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<p class="BodyA" style="text-align: left;" align="center"><span style="text-align: left;">Leading PropTech innovator Valocity has launched Valocity Connect, a mobile property valuation App for the post-COVID-19 world which empowers valuers and lenders to remotely and safely inspect and value properties.</span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">The Mobile App is the first in Australia to enable occupiers to take and share time-stamped, geo-location validated photos of the property, providing credible evidence of the features and condition of the property without the need for a physical inspection. The Mobile App also operates with bank-grade security, ensuring it meets the rigorous privacy and security standards of financial institutions.</span></p>
<p class="BodyA">This announcement comes at a time when the company is accelerating growth in Australia, including a new partnership with the Australian Property Institute (API), to launch a solution for valuers called APIX. APIX cross-references and aligns disparate data sources to provide comprehensive Australian property analysis in an intuitive digital platform. </p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">In addition to Valocity Connect and the API Partnership, Valocity is also releasing the first cloud based digital Commercial Property Valuations Platform in Australia.</span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">Valocity chief executive cfficer, Carmen Vicelich</span><span lang="EN-US"> said Valocity has innovated for the Australian market in close collaboration with the industry to create new ways of solving old problems through technology and data.  </span> </p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">“We are delighted to today launch Valocity Connect, a mobile platform which will enable the property industry to digitise and streamline valuations, improve efficiencies in the mortgage application process and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission for both valuers and occupiers,” she said.</span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">“The platform enables occupiers to capture, verify and share all the data valuers and lenders require in a customisable and configurable template, and then seamlessly share this information in a bank-grade secure end-to-end digital process.”</span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">“In our extensive discussions with industry stakeholders we have heard loud and clear that the industry is ripe for this sort of digital innovation. Valocity Connect was designed in close collaboration with these industry partners and will equip lenders and valuers with the mobile tools they need to both operate in the post-COVID landscape, and thrive in the new decade.”</span> </p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">Top Australian property valuation firm PRP is the first global customer of the platform, and PRP CEO Greg Sugars said Valocity Connect will be essential for the COVID valuation market.</span></p>
<p class="Default"><span lang="EN-US">“We were absolutely delighted to introduce the Valocity Connect App to our business during the crisis and it really allowed us to reduce the number of access refusals. The Valocity Connect App is easy to use, customisable to our stringent requirements, but most importantly provided bank grade security for all data stored and transmitted. </span> </p>
<p class="Default"><span lang="EN-US">“Utilising the App, occupants undertake the internal inspection on our behalf by taking geocoded photos, and completing a PRP-designed questionnaire. The feedback has been great and it has helped us move through the backlog of delayed valuation instructions, particularly for the banks we work for, where turnaround times are so important.”</span></p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">Since launching in New Zealand in 2013, Valocity has rapidly become a leading provider of innovative and data-led solutions to the property sector in Australia, New Zealand and India, including partnerships with ING Australia, Bank of New Zealand, ASB Bank, Pepper Money, and the Australian Property Institute.</span> </p>
<p class="BodyA"><span lang="EN-US">Valocity has powered more than half a trillion dollars in loan decisions through its innovative property valuation platform, One Smart Platform, and was recently named the Global Fintech Startup of the Year 2019 at the India Fintech Awards.</span></p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Valocity launches property valuation app to enable post-COVID valuations

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<p>An innovative new app, Break Your Lease, created by an Australian entrepreneur and software developer was launched internationally on May 22, 2020.</p>
<p>The app has gained immediate world-wide attention, being one of only a few to appear on the ‘Feature’ section in the App Store.</p>
<p>Developed by Richard Saville, Break Your Lease, offers users a unique opportunity to easily leave their commercial or residential leases, by finding suitable and instant replacements.</p>
<p>The app is changing the property game, filling a sizeable gap in the market and creating an industry where users can now break a lease globally. </p>
<p>Mr Saville said the app will offer people who are struggling to pay their leases an ‘easy out’ and the ability to forgo the costly process of breaking a lease.  </p>
<p>“The app will be of great benefit to people looking to leave their lease, as well as those seeking a new one quickly, and landlords who won’t need to contend with broken leases,” said Mr Saville.</p>
<p>The launch of the app is particularly timely due to the rising unemployment figures resulting from COVID-19, which are putting increased strain on peoples’ ability to pay their leases. </p>
<p>Mr Saville’s idea for the practical, user-friendly app came last year and he’s taken Break Your Lease from conceptualisation to a launchable product.  </p>
<p>Users will be able to register a lease they want to leave, free for the first month after the app’s launch, with registrations listed after this time costing $40 for residential leases, and $70 for commercial leases. </p>
<p>The app will launch on the Australian and New Zealand app store this week and available in the US and UK in June.</p>
<p>In August the app will expand to include services for other types of leases including cars, bikes, jet skis, boats etc.  </p>
<p>Due to the originality of the concept Mr Saville has secured a world-wide patent for the app.</p>
<p>The app has been available since May 22, 2020. </p>
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App launched helping tenants break a lease with no implications

