COMMUNITY LIVING
This is an understandable requirement considering the duties and responsibilities of this management position . While the estate manager ’ s role is varied and broad , the most important duty is to coordinate and ensure the efficient day-to-day management of a property estate . Considering the size and complexity of some of the country ’ s largest estates , and the fact that they can incorporate golf courses , restaurants , offices , pools and dams , this is a huge responsibility .
Other duties that fall under the estate manager ’ s job description include security and safety , upkeep and maintenance of buildings , gardens and landscaping , stakeholder management , liaison with owners , residents and contractors , staff management , legal and compliance , among others .
The estate manager is generally the most senior role on the larger estates and their teams include junior and mid-level staff who help achieve the goals of the estate . These roles could include assistant managers , operations staff , admin staff , accounts staff , marketing staff and staff who take care of the more physical roles like maintenance , landscaping and cleaning .
Opportunities to get your foot in the door are varied and could include a role in operations , leasing or accounts , for example . People who have worked in smaller property management companies , whether in residential or commercial property , or those who have a strong knowledge of sectional title law and the inner workings of bodies corporate and come from an estate agency background would also have much to offer an estate management team .
Soft skills
When it comes to the softer skills you need to possess in order to work in the property sector – and to make it up the ladder to managerial level – you must have an outgoing personality and be able to connect and relate to people at all levels . Strong communication and leadership skills , the ability to drive results under pressure , sometimes on very complex projects , the ability to adapt to any situation and to be flexible in your approach are also top of the list .
Kingswood Estate includes golf , wildlife and community areas
Ideal study routes to follow if you want to enter the property sector include degrees in property studies , facilities management , or a degree with a business focus . Various postgraduate study opportunities are available from South Africa ’ s leading universities where candidates can focus on specialist courses to hone their skills . A Real Estate NQF4 qualification is also a great way to enter the property sector .
Learning opportunities
The Association of Residential Communities ( ARC ) is a South African body established in 2008 to support homeowners associations and bodies corporate , as well as their management teams . They provide several learning opportunities and are now also offering their ARC Online Learning platform , which provides informative courses on community management . For continuous learning and improvement , this is a great body to connect with .
Furthermore , there are also international certifications and qualifications that can be pursued at a more senior level .
The old cliché of the ‘ world being your oyster ’ rings true when it comes to a career in estate management . It can take you across our beautiful country and even to international estates , all while learning and growing and meeting incredible people along the way .
Michelle Holdsworth
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