App help for rental bonds
TWO Townsville entrepreneurs who designed a smartphone app to help prevent rental bond disputes, have launched a pilot program this week to get more local real estate agents on board.
Aden Tranter, 27, and Zane Grant, 34, started the Guard My Lease app on January 23 and it has been downloaded 230 times in Australia and the US.
Mr Tranter said the app allowed real estate agents and tenants to be on the same page when it came to returning bond money.
“In a nutshell, the agent goes in and takes the photos and the tenant can look at them on the app and agree or make changes, it will also save a lot of time and money,” Mr Tranter said. “Having everyone on the exact same page will minimise disagreements at the end.”
Mr Tranter said the app allowed tenants to take photos and log details of existing problems with the residence when they moved in.
The app would then send a detailed PDF document to a designated email address so tenants would not lose it.
Mr Grant said they had been upgrading the app, to include changes in legislation between the different Australia states.
“People around the world are already using the app – we have had agents, a law firm and tenants who are really interested.
“We have changed it slightly so now tenants can use the app for free and real estate agents pay a monthly fee.”
Mr Grant is encouraging Townsville agencies to get on board with a pilot of their app which he said would help businesses cut time and money, and reduce paper waste.
“We have three Townsville real estate agencies on board now and we would like to have 10 for the pilot.
“We want to get feedback from agents locally.”
To find out about the pilot contact 0429 054 136.