PM Collective - The ART of Property Management

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We talk with Joanne Lamont from Cove Property Co about the real work behind launching a new property management business and the mindset shift from employee to owner. We dig into boutique positioning, earning trust without a long brand history, and making smart choices around marketing, outsourcing, and tech. 

• moving from experienced PM to startup founder, including naming hurdles 
• defining “personal service” and setting a realistic portfolio target 
• handling the growth dilemma when more leads arrive than planned 
• wearing multiple hats as a business owner and avoiding burnout roles 
• overcoming the risk objection when the brand is new and reviews are limited 
• lead sources that drive early growth, including referrals and networking 
• building local presence with ads, letterbox drops, and community visibility 
• treating marketing support as a non negotiable investment 
• choosing what to outsource first, including property condition reports 
• picking a property management tech stack and avoiding add on overload 
If it is something you have been thinking of doing and you want to reach out to me or reach out to Joanne, you can reach out to either of us. Feel free to touch base with either of us. 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We unpack how AiME Connect links PropertyMe with AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT so property managers can pull portfolio insights, automate repetitive work, and standardise better workflows. We share real examples from beta testing, from end of month reporting templates to suburb level benchmarking that changes how we talk fees, maintenance, and performance. 

• Kym’s shift from head of property management into systems and technology across the business 
• Training a mixed generation team with shorter sessions and tailored one on one support 
• What AiMe Connect is and why different roles use it in different ways 
• End of month reporting prompts, templates and scheduled tasks that reduce manual steps 
• Using portfolio data to benchmark tenant tenure and maintenance volume by suburb 
• Turning benchmarking into clearer investor conversations and smarter fee decisions 
• Rollout controls using company managed seats plus connector and privacy governance 
• Security realities, LLM training settings and why user permissions change AI results 
• Cleaning up off platform dashboards so more data can be queried inside PropertyMe 
• Lease renewal workflows, tasks and triggers that stop things slipping through cracks 
• Why AI adoption affects recruitment, retention and property manager quality of life 

www.propertyme.com.au

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Jodie Hingst to unpack why property management communities share so openly and how the right conversations can shortcut years of trial and error. We get practical about cash flow, software decisions, and what stays uniquely human as AI takes on more admin work. 

• coffee catch ups as a low-pressure way to build trust and earn referrals 
• why property managers share what works instead of gatekeeping 
• the rescuer mindset and how it shows up at work and at home 
• using peer recommendations to shortcut vendor and platform decisions 
• CRM selection as a major cost decision for small agencies 
• why switching signing tools is easier than switching CRMs 
• cash flow forecasting, buffers, and the reality of building to 50 properties 
• separating wage, profit, and expenses to improve financial literacy 
• the 50-property crossroads: lifestyle business or hiring support 
• VAs, automation, and AI handling admin so owners focus on relationships and inspections 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We talk through what it really takes to lead a multi-generational workplace without stereotyping people or treating every difference as a problem. We share practical ways to manage retention expectations, communication preferences, remote work boundaries, and inclusive team traditions while keeping standards high. 

• why “retention at all costs” can be the wrong target 
• how younger career pathways, travel plans and job moves change leadership expectations 
• misconceptions about tech ability and why older workers can be early adopters 
• why seniority does not automatically equal leadership credibility 
• handling resistance to new processes by asking why and building capability 
• using hybrid communication so outcomes stay consistent across different work styles 
• phone calls vs texts and setting escalation rules that protect client service 
• leveraging generational differences to better serve a multi-generational client base 
• remote work tips around role clarity, delegation and intentional connection 
• making Christmas parties inclusive with optional events and recognition moments 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Most people think “operations” means calendars, checklists, and a few spreadsheets. The truth is messier and more human. This week Marisa Reeves, operations Manager at SOCO Realty & PM Collective is joined by Fowzia from Property Assist Inspections, and we get honest about what it takes to run the day-to-day of a growing inspection business while keeping clients happy and a team supported.

We talk through Fowzia’s path from residential real estate sales and property development into Property Assist operations, and what surprised her most: being trusted to make decisions without layers of approvals. 

From there, we go practical on systems and process. Fowzia explains how Property Assist is structured across in-office staff, on-road inspectors, and an offshore team, and why communication is the make-or-break skill when agencies outsource property inspections. 

If you manage inspections, lead a PM team, or want a clearer picture of what an operations manager actually does, you’ll leave with practical ideas and a better framework for building a calmer, smarter business. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more property managers can find the show.

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We catch up with Brittany Trefort in Perth and get honest about what is actually changing property management right now: capacity, tech, and the way we design work. We unpack offshoring and work-from-home without the guilt, then get practical on PropertyMe task automation and everyday AI that saves hours without killing service. 

