Professional Transcription Service or DIY?

What is the difference between typing yourself and a ‘professional’?

 

Also known as 'should I use professional transcription service or Fanny Ann down the road?'

If you learnt to type (on a typewriter – let’s not mention age here) it was considered a real skill as it was a bespoke vocation and not everyone knew how to do this.

With the emergence of computers ‘touch typists’ were in demand, non-typists would look in awe as their fingers quickly passed over a keyboard producing accurate documents at speed.

But with the advancement of technology, everyone now knows their QWERTY from their DVORAK and can find their way around a keyboard at varying speeds, even a two-finger user can probably produce fast words (teenagers these days are probably faster typists on mobile phones than a trained typist).

However, using a keyboard and typing are two different things.

Producing words at a fast speed is completely different from producing a well-formatted document.

Professional Documents

If you just need to type an email then formatting is not an issue but if you need even just a short report (let’s not even think about complex reports – well not just yet) the first thing an audio typist will think of is formatting, it’s better to put in place at the beginning than need to format later.

Setting up your document with ‘headings’ which can then be linked to a table of contents should it be needed can save time whilst taking no extra time.

Ensuring headers and footers are linked or unlinked, depending on the document, are all things that can be done with a click of a button whilst typing and are bread and butter for any professional typist.

After all, it is easier to amend a well-formatted document than to start formatting plain text.

Complex Reports

Now as promised, what about complex reports?

So, just dealing with Word because it is more commonly used.

If a mix and match of formatting styles have been used – single line space, one and a half, windows, orphans – the terminology in itself can make your head spin.

But if you know what you’re doing from the outset, you know what to look for it’s easy (like Sunday morning – and at BackupTyping we do work weekends), does the document have inbuilt styles?

If it does this makes all professionals do a little fist pump knowing they just need to follow the set styles.

But for the untrained eye rather than choosing a ‘section heading’, they will just bold the title.

If the inbuilt formatting styles haven’t been followed it could end up taking hours to format something which could be done at the press of a button (well maybe two or three).

 

Here at BackupTyping, we are not ‘just’ audio typists but experts in Word (and PowerPoint and Excel too).  Add to that our deep understanding and experience of the property industry and its unique terminology, then the answer to the question becomes clear.

For tips on good dictation that your typist will thank you for, check out How to dictate well – your typist will thank you!

 

 

BackupTyping provides a fast, accurate and experienced transcription for property professionals – saving you time and money. Call us on 020 7096 1663 to find out how we can help you.

What Is an Audio Typist? A Guide for Property Professionals

An audio typist is a specialist who converts spoken dictation into professionally formatted written documents.

While the role may sound straightforward, a skilled audio typist does far more than simply type what they hear.

For property professionals and chartered surveyors, an experienced audio typist plays a key role in producing accurate, structured and client-ready reports.

What Does an Audio Typist Do?

An audio typist listens to recorded dictation and types it into a clear, formatted document.

This typically includes:

The process involves listening through headphones while controlling audio playback using a foot pedal, allowing for continuous and efficient typing.

How Audio Typing Works

Professional audio typists use specialist transcription software and equipment.

The setup usually includes:

This allows the typist to maintain a steady flow of dictation while typing accurately and efficiently.  It is a skill that takes time to develop and refine.

Why Use a Professional Audio Typist?

Accuracy and Understanding

An experienced audio typist does not just type words.  They understand context, terminology and meaning.  This is particularly important in the property industry, where technical language must be accurate.

Speed and Efficiency

A professional audio typist can work significantly faster than someone typing their own documents.  This allows reports and documents to be produced quickly without compromising quality.

Professional Formatting

Audio typists ensure documents are:

This removes the need for additional formatting later.

Reduced Admin Workload

By outsourcing audio typing, professionals can focus on inspections, clients and fee-earning work instead of administrative tasks.  If you are currently typing your own reports, it is worth considering whether that time could be better spent.  See our article on fee earner or typist for a practical breakdown.

Audio Typist vs Speech-to-Text

Speech-to-text technology is often seen as an alternative, but it works differently.

Speech-to-text:

A professional audio typist:

For client-facing documents, accuracy and presentation are critical.

Why Industry Experience Matters

Not all audio typists are the same.

A typist with experience in the property sector will:

This reduces errors and improves turnaround time.

At BackupTyping, our team has extensive experience working within the property industry, allowing us to produce high-quality documents without the need for explanation or correction.

How Audio Typing Fits into Your Workflow

A typical workflow looks like this:

  1. Dictate your notes or report
  2. Send the audio file
  3. Receive a fully formatted document

This process removes the need for any property professional to type, format or rework documents.

For a broader overview of how this works, read our guide to audio transcription for chartered surveyors.

Conclusion

An audio typist is not just someone who types.

They are a skilled professional who:

For property professionals, this can significantly improve efficiency and reduce administrative workload.

We are a team who are always here – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – ready and waiting to provide you with the efficient service you need when you need it.

BackupTyping provides a fast, accurate and experienced transcription for property professionals - saving you time and money. Call us on 020 7096 1663 to find out how we can help you.