Meet the Property Management Team We Would Trust With Our Own Investment

During our recent Investor Week, we talked about why the Capricorn Coast is such an exciting place to invest.

Rental demand, relative affordability, our coastal lifestyle and the region’s long-term growth all form part of the investment story. However, choosing the right property is only the beginning.

Who you trust to manage that property can have an enormous influence on your experience as an investor.

Your property manager becomes responsible for helping you protect a valuable asset, supporting your rental income, communicating with your tenants and identifying concerns before they become larger problems.

That is why Troy and I have always taken property management so seriously.

When we first wrote about our property management service in 2016, we said it was far too important to be treated as simply another department within the agency.

A great deal has changed since then. @ Real Estate has grown substantially, we now operate from two offices in Yeppoon and Emu Park, and our property management team has expanded.

One thing has never changed: we only want people caring for our clients’ properties who we would trust to manage our own.

Property management led by an owner of the business

It is unusual for an owner of a real estate agency to remain as involved in the everyday work of property management as Troy is.

Troy has headed our property management department since we opened @ Real Estate in mid-2016.

He is not a distant department head who only sees reports or steps in when there is a major problem. He runs the department and remains hands-on in its daily operation.

Troy reviews important matters, supports our property managers, helps solve problems and remains available when an owner or member of the team needs his guidance.

That involvement gives our investors another level of accountability.

Property management decisions are not being made in a remote office by someone who has never seen the property or met the people involved. Our department is led locally by one of the owners of the business.

More than 30 years of personal property investment experience

Troy is now 50 and purchased his first investment property when he was only 20 years old.

That means he brings more than 30 years of personal property investment experience to the department.

Over those years, Troy and I have bought investment properties, renovated homes, built spec homes and completed a small-lot subdivision. We have experienced property from many different perspectives, including as buyers, sellers, landlords, renovators, builders and developers.

Before establishing @ Real Estate, Troy and I owned and operated a mortgage brokerage firm together for eight years.

That experience gave Troy a strong understanding of lending, finance, cash flow and the strategy behind property investment. He understands that an investment property is not simply a house with a tenant in it. It is part of an owner’s broader financial plan.

Different investors have different priorities. Some are focused on cash flow, while others are working towards longer-term capital growth, reducing debt, renovating, developing or building a portfolio.

Troy understands those conversations because he has lived them himself.

Property knowledge that extends beyond property management

Troy also brings experience in construction and project management.

He understands building processes, materials, maintenance and the importance of coordinating different trades and tasks in the correct order.

This is particularly valuable on the Capricorn Coast.

Properties close to the ocean require ongoing care. Salt air, moisture and our coastal conditions can accelerate wear, corrosion and deterioration if maintenance is ignored.

Small concerns can become much more expensive when they are allowed to continue.

Troy understands the importance of preventative maintenance and helping owners distinguish between work that can be planned and work that should be addressed sooner to protect the property.

He also served with the Emu Park auxiliary fire brigade for around 10 years, including as Lieutenant.

That experience helped make Troy an exceptional logistical leader. It strengthened his ability to assess situations calmly, organise people and resources, communicate clearly and make practical decisions when something needs to be resolved.

Those skills transfer naturally into property management, where good outcomes often depend on clear thinking, prompt communication and coordinating the right people at the right time.

A team chosen personally by us

As the business has grown, Troy and I have been very deliberate about the people we have invited into our property management team.

We have not simply filled positions.

We have hand-picked professionals who bring experience, good judgement and different strengths to the department.

Most importantly, they share our commitment to communication, relationships and genuinely caring for the properties entrusted to us.

Collectively, our property management team brings an extraordinary depth of experience across property management, property investment, finance, legal administration, banking, construction administration, logistics, customer service and business ownership.

They are the people we would want advising us, inspecting our property, speaking with our tenants, coordinating our maintenance and protecting our investment.

We believe that is the standard every investor deserves.

