of course, it would be tricky to find items that were deleted.
I would like to make this service a marketing referral gift but need to be sure we have a good handle on the process. It would be good to be able to explain the high level process to the customer so they really want to get it and it would be a good incentive for referrals.
