It’s a dynamic and fast paced environment, where you are dealing with a wide range of people on a daily basis. You also need to have a thick skin, understand complex legal issues, and work closely with clients to understand their needs and requirements. Every development is different, and every lease is different, so you have to be an agile and quick thinker on top of having the skills to do the day to day job.
To be a successful block management professional needs a variety of skills. You need to have excellent people skills, be a great listener, have strong negotiation skills as well as effective mediators and must be supremely organised. It’s not for the faint hearted.
No day is ever the same! The role is extremely varied, as we get to complete such a wide range of tasks. Obviously, some are more interesting than others, but the combination of the variety makes for an interesting and stimulating job.
You need to be a people person as much of the day is taken up with talking about the resident’s home. Their home is their castle, and it can take time to investigate an issue, trace a leak, or deal with a noise complaint. It can be frustrating for residents and clients when things are not dealt with quickly, but communication is key and updating residents is the number one priority in this line of work.
It’s not a desk-based job, it’s very varied and working with contractors is always great fun, and we’re still constantly learning. There are always new ways to investigate an issue, or a new piece of technology that can save time. We can learn something new every single day.
On the days when it’s back to back appointments it can be exhausting to get the balance right, and we’ve noticed that since the pandemic the business dynamic has shifted and we now get even more emails, so finding the time to respond in a timely manner can sometimes be a challenge. But we are always working hard to get that balance right, and as always, understand the clients needs.
On an average day the typical tasks a property manager performs will range from emails and telephone calls, to conducting inspections at properties and ensuring compliance across the portfolio. We work on major works projects and emergencies, as well as appointments with contractors, owners and tenants. We always plan as much as possible, and we plan for the unexpected, but sometimes a storm that causes roof damage or a burst drain, or a flooded bathroom can’t be predicted, it’s just the nature of our business.
Block Managers also must undertake formal training to attain the relevant qualifications, but our role within the industry is generally misunderstood. As Block Managers we guide and advise clients based on the terms of the lease and industry regulation. However, it is important to note that the terms of the lease is King and should be fully understood by the property owner at the time of purchase.
Ultimately, we are there to make life easier for the owner, to do all the work in the background. It’s like being the silent and invisible “fixer.” Despite being professionally qualified via the Institute of Residential Property Management and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, we are always learning on the job and that’s part of the fun and the stimulation. We really do live a culture of continuous improvement.
If you like the sound of the way we work at Fraser Allen and you’d like your property to be in safe hands, then please call 01242 399150 or email us on [email protected] and let’s see how we can support you.