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<p>A new app is putting real-time real estate information into West Australian buyers and sellers, direct from the agent on the ground.</p>
<p>Officially launched on 26 October 2018 at REIWA’s CONNECT Real Estate Conference, the itrack property app allows buyers to track properties listed for sale on reiwa.com at the click of a button.</p>
<p>REIWA CEO Neville Pozzi said itrack gives WA property seekers a unique, 100% transparent insight into any property sales campaign they choose to track.</p>
<p>“We are excited to be powering the itrack property app, which we’re confident will benefit all parties involved in a real estate transaction,” Pozzi said.</p>
<p>“Buyers can track every movement of a property they are interested in, with factual and reliable notifications and updates sent to their phone as the property’s sales campaign progresses.</p>
<p>“For sellers, the itrack property app helps them to better gauge buyer interest levels, while for REIWA real estate agents, the app helps enhance productivity, providing a platform for them to connect better with interested buyers and build strong relationships with vendors.”</p>
<p>Gavin Hegney, Company Director of Gavin Hegney Property and real estate industry specialist, said what he loved most about the itrack platform is that it has created a circle of benefit for all those that engage in the process.</p>
<p>“Buyers are always wanting to know everything that is happening in a campaign and want to most importantly trust the information supplied,” Hegney said.</p>
<p>“With itrack, agents not only get a productivity tool to enable them to succeed in selling and listing more, but an environment that builds relationships - which is all powered by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, an organisation that reflects a position of integrity and transparency for everybody involved in the real estate transaction.”</p>
<p>The itrack property app is available to download now in the App Store and will be available on Google Play in the coming weeks.</p>
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New real estate app gives WA property seekers real-time information 

