For property owners, property management comes with its fair share of challenges. For example, the management fees paid to traditional management companies, which can amount to 3–5% of the monthly rent, are a significant burden. Additionally, the time it takes for rent paid by tenants to be transferred to the owner's account is a common source of frustration.
Additionally, issues such as prolonged vacancies leading to reduced income, high costs for restoration work upon tenant move-out, and concerns about the quality and costs of daily cleaning and equipment inspections are frequently raised. Furthermore, delays in reports and communication from management company staff often result in difficulties in accurately understanding the current situation, causing significant stress. These challenges accumulate, leading many property owners to feel that rental property management is both time-consuming and stressful.
In response to these common challenges, INA's next-generation rental management service was developed to address the question, “Can we create a more efficient and transparent system to reduce the burden on property owners?” By integrating the latest technology and specialized knowledge, INA aims to resolve property owners' concerns and achieve stress-free property management through a groundbreaking system that challenges conventional wisdom.
What is INA's unique system? The technology and mechanisms in place
At the core of INA's rental management service is its cloud-based integrated business management system. This system centrally manages all information necessary for property management, such as contract documents and maintenance records, online, enabling real-time information sharing among property owners, tenants, and management staff. Procedures that previously relied on paper documents and face-to-face interactions can now be completed non-face-to-face and paperless through electronic contracts. Tenancy agreements, management contracts, renewal procedures, and other processes can all be securely concluded online, significantly reducing time and effort.
Additionally, the system incorporates AI (artificial intelligence) and big data analysis technologies developed by other companies. By leveraging over 10 billion pieces of data, including market rent trends and information on the surrounding environment, the system automatically assesses the appropriate rent for a property, helping to reduce vacancy periods and achieve high occupancy rates. This enables property owners to set optimal rents in line with market trends and implement strategic leasing (tenant recruitment) to maximize profits.
Additionally, INA is rare in the real estate industry for having an in-house technology department, enabling it to flexibly and swiftly improve functions or introduce new technologies tailored to its own needs without relying on external generic systems. For example, it has developed a dedicated web portal for property owners, allowing them to view property-specific income reports and operational status at any time, thereby quickly enhancing services from the user's perspective.
Achieving stress-free property management: Specific features and system strengths
INA's proprietary system and services offer a variety of features and strengths designed to reduce stress for property owners. Here are some of the main features.
- Low-cost, fixed management fees: Instead of the traditional management fee structure (a percentage of rent), INA offers industry-leading fixed rates starting at 1,100 yen per month per unit (including tax). By streamlining payment collection and leveraging technology to reduce labor costs, we maintain service quality on par with major companies, allowing property owners to receive high-quality management services without excessive costs. The fixed-rate system makes monthly expenses clear, making it easier to plan long-term asset management strategies.
- AI-driven vacancy reduction and rent optimization: As mentioned earlier, we calculate appropriate rental rates based on precise market analysis utilizing AI and big data. Through strategic leasing proposals that consider the location, facilities, and surrounding demand trends of the property, we reduce vacancy periods and increase occupancy rates. We differentiate ourselves by creating marketing-oriented recruitment strategies, such as tailoring recruitment content to target audiences and creating attractive property photos and floor plans, rather than simply posting advertisements. This resolves the common concern of property owners that “vacancies do not improve.”
- 24/7 peace of mind support: Tenant inquiries and issues can arise at any time. INA has established a 24-hour call center dedicated to tenants, which handles initial responses to tenant inquiries and issues around the clock. Our specialized staff provides swift responses to enhance tenant satisfaction, and property owners can rest assured that emergency notifications will not be received directly during late-night hours. Incident details are recorded in the system, and staff handle and report on them appropriately based on the situation, allowing property owners to entrust their properties with peace of mind at all times.
- Cloud-based information sharing and transparency: All management-related information, including contract details, repair history, and inspection reports, is stored in the cloud, allowing property owners to check the status of their properties in real time, anytime and anywhere. For example, photos taken after regular cleaning and reports on equipment inspections are sent directly to property owners via the system, enabling them to stay informed even when away from the site. Access permissions are appropriately managed to ensure privacy and security. Transparent operations eliminate the uncertainty of not knowing what is happening.
- Fair and flexible maintenance support: At INA, we do not force property owners to use a specific contractor for restoration work or building maintenance. We offer flexibility to select the most suitable contractor based on the owner's preferences and the condition of the property, and we implement construction work with a transparent pricing structure that minimizes intermediary margins. Additionally, the entire process from construction estimates to completion is shared and visualized on the system, reducing concerns about unclear additional costs or subpar work. This system, which balances fair pricing and quality control, frees owners from stress related to repair costs and maintenance expenses.
As described above, INA's system and services reduce the burden on property owners from multiple angles, providing an environment where they can continue their rental business with peace of mind. We handle the detailed tasks that property owners previously had to manage themselves using technology and professional support, creating a system that makes them feel, “I'm glad I entrusted this to them.”