• paperless workflows versus old school habits and why both still exist 
• offshoring and outsourcing as a business model choice rather than a moral failing 
• keeping owner communication with the property manager while delegating repeatable admin 
• work-from-home pros and cons including neurodivergent capacity and culture gaps 
• clear sick leave boundaries when work is diverted to the team 
• triennial licensing as career development plus updating compliance and risk systems 
• new build management timelines including PCI support and builder warranty tracking 
• defects captured through routine inspections and automated prep before the 12-month defect inspection 
• automating lawns and gardens support with staged check-ins after move-in 
• head of department ownership of automation with feedback loops from the team 
• AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT for drafts, spreadsheets, and utility splits 
• how solo PMs can start with templates, checklists, and community groups for support 
• using automation to let juniors and admins deliver consistent, confident service 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Chris Mercer to get brutally clear on what real estate agency numbers actually reveal and why benchmarking beats gut feel every time. We dig into rent roll strategy, acquisition reality, and the productivity standards that separate busy teams from profitable ones. 
• Chris’s background and why he focuses on the business of real estate 
• How a standard profit model makes benchmarking fair and actionable 
• What a rent roll should predict about future sales volume 
• Why some agencies manage well but miss listings and market share 
• Profitability vs valuation in property management and how banks are changing the rules 
• Acquisition myths, debt sanity, and why payback often takes longer than planned 
• The scoreboard mindset: numbers reflect actions, not wishes 
• Property management productivity as properties per total staff count 
• Why software alone hasn’t lifted portfolios per head and how utilisation matters 
• Proactive systems that prevent problems and reduce overservicing 
• Scaling to 2000 managements with churn maths and smarter growth timing 

If anyone is interested in finding out more, I use it in my business, I love it. So you can reach out to Chris or you can reach out to me and I’ll put you in touch. www.reapdashboard.com.au or [email protected]

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Are you a property manager — or a business owner and investor? The words you choose shape how landlords, investors, and your market see your property management business, and most of us are underselling ourselves.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why "I'm a property manager" undersells you, and what to say instead
• Job titles that elevate your team ("Senior Property Manager," "Administrative Manager") — and the ones that make us cringe
• How we surveyed our clients after the federal budget, and why nearly 70% of investors weren't concerned despite the doom-and-gloom headlines
• What to say when a landlord is thinking of selling their investment property
• Why "adjusting the rent" beats "dropping the rent" — and other positive language scripts that build trust
• How to turn your own portfolio data into a local benchmarking report the media can't compete with

Whether you run a property management business in Australia or anywhere in the world, this one will change how you introduce yourself at your next networking event.

Guest: Anita Walker from Pearl Property in Western Australia

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with rent roll finance broker Travis Whelan to unpack how rent roll lending actually works and why most real estate agencies waste time going to the wrong bank or the wrong banker. We get honest about what lenders look for, what prep makes you fundable, and how messy books can block your next acquisition even when the rent roll looks healthy. 

• Travis’ background in business banking and rent roll finance 
• how rent roll finance differs from standard mortgage broking 
• why only a handful of lenders truly play in the space 
• what happens when one bank says no and another says yes 
• the mix of micro agencies, bolt-on purchases, and large exits 
• why “paid off in three years” often becomes eight to ten 
• the rise of property managers starting micro businesses for lifestyle and autonomy 
• the sales director dilemma and why some undervalue the rent roll 
• outsourcing as a bridge strategy for small portfolios 
• what documents lenders want: financials, tax returns, valuation reports, statements, personal position 
• why formal pre-approval is hard for buying a rent roll 
• personal expenses in the P&L, EBITDA vs adjusted EBITDA, and what banks will accept 
• how to get sale ready years before you sell 

Travis at www.therentrollfinancebroker.com.au or find The Rent Roll Finance Broker on Instagram or Facebook 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

We unpack the mindset shift that turns an annual investor audit from a scary “what if I get it wrong” idea into a practical service that builds trust and loyalty with landlords. We also get specific about language, time limits, and follow-up systems so property managers can add investment value without crossing into financial advice. 

• delaying implementation because of fear of getting it wrong and how to move past it 
• sending audit invites in waves to manage workload and calm nerves 
• what uptake really looks like across a portfolio and why the invite still matters 
• why savvy interstate investors tend to book more often 
• reframing property managers as investment experts with unique portfolio insight 
• using disclaimers and referrals to avoid giving financial advice 
• prompting better decisions by asking about interest rates, brokers, and insurance reviews 
• balancing efficiency with relationship-building and reading the room 
• options for owners who do not book, including lighter updates and careful wording 
• using lease renewal lead time to educate owners and plan maintenance earlier 
• training teams so knowledge does not get lost through staff changes 
• setting tasks to follow up 12 months later and comparing reports year to year 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Grout Guy. 

The team at The Grout Guy are the leading experts in regrouting, waterproofing, and tiling services nationwide. Property managers find comfort in their 10-year waterproof warranty on all full shower regrouts.

Visit thegroutguy.com.au to rejuvenate your properties tiles and grout now!

This podcast is sponsored by PropertyMe.

Australia's #1 Property Management Software. www.propertyme.com.au