Adding a Property

Overview

Properties in BlueClerk represent physical locations where work is performed - homes, businesses, or buildings in a subdivision. Every ticket, job, and invoice is tied to a property, creating a complete work history that stays with the location.

Why Properties Matter

The property is the anchor of BlueClerk's work history feature. When you add a property:

• All work performed there is recorded permanently
• Future contractors can see what's been done (with appropriate permissions)
• Homeowners can track all maintenance on their home
• You can quickly reference past work when returning to a location

Step-by-Step Instructions

Adding a Property

1. Go to Properties in the main navigation
2. Click "Add Property" or the + button
3. Enter the address - Street, city, state, and zip code
4. BlueClerk geocodes automatically - Converts address to coordinates (lat/lng) for map display
5. Add additional details (optional):
   • Property type (Single Family, Multi-Family, Commercial)
   • Square footage
   • Year built
   • Number of bedrooms/bathrooms
6. Assign to a customer if this property belongs to an existing customer
7. Click "Save"

Address Verification for Imported Properties

When you import customers from QuickBooks or Xero, properties with missing coordinates (lat/lng) are flagged as unverified. A yellow banner appears on the properties page showing how many addresses need review.

Reviewing Unverified Addresses

1. Look for the yellow banner on the Properties page showing unverified count
2. Click "Review" to open the verification flow
3. For each property:
   • See the original address from your accounting software
   • View Google's geocoded suggestion with map preview
   • Accept - Save Google's coordinates and mark verified
   • Edit - Manually adjust the address using Google Places autocomplete
   • Skip - Move to next property without changes
4. Track progress - See how many properties you've reviewed vs. total
5. Complete verification - When finished, you're redirected back to Properties

How Verification Works

BlueClerk automatically:

• Geocodes each address via Google Maps API with rate limiting (200ms between calls)
• Saves coordinates (lat/lng) and placeId when you accept
• Updates the property address if you edit and confirm
• Skips properties you don't want to verify now

Benefits of Verified Addresses

• Accurate map pins - Properties display correctly on schedule map view
• Route optimization - Better job routing based on true locations
• Duplicate prevention - placeId helps identify the same property with different address formats
• Professional appearance - Clean, consistent addresses in invoices and reports

Tips

• Use exact addresses - Accurate addresses ensure proper geocoding and map display
• Verify imported addresses - Always review the verification banner after importing from accounting software
• Edit if needed - Google's suggestion isn't always perfect - use the edit option if the address looks wrong
• Properties persist - Even if a customer moves or you stop working with them, the property and its work history remain
• One property, many jobs - A single property can have hundreds of jobs over the years from different contractors

Questions

Q: What if Google can't find my address? A: Use the Edit option in the verification flow and start typing - Google Places autocomplete will suggest addresses as you type. If it's a very new property, you may need to enter coordinates manually or wait for Google to update their database.

Q: Can I skip verification and do it later? A: Yes - click Skip on individual properties or close the verification page. The yellow banner will remain on the Properties page until all addresses are verified.

Q: What happens to skipped properties? A: They remain in the unverified list and will appear next time you click Review. You can verify them anytime.

Q: Why do imported properties need verification? A: QuickBooks and Xero store addresses as text fields without coordinates. BlueClerk needs lat/lng to show properties on maps and enable location-based features.

Q: Will this affect my existing properties? A: No - only properties imported from accounting software without coordinates are flagged for verification. Properties you've added manually in BlueClerk already have coordinates.