Karin O’Connor: a lifetime devoted to property management Property management is not something Karin has simply tried for a few years. It is the career she has chosen and dedicated much of her working life to. Karin brings a lifetime of property management experience and the kind of practical knowledge that can only be developed over decades. She has worked through different property markets, changing legislation and almost every type of tenancy situation. Karin is honest, straightforward and exceptionally detailed. She values the relationships she builds with both owners and tenants and takes personal responsibility for the properties she manages. Her landlords know that she will communicate with them, give considered advice and follow matters through. The feedback we receive about Karin consistently reflects the same qualities we see every day. Clients describe her as friendly, approachable, professional and willing to go above and beyond. Karin brings enormous depth and stability to our department. She is trustworthy, loyal and exactly the kind of person we would want looking after one of our own properties.
Melissa Scrivener: decades of knowledge and deep Emu Park experience Melissa is based at our Emu Park office and brings decades of experience across real estate and property management. She has called the Emu Park and Zilzie area home since 2013, giving her an excellent understanding of the local rental market, the properties and the community. Melissa is meticulous, diligent and proactive. She combines strong industry knowledge with a friendly and approachable style, allowing her to build positive relationships while maintaining high professional standards. Her previous experience as a business owner gives her an additional appreciation for responsibility, accountability and the importance of following through on what has been promised. Melissa is highly organised and has a genuine understanding of what property owners need from their manager. She also appreciates that tenants are people and that respectful, clear communication can prevent many issues from escalating. Her experience and local knowledge make her an enormous asset to our investors throughout Emu Park, Zilzie and the surrounding areas.
Julia Neave: property management experience backed by high-level administration Julia has several years of property management experience here on the Capricorn Coast. She also came to @ Real Estate with an extensive background in high-level administration, including experience with Bendigo Bank and working within solicitors’ firms. That background has given Julia exceptional organisational skills and a very strong eye for detail. She understands the importance of accurate documentation, clear communication, confidentiality and following a matter through from beginning to end. Julia is approachable and builds relationships easily with both owners and tenants. She genuinely wants our clients to have an exceptional experience and takes great pride in ensuring the properties she manages receive the care and attention they deserve. Her maturity, calm communication style and administrative strength make her an incredibly valuable part of our property management team.
Sharni Lowrie: construction administration, logistics and proactive support Sharni is our Property Management Assistant based at the Emu Park office. Before joining @ Real Estate, Sharni developed experience in construction administration and logistics. That background is particularly valuable in property management, where maintenance requires organisation, follow-up and the ability to coordinate different people and priorities. Sharni works closely with Melissa and the broader team to help coordinate maintenance, organise inspections and support the smooth day-to-day management of our clients’ properties. She understands that arranging a repair is rarely as simple as making one telephone call. It may involve gathering information, communicating with the owner and tenant, locating an available contractor and following the work through to completion. Sharni’s communication skills, attention to detail and proactive approach make an important difference behind the scenes. She helps keep the moving parts organised while building positive relationships with owners, tenants and local contractors.
Leala Bottero: organisation, documentation and positive client care Leala supports our property management team from the Yeppoon office. She brings a positive and outgoing approach to client communication, together with strong organisational skills and a genuine passion for providing exceptional service. Leala assists with the important administrative work that supports good property management, including documentation, database accuracy, compliance support and entry condition reports. This work may happen quietly behind the scenes, but it is incredibly important. A highly detailed entry condition report, accurate records and correctly completed documentation can provide valuable protection throughout a tenancy. Leala’s care and organisation help our property managers maintain the high standards we expect across the department.

Local people managing local property

Every member of our property management team is based here on the Capricorn Coast.

We do not use offshore property management support.

When an owner calls our office, they are speaking with people who live and work in the community where their investment is located.

Our team understands the local rental market, the differences between our coastal communities and the practical challenges that can arise when coordinating trades and maintenance in a regional area.

We have worked hard to build strong relationships with local tradespeople and contractors. This is important because many out-of-town investors do not realise how significant the trade shortage can be on the Capricorn Coast.

Our team knows the properties, the neighbourhoods and the people.

Technology plays an important role in modern property management, and our landlords have access to an online portal and detailed property records. However, we do not believe technology should replace genuine relationships or personal accountability.

Our systems support our people. They do not replace them.

Stability and experience matter

One of the most common frustrations we hear from investors who have been with other agencies is that they are constantly dealing with a new property manager.

Every change means explaining the property again, rebuilding trust and hoping important information has been handed over properly.

We are proud to have a stable and experienced team.

That continuity allows our property managers to develop a thorough understanding of each property, the owner’s preferences, the tenancy history and the investor’s longer-term plans.

Our clients are not account numbers being moved between departments. They are people who have trusted us with an important asset.

Proactive property management prevents problems

Our approach to property management is built around communication, careful documentation and early intervention.

Our team regularly reviews arrears, vacancies, maintenance, disputes, landlord concerns and any property that may require additional attention.

We want to identify concerns early, present owners with practical options and work towards a solution before an issue becomes more serious.

In approximately 10 years, @ Real Estate has needed to take only two property management matters to court.

We are extremely proud of that record.

It reflects the work Troy and the team do every day to communicate clearly, maintain accurate records, follow matters through and build professional relationships with owners and tenants.

The people behind your investment matter

Investment properties are valuable financial assets, but they are also homes occupied by real people.

Managing them well requires knowledge, judgement, organisation, empathy and the confidence to have difficult conversations when necessary.

That cannot be achieved through software alone.

It comes from experienced people who care about the outcome.

Troy and I have built a property management team that we are immensely proud of. Each person brings something different, but they share the same commitment to looking after our clients, supporting our tenants and protecting the properties placed in our care.

They are not simply people we employ.

They are the professionals we have chosen because they are the people we would trust with our own investment property.

If you are purchasing an investment on the Capricorn Coast, privately managing a property or wondering whether you are receiving the level of service you deserve, we would be happy to have a confidential conversation.

Call @ Real Estate on 07 4819 9676.

Ready When You Are 💚