<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Russou]]></title><description><![CDATA[Streamlining Success for Property Professionals]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:23:31 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.russou.co.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Real Cost of a Bad CRM Migration, And Why It Usually Shows Up Six Months Later]]></title><description><![CDATA[A bad CRM migration doesn't cost you once, it costs you for months. Here are the six hidden costs lettings agencies face, and how proper preparation avoids them.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/the-real-cost-of-a-bad-crm-migration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a846bb608752169b9a9cb7e</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:00:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_6326f7feca1d475fb1cd5fb7d9d95334~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_599,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Agents Consistently Underestimate in a CRM Migration.]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the biggest misconceptions in a migration is that small issues can be managed later.
In reality, small issues rarely stay small.
They just take time to show up.
And when they do, they’re often harder and more expensive to fix.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/what-agents-consistently-underestimate-in-a-crm-migration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f1d25cbc2ce3253fd19b99</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:31:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_572c744acb1f4b4fa62a7d9c1d021eee~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Five People in Every Lettings Migration Team]]></title><description><![CDATA[Meet the five people who show up in every lettings CRM migration, the spreadsheet warrior, the reconciliation gremlin, and the rest of the cast that makes migrations actually succeed.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/the-five-people-in-every-lettings-migration-team</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8547cd3a73f167659ff4a0</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:00:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_012e74a5008146a79015d5f8dd952562~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_555,h_263,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Does the New Starter Feel? A Lettings Agency Onboarding Process Reality Check]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every lettings agency has an onboarding process — and a translation problem. Here's what "ask Sarah" and "the system is very intuitive" are really telling your new starter about how your business runs.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/lettings-agency-onboarding-process</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8459903a73f167659e0c74</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:32:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_0122698d1ea8472aab605dae3797cbd3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_803,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Your Reapit System Is Actually Capable Of, and Why It Needs Reapit Optimisation and Training]]></title><description><![CDATA[Most lettings agencies use just 30% of what Reapit can do. Here are the three most commonly underused areas — and how a proper Reapit optimisation and training review closes the gap for your team.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/reapit-optimisation-and-training</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a845f28e009b3510d385360</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_ac920ba0d46b452f8f61dcc886507735~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_802,h_348,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Opening Balances Can MAKE or BREAK a CRM Migration.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Opening balances are your starting line.

If you begin in the wrong place, every report, every transaction, and every decision that follows is built on shaky ground.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/why-opening-balances-can-make-or-break-a-crm-migration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f1c2e7829c52805ba84cac</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:29:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_6f07d0b445724e339de626b917de1380~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Go-Live Really Feels Like in a CRM Migration.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Point of No Return
Go-live is a bit like pressing “send” on something you can’t take back.
Up until that point:
Everything may have looked fine in testing.
Reports seemed accurate.
Data appeared to behave as expected.

But go-live is where theory becomes reality.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/what-go-live-really-feels-like-in-a-crm-migration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f1cc897475e016cb9656d2</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:30:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_3b566abc68af41a0a7099b52847b966d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Lettings Business That Almost Scaled Itself Into Trouble.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Most lettings agencies don't fail because they stop growing. They struggle because they grow faster than the operational foundations underneath them.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/the-lettings-business-that-almost-scaled-itself-into-trouble</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a71c8ffb174d357009066f5</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:13:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_0ccfa5281bd840239c5ff625b287d608~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 stages of lettings CRM]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you've ever been through a CRM migration, you'll recognise these stages. If you're about to go through one, consider this a preview.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/5-stages-of-lettings-crm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a71c8422155f73d8806a895</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:11:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_0260bfbe82474e78a857436af08e4393~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_600,h_599,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I talked to David Mintz about CRM migrations. We ended up talking about something much bigger.]]></title><description><![CDATA["We'll fix it later."