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<p>GUEST OBSERVER</p>
<p>The real estate industry has always had a love hate relationship with the portals. While it’s the portals that own the best audience for property buyers – and are therefore an important part of any vendor’s marketing spend – the charging models and sense of dependence has always irked agents. No-one likes being obliged to pay for a service you feel you have little control over. </p>
<p>But the portals and the technology that drives them are now more than 15 years old. And over the past 3 years, the game they changed has started to change again. It’s possible the portals are about to be disrupted themselves.</p>
<p>Fifteen years ago, the idea that buyers could go to one place online to see every property on the market in any suburb you chose was absolutely revolutionary. Buyers no longer had to jump in the car and visit the suburb to check out local real estate agent shop windows or get hold of a local paper. All the information you needed was in one place, and you could look at it at whatever time suited you – 9am, 9pm, 2pm, 2am – on your desktop computer in the comfort of your office or living room and send a message of inquiry. It was a huge improvement in the old way of doing things, removing pain points and making property hunting faster and more convenient. </p>
<p>But two new revolutions have occurred over roughly the past three to five years – the social revolution and the mobile revolution. The two are interconnected as the conversion of our mobile phones to mobile computers that are always on and always with us in turn enabled the social revolution with apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Messenger, LinkedIn, Pinterest and WhatsApp to dominate our lives.</p>
<p>And it’s apps like Facebook that are likely to dramatically change the way we ‘do’ real estate again in the very near future. </p>
<p>Facebook claims to be a company based on “human connection and bringing people together”, the recent REIQ Tech Day was told. Its mission is to “give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together”.</p>
<p>There are 2.01b people on Facebook every month and 1.32b on Facebook every day. Facebook is the eighth most-used feature on any mobile phone and in addition to the mothership, there are 1.2b on Whatsapp, 1.2b on Messenger and 700m people on Instagram each month – all part of the Facebook family.<br>The only thing bigger than the Facebook community, the conference was told, is Christianity.</p>
<p>Facebook also has a second mission – to “democratise advertising” by making it easy and affordable for every business – especially small businesses – to reach customers by giving them access to the same tools that big business has traditionally dominated.</p>
<p>This is where the threat to the portals happens. </p>
<p>Because Facebook is not really just a cool entertainment app that allows you to see photos of friends new babies, hashtag all the blessings in your life, rage against the latest political upset or message your husband with a virtual cat on your head (or is that just me and my guy?). Facebook is a major big data play. </p>
<p>Every interaction we have with Facebook captures information about us as individuals – our likes, our passions, our friends, key events in our lives, our behaviour, how we feel, our recommendations, who our friends are and their likes, passions, events and behaviour. Every interaction builds up a more and more detailed picture of us individually which is what makes the Facebook advertising algorithms and their ability to target so powerful. We don’t really see or feel this. When the algorithm is doing its job, the result is simply more content that we’re genuinely interested in.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no need to ‘spray and pray’ your advertising as a business in Facebook. If your ideal customer is a 36 year old woman with two primary school age children who loves shoes and wine and drives a four wheel drive and works part time and who lives in a 3 bedroom house, you can find her and thousands like her and target your message exactly to her. Knowing this, if you’ve got a beautiful 4 bedroom house in her area with a walk-in wardrobe, wine cellar, great kid friendly outdoor area with a pool and large garage that would be perfect, you can easily target advertising directly to her (and her friends). </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter that she’s not on Realestate.com.au or Domain.com.au looking yet. It doesn’t matter that she may not have thought (as far as you’re aware) that she should move up. You can plant the seed in her mind. You can show her what’s possible through Facebook targeted advertising and encourage her to move from a passive buyer (one who has not thought about buying or selling at all) to become a researcher or an active buyer or seller (one who decides that now is the time to act).</p>
<p>This is part one of the strengths that Facebook has over the portals; using it you can target people and move them into your contact funnel before they have even decided that moving is the right decision for them. You have the power to target and influence their behaviour. </p>
<p>But it doesn’t stop there.</p>
<p>Part two of Facebook’s strength is only now starting to be witnessed. As Facebook’s ability to capture and process data about us accelerates at speeds that are truly mind blowing, its capability for predictive analytics becomes ridiculously powerful. Soon, Facebook won’t just be able to target people because they match a profile of someone who might be interested in buying, selling or renting because you select them. Soon, Facebook will be able to target people because their behaviour on Facebook and its associated apps, signal that they are actively engaging in behaviour that pre-empts buying, selling or renting behaviour in addition to their profile. This behaviour may include things like renovating, finding tradespeople, reaching out to real estate agents, buying paint or asking friends for real estate recommendations, – the possibilities and their combinations are endless. In such a scenario, you’ll get recommendations on who to target based on data that’s defining what they’re likely to do next, not options they’ve chosen, or things they’ve already done.</p>
<p>And that leads us to this new world order of being able to target people based on their profile, behaviour and a likelihood of intention much higher up the sales funnel, rather than waiting for a potential customer to go onto a real estate website and make an inquiry.  </p>
<p>Which leads to the question of why do you need a real estate portal – a special place to go to find a property to buy – if properties that need buying will serve themselves up to you just when you’re starting to think about the possibility of moving? </p>
<p>In this new world, the power any real estate portal can wield diminishes and the value proposition to a portal customer is impacted. Why should I put so much of my advertising budget into reaching people who are actively in the market looking, when I can put the budget into Facebook and target both those who are actively looking, and those who are passive, but whose behaviour indicates that with the right property, they could change at any minute? No wonder the portals are worried. </p>
<p>So how as a real estate agent do you get yourself ready for this next exciting stage? Here’s 4 things you can do:</p>
<h3>1.    Get serious about social now</h3>
<p>Social is no longer something the receptionist can do in her spare time, or have your teenage kids help you as a hobby. Make it someone’s job in your business to understand thoroughly how targeting works in social media, who your target audience is for the different types of properties you sell and services you offer, and set aside a small budget to start practising the best ways to reach them and the content that works. Upload your database to create a matching audience in Facebook.</p>
<h3>2.    Learn about geo-targeting and targeting by property features</h3>
<p>Kick it up a notch by learning about advanced topics such as geo targeting (X people matching Y description within Z km of my office) and targeting people by property features which you know are in demand, or which signal they may be interested in making the next move. ie: People in their 50s who have owned their properties for 20+ years may be ready to downsize, or be looking for an investment. Families in 2 bedroom apartments may be looking for 3 bedroom houses or larger apartments. Ask yourself, “If I was this person, what kind of information in my Facebook feed would I find interesting?” </p>
<h3>3.    Improve your content</h3>
<p>Social media is about human relationships, community and helping – it’s about being useful, not boastful. And Facebook advise that your content needs to be striking, and get attention quickly – in the first three seconds, otherwise it is scrolled past. Evergreen content on how the property market works, tips for buyers and sellers and walking people through the process of moving are all ways you can connect with people while also establishing yourself as an expert who knows their stuff. A constant stream of properties for sale will only be appreciated by those who are actively looking (in which case they’re probably on a portal already) but an occasional inspirational property well targeted as part of a broader spectrum of useful content sends a more trustworthy message.</p>
<h3>4.    Experiment with different content styles</h3>
<p>Writing a post and sticking up a photo is the easiest way to post, but Facebook rewards those who innovate. Video, slideshows and Facebook Live are prioritised by the algorithm which means your message reaches more of the right people for less money. And don’t forget most people snack on social content while they’re doing something else, so all video should be captioned. No one sticks on earphones so they can listen to a 90 second video on the bus. Whatever you post, make sure you analyse its reach and engagement levels each time so you can work out what works best for your audience.</p>
<p>So if you’re one of those agents who rage against the portals, don’t despair, a change is coming. But it also means you’ll need to change your behaviour. Real estate is just one of the hundreds of consumer experiences that Facebook and the social universe is completely opening up  right now. There is plenty of opportunity for real estate agents who get stuck in and recognise the opportunity – but just like 15 years ago, fortune will favour the brave.</p>
<p><em><strong>Kylie Davis</strong> is the head of content and property services marketing at CoreLogic</em></p>
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Why the property portals are worried about Facebook: Kylie Davis

