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Case Study: Managing a Major Roof Repair from Across the Globe
21-10-2024
A CASE STUDY BY CHRIS KRIEGLER
Managing a large-scale property repair from thousands of miles away is no small feat, but this was the challenge faced by Burcu and Austyn, homeowners at 150 Rose Street, Edinburgh. Based in Thailand during the project, they coordinated the £200,000 roof repair remotely, using the Novoville Shared Repairs app to manage the entire repair. This case study explores how they successfully navigated the complexities of the repair process while abroad.
One of the most significant challenges Burcu and Austyn anticipated was opening a bank account to manage the project’s finances while being outside the UK. As Austyn explained,
“We tried to lead on the project, opening an account in our name, but this wasn’t possible from outside the UK. So one of the other owners had to open the account in their name instead.”
Despite this initial hurdle, they managed to work around it with the help of the Novoville app.
While much of the coordination was handled via email, the app provided crucial visibility on the project's finances, enabling them to track funds and manage payments remotely. The app’s financial transparency was invaluable to them.
“It gave us visibility on the funds going in and out,” Austyn noted, ensuring everyone involved had a clear view of who had contributed and who still needed to.
Coordinating a large repair project from a different time zone can present unique challenges, but Burcu and Austyn found that communication was manageable. Most of their interactions with contractors, neighbours, and other stakeholders were handled via email, with occasional use of WhatsApp and phone calls. Thankfully, the time difference between Thailand and the UK rarely posed a problem. As Austyn explained, “Most communications could wait a day or two, and we had a competent architect leading the project.”
The Novoville app also played a key role in maintaining financial transparency throughout the project. It helped ensure that timely decisions could be made and that all stakeholders had access to accurate information about the project's funding and expenses. “The real transparency was with regards to funds,” Austyn explained, referring to how easily they could track contributions and expenses through the app.
Handling the financial side of a £200,000 project remotely could easily become overwhelming. However, Burcu and Austyn used the Novoville Shared Repairs app as intended, utilising its features to keep track of payments and monitor the financial health of the project. The app provided a simple way to see who had contributed, how much money was in the account, and how much still needed to be paid.
“It tracked who had put in money, who was due to put in money, how much money we had, how much was owed to whom, and when,” Austyn shared, describing how the app made managing the project’s finances straightforward, even from the other side of the world.
Burcu and Austyn's overall experience coordinating such a significant repair remotely was positive, particularly after overcoming some early challenges with opening joint bank accounts. The Novoville app proved to be a valuable tool in addressing the specific difficulties they encountered. Austyn reflected on the initial frustrations of trying to manage financial logistics, saying, “At one point a bank asked for us all to come together to the same branch – us from Thailand, some owner from Edinburgh and some from Bristol – which was obviously impractical and frustrating.” Thankfully, Novoville helped smooth the process, allowing them to stay on top of the project despite the distance.
The pricing of the app comes with a commission cap. “I was a little concerned about the cost of using the app, which could have skyrocketed if it was an uncapped percentage of the £200,000 we were paying for repairs. But it turns out the cost of the app is capped, and for the trouble it saved us, it was worth it,” Austyn noted.
You can read more about the pricing of the app here.
The combination of the app, a cooperative group of fellow owners, a skilled architect, and professional tradespeople made managing the repair from Thailand a relatively smooth process.
The successful £200,000 roof repair at 150 Rose Street is a testament to the power of technology in managing large-scale property projects remotely. While based in Thailand, Burcu and Austyn were able to coordinate with fellow owners, contractors, and professionals, largely thanks to the financial transparency and project management features offered by the Novoville Shared Repairs app.
For property owners looking to manage significant repairs from near or afar, Novoville provides a practical solution, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ease of financial tracking. As Burcu and Austyn’s experience shows, with the right tools and a supportive team, even the most complex repair projects can be managed smoothly from across the globe.
Project Coordination from Thailand
One of the most significant challenges Burcu and Austyn anticipated was opening a bank account to manage the project’s finances while being outside the UK. As Austyn explained,
“We tried to lead on the project, opening an account in our name, but this wasn’t possible from outside the UK. So one of the other owners had to open the account in their name instead.”
Despite this initial hurdle, they managed to work around it with the help of the Novoville app.
While much of the coordination was handled via email, the app provided crucial visibility on the project's finances, enabling them to track funds and manage payments remotely. The app’s financial transparency was invaluable to them.
“It gave us visibility on the funds going in and out,” Austyn noted, ensuring everyone involved had a clear view of who had contributed and who still needed to.
Communication and Decision Making
Coordinating a large repair project from a different time zone can present unique challenges, but Burcu and Austyn found that communication was manageable. Most of their interactions with contractors, neighbours, and other stakeholders were handled via email, with occasional use of WhatsApp and phone calls. Thankfully, the time difference between Thailand and the UK rarely posed a problem. As Austyn explained, “Most communications could wait a day or two, and we had a competent architect leading the project.”
The Novoville app also played a key role in maintaining financial transparency throughout the project. It helped ensure that timely decisions could be made and that all stakeholders had access to accurate information about the project's funding and expenses. “The real transparency was with regards to funds,” Austyn explained, referring to how easily they could track contributions and expenses through the app.
Financial and Project Management
Handling the financial side of a £200,000 project remotely could easily become overwhelming. However, Burcu and Austyn used the Novoville Shared Repairs app as intended, utilising its features to keep track of payments and monitor the financial health of the project. The app provided a simple way to see who had contributed, how much money was in the account, and how much still needed to be paid.
“It tracked who had put in money, who was due to put in money, how much money we had, how much was owed to whom, and when,” Austyn shared, describing how the app made managing the project’s finances straightforward, even from the other side of the world.
Overall Experience with the App
Burcu and Austyn's overall experience coordinating such a significant repair remotely was positive, particularly after overcoming some early challenges with opening joint bank accounts. The Novoville app proved to be a valuable tool in addressing the specific difficulties they encountered. Austyn reflected on the initial frustrations of trying to manage financial logistics, saying, “At one point a bank asked for us all to come together to the same branch – us from Thailand, some owner from Edinburgh and some from Bristol – which was obviously impractical and frustrating.” Thankfully, Novoville helped smooth the process, allowing them to stay on top of the project despite the distance.
The pricing of the app comes with a commission cap. “I was a little concerned about the cost of using the app, which could have skyrocketed if it was an uncapped percentage of the £200,000 we were paying for repairs. But it turns out the cost of the app is capped, and for the trouble it saved us, it was worth it,” Austyn noted.
You can read more about the pricing of the app here.
The combination of the app, a cooperative group of fellow owners, a skilled architect, and professional tradespeople made managing the repair from Thailand a relatively smooth process.
Conclusion
The successful £200,000 roof repair at 150 Rose Street is a testament to the power of technology in managing large-scale property projects remotely. While based in Thailand, Burcu and Austyn were able to coordinate with fellow owners, contractors, and professionals, largely thanks to the financial transparency and project management features offered by the Novoville Shared Repairs app.
For property owners looking to manage significant repairs from near or afar, Novoville provides a practical solution, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ease of financial tracking. As Burcu and Austyn’s experience shows, with the right tools and a supportive team, even the most complex repair projects can be managed smoothly from across the globe.
