Why Does National Property Managers Day Exist?

Harcourts Head of Property Management Karmen Costigan shares a little of the power of PM

“So it’s 4pm on a Friday afternoon. I’m sitting at my desk staring out the window and already thinking about how far I will go over my calorie limit for the day with whatever wine and chocolate combo I pick up on the way home.

Suddenly my visions of Chardonnay and Lindt are interrupted by my mobile phone blaring, my desk phone buzzing and the receptionist running into my office – of course a hot water system has exploded in a one-bedroom apartment which means boiling hot water ran all over the bedroom floor (yes they are stored in a cupboard in the hallway!).

The floor was parquetry but is now a giant Jenga puzzle because all the individual pieces laid have popped up and will never fit back in again.

My lovely tenant is stressing because her mattress is soaking (which is why bed frames were invented and maybe she should have invested in one)…and no, she doesn’t have contents insurance but is pretty sure she can sue us for beds, pain and suffering, whatever Chat GPT told her to do.

What can I do about it?

I can reassure my lovely tenant that I am doing everything possible (not a good enough answer. Think she was hoping I’d give her a voucher to the Ritz Carlton).

I can call the owner and let them know (but they are in Europe with everyone else I know but myself).

I call the plumber who laughs because he’s on his third beer because it’s 4PM ON A FRIDAY!

I berate myself for the hundredth time that year about not considering my career options more seriously when I was at school.

And that’s just one of a thousand situations that come up every week, for every brave, resilient Harcourts Property Manager, in every state.

The old saying goes ‘walk a mile in my shoes’.

I’m going to say that only someone who has sat in the seat, dealt with the screaming landlords and demanding tenants, while trying to upskill as a negotiator, conflict resolution master, psychologist, crystal ball reader will understand what this really means.

Property managers face the constant challenge of balancing the needs of agencies, owners, and tenants, all while staying on top of evolving legislation and regulations.

So why does National Property Managers Day exist? 

With so much on their plate, we want to pause, acknowledge their efforts, and so we say a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone in our Harcourts PM family for your dedication, genuine care and sense of humour.

We celebrate you!!!”