Discover how this multi-branch agency has used Alto to transform operations, including mastering real-time insights, cutting admin and saving hundreds of hours every week.
After 200 years in business, Cheffins knows all about the ups and downs of running an estate agency.
But the past two years – marked by rental reform uncertainty, mounting compliance pressure and market volatility – have pushed even their resilience to the limit.
For Sarah Bush, Director, Cheffins, day-to-day operations became increasingly difficult to manage. Reporting was clunky and time-consuming, visibility across branches was patchy and compliance checks meant endless manual audits and second-guessing.
The lettings team, in particular, was weighed down by fragmented data and slow, unreliable reports – making it hard to track income, spot trends or plan ahead with confidence.
“Trying to run five offices without clear data was a nightmare,” says Sarah.
“We were spending hours chasing numbers, checking certificates and manually pulling reports that didn’t always add up. It was draining time and energy from the things that actually move the business forward.”
Cracks in the system
Then Cheffins, a Cambridgeshire-based agency that handles residential sales and lettings as well as commercial and rural properties, discovered Alto.
As the UK’s most popular CRM for estate agents, Alto has helped Cheffins regain control, improve compliance and lead with confidence across each of its five branches. From sales and lettings to property management and accounts, Alto brings everything together in one powerful, easy-to-use platform that’s trusted by more than 6,000 multi-branch and independent agents.
With integration in just four weeks (that’s three times faster than other CRMs), the typical Alto agency saves more than 10 hours a week per user, with tenancy processing time cut by more than 65%. For the team at Cheffins, the impact of Alto was immediate.
“When you run a multi-branch agency, time is precious,” says Sarah.
“Alto gave us the tools to see what’s going on across the business – without chasing spreadsheets or second-guessing the data.
“It’s saved us hours every week and given us the clarity we need to make faster, more confident decisions. I don’t have to go digging for answers, it’s all there in one place.”
A solid foundation
One of the biggest game-changers for Cheffins has been Alto’s real-time data and reporting tools. From one central platform, the Cheffins team can track leads, progress sales and lettings, manage compliance and handle client accounting – without bouncing between systems or chasing reports.
Instant reporting and sales progression tools make it easy to track performance across branches. But it’s in lettings where the difference has perhaps been most dramatic.
Automated comms, landlord payments and detailed lettings reports have freed up time across the team. Previously, even basic income reporting was slow and frustrating – scattered across systems and reliant on manual checks.
Now, Alto gives the lettings team real-time visibility, accurate to the penny, with exportable data and pre-populated views that support faster forecasting and smarter decision-making. These tools have improved efficiency and improved lettings strategy, with more confident input at leadership level.
Christina Harris, Lettings Director, says: “We were spending too long pulling data together, and even then we couldn’t be sure the numbers matched up.
“It was slow, frustrating and inefficient. Now, the report marries up to the penny with our accountant’s figures. Our annual goals and monthly reviews are clearer, and I can represent lettings with much more confidence and accuracy in our meetings.”
Built to work the way agents do
As the leading CRM for larger agents, Alto doesn’t just centralise data – it connects seamlessly with the tools agents already use every day. From maintenance to inspections and compliance, a range of plug-and-play integrations are included.
With tools like Fixflo for maintenance, Inventory Base for inspections, and SmartSearch for AML checks, Alto makes it easy to stay compliant and in control – without switching between systems.
It’s everything a multi-branch agency like Cheffins needs to stay in control.
Sarah says: “Since joining Alto we spend far less time on admin and much more time where it counts: supporting clients and growing the business.
“Reporting used to be one of my biggest frustrations. We’d waste hours manually auditing each office, and even then, I couldn’t fully trust the data. Now, I can spot trends, make faster decisions, and have more meaningful conversations with my team about performance.
“Every business owner wants to know how their staff are doing. With Alto, each office can see how the others are performing and if one’s behind on sales, it sparks a bit of healthy competition. It’s made a real difference.”
Less admin, more wins
The shift away from manual admin, and the time savings this brings, is felt across the entire business, not just at management level. With every Alto user estimated to save over 10 hours a week, the total time gained at a multi-branch agency like Cheffins quickly adds up to hundreds of hours.
At Cheffins, staff in every branch benefit from simpler, more streamlined processes – from managing viewings to chasing feedback – giving them more time to focus on delivering a great client experience.
Sarah says: “Alto gives us all the day-to-day balance so we can actually get on with what we do best.
“The to-do list prompts are brilliant. The colour-coded diaries, viewing setup, feedback tracking – it’s all easy to use.
“The fact that you only have to enter an applicant, property or solicitor once makes a massive difference. It cuts out so much duplication and reduces errors.”
Everything under one roof
Unlike other platforms, Alto goes the extra mile to include agents in product development. Through a customer advisory board, Alto gives agency leaders a direct role in shaping the platform’s future. It’s one of the reasons Alto promises to be the last CRM you’ll ever need – and for the team at Cheffins, having direct input has been invaluable.
“At Alto, it’s not just tech teams sitting behind a screen guessing what estate agents need,” says Sarah.
“We meet in person every few months with other agencies, and Alto genuinely listens. They want to know what’s working, what’s not and what we need next. It’s rare to have that kind of influence – it’s one of the reasons we’ve stuck with them.”
With compliance demands rising and AI reshaping how agencies work, having the right CRM in place has never been more critical. At Cheffins, Alto isn’t just supporting day-to-day operations – it’s building a future-proof solution for what comes next.
Sarah adds: “Whatever the industry throws at us next, I know Alto will be part of how we deal with it.
“They’re not just a supplier, they’re a partner. And in times like these, that matters more than ever.”
Wondering if Alto should be your next move? Book your free, no-obligation demo now.
