¶ Introduction and Podcast Format
Today we have a new guest joining us and that is Nadia . Nadia , welcome . Thank you , hi , ash . How are you ? I'm good , I'm good . So Nadia is a . Are you in BDM or property manager ? I'm both , Both Fantastic , and it's your first podcast . Yes , it is so .
In the one the week before , we were just talking about how there's two different people in the world , and there's the guests that like the planning and the questions and those that aren't too worried . You are the first option . We like questions . Yes , I do .
I do like planning . I do want to know what we're going to talk about .
And so I have sent you some questions . But what I find generally is when I send the questions , I sometimes forget to sort of talk about them , because we talk about other stuff , which you'll be absolutely fine . But is this your first podcast ? Yes , first ever , great , excellent . So I'm a very gentle host , I promise you .
But what I wanted to say just before was that the people that listen to the podcast really love just listening to other people's stories , because there are so many different stories out there that we all resonate with .
So we've had guests that have been , you know , people that have just started up their own businesses , people that are established like there's just so many different types of people in the world , and so some people are listening and going oh , that sounds just like me , and they just really enjoy the story .
It's like they like just being a fly on the wall listening to a conversation . Maybe they're out doing inspections and they just may . They work on their own and they don't really have other property managers to work with and they just love hearing that .
So that's really the purpose of the podcast and that's why they're quite relaxed and more yeah , just more that relaxed conversation , fly on the wall type episode . So I met you at the BDM Wine and Cheese Night we had and there was a couple of things that stood out for me , for you , and that was that you came on your own , which I love .
I love that , and you were really embracing the evening and really sort of putting yourself out there , which I think there are so many property managers who never take that first step . They never . They want to come with a lot of people , want to go with friends .
You know I always say that Coffee and Conversations you can just come on your own , like you don't need to come to the events with a buddy , like they are a safe place . So that was probably one of the things that I loved about you doing that . And then , you know , did a reel and you did some socials , which we're going to talk about today as well .
But before we get started , I would love to find out , because I actually don't know this and I would love to find out a little bit more about you and what you've been doing now , but what you were doing before as well .
Yeah , sure . So I moved to Australia in 2016 . Before that , I was living in Dubai and then I met my husband in Phuket and then we moved to Darwin . So when I came to Australia , I thought , what am I going to do ? I actually was thinking , no , I'm not going to work , he's getting money , that will be enough .
But then one month later I'm in real estate . Yeah , so in Dubai , what property managers do or any real estate agent there they just rent it out and forget about it . They never follow up , they never take care of the property . So they don't really have that sort of property management taking care of things . They just get their commission and go .
And when I came here to Australia , I thought , like well , that's different . Here , people really like to invest in the property and they want someone to take care of the property . So I thought , okay , I will start from property management , because I don't have any
¶ Nadia's Journey from Dubai to Australia
sales experience . I'm an investor myself , but I never sell . So I thought , okay , that's the beginning and I study . It took me two weeks because it was a very short course if you do it in the class and I've done it . And , yeah , I started to work .
I was working for a family business , a boutique agency , and then I just slowly moved to Strata as well . So I was touching both property management and Strata and 2019 , we moved to Perth and I was doing a remote job . Every time we need to do meetings for Strata , I was flying to Darwin . So , yeah , that was the goal .
Yeah , I had a little one in 2018 , but I was working with him in the office since he was three months . Yeah , so I had a very good licensee at that time and he's like , yeah , just bring him in and people enjoy what I was showing . Home opens , I was showing with the baby on my hands . Everyone is like , oh , so cute .
So , yeah , people like , really , yeah , appreciate it , appreciated I don't know , it was good , good vibe .
Yeah , people find I remember when my um , when my little one was a baby and I would have her just in the baby born and if I had an appointment or a new management I would just make sure that I timed it where I had just fed her , then I would just put like um , put her in the baby born but put like a blanket sort of over her as well , so that she
wasn't sort of you know , I guess I was just sort of judging it . I remember there was rumours going around our area how about how unprofessional I was for taking a baby , you know , out to the appointments . And I had the same response no one was bothered , everyone loved it , it didn't interfere with what I was doing .
And then as she got older , I would put her in a bouncer , actually at our window display at the office , so she would be out looking at outside all day . People would come past and you know they just saw this baby in the window while they're looking at window cards . People actually don't really mind .
And this is a real big topic that we have just been talking about in previous episodes , about the personal human factor and becoming not necessarily friends with your clients but your clients knowing that you've got children at home and you are a human first and people are pretty good with all of that these days I don't think it's a big concern .
Yeah , I totally agree , yeah .
I would love to find out a little bit more about Dubai real estate . So when you say that they sort of lease out the property , are you suggesting that they does the tenant handle all the maintenance and stuff ? Is that why there's not much contact ?
Well , even now , like I'm renting my property there and whatever he wants me to do something for him , I just arrange it , or he arrange it , he pay himself , and then I just transfer him the money .
Oh the tenant you mean yeah , yeah . And is that quite a normal setup .
