Property Management a high turn over industry?

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by kimba88, 16th May, 2016.

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  1. kimba88

    kimba88 Well-Known Member

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    So, just wondering if property managers usually chop and change throughout the industry?

    Since signing up with my PM team in October 2013, i have gone through 5 property managers! Is this normal? I previously had a good one, but found out today that she left 3-4 weeks ago. Only once did i receive a phone call stating that someone would be my new PM due to the other person leaving. Other than that, I've only found out when i had to make a call about an issue myself. Previously i had a Senior PM looking after my property.. now by the looks of it, i have a fairly inexperienced PM compared to my last one.

    On a separate note, today i also found a nice little bill for a leak that was fixed in February on my property, but i was not notified. 2 weeks prior to that leak being fixed in February, a different leak was fixed. To me, it seems suss. I do have my doubts about a lot of tradies. I feel that they may have created their own work on this one.. and i also wonder why my ex PM did not notify me like she notified me about the first one.

    So, how may PM's have you gone through within the same company? And does your PM let you know about every little repair that needs to be done?

    I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but my property is located in Western Sydney. Not sure if PM's chop and change more around there??
     
  2. Property Twins

    Property Twins Mortgage Brokers & Buyers Agents Business Member

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    We have had pretty good PMs in Western Sydney.

    Have been through 4 over the last 5/6 years (same agency).

    2 were there for majority of the time, 1 for a couple of months - we weren't happy as she wanted to issue a vacancy notice on drop of a hat.

    The one we currently have is a senior PM.

    She is excellent - keeps us in the loop and runs past us any work required.
     
  3. Connor

    Connor Well-Known Member

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    I actually just got off the phone from blasting my new PM. I had a $600 bill turn up today for a repair that I didn't even know about.... and when i was informed about it I ended up sending my own plumber to fix (unaware that the PM had already spent $600 and not fixed anything)

    I was lucky enough to have an excellent PM for over 10 years, which is a huge time in that particular role with the same company. Prior to that it was a case of regular turnover of Pm's.

    Since he left about a year ago, i'm back to the same issues I had previously. The main one lack is of communication. Tenant selection i'm back to doing myself as both PM's I'm trialing atm and they really haven't built that trust with me yet.

    In regards to Pm's and tradies. Expect astronomical charges from them as I know many tradies that jack up their $$ as soon as a PM calls them out. You need to keep an eye on repairs as many milk it (and some rogue PM's even get kickbacks)
     
  4. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Absolutely a high turnover industry. It's a lot of work and it's low paid, so staff either move to other industries or get poached by higher paying agencies.

    To try and break this cycle, I plan to pay my staff above average wages plus performance bonuses on top. Happy staff = happy life = happy clients = happy owner.
     
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  5. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    Is def high turnover but good businesses keep staff.

    I have one that has a new person each time I have to ring and can't get answers to much, money comes reliably, inspections have still been done, but I will be changing at some stage as it indicates they do not run the business well.
     
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  6. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    It is notoriously a high turnover industry and property manager burnout is a big factor.
    More money does not help, the problem is beyond that.

    We can work with very high pressure and can turn any situation around, nothing is beyond us, however we cannot work with unreasonable tenants and unreasonable landlords - this is what causes the burnout which is emotional not physical.

    Landlords refusing a tenant application because the tenants work in retail and she once knew people in retail who had parties all night and disturbed the neighbours so she does not want people with a retail job in her house - unreasonable - yes this happened.

    Tenants ringing our emergency number at 11pm on a Sunday to tell us that whoever did the routine inspections forgot to close the curtains in a lounge room in a top floor apartment - not the windows or doors, the curtains!

    Getting rid of unreasonable people from the business is a major key to having long lasting staff and focusing on the people we can make a difference for.

    If I detect that they are there to whinge, invalidate and will never ever be happy with anything they are out. I would rather focus my energy on my good clients.

    Emotional resilience training is also a key and my staff have the right in house trainer - me ;)
     
  7. turk

    turk Well-Known Member

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    I first met the PM that is looking after most of our properties 30 plus years ago when she left school and started at a local agency, when she leaves an agency I move with her.

    She won PM of the year 2-3 years ago.
     
    Last edited: 16th May, 2016
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  8. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Most of the PMs I know have been in their current businesses for several years - not franchise models, not residential and not 'churn & burn'. It may just be that working with clients who hold the same values as the agency may have something to do with it.
     
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  9. Biz

    Biz Well-Known Member

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    I can hardly think of a worse job than being a pm. It would be a really hard emotionally draining way to make a living.
     
  10. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    Hey I agree @Biz. They cop it from all angles: landlord, tenant, trades people, their own bosses, the public when an application is rejected for being a bogan.

    I might just ring my PM tomorrow and give him a blast just for the heck of it lol See if I can tip him over the edge lol.
     
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  11. Biz

    Biz Well-Known Member

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    I like your style mate, :D I might get on some random abuse tomorrow too.
     
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  12. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    They would be used to it ;)
     
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  13. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I need a new nappy now.....funny *******o....
     
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  14. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Or send them a present? :p
     
  15. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    Handling a neighbour complaint right now.
    she does not want to see our tenants "dirty laundry" hanging on the line (I think she means washing but she called it dirty laundry).
    It's a 6 foot fence on her side so the only way she can see it is if she purposely looks over.

    somehow that has become a PM problem
     
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  16. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    Prozac?
     
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  17. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Wouldn't give it time of day xenia, its worth more than that
     
  18. Biz

    Biz Well-Known Member

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    Hang up some leather bondage gear and a dirty big black rubber dildo, let the silly ***** look at that. Honestly, some people.
     
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  19. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    Your job is so easy!

    "Yes, Mrs Busybody, I'll speak to them tomorrow and sort it out".
     
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  20. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    Hi, just let me put you through now........

    Transfer to KFC or Dominos or whomever will listen :)
     
    Xenia likes this.

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