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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 Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

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 Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

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 Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

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 Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

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 Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Sara Press to talk about what property management leadership looks like when you stay hands-on and still protect your team’s time, energy, and judgement. We dig into escalations, client psychology, and the shift from being a manager to being a leader as portfolios grow and legislation changes. 

• Sarah’s background in property management and her hands-on Head of Department role 
• How escalations start, how we triage them, and how we stop issues looping for weeks 
• Coaching property managers to bring facts, options, and documentation before we step in 
• Using legislation and clear record keeping to reduce risk and strengthen outcomes 
• Portfolio size, support layers, and how assistants smooth workload spikes 
• Handling owners who bypass the property manager and call the department head 
• Head of Department versus Operations Manager responsibilities and how they work together 
• Team capacity, culture, and why accessible “random leadership” beats formal one-on-ones 
• Personal boundaries that help leaders recover and switch off after work 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

Send us Fan Mail

We pressure test cold calling with Kenslee from Platinum and land on a simple truth: it works when the list is clean, the script is tight, and the follow-up system runs in the background. We share real numbers from a 1,000-dial month, plus how we balance cold outreach with retention, referrals, and mindset so growth actually sticks. 

• why cold calling still belongs in a property management BDM toolkit 
• building a qualified landlord call list using RP Data and ID4me 
• handling “Where did you get my number from?” without losing confidence 
• using offshore VAs for data scraping, admin support, and follow-up tasks 
• defining a lead as “yes, send me info” and logging everything into a CRM nurture campaign 
• what 950 to 1,000 calls can produce in leads and new managements 
• realistic ramp-up timelines for new BDMs and new territories 
• relationship manager vs BDM and when an SDR or appointment setter makes sense 
• calling existing clients, investor audits, and why phone beats long emails 
• churn rate as the hidden metric that decides whether growth matters 

If you are thinking that you wanna do cold calling and maybe your numbers aren't there and you need to do something- then reach out to Kenslee, who can help you with how she developed her script

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Tania to trace her 30-year path through real estate, a surprising detour into catering, and the service mindset that makes people remember your name years later. We also get practical about offshore virtual assistants, AI-era communication, and how property managers can reclaim time to do the high-trust work that actually grows portfolios. 

• Tania’s career journey from receptionist to senior property management 
• Leaving the industry for family, returning with clearer strengths and boundaries 
• Building a catering business and the transferable skills of planning, pressure and client service 
• “Delivering an experience” as the real differentiator in property management 
• Listening more, slowing down, using a filter and respecting what matters to the client 
• Offshore virtual assistants as capacity builders rather than replacements 
• Cybersecurity and process benefits of office-based offshore teams 
• Delegation, trust and the 90% done versus perfection mindset 
• Why leasing may become a higher-value senior role as automation grows 
• AI, tribunals and handling long emotional emails with short factual replies 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

Send us Fan Mail

We talk about why the end-of-year rush drains teams and how connection helps us stay steady when pressure climbs. We share research, planning tips for property management, and simple traditions that keep morale high without adding more stress.

• Why end-of-year workload and Christmas pressure hit morale so fast
• Australian engagement and mental health stats that make connection a business issue
• Planning inspections, vacancies, and move-outs to reduce December chaos
• Keeping office energy calm so stress does not spread
• Low-budget ways to build belonging through food, games, and shared laughs
• Recognition and psychological safety as practical productivity tools
• Weekly habits that lift spirits and carry culture into January

Take care of yourselves, take care of your work colleagues and have a wonderful Christmas.

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management

Send us Fan Mail

We turn a simple coffee catch-up into a blunt, practical talk on why workplace culture rises or falls on leadership behaviour, not perks or policies. Alan Mpora shares how alignment, self-reflection, and human connection become even more important as AI reshapes the work we do. 

• leadership advisory explained as culture transformation led from the top 
• why most businesses seek help only after resignations and HR drama 
• skill versus will as the fastest way to diagnose performance issues 
• recruiting for values alignment with mission, vision, and purpose 
• why Friday pizzas and “benefits” cannot cover up bad leadership 
• AI making soft skills and real human connection more valuable 
• real estate and property management shifting from transactional work to client leadership 
• psychological safety as taking someone’s concerns seriously even if you disagree 
• informal one-to-one time and open-door leadership versus textbook meetings 
• budgeting emotional support time and linking culture to retention and P&L 
• forgiveness, purpose, and learning from life changes without living in regret 
they can find me on our website, www.mporaconsulting.com, or you can find me on LinkedIn, Alan Mpora

Allan Mpora – Business Consultancy

This podcast is kindly sponsored by The Associates Co. 

The Associates Co provides fully trained professionals to assist you with scaling your property management department. They are ready to hit the ground running! Once a luxury, VA's are now a staple in every business, whether you are managing 5 properties or 500+

Head over to www.theassociatesco.com

This podcast is sponsored by Property Insurance Plus.

The PIP Advantage for Landlord Insurance

Up to $70,000 contents cover included in our landlords policies

14 months cover for just 12 months premium  in your first year

Further discounts when you have three or more properties insured through PIP

24/7 Australia-wide claims service

Online Real Estate Agent Portal for easy access and management