At base property specialists, we’ve always been about raising the bar across the Private Rented Sector (PRS), and our recent podcast with Annalese Walmsley, Sales Director at Kotini, underscored something we’ve been saying for years: the onboarding experience matters.
The Problem with Frankenstein Tech Stacks
As Annalese put it brilliantly, most agencies are operating with a "Frankenstein tech stack". They use one provider for ID checks, another for AML compliance, send PDFs via email for PIQs, and chase signatures through endless follow-ups. The result? Frustrated clients, slower time to market, lost leads, and massive inefficiencies for agents and landlords alike.
At Kotini, Annalese and the team are tackling this head-on with a digital onboarding journey that integrates with the UK’s leading CRMs and wraps-up multiple workflows into a single, branded, user-friendly process.
Why This Should Matter to Landlords & Investors
Time is money - especially in a market like London, where even a few days of void can mean hundreds in lost rent. If your agent is taking 5, 7, or even 10 days to get your property live, that’s revenue lost.
A streamlined onboarding solution like Kotini helps:
• Slash time to market by consolidating workflows
• Improve conversion and commitment from tenants and buyers
• Deliver a better brand experience, reinforcing value
For landlords in BTR, PBSA, or traditional portfolios, this isn’t about novelty. It’s about asset performance.
The Monetisation Opportunity
Another angle Annalese highlighted is one many landlords overlook: monetisation. Kotini’s model allows agents to customise who pays and what’s charged - and in some cases, turn compliance into a profit centre. Vendors, tenants, or buyers can cover the onboarding fee, and the agent can even generate a small margin.
For investors used to calculating ROI down to the decimal, this kind of value-added service is a win-win: streamlined process, improved compliance, and better cashflow for your agency partner.
Building Better Businesses with Better People
Annalese’s career path also touched on a key theme we value at base: hiring for potential, empowering autonomy, and trusting people to deliver. Her experience - from operations at Hunters to proptech scaleups like FlatFair - shows the power of diverse skills and fearless adaptation.
At base, we want our landlords to know that we work with people and partners who get it. We don’t just adopt tech for the sake of it. We integrate smart solutions that make real-world impact. And we work with suppliers like Kotini who share our belief that better systems support better service.
Final Thought: It’s Time to Expect More
The onboarding phase is the first step in the tenant journey - and increasingly, the first impression of your asset. Clunky processes, poor communication and long delays aren’t just inconvenient. They’re damaging.
At base, we believe landlords deserve better. And we make sure our clients benefit from the best tools, people and processes available. Because great letting agents aren’t just rent collectors. We’re asset managers, advisors, and experience creators.
And that starts at onboarding.
