Summer Round-Up: Time to Reflect

Hi everyone,

I hope you’ve had a successful — and survivable — summer season. For me, it’s been a whirlwind. An unexpected large contract came in for a series of move-ins in Hackney. These were new-build, unfurnished properties, often multiple jobs a day. It was fantastic work, and I met some brilliant characters along the way.

Life on Two Wheels: Property Inspections by Bike

Living in London, I’ve relied heavily on my bike for property inventory appointments and key pick-ups. In August alone, I clocked over 272 kilometres — not counting the quick dashes just to hand over keys. With the amount of inventory gear I lug around — phones, cameras, battery packs, and charging cables — it sometimes feels less like cycling and more like a mobile tech shop on wheels.

AIIC Training and Webinars: Growing Skills for Clerks

Over at the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), training has picked up pace. The feedback from new members and trainees has been fantastic, and our inventory clerk webinars have been a real success.

A highlight was our recent fire safety session for private rentals and HMOs. I managed to put Michelle on the spot with a tricky question — proving that even webinars need a fire drill now and then!

Partnering with Inventory Software Providers

We’ve also been collaborating with leading inventory software companies, sharing feedback on their latest developments. The tech is improving quickly, and it’s exciting to see what’s coming down the line. I’m still waiting for the version that writes reports and makes me a cup of tea, though.

Watching the Renters Reform Bill

Like many in the private rented sector, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Renters Reform Bill. From an inventory clerk’s perspective, it’s a mixed bag:

  • Positive: With no fixed-term contracts, work may be spread more evenly throughout the year.
  • Negative: We may see landlords selling up or switching to Airbnb, which could reduce traditional rental work. If that happens, I might have to rebrand as Blue Sky Inventories & Towels.

Raising Standards in Inventory Reporting

Another hot topic is inventory report standards. I’ve faced challenges working from other companies’ check-out reports, which has sparked board-level discussions about how we can improve consistency and support one another.

If you’ve got ideas on improving check-in/check-out standards, we’d love to hear them.

Projects at Home: Decluttering and Marketing

With work calming down, I’m also focusing on projects closer to home. My wife is a huge fan of Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out, which means my weekends will be full of “decluttering” (her word, not mine).

On the business side, I’ve been rethinking my inventory marketing strategy. Inspired by Rory Sutherland’s take on psychology and marketing, I’m reminded that sometimes you need to step away from spreadsheets and let creative ideas flow.

A Chance to Recharge

The summer wasn’t all work — I also had the chance to take a steam train to Edinburgh with my wife and parents. It was a real reminder of how important it is to pause, take stock, and enjoy the journey — both literally and figuratively.

Over to You: Share Your Thoughts

I’d love to open this up as a conversation:

  • How was your summer in the property inventory industry?
  • Got any feedback for us as an AIIC board?
  • What changes would you like to see in inventory standards and best practices?

Now is the perfect time to take stock, review your processes, and consider improvements — whether that’s your reporting style, your photography kit, or how we collaborate as professionals.

Here’s to a calmer autumn — and maybe even a garage that doesn’t look like a second-hand prop store.

Kind regards,
Chris

Published on 16/09/2025