Coronavirus and property management

How many times have you heard the words “unprecedented times” in the last few weeks? You certainly don’t need us to tell you that the world has changed for everyone; including the way many of us, in many industries, do business.

Property management as a profession – and the real estate industry more broadly – is no exception. We are seeing change as the only constant, the move to remote working accelerate dramatically, and (because there is always a silver lining), the industry finally coming together.

Here are the key things we’ve observed since coronavirus changed the way we work and some tips for maintaining wellness during this time.

INNOVATION

Innovation is happening, and it’s happening everywhere. No longer just a buzz word thrown around at the top, we are seeing people and businesses moving quicker than ever before to accommodate the new norm.

More than the tangibles, the culture shift that’s taken place within our industry over the last few weeks is the key cause for celebration. We are seeing technology combine with ideas and enthusiasm to drive this industry right now. For so long, we have procrastinated and – at times – had a negative “that won’t work” mindset. No more! We for one (or two, actually) are excited to see these ideas and innovations come to fruition.

COLLABORATION

It’s no overstatement to suggest that we have seen more collaboration in the property management industry over the last few weeks than we have in the last 10 years.

We are seeing businesses and disciplines come together to share ideas, work together and support each other during what is a universally difficult time. This sense of collaboration isn’t industry specific; from cafes to retail to finance to public sector, we are noticing more kindness, more communication and ultimately a closer community.

STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS

Now, more than ever, we know that property management is an inherently human-focused industry. Our driving passion is the goal of improving people’s lives. As an industry, we’ve been looking for new ways to add value to people and we now have a new opportunity to redefine the relationship between property managers and our clients. We believe that in the long run, coronavirus will bring the industry, and the people we serve, closer.

TIPS FOR STAYING WELL

Here are three mindset changes that will help you stay on track and productive during the coronavirus pandemic:

• Accept that you can’t control the situation now or into the future. It’s a cliché, but all anyone can control right now is how we respond to it. Staying positive is critical; remember to find the small wins in each day, in each meeting, in each piece of work. Find the silver linings to practice gratitude and patience at a time we need it the most.
• Keeping routine is helping us adapt to the new normal. Here at Gill & Hooper, we are making a conscious effort to ensure we are still getting up at the same time each day, getting our daily exercise, taking the opportunities to soak up that vitamin D and making sure we take time for ourselves.
• We’re trying to look ahead to make sure that we’re staying focused on what we’d like to have achieved by the time we can all step out into the big wide world again. Whether it’s exploring a new hobby, learning a new skill, finally reading that book you’ve wanted to read or even cleaning out that pesky linen cupboard; make sure you’re still working towards your goals.

It’s not all positivity though; we’re certainly not ashamed to admit that we’re struggling with a few isolation challenges.

The temptation to eat everything (literally, everything) in the house is a difficult one to get under control, amirite?! But you know what they say… “what happens in the pantry during isolation, stays in isolation.”

And while we’re on the subject of those insatiable isolation appetites… Zoom double chins anyone? But while the angle is unflattering, we’ve gotta admit that we’re loving staying connected to our team, friends and family to really feel the sense of community we’ve got around us.