Shawn Brown, PayProp Business Development Director

Q: What does it say on your business card?

Director of Business Development

Q: Who are PayProp?

PayProp is an automated payment and reconciliation platform designed specifically for the lettings market. We automate and reconcile rental payments to landlords, calculate and pay agent commissions and settle with other beneficiaries – all in a couple of clicks. We improve agent cash flow and help agents understand their finances in a way which promotes growth.  

Q: How long have PayProp been trading?

11 years

Q: How did it all start?

The company was founded by two brothers who still work in the business today, Johannes and Jaco van Eeden. In fact, the idea for PayProp’s core transactional platform came from the charity donation platform of the original business. Both group companies are today leading-edge global businesses in their own right.

Q: Why choose PayProp?

We are the only property-focused settlement platform that is integrated into the banking system, allowing for complete automation of payments, invoices, statements and reconciliation, giving agents very fine control of all client-related money flows.

Q: What are your three unique selling points?

We have more than three.

• Payment and reconciliation of your entire portfolio in a couple of clicks

• Rapid growth (on average 23% year-on-year) without the need for extra resources

• The ability to see the health of your business on one screen

• Super secure – we are bank integrated

• Free support/training/use for life

Q: Who do you currently work with?

Some of our Clients include SecureLets at Jeremy McGinn & Co, Lime Property, Fidra, Holden Copley, Gareth James and Clarke Holland

Q: How do you overcome your competitors?

We do not have any direct competitors, being the only bank-integrated solution in the market that can automate end-to-end client payments and yet provide granular visibility and control on a per-user basis, with a complete and detailed audit log means we have to break new ground.

Q: How do you create value for your clients (how do you go above the call of duty)?

PayProp clients do not sign a fixed-term contract with the business. This means if we or the platform do not perform they can leave at very short notice. We pin everything on customer service.

We offer a platform that makes agents’ life easier and helps them grow by allowing them to spend more time with landlords and tenants and freeing them from mundane administrative tasks.

Q: What is your greatest achievement and what made it so special?

Spear-heading the launch into the UK and driving great results straight off the bat stands out for me. The difference has been in simplifying how we market a powerful, comprehensive product.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing estate/letting agents at the moment?

Keeping ahead of the competition and ensuring they can grow their business without increasing their cost base.

Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?

That’s a tough call between two things, and I can’t really choose. I’d say its a 50/50 split between winning a new client and providing stellar customer support.

Q: What is your property prediction for 2016?

Due to the lack of affordable houses to own, the rental market will continue to grow, propping up the continuing fortunes of housing as a whole.

Q: Are you offering any special promotions?

Yes, we are offering first month service fee for free when people get in touch and quote this 60 second interview.

From a personal perspective:

House or apartment? House

City or countryside? Was the city, now the countryside

Modern and stylish or period and original? Modern and stylish

Rent or buy? Buy

Kirstie Allsopp or Phil Spencer? Kevin McCloud :)