Welcome to the April 2020 edition of the APM Client e-Newsletter.
A Word from Howard – APM Lockdown Update
We are now into the third week of the lockdown
I hope you and your family are all well and safe in what is a stressful time for many New Zealanders. It is an important time to stay in support of those close to us and you our clients are certainly close to us.
We know and understand that this pandemic and lockdown is having a major impact on many small businesses, organisations, friends, family, and you yourself could be directly affected. My thoughts are with you. I wanted to assure you that in this uncertain time you are not alone. It won’t last forever and we are all in this together.
As a property management company we are very much aware that your properties are part of your investments and revenue streams. Properties need to be well managed for all those involved, especially in a time like this, whether you are a property owner or tenant. This is unchartered territory for many. Here at Auckland Property Management we have systems and procedures in place to ensure that our business can run efficiently and as normal as possible from our home location. Bank accounts are still reconciled daily, invoices paid, levies and rent collected as per usual.
- Our Body Corporate Division is making use of phone and video conferencing for committees, EGM and AGM meetings. This enables us to still provide our administrative services to all Body Corporate, Cross Leases or Residents Societies who need to have meetings.
- Our Residential Division is negotiating rent reductions between tenants and landlords, managing arrears, overseeing those that are still permitted to move in/out during the lockdown, have processed end of month and end of year payments and sent statements to all landlords, and are attending to essential maintenance and repairs as it still arises all the time while following the Governments lockdown guidelines.
- Our Commercial Division is busy liaising with many affected businesses, tenants and Landlords, some of their businesses having closed
- Our Waiheke Holiday Home Division Waiheke Escapes have handled many cancellations, refunding deposits where necessary but is on standby until domestic travel restrictions have lifted and hopefully rekindled the demand for holiday housing.
All of our team are diligently working away in their homes. We are still here working for you. Its at times like this when the term team comes into play. Our team really stepped up and are working together, I know we have the skill sets, common sense, willingness and team management to get us through.
As always, if you have any questions, get in touch with one of our team, or I am available to take your call on 021 965581
Stay safe in your bubble.
Kind regards
Howard Morley
Managing Director
Auckland Property Management
Residential Property Management
Thoughts on Residential Investment in times of Crisis
We are all deep in thought about the residential investment market at the moment with the decline in demand for Airbnb, rising unemployment rates and an unprecedented lockdown. The question is what do we as your property partners see happening in that future crystal ball?
In relationships there is a saying “ the best prediction of future behaviour is past behaviour” – that analysis I also believe to be true in the property industry. Many of us still have those scars from the hits taken during different crises over the last 20 years but there was also and always, a recovery. I’m not blinkered or wearing rose coloured glasses however I do believe that we here in Auckland are in a better position than the regions who’s recovery may not bounce back as well or at the same pace as in the bigger cities. We are feeling positive that generally rents should hold, and as always will still be directly affected by supply and demand because that’s the way our industry has operated for decades.
So what are investors thinking?
The results of a recent investor survey* confirms what many investors I have talked to recently are thinking and feeling…..
Kind regards
Celia Burbery
General Manager – Property Management
Auckland Property Management
Latest Video Blogs
We are planning a Q&A video on residential property management during the COVID-19 pandemic, if you have any questions you would like answered please email them to [email protected]
The Essentials Are Getting Done
Body Corporate Management
Body Corporates During Lockdown
We should all take heart that the New Zealand strategic response to the Covid-19 pandemic is to seek total elimination of the virus. No doubt you have all been watching developments unfold both here and around the world and there are many very positive signs that our response is working and ultimately will succeed but there is a long way still to go.
To achieve elimination of the virus our borders will be closed for longer and those entering will need to self-isolate or be quarantined. Our tracking and contact tracing will evolve further and support to those facing financial, emotional and physical distress will continue. Businesses will be restricted into getting back to even partial operational productivity in the near term. But we will adapt and adjust and be the stronger for it.
So those of you doing your part at home in your bubbles, you will be acutely aware of the things that might be starting to irritate you! So with your Body Corporate or Cross lease or Residents Society hat on – those of us here at APM would like you to share your thoughts with us in this window that we have to make your home or investment property even better once we start to move nearer to “normality”.
Read about preparing for improvements or maintenance after lockdown here.
Kind regards
Steven Garland
General Manager – Body Corporate
Auckland Property Management
Coming Together at Kensington Park
Commercial Property Management
As mentioned by Howard our Commercial Division are busy supporting our commercial owners and tenants through this time. We received a few great photos of some of the work one of our commercial managed properties is doing.
Pictures above are from the Manurewa Business Association Ambassador team. They are doing a great job around the entire Manurewa area including Clendon and Southmall shopping centres. They are working tirelessly on keeping two of our commercial managed properties clean, keeping in touch with tenants and pushing the “be kind” message.
Waiheke Escapes
We welcome the below properties who have come on board to our holiday home division Waiheke Escapes in the last few months. If you know of family and friends who fancy a trip to Waiheke after the lockdown then take a look at our new properties just waiting for your next getaway
Max Cottage
Onetangi
Modern holiday home
Sleeps 5 guests, 4 beds
Ideal for groups/family
Large deck and privacy
Eden Bach
Onetangi
Classic original beach bach
Sleeps 4 guests, 2 beds
Ideal for couples/family
Close to Onetangi Beach
Enclosure Bay Retreat
Enclosure Bay
Newly built holiday home
Sleeps 6 guests,4 Beds
Ideal for groups/family
Close to beaches
Staff News
Welcome to our new team member on Waiheke Island
We are delighted to welcome Amie Russell to our Property Management Team. Having grown up on Waiheke herself Amie believes her ‘back of the hand’ knowledge and strong relationships within the community make her an ideal property manager on the Island. Click here to learn more about Amie.
Congratulations to our Easter Competition Winners
7 Questions With…Michelle Richards
Michelle Richards, Property Manager – Waiheke
Q. How long have you been with APM?
06/Apr/2017 – apparently my 3 year anniversary was 2 days ago who knew!
Q. What is your favourite thing about being a property manager?
Helping people solve issues.
Q. What is a common question you are getting from owners at the moment?
We are getting questions from landlords about when their property will be rented if vacant. Given the level 4 lockdown we are following government guidelines and tenant movement is limited unless it’s essential.
Q. What is the most heartwarming thing you have seen during the lockdown on Waiheke?
A 3 ½ year old girl wrote a card to my neighbours teddy bear (with parents help) as teddy waved to her the other day from his big window and it made her so happy.
Q. What’s the best way to start your day?
I start the day early as it is very quiet with no rowdy children, do some work then go for a walk around the block.
Q. What skill would you like to master and why?
Macrame – used to do it when I was in my late teens and loved it and it is in fashion again!
Q. If you could live anywhere in the world (apart from Waiheke Island) where would it be and why?
Cape Town, South Africa – I have so many family and friends I miss there, big game viewing, scenery, beaches, music and the food.
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