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Wed 16 March 2022
The pandemic has brought change to many people’s lives, in many ways, including Stacey Dales of Andrew Granger & Co’s Market Harborough lettings team who used it as an opportunity for a change in career. Here, Stacey tells us about her first year as a lettings negotiator.
What was your previous work background, and how did you come to apply for the new role at Andrew Granger & Co?
I previously worked for a local travel company where I would audit the hotels we contracted in our packages, making sure their health and safety procedures were up to date and the hotels were of a standard that we would be happy to use. This allowed me to travel around Europe (Mostly France, Italy, and Germany) as well as throughout the United Kingdom. With the travel industry taking a massive knock with the pandemic it was an ideal time to change career.
What did you think the lettings negotiator role would be like and how have you found it to be?
Instead of hotels, I now deal with apartments and houses. I knew my previous job role would be a good transition between the two workplaces. A lot of my previous experience with health and safety has helped me, especially when looking out for the ‘26 risk factors’ that can be found within each property when dealing with a property inspection.
What does your job role involve and what do you enjoy about it?
I am part of a team of eight that work in the lettings department in Market Harborough. My role mostly deals with the maintenance reports we receive from any of our properties that cover the radius of Market Harborough and its surrounding villages, as far as Leicester and Northampton. I also help with the final inspections that are carried out when our tenants vacate a property, as well as a routine inspection that is carried out every 6 months at each property. It has been enjoyable to get to meet all the landlords and tenants we deal with and form a rapport with them all.
What do you find challenging?
Prioritising the importance of a reported maintenance issue can be most challenging. I have empathy for all the tenants we look after and like to help everyone. Reports can vary from a boiler breakdown on a freezing cold night to a leaking tap, and the priority and every report is important to us to manage. Included in our role, we could have a few properties that need to be turned around ready for new tenants. Liaising with the landlord and managing contractors to action the work required in a set timeframe to improve their property for the next tenant to move in requires a lot of organisation and multi-tasking.
What are the most important things you’ve learnt to help you with your role on a day-to-day basis?
I have previously experienced the ‘landlord’ role having my own rental property for 10 years, but this only gave me a small insight to how fast-paced legislations and requirements can change in this industry, and I can see how important our management and support can help landlords in the area. Every day is a school day in the lettings industry!
Are you taking part in any training or qualifications?
Now that qualifications are required to work within an estate agency and I have now past my first year with the company, Andrew Granger & Co have given me the opportunity to enrol on a Level 3 ARLA Qualification that I have just started studying for.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I have enjoyed my first year at Andrew Granger & Co. It’s particularly nice that we do make time as a team to have that ‘five minutes’ of chat where we all bounce off one another to reduce our stress levels that can sometimes occur. The first year has gone so quickly! It feels like I made the right decision in joining the company and look forward to learning more within the progression of my role.
Andrew Granger & Co offers a range of landlord property management services across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire from its offices based in Market Harborough, Leicester, and Loughborough. You can get in touch and find out more at www.andrewgranger.co.uk.