Well , I think it's more normal when you have someone there or you leave yourself in Dubai , but my mom is still there , so she told me that she did meet one woman who is actually property manager . Yeah , she told me that she did meet one woman who is actually a property manager .
Yeah , and I think right now it's more coming of become more often that someone is hiring a property manager .
Yeah , because Dubai is very quick , quick , quick , quick and people are losing the job , trashing the place , moving out , leaving the furniture there , like all sorts of things , and , yeah , owner needs to deal with it , and then when owner lives somewhere in US , for example , or UK , they have to fly in or something .
But right now I think people realize that having a property manager , it's better for investment .
Okay , how do you love living in Perth in comparison to Dubai ?
I was single at that time . It was different life . Yeah , I love it here . So for me , perth is well , I'm getting used to it . I'm networking right now because nobody knows me In Darwin , like I knew a lot of people .
I actually were walking in Perth and I see a woman walking to me and she's smiling and I'm like I don't know you , I don't know you , I don't remember you . And she's like Hi , nadia . I'm like hello , I was
¶ Family-Friendly Work Environments in Real Estate
renting out apartment . You were manager in Darwin . I'm like oh , hi , how are you ?
That's like my worst nightmare . Whenever I see a tenant on the street or someone says , oh , you guys , you know we're one of your tenants , I'm like , oh , is it good or bad ? You know I always cringe yeah , that was good , that was good I have a lot of good tenants in Darwin , and , yeah , and Darwin again .
It's also a lot of nationalities there . People are coming there from different countries and it's more like a party trendy . I love it , yeah , yeah . And then , well , in 2022 , my licensee at that time he sold his business . Yeah , and I thought to myself that's it , I'm done with real estate . I never get back there . I didn't like that's it .
I mean , it was a family business . We were so close to each other , we were like a family there and I didn't feel I can find someone like that again . And then we decided to go for one year to Phuket yeah , again .
And then we decided to go for one year to phuket yeah , um , we live there for one year just training , doing things , enjoying our life while I was doing some social medias and just having fun , yeah . And then , um , I had my property manager here in secret harbor . Yeah , um , we were renting out our house and , unfortunately , it went very badly .
Yeah , no routine inspection done , no vacate were done . It was a nightmare , yeah . And when I got back , I said to myself listen , I don't want those property managers to be there and I want to be better property managers to be there and I want to be better and I want to show owners that there are property managers who are taking care of your property .
And then I said , okay , let me go and study and I've done my REVA certificate in one month and a half . I finished it fully and yeah , and now you're back into it .
I'm back into it . So one of the questions I've got for you is how do you you talked a bit about the family , businesses and all of that what has been important for you with finding the right employer , like what are some of the top things that you're looking for in an employer ?
Well , support , mentorship and flexibility . What's happening in the office , my colleagues , how they are . We are not competition to each other , we are together . Yeah , it's again it's like a family . We like it's yes , it's again it's like a family .
And I found that the smaller the business , maybe closer people are and they are support each other , like I have all my colleagues I know I'm here today and they're like oh go , nadia , they are very supportive , so that's important . And healthy , strong relationship between team members . I think it's's important and healthy , strong relationship between team members .
I think it's very important . And then again , the leadership
¶ Dubai vs Australian Property Management
my licensee , he supports me as well . Yeah , that's very important . And flexibility . I think , like we all have kids , we all have pets . Who doesn't have kids ? And they get sick , school holidays happening , all that things , and we have hobbies , our kids have hobbies and et cetera , and it's very important .
Then your licensee or the owner or your manager will not sit on your head and asking what did you do today ? Did you do your job ?
Well , at the end of the month you will see my KPI and you know that I'm doing my job and I'm a very responsible person and I'm a very loyal person and I'm loyal to owners , I'm loyal to my colleagues and I'm loyal to people who I met . So I'm going to do the job anyway .
So I'm going to do the job anyway . So question for you how did you know that where you start working is going to have that flexible and family environment ? Or is it something that you found that you had to just trust your gut , see if it works and then make a decision whether it is or not ?
Well , you see , right now I'm working for Abod Real Estate , which is in Kota , slo , and the reason why I apply for them there was Michelle , who used to work there , and I came to know about her at the River training Aaron Sharp .
He introduced me to Michelle by showing the Abort website , saying Michelle , I know her , she's great and yeah , if you come across her , give it a go . And yeah , they have a position maternity leave position and I'm like maternity leave , so it means it's a short time 12 months but I'm new to Perth . I need this experience . I'll go .
And when I was in an interview I had a feel like I know her . Same with you when I saw you first time at your event . That's the first time I saw you . Even though I follow you on socials , this is the first time I see you and I feel so comfortable and that's the gut feel . And then I met the team .
First day I came , I met the team and the way how they support me , answer questions , never say no to me on any question and yeah , that's .
Yeah , so gut first , and also that referral , I think as well , probably was helpful Absolutely .
If it was not referral , I would not apply for maternity leave . Yeah , yeah , yeah , so good . If it was not referral , I would not apply for maternity leave .
