Are you a fast and accurate typist? Do you like the idea of working from home rather than spending your mornings sitting in rush-hour traffic? If so, property typing could be worth considering.
Property typing involves turning audio dictation from chartered surveyors into accurate, professionally formatted documents. Building surveys, valuation reports, Schedules of Dilapidations, Schedules of Condition and site notes are just some of the documents you might encounter.
But listening and typing is only part of the job.
You need to be able to type quickly. At BackupTyping, our property typists are required to have a minimum typing speed of 80 words per minute.
But speed on its own isn't enough.
There isn't much point in typing 100 words per minute if you then spend the next half an hour correcting what you've written. Accuracy, spelling, grammar and attention to detail matter just as much.
You also need to be able to listen and type at the same time, recognise when something doesn't look or sound right and go back to the original audio when necessary.
A good property typist is fast. A very good property typist is fast and accurate.
Not literally, of course, but property typing comes with its own vocabulary.
Chartered surveyors regularly use terminology that somebody without property experience may rarely encounter. Building elements, defects, construction methods, lease terminology and industry abbreviations can all appear within a single piece of dictation.
Knowing the terminology makes the job much easier. Instead of trying to work out what an unfamiliar word might be, an experienced property typist will often recognise it immediately from the context.
That's why property experience matters to us at BackupTyping. All of our typists have previously worked at senior levels within chartered surveying organisations.
If you're interested in the process from the surveyor's side, our guide to audio transcription for chartered surveyors explains how dictated reports become finished documents.
Typing the words is only part of the job.
A surveyor doesn't generally want a great block of accurately typed text returned to them. They want a professional document they can actually use.
That could mean working with an existing company template, applying headings and numbering, formatting tables, inserting photographs, sorting out page breaks and following a client's house style.
A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word is essential. Depending on the work involved, familiarity with Excel and other Microsoft applications can also be useful.
That's where property typing goes beyond basic transcription. The job isn't necessarily finished when the last word has been typed.
You can read more about what is involved in professional report formatting.
The good news is that you don't need to turn your spare room into an office full of specialist equipment.
You will need a reliable computer or laptop, a good internet connection, the appropriate software and somewhere reasonably quiet to work.
A transcription foot pedal is also an important piece of equipment for a professional typist. It allows you to play, pause and rewind audio using your foot while your hands remain on the keyboard.
For many property typists, this is a big advantage.
There is no daily commute, no rush-hour traffic and no spending money simply to get to and from work. Your journey to work may consist of walking into another room and switching on your computer.
Remote property typing can also give you more control over your working day. Depending on your deadlines, you can often fit the work around children, appointments and other commitments.
But there is an important difference between flexible working and working whenever you fancy.
Property transcription can be time-sensitive.
At BackupTyping, our clients can choose 2 Hour Urgent, Same Day, Overnight or 24 Hour turnaround services. If you've accepted work that needs to be returned within a particular timeframe, that deadline matters.
Working remotely therefore requires self-discipline. Nobody needs to be standing over your shoulder, but the work still has to be completed accurately and on time.
You get flexibility, but you still have to get the work back when you said you would.
Property typing isn't going to suit everybody.
If you hate sitting at a computer, find detailed documents tedious or don't enjoy listening carefully to audio, it probably isn't the obvious choice.
If you can type at least 80 words per minute, have a good eye for detail, are comfortable using Microsoft Word and enjoy working independently, you're already off to a good start.
Property experience is a big advantage. So is being the sort of person who spots that a heading is in the wrong font, a paragraph number has gone astray or a sentence you've just typed doesn't make sense in context.
So yes, fast fingers matter, but they're only part of it.
You need speed, accuracy, good Word skills, attention to detail and an understanding of the language used within the property industry. You also need to be organised enough to work independently and meet deadlines.
If all of that sounds like your kind of work, property typing could be worth a look.
BackupTyping has specialised in property transcription and document production since 1999. Our typists work remotely and have previous senior level experience within chartered surveying organisations.
If you're an experienced property professional with excellent Microsoft Word skills and a typing speed of at least 80 words per minute, we'd be interested in hearing from you.
Contact BackupTyping to introduce yourself and tell us a little about your property experience and typing background.
