We are very excited to introduce our new Property Manager, Sarah Robinson, to you. Sarah joined the Sure Team in January from another local estate agent. Having worked in property and the local area for many years she certainly knows her stuff! Sarah has already become a valued member of staff, not just with us, but with our tenants and landlords too. Being such an integral role in taking care of our tenants, landlords and managed properties, we thought it only fair to introduce her via the blog too:
- What made you decide to choose a career in property?
I have always had an interest in property and watched many television programs about property renovation and houses being sold, and then I had the opportunity to work as a Saturday Sales Negotiator 22 years ago and loved it.
- How long have you worked as a Property Manager and what aspects of the job do you enjoy the most?
I have worked as a property manager now for 6 years in rental and enjoy meeting landlords and tenants and resolving any issues that come up for them.
- What do you feel are the top three benefits of having your property managed by a professional?
The main benefit is having someone at the end of the phone that you report any issues or worries to and know that they will help you as they have the experience. Also, with all the housing legislation changes, you need to have someone manage your property that is going to keep you, as a landlord, up to date with any changes, and advise you on the implementation of any of those changes. And, of course, having your property managed for you, as a landlord, means that you don’t need to be involved with tenants directly; you’re not going to receive calls from your tenant regarding any maintenance issues, so you can sit back and relax!
- What advice would you give to tenants, keen to ensure they secure all of their deposit back at the end of their tenancy? And, is it realistic to expect all of your deposit back?
I would say it is possible sometimes to get full deposits back, if the property is given back in a reasonable condition and cleaned to a good standard, as per the original condition at the Inventory stage. But, we always take into account fair wear and tear also.
- Of course, you can’t physically be in the office to manage your properties 24/7, so what happens when the Sure office is closed?
We have an answering machine where any emergencies are picked up by our team, and contractors, so there is always someone to hand to help our tenants.
- And, finally, tell us a little about what you like to do when you’re not handling property maintenance and deposit dilapidations.
I love to travel so spend a lot of time researching different countries and landmarks, I would like to visit and plan the trips myself.
Thank you for your time on the blog, Sarah, it’s clear you have significant experience in managing properties, but also much experience of the property industry and what landlords need to do to be compliant. We are thrilled to have Sarah managing our properties and looking after our landlords.
If you’re a landlord or imminently about to become one, and would like further information on how we can assist you in managing your property and tenant(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01452 31099, email us at gloucester@surepropertygroup.com or call into our offices for free advice on raising a family in Gloucester.
Best wishes,
Tom Smith
Director