Elizabeth Newman may have only been in the property management industry for 10 months, but the Best Nest Property Management agent couldn’t be happier with her role. Here, Elizabeth explains what she loves about the industry, her goals for the next year and the key piece of advice from a trusted colleague that has stood her in good stead.
What was your first job and what did it teach you?
While I’d love to say that my first job was in real estate, sadly my first job was far from interesting. As soon as I was 16 and 9 months, I applied for a job at Bunnings.
On my first day, I asked my supervisor how long it took her to get to her position as I was eager to work my way up the ladder from registers to the service desk (customer service of course!).
During my three years there, I experienced all forms of customers, and it taught me to smile and be kind no matter what gets thrown at me.
How many years have you been in the industry?
I have been in the real estate industry for 10 months now, and I love every minute!
That being said, I have been in customer service positions for the past 10 years in other industries, such as hospitality and childcare.
What’s a special place in your area, and what do you love about it?
For those who live in the Hawkesbury, you’ll know there’s no one special place.
One of the things I love the most about my job is driving to property inspections, especially if they’re in the mountains. I love the winding roads, the beautiful scenery, and the local shops you see along the way.
It’s just such a nice break between the chaos of the office and the hype of an inspection.
What’s your most memorable rental property and why?
My most memorable rental property was the first one I got to put a “leased” sticker on.
To this day, I still get the same feeling when I get to put another leased sticker on a sign because it means I’ve helped a landlord find a suitable tenant and I’ve helped match a tenant to their new home.
What key goals are you focusing on this year?
As I am new to the industry, I have a few goals that I would like to work on slowly during this time.
This includes personal development, such as finding an efficient workflow, communication consistency with tenants and landlords, and a balanced work and personal life (I’ve always been a workaholic!).
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
Coming from an “outsider” who is new to the industry, it’s a shame to hear and see some of the preconceived ideas and stereotypes about agents.
You hear about potential tenants enquiring about multiple properties but only hearing back from a couple of agents.
I know this is because they’re swamped with work, and they don’t always have the support to lessen their workload.
So in a perfect world, property managers would have a manageable workload with a great support team, allowing them to give customers the best service and change these stereotypes.
I know this can be difficult to achieve, but it’s not impossible.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, and who gave it to you?
I remember asking my colleague, Michelle, how she handles her workload and what she does if she can’t get everything done.
Her reply was simple – “If no one’s going to die from it not getting done today, it can wait until tomorrow”.
It’s a good reminder that some things can wait and that you don’t have to be reactive to every task that pops up in your inbox.
