Here Comes Christmas!

It’s November, so it must mean that Christmas is right on top of us and panic may start to set in. Rather than thinking of this time as a wind down, try looking at it as a chance to get on top, tidy up and ensure that you get hit the ground running in 2016.

This time of year can provide many challenges on our paths to success as Property Managers. As the silly season kicks into full swing, let’s look at some steps that can help you keep cool, calm and in control in this busy season.

·         Stick to your schedule as much as you can and while the temptation may be there to relax a little, now is the time more than ever that you should stick to your ideal week. This will help to streamline your workload and keep in control amongst the chaos.

·         Don’t forget to keep on top of those rent arrears as the excuses start to flow in as to why rent hasn’t been paid. Stick to your arrears procedure to see you through. Don’t forget to keep your Landlord up to date, remembering that this can also be a stressful time of year for some.

·         Keep on top of those repairs and maintenance. Your schedule should allow time each day to follow up on your repairs and maintenance. Ensure that each repair is attended to and your tradespeople are on top of their work.

·         Leasing should be a priority. You can potentially have some very nervous Landlords on your hands if their properties are vacant over the Christmas period. Make sure you are responding promptly to enquiry and leasing those properties fast. Another tip, when you are signing those new leases, try to avoid them ending over the Christmas period, you might like to sign up 13 or 14 month leases so that you don’t have those vacancies over Christmas for the next year.

• Communication is key, especially as most agencies will close down over this break. It is important to communicate your trading hours and payment runs to Landlords and Tenants. This may mean a global comment on your November end of month statement or an email or letter to both Landlords and Tenants, and updates on your phone messaging systems. It is also a great idea to have a team member “on call” for this period to deal with any nasties that may arise.

Stay calm and in control and most of all don’t forget to breathe and enjoy the festive season!

Heidi Walkinshaw

Real+