Toni Sleep has built a rent roll of 190 properties in her first two months as Director of Property Management at Barry Plant South Barwon, after being approached by the agency late last year.
The Geelong-based property manager signed 107 properties in her first 60 days, a pace she attributes to existing client relationships and established processes from previous rent roll builds.
“I didn’t have time to overthink things,” Toni said.
“But because I’d helped open a business before, I knew how to get systems and processes sorted quickly.”
It’s the third time Toni has grown a property management division from zero. Her first was in Highton, where she built a portfolio to 350 properties in just over three years.
She then spent 11 years at another agency, helping grow a rent roll from 600 to 1,400 properties while leading teams and maintaining her own client portfolio.
“I managed a portfolio of properties while also guiding staff,” she said.
“I really wanted both. I wanted to work with people and support staff, not just sit behind a desk.”
The move to Barry Plant came after Toni began looking for a new opportunity to build something from the ground up again.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind,” she said.
“I wanted to grow something from zero and be able to develop my own team.”
Toni said the agency approached her directly – she hadn’t known they were recruiting.
“As soon as I walked into the office, I thought, ‘This is exactly what I was after,'” she said.
Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell said Toni’s results reflect her standing in the local market.
“Building a rent roll from scratch to 190 properties in such a short period is a testament to her work ethic, strong standing in the community and unwavering client focus,” Lisa said.
Toni’s approach centres on same-day communication and transparency – qualities she says clients consistently value.
“People will say, ‘You get back to me quickly, you’re honest, you’re upfront,'” she said.
“And that’s what I’ll always strive for, even if it means an extra hour or two.”
Many of her clients have followed her across multiple agencies throughout her 16-year career.
“I’ve had a lot of my clients since the start of my career,” she said.
“I’ve seen them go through personal changes and their kids grow up. It’s those relationships I really love.”
The team has recently expanded with two new hires – a property manager and an assistant, both former colleagues – and Toni is targeting more than 250 properties by the end of 2026.
“I want our growth to come from real relationships and great service, not just chasing numbers,” she said.