As the host of "The Art of Property Management" podcast, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kasey Lawrence from The Rental Network. Our conversation revolved around the importance of strong leadership and team cohesion in property management.

The Importance of Strong Leadership

Kasey and I discussed the significance of strong leadership in creating a powerhouse property management team. We agreed that supportive leadership is crucial in fostering a cohesive and well-trained group. The role of culture, system, structure, and support cannot be overstated as the foundations for a successful team.

We explored different leadership roles, such as sales principals and property management directors. Kasey expressed her preference for a leader with a strong background in property management, someone who can provide support and guidance to the team. We acknowledged the frustrations that property managers may experience when their go-to person for support lacks property management experience.

Building a Powerhouse Team

What a powerhouse team looks like? The importance of trust and support among team members is cruicial, regardless of whether the team is portfolio-based or task-based. We discussed the need for matching team members with similar personalities and work styles to avoid conflicts. We also suggested implementing a buddy system to ensure everyone contributes and no one is left overwhelmed.

Addressing Team Dynamics

Kasey and I tackled the challenges of team dynamics and how to address them. We stressed the importance of ongoing communication and reminders of team expectations, especially when new team members join or when there are changes in the team structure. We also discussed the role of virtual assistants (VAs) in supporting property managers and allowing them to focus on client relationships. Kasey believes that with strong leadership, good structure, and adequate support, property managers can effectively handle larger portfolios. We cautioned against using a one-size-fits-all approach when determining the number of properties a property manager can handle and emphasized the importance of considering the entire team and support staff when evaluating workload.

Kasey's Ideal Powerhouse Team

Kasey shared her vision of an ideal powerhouse team, emphasizing the importance of having specialized roles within a property management team. I talked about how my ideal power house property management team would include a personal virtual assistant for each property manager, a full-time marketing person, and a team of new business managers. While these goals may require careful consideration of costs and return on investment, Kasey believes they are achievable.

She also highlighted the value of having a marketing specialist in property management, as well as the benefits of having a business manager. Kasey shared her regret of not hiring a business manager earlier in her own business and highlighted the positive impact it has had on her company.

Advice for Business Owners

Kasey advises business owners to evaluate their commission structures and consider the importance of the management fee in valuing their business. She suggests reaching out to professionals like herself for consultation and support in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their teams and developing strategies for growth.

To get in touch with Kasey, you can message her on instagram. She welcomes inquiries and is always ready to lend her expertise to those who need it.

Our conversation with Kasey Lawrence provided valuable insights into building and managing powerhouse property management teams. The importance of strong leadership, team cohesion, and specialized roles within the team were some of the key takeaways from our discussion.