Yeah , yeah , yeah , so good , and I think it's really good for employees and employers to sort of hear that , because it's good for them to know what people are wanting , you know , in terms of that flexibility and the family environment . So that's really great to hear .
Now I would love to hear a little bit more about your current role that you're doing , so tell me a bit about it . You said you're doing some property management and BDM . What does that look like ?
Yes , so I started BDM from January this year , so I'm very newbie .
Property manager . Oh hold on , was there a BDM prior , or is this a new role ? New role , well , it's additional to my property management .
Additional role . I started what March 2024 as a property manager . I had my portfolio . I just start straight away managing it . And then I had a feel that I want more .
When I start meeting people , when I start talk , when I start networking , I got some listings for sale , brought some clients to the company and I thought , ok , I think that's where I want to slowly , slowly move . And yeah , I started talking to licensee and , yeah , we decided that , okay , let's give it a go and
¶ Finding the Right Real Estate Employer
start training me , because that's a new role for me , it's something different , and I'm really happy that I'm doing it right now .
So , yeah , how are you balancing your ? Are you like putting aside because there's a lot of people in this position where they're doing property management and then BDM ? Do you put aside so many hours or like time block , bdm time ? Do you just integrate it ? How do you set your week up with that ?
Well , that's a challenge we're still working on it yeah we're still working on it , but I would never say no when someone is calling for appraisal , I would find a slot between and we do have between our team of property managers .
We do have assistant , so sometimes if there is appraisal while I'm doing routine inspections , I would ask her to step in for routine inspection because , yeah , she can do that and I can focus on new business . So it is still there .
I really want more time for my socials and to put myself out there meeting people and et cetera , but yeah , still working , but yeah , still working .
Do you find that like with the BDM role ? One thing that I do find that some property managers who are just like adding on that BDM role is that they are very just reactive to the BDM . So , for example , when people call up they'll be able to deal with the BDM inquiry but they're not actually putting that time aside for that proactive work .
And I guess my thoughts are on people that are in that situation is that you are never going . If you're not spending full-time hours doing BDMing , you can't expect a full-time result , which is everyone knows that . So there's a point that you might get to where
¶ Balancing BDM and Property Management Roles
you will be having to say I need to make a decision and I'm just going to take the risk and go like full-time BDM and spend my Monday to Friday or whatever hours you work doing it . Do you think you will get to that point , like , are you sort of feeling like you're really enjoying that BDM role and slowly deal off ?
Yeah , I would say that will be my goal , yeah , yeah , I know you have the next question to me , but what's my goal and that's what I'm working towards , but that will depend how I go . And yeah , I mean , I love it , I enjoy it . Do I want to have full-time BDM ? Yes , I do .
Right , yeah , excellent . Last question for you what do you think is ? Oh , actually , two questions . What's been the hardest thing with ? Maybe finding new business , because that's a new role for you , and what was ? I had a second question , I've lost it , let's just go with that one .
What's been the biggest struggle with finding and like just going into this new role where you're a complete newbie with it ? What are you struggling most with ?
I would say at the moment , to read people , to understand their needs . But I'm working on it and it sounds like crazy to understand the needs , because everyone needs one thing get investment going and get money out of it and for us to take care of it .
But for me , I think the most difficult it's the time , but also , at the same time , I do find the time to follow up with people . I think it's very important and I cannot put that aside . I would say , time management , the time , time and time to go there , be out there and for people to know you . So the networking , I think it's the most difficult .
And , of course , I'm facing cold calling and I'm facing cold leads and that's a bit challenging . That's a bit difficult , yes , but yeah , I think I'm getting there and I know that I don't need to think that I'll get it right now or I'll get them all . I just need to . And do not take it personal . I do take it personal when someone is not choosing me .
Yeah , I feel like , oh , it's something with me , it's something there , but yeah , no , it's not me .
Yeah , no you'll get over that soon . Yeah , that's right .
My thoughts would be maybe something just to build in is generally with those jobs the BDM jobs is maybe just having that , even if it's just one hour a day , but it has to be at the start of the day that you do it , one hour at the start of the day that you do it , one hour at the start of the day that you do anything proactive .
So that's whatever you want to post on your socials , any videos you want to create , maybe for YouTube , maybe it's the follow-ups , maybe it's the cold calling , dedicating that one hour and then just slowly build up on it . Next time it's two hours or whatever .
But for me that would be what I do , because I think that that's probably the biggest mistake that people make is that they try to fit in once they finish their property management jobs . You're never going to finish your property management jobs .
That's the problem and actually it's a very good tip for BDM , who is doing both PM and BDM , because , as you said , at 4 o'clock , I'm looking at 4 o'clock and to post a video at 4 pm when people are going to work and they have all these kids there , need to prepare lunches and et cetera , they don't look at your socials
¶ Challenges in Business Development
, they're busy with their job and actually that's a great tip .
And it's really great , like I said , to hear other people's experiences and stuff like that . So if you're listening to the podcast and you've got questions for the position that Nadia's in or anything in regards to that whole trying to manage BDM to property manager , let us know because we can get Nadia back and have a bit more of a chat about it .