Collaboration between professional talent and the latest technology
INA aims to create a new rental management model that optimally combines technology and human resources. At INA, we view “human resources” not merely as labor but as “human capital,” and we place a strong emphasis on nurturing and utilizing talented staff. A notable feature is our system for leveraging human resources without geographical constraints. By leveraging the internet and cloud systems, we have created an environment where talented individuals living in rural areas can remotely manage properties in urban areas. This system enables individuals who find full-time work challenging due to childcare or caregiving responsibilities, as well as highly skilled professionals living in rural areas, to fully utilize their abilities and contribute to providing high-quality services to property owners. This fusion of human capital diversity and technological advantages has enabled us to establish a sustainable and stable service infrastructure.
Additionally, INA staff possess not only specialized knowledge in real estate management but also IT literacy, enabling them to efficiently perform their duties using our proprietary systems. Routine tasks and data processing are automated by the system, allowing staff to focus on higher-value-added tasks and communication with property owners and tenants. For example, based on rent proposals and market analysis reports generated by AI, staff develop detailed recruitment strategies that take into account regional characteristics and the strengths of the property. By combining objective data provided by technology with human experience and hospitality, we enhance the quality of our services.
Furthermore, our collaboration with our in-house technology department allows us to quickly reflect ideas from field staff into system improvements. By repeatedly adding features and making improvements based on feedback from the field, we continuously evolve our services to be more user-friendly for both property owners and tenants. Under the slogan “Real Estate x IT,” INA's property management, which combines human resources and technology, can be said to be an ideal model for the future of the industry.
Success Stories: Case Studies and Owner Testimonials
INA launched its property management business in July 2021, and since then, its innovative services have attracted a great deal of attention and support. Initially, the service was launched in the Tokyo metropolitan area and its suburbs, primarily targeting owners who had purchased investment properties. The concept of high-quality management services aligned with market needs, and in fact, the number of inquiries exceeded initial expectations, leading to waiting periods for service implementation. Currently, the service area has expanded beyond the Kanto region to the Kansai region, and the number of owners adopting INA's rental management system continues to grow steadily.
A notable success story is the dramatic improvement in vacancy rates. For one property owner, a unit that had remained vacant for an extended period was fully occupied within a short time after switching to INA's management services. This was achieved through market analysis-based adjustments to rental rates and proactive leasing strategies, resulting in an increase in rental income from 120,000 yen to 170,000 yen. By revising the leasing conditions and enhancing the property's appeal, inquiries from prospective tenants increased, and the property owner commented, “The loss of opportunities due to vacancies has been eliminated, and we are greatly relieved.”
Another case involved efforts to enhance the value of an older property. For a property built in 1987, the INA team proposed a bold renovation concept, completely revamping the floor plans and designs of all units to create a modern living space that meets the needs of teleworkers. We also invested in new amenities such as automatic locks and parcel lockers in the common areas, resulting in a significant improvement in the property's competitiveness and profitability. The property owner expressed great satisfaction, stating, “Although I was initially hesitant about the large-scale renovation, INA's precise proposals and execution transformed the property beyond recognition,” making this a successful case study contributing to long-term asset value enhancement.
Current owners have shared their positive feedback, such as, “We are relieved from the hassle of management tasks and can now focus on our core business,” “We feel reassured knowing the property's status is always accessible online,” and “We are impressed by the high service quality while keeping costs low.” These success stories and positive feedback are the best proof that INA's property management services meet owners' expectations and effectively resolve their challenges.
Benefits of utilizing INA's system and future prospects
INA's proprietary rental management service addresses the challenges of traditional rental management and offers significant benefits to property owners.
Cost reduction and revenue maximization: With a low, fixed-rate fee, property owners can receive high-quality management services while minimizing unnecessary expenses and improving asset management efficiency.
Reduced hassle and peace of mind: Cloud-based information management streamlines operations, and 24/7 support ensures prompt response to any issues. Property owners can focus on their core investment strategies and other priorities without being burdened by day-to-day tasks.
Enhanced transparency and trust: Real-time visibility into management operations eliminates unclear fees and communication gaps, fostering a relationship of trust where property owners can confidently entrust their valuable assets to us. In addition, INA's services, which combine human resources and technology, offer stability and flexibility, enabling us to serve as a long-term partner to property owners.
Looking ahead, INA plans to further expand its services and pursue technological innovation. We will continue to add new features and support systems in response to changes in the real estate market and customer needs, striving to provide “real estate × IT” in a way that is more understandable, more user-friendly, and smoother.
Specifically, we will continue to strongly support property owners' rental management in the future through advanced initiatives such as improving vacancy prediction accuracy through further advancement of AI technology and realizing remote property management (such as smart locks and monitoring with sensors) through integration with IoT devices.
Finally, when selecting a rental management partner, it is crucial to ensure that both a “reliable system” and “reliable people” are in place. INA's proprietary system and professional staff offer both.
If you are seeking to eliminate the hassles and uncertainties of property management and achieve truly stress-free asset management, we encourage you to consider INA's services. With cutting-edge technology and a team of experienced staff, we will work together to maximize the value and stability of your real estate assets. INA is committed to being your trusted partner, bringing peace of mind and success to your property management future.
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