It sounds harmless. In estate agency, it often sounds sensible, there's always something more urgent demanding attention. A landlord to call back. A tenancy to renew. A compliance deadline that appeared from nowhere.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/i-talked-to-david-mintz-about-crm-migrations-we-ended-up-talking-about-something-much-bigger</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a71c02be1b75da43ec0a552</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:51:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_90d9302863af413592a01990ebc49ed2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_972,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Nerves to Loving It: My First Webinar Experience with Kerfuffle]]></title><description><![CDATA[I recently took part in my first webinar with Kerfuffle, and if I'm honest, I went in with that familiar mix of nerves and excitement. Talking about CRM migrations is something I do every day. But doing it live, with an audience, and questions I hadn't prepared for, was a different thing entirely. It turned out to be one of the best things I've done. David made the whole session feel easy. It wasn't a formal interview, it was a proper conversation. We laughed, talked honestly about the...]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/from-nerves-to-loving-it-my-first-webinar-experience-with-kerfuffle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f31053d3f2ae6dd9190c6d</guid><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:33:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_27d6828fb71a473f875e50be04f8f8d5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_860,h_856,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Preparation Is Everything in a CRM Migration.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Build It Right from the Start
A CRM migration is a lot like building a house.

If the foundations aren’t right, it doesn’t matter how good everything looks on top, it simply won’t hold.
And yet, this is where many migrations begin to go off track.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/why-preparation-is-everything-in-a-crm-migration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f1bcbb7475e016cb9634b3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:29:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_07b68bf25918431a9d460908c4080de6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A conversation that has never, once ended well.]]></title><description><![CDATA["We just need to migrate the data across. Shouldn't take long."
"How much data?"

"Oh not much. A few thousand contacts."
(It is 47,000 contacts.)]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/a-conversation-that-has-never-once-ended-well</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bfac6f7064a4e83d4fdc9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_8e39b73438fd4d6b826dca25f79f9e4a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_617,h_280,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dear Management... I Quit!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Management,
I have been thinking about this for a while.
I haven't quit yet. ]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/dear-management-i-quit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bf863418318a8f7e167a2</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:00:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_74e43485e1ed4273bf10d0e1a7a472f0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_256,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Client Accounts Bingo]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mark off every square you recognise from the last six months. Three in a row and you've earned a strong cup of tea. Full house and we need to talk.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/client-accounts-bingo</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bef0d44c7bef1d02d8107</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_140039fdb4cd41c7a703e1b53df1815e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_615,h_190,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dear Diary , from a neglected CRM.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Diary,
Day 1,247 since anyone updated my pipeline stages.
"Offer Made" still has 34 deals in it. Three of those landlords no longer exist as clients. One completed in 2022. 
Nobody told me. ]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/dear-diary-from-a-neglected-crm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bdd31ac42b101a9d3ac54</guid><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_31abfe587e0749848e1aaccf7f5ea568~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_710,h_312,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are you registered?]]></title><description><![CDATA[If your firm submits SDLT returns on behalf of clients, you now need to be registered with HMRC as a tax adviser.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/are-you-registered</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bf991b665e088ac284acb</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_67292c88e64745e4a8389a2cf61d59b7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_619,h_615,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who is Dave???]]></title><description><![CDATA[Who is Dave???
We once opened a lettings agency's CRM and found a contact called "Dave ???".
Not Dave Smith. 
Not Dave from Accounts.
Just Dave. Three question marks.
Nobody knew who Dave was. ]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/who-is-dave</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bdb4b418318a8f7e12c1b</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 10:12:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_b9a6a0e7a642475f879376c4367a4250~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_729,h_329,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can you support clients without crossing the line?]]></title><description><![CDATA[That’s the shift we’re starting to see.
A move towards giving better client support, with the right structure behind it.
Curious if this is something you’ve been thinking about too?]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/can-you-support-clients-without-crossing-the-line</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2bda17418318a8f7e12949</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_77b78fc0e46b43e28fe7905bd73803ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_617,h_402,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Paper Files to Trusted Data: ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A big part of the work wasn’t just migration, it was reconstruction.
Going through files. Cross-referencing information. Filling in gaps.
At times, it felt more like detective work than data work.
But that’s often what’s required when data has evolved over time without a clear structure.]]></description><link>https://www.russou.co.uk/post/from-paper-files-to-trusted-data-a-crm-transformation-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f1d4d57475e016cb9668a8</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c6c27_69cadc8fe1d746ae8cebb9fdb538c22b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clarice</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>