Over 1,000 Registered Landlords Achieved

Kitamura Corporation (Headquarters: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Masayoshi Kitamura) announces that its craftsman matching business has surpassed 1,000 registered landlords (property owners). Together with a network of 350 registered craftsmen and workers nationwide, this nationwide network connecting property owners and on-site professionals enters a new phase. This business addresses two societal issues simultaneously: the aging of vacant and rental homes and the shortage of craftsmen, by offering a unique pricing structure—completely free for landlords and a flat monthly fee for craftsmen (unlimited transactions)—along with review-based evaluations and upfront pricing.

■ Background: "Troubles" for Landlords and Craftsmen Alike

There are approximately 9 million vacant homes nationwide, and the number of construction workers has decreased by about 30% from its peak in 1997. Many landlords struggle to find "reliable craftsmen," while craftsmen face structural challenges such as "difficulty finding stable, direct work" and "low take-home pay due to intermediate margins." The fragmentation of the industry has kept these two groups, who could otherwise help each other, apart.

■ Three Features of the Service

1. Completely Free for Landlords, Flat Monthly Fee for Craftsmen (Unlimited Transactions)

Landlords can use all features completely free of charge. Craftsmen and workers pay a flat monthly fee of 8,800 yen (tax included), with no upper limit on transactions and no intermediate margins charged per transaction (a campaign rate of 2,980 yen (tax included) is currently in effect). This fair pricing design ensures that craftsmen's take-home pay is not reduced, and landlords' costs do not accumulate with repeated orders.

2. Select "Skilled Craftsmen" Based on Review Ratings

User reviews and ratings are visualized, allowing landlords to select and request highly-rated craftsmen. This transparent selection process, based on track record and user feedback, provides peace of mind even for first-time requests.

3. Prevent Troubles with Upfront Pricing

Prices for some standard services, such as wallpaper replacement, are provided upfront. This design minimizes disputes like "it was more expensive than I thought" or "he said/she said," and the assurance of knowing costs before ordering leads to repeat business.

■ Representative's Comment - As a Landlord Myself

"As a landlord myself, I have been troubled by the inconveniences of this industry for many years. It's difficult to find reliable craftsmen, market prices are unclear, and anxiety remains with every request—the answer I arrived at after thoroughly pursuing 'what service I truly wanted' is this business. Completely free for landlords, flat monthly fee for craftsmen—this inconvenient design of not charging a fee per transaction is exactly what I, as a landlord, wished for. The number 1,000 is not a goal, but rather the weight of responsibility towards landlords nationwide who face the same troubles."

(Representative Director, Masayoshi Kitamura)

■ Inquiries Regarding This Release

Contact: Masayoshi Kitamura (Representative Director) / TEL: 080-9668-4486 / E-mail: m.kitamura@kitamuracorp.com

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