Today we continue our Women in Property Series which sees Eva interview Sabrina Lartey, Head of Property Management at Belgravia, based in Peterborough.
We hope you enjoy this interview with Eva and Sabrina as we give you an insight into the world of property and importantly as we speak to women in the heart of the sector.
E: What inspired you to get into property?
S: To be honest I always wanted to be a journalist. I fell into this industry by mistake. I started as a lettings negotiator for Countrywide residential in Walthamstow after completing my A Levels. From there I just progressed with different companies working in different sectors such as lettings property management for both London and outer London companies to where I am now in the Block Management sector.
E: What would you say to young women thinking about joining the industry?
S: I would say as with any job sector confidence is key. Even if you don’t know something never let on to others this is the case. It’s all about learning and thinking outside of the box to find the answer as well as having the experience. Having now spent a lot of the time in this industry I find common sense prevails.
E: What do you think it takes to be a successful PM?
S: Success as a PM is largely down to good communication with your clients in addition to getting the job done. This industry is highly pressured, and you