68 | Summit Property Management general manager Stewart Henry. Summit Property Management PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Summit Property Management has a portfolio that covers Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough, with offices in Nelson, Stoke, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim, and Picton. Its first office was set up in Stoke in 1992. By the time Stewart Henry joined in 1999 they were well established and managing around 100 properties. A number which Stewart spent many years increasing as he established the other offices one after the other in the wake of the sales team. “We’d go into a new city once the sales office was set up,” says Stewart. “I’d start a portfolio from scratch, get it to a decent size, and then employ a property manager, train them up and move on to the next one.” Stewart is now General Manager and is based in Nelson, although he works around all of the offices from time to time. By a decent size, Stewart means at least 80 properties – preferably closer to 100 – to be able to support a good salary for the person managing them. He’s very clear about what sort of person makes a good property manager which requires more than just good administration skills, given that they’re often dealing with stressed people looking for somewhere to live, and that part of the job includes telling people they’re losing their home. “Whether it’s because they’re not able to pay the rent or because the owner’s selling, it’s not often an easy conversation. “They have to be good at calming situations, and have good empathy,” says Stewart. “That’s the key because you’re dealing with so many different situations. They need to be able to listen to people and not be confrontational while at the same time dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” Growth in the various portfolios has been fairly steady since Summit Property Management established their Picton office in 2010, and they’ve recently bought out two other companies in the Nelson and Tasman regions. Growth has also resulted from a noticeable trend over the last two or three years of landlords going to property managers, observes Stewart. “A higher percentage when they buy an investment property are coming to us, and also quite a number of landlords who have been managing themselves approach us when their tenants give notice.” Stewart puts this shift down to the increasing amount of detail landlords have to know, both in terms of Healthy Homes and the Residential Tenancy Act, so that they can be sure both that their properties are compliant, and that they are themselves, in the way that they’re dealing with their tenants. “Accessing the property, doing repairs, and keeping records are all part of the Act as well,” explains Stewart “You have to record every time you repair something or interact with the tenant. Inspections too, most insurance companies now want to see a regular written inspection Virginia Wright report, they’re making it a condition of their insurance.” In a nutshell it’s a lot easier to find yourself in breach of the Tenancy Act these days. Summit’s portfolio now numbers 2150 houses and Stewart manages a staff of 29 including administration. He’s been in Property Management for around 35 years and still loves dealing with property and people, and with the fast pace and variety it involves. Ask him what he’s looking forward to and like most of New Zealand there’s one answer Stewart can give without hesitation, “I’m looking forward to no longer being at the mercy of this Covid situation!” “They have to be good at calming situations, and have good empathy. That’s the key because you’re dealing with so many different situations. They need to be able to listen to people and not be confrontational while at the same time dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” Empathy key for property manager frontline plumbing • Renovations • New Installations • Drain Clearing • Home & Business • Hot Water System Any job, big or small, we can help! Certified plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying. 03 546 5131 / 027 635 6139 contact@flp.co.nz www.flp.co.nz PO Box 1505, Nelson Proud to be the plumber of choice for Summit Property Management
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