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<p>An app designed by WA real estate agents, called Open Negotiation allows sellers to pre-approve terms and conditions from people interested in buying their house.</p>
<p>The approved buyers are then able to bid for the property in an online auction, enabling bidders to see what the other parties are offering.</p>
<p>It has attracted listings from agencies including Mint, Abel McGrath, Jones Ballard and The Agency.</p>
<p>“In a normal private treaty we often get calls from the buyers that miss out saying, ‘I would’ve paid that. I found out what you sold it for and I would’ve paid more if I had known what you sold it for’,” said Peter Clements, a real estate agent and one of the brains behind the concept.</p>
<p>“With Open Negotiation I have never enjoyed selling as much, because you can share other people’s prices. All the buyers feel comfortable because if they miss out, they only chose to miss out because they couldn’t pay any more,” he told the local Perth paper.</p>
<p>The app has been operational for five weeks with 17 homes sales since using the technology.</p>
<p>“There’s never ever been another system that pre-contracts and then allows agents to still be involved at the same sort of level,” Mr Clements said.</p>
<p>Clements said while the initial roll-out was in WA, there was interest across Australia.</p>
<p>There were five bidder and eight bids on a Bayswater recent listing, a three bedroom duplex at 117B Milne Street. </p>
<div class="price-auctdate">
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-hrday">
<span class="auct-label">Open Negotiation Date: </span> <span class="auct-context">Jul, 25, 2017, 07:00pm (Perth Time)</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<span class="auct-label price-label">Successful Bidder: <span class=" cb_avatar">3255</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$465,000.00</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<span class="auct-label price-label">Bidders Final Offers</span> <span class="auct-context"> </span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bidders-final-offer">
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<div class="paddle-price-wrap">
<span class="auct-label price-label paddle-color"><span class=" cb_avatar">3255</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$465,000.00 <span class="highest-bid">Highest</span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<div class="paddle-price-wrap">
<span class="auct-label price-label paddle-color"><span class=" cb_avatar">7876</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$415,000.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<div class="paddle-price-wrap">
<span class="auct-label price-label paddle-color"><span class=" cb_avatar">3255</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$410,000.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<div class="paddle-price-wrap">
<span class="auct-label price-label paddle-color"><span class=" cb_avatar">7876</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$407,000.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price">
<div class="paddle-price-wrap">
<span class="auct-label price-label paddle-color"><span class=" cb_avatar">5399</span></span> <span class="auct-context">$307,000.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="auct-detailbox col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
<div class="property-price"><span class="auct-context"><span>8 Bids</span> <span>5 Bidders</span></span></div>
<div class="property-price"><span class="auct-context"><span>The website advised s<span>hould a successful sale not be concluded, other bidders will be contacted in order of the last bids.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<p><em><strong>For more information, go to <a href="https://www.openn.com.au/" target="_blank">openn.com.au</a></strong></em></p>
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Openn.com.au app advances online residential property auction capabilities

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<p>A Queensland entrepreneur has launched a website to display all data, zoning and council plans of a property within South East Queensland.</p>
<p>Developer Alex Steffan, pictured above, said the <a href="https://propertease.com.au/" target="_blank">PropertEASE</a> website features development possibilities such as subdividing, units, rezoning, height restriction by typing in your address.</p>
<p>“In a just a few seconds, PropertEASE supplies all the complex council information in an easy-to-read report," Steffan said.</p>
<p>“Until now property owners have had to deal with the council, which can be very tedious, or contact a town planner, which can be expensive. </p>
<p>“I’ve spent the last three years accumulating all the council data - zonings, planning data, every bit of information regarding a property is now all on one website.</p>
<p>“It’s for everyone interested in property, home owners, buyers, sellers, developers, real estate agents - with PropertEASE you have a town planner’s knowledge at your fingertips.    </p>
<p>“Most owners have no idea where to start or what questions to ask when it comes to their property."</p>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

PropertEASE website offers complex council information for SE Queensland property

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<p dir="ltr">UNSW researchers have released a free app designed to give people with disabilities and older Australians the product information they need to modify their homes and stay in them for longer.</p>
<p>Known as DIYmodify, it will help consumers make decisions around purchasing five common home modifications including grab rails and handheld showers.</p>
<p>“Overwhelmingly, people want to stay in their own homes rather than go into care,” remarked UNSW associate professor Catherine Bridge, director of the HMinfo Clearinghouse.</p>
<p>“Our aim is to keep people better informed, safer and able to stay in their homes for longer,” she said.</p>
<p>UNSW research shows more than 15,000 DIY home modifications are undertaken by people with disability and older Australians each year in NSW alone.</p>
<p>The HMinfo Clearinghouse analysed consumer sales data from the largest national hardware chain by monitoring the sale of five products: grab rails; handrails, hand-held showers, shower infills and small ramps.</p>
<p>“When people complete their own home modifications, they can choose the products they want and have control over the process – the DIYmodify app is designed to assist them with this and shows that grab rails and ramps can be installed in a way that won’t make their home look like a hospital.”</p>
<p>The app was co-designed with input from people with disability and seniors to ensure the highest level of accessibility for people with cognitive, vision and physical impairment, as well as non-English speakers.</p>
<p>“We’re giving people information at the time they need it, presented in a way that is understandable to them. For example, many people don’t know that they can add a ramp to their shower, to raise its level and it will only cost them $100 rather than $2000,” Bridge said.</p>
<p>DIYmodify will be launched on 19 May by the NSW Minister for Disability Services, Ray Williams. It is available for both iPhone/iPad and Android devices. </p>
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New app to help people with disabilities choose home modifications

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<p>An online personal finance organiser platform’s latest product is aiming to simplify life for real estate agents.</p>
<p>Online platform Movinghub’s new Snap Your App is designed to make the referral process easier for agents.</p>
<p>Once downloaded on a Android or iOS device, SnapYourApp can be used to send client data, such as tenancy applications, into the Movinghub platform. </p>
<p>An agent can upload multiple images, add any relevant comments and send.</p>
<p>The app can be used to ‘snap’ tenancy forms, flyers and PC screen, which can be tracked anytime. It can also be used to refer clients. </p>
<p>One can also communicate with a ‘movologist’, according to the description, and read related news.</p>
<p>Movinghub is a cloud-based white label platform that helps organise various services such as energy, broadband, insurance and finance as well as moving and maintenance services.</p>
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New Movinghub app plans to makes life easier for agents

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<p>An app that eases property tax management has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Optus MyBusiness Awards in the Fintech Business of the Year category.  </p>
<p>Abakus Apps, founded in 2015 by Brenton Tidow, was launched July 2016 and is designed to help users self-manage their investments, tax returns and get an estimate of their tax position at any time during the financial year..  </p>
<p>Brenton Tidow, Abakus Apps founder said as an active property investor, Abakus Apps was created from the frustration of handling 'pesky' expense receipts relating to investments and he wanted to develop a unique and intuitive tool that uncomplicated property tax.</p>
<p>“The MyBusiness Awards are well-known as one of the most prestigious national awards programs that celebrate some of Australia’s best and most innovative businesses and individuals," he said.</p>
<p>"To be a finalist is a massive achievement for me personally, as I’ve bootstrapped the business myself and I’m involved in every aspect of its operations."</p>
<p>Abakus Apps is a subscription, cloud-based app with a monthly fee of $5.99 for an unlimited number of properties (paid through the iTunes Store or the Google Play Store).</p>
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