Why the Kerfuffle Awards Matter—and What They Reveal About the Future of Residential Property Inspections
The context: trust that’s earned, not awarded
Earlier this summer, we were named:
- Best Inventory Provider
- Overall Gold – Trusted by Agents
…at the 2025 Kerfuffle Trusted by Agents Awards.
But this blog isn’t about us. It’s about what those awards really mean—and why they tell you more about where residential inspections are headed than any sales pitch ever could.
Because these weren’t your usual black-tie trophies handed out by a judging panel.
These were based entirely on real reviews from letting agents, property managers, and inventory professionals. The people doing the work. On the ground. Every single day.
So if you’re currently dealing with slow reports, inconsistent formats, or endless email chains between clerks and branches—this story is for you.
The old world: inspections as admin
Not long ago, inventories and mid-terms were just another box to tick.
Templates in Word. Photos in Dropbox. Reports stitched together on Sunday nights.
It worked—just about—but it left you exposed:
- No audit trail
- No standardisation across branches
- And no simple way to prove you’d done things by the book when a dispute hit
Back then, “property inspection software” meant clunky tools that added as many problems as they solved.
That’s the world agents and clerks were stuck in.
So we built something different.
The shift: from paperwork to protection
We didn’t just digitise the clipboard. We rebuilt the whole inspection process around how agents actually work:
- Mobile-first inspections for field teams
- Custom templates for different property types or client preferences
- Real-time syncing between head office and contractors
- Built-in audit trails with date, time, and geo-tagging
- Integrated digital signatures for faster turnaround
The goal? Reduce admin. Improve clarity. And protect your business—whether you manage 50 properties or 5,000.
What “trusted by agents” actually means
When the Kerfuffle awards landed, here’s what the reviews said:
“Inventory Base is the backbone of our property inspections. Reliable, professional, and always improving.”
“Support is second to none. Whenever we’ve had an issue, it’s been resolved quickly and clearly.”
“Intuitive for clerks, clear for landlords, and a lifesaver for our compliance records.”
That kind of feedback only comes when the platform works in real life. Not in a demo. Not in a pitch. In the day-to-day rush of key handovers, move-ins, and tenant disputes.
That’s why these awards matter. They’re not about noise. They’re about delivery.
Why this matters now
Inspections aren’t just admin anymore. They’re a key part of:
- Deposit protection
- Dispute resolution
- Legal compliance
- Operational efficiency
That’s a big shift.
And if you’re still relying on paper forms or pieced-together systems, you’re not just wasting time—you’re leaving yourself exposed.
The state of play in residential inspections
Here’s what the top residential operators are now doing:
- Moving all reporting to cloud-based platforms
- Giving lettings teams visibility into inspection progress
- Using AI tools to catch incomplete reports or missing photos
- Reducing turnaround time from days to hours
- Ensuring every inspection can stand up in dispute resolution
The result? Fewer complaints. Stronger client relationships. And a reporting process that doesn’t drain half your week.
What we’re focused on next
We’re proud of the awards. But they’re not a finish line. They’re a checkpoint.
Here’s where we’re going next:
- Expanding BaseAI to catch defects and missed items before reports are submitted
- Launching faster report editing tools to reduce time spent at desks
- Improving onboarding and training so new users hit the ground running
- Deepening our integrations with letting agency CRMs, so you never have to copy-paste again
Because good software should work the way you do. Not the other way around.
Thinking of switching?
If you’re reviewing your process, comparing platforms, or trying to save time on inspections—we’re here.
Not to pitch. Just to show you what’s working. And when you’re ready, we’d be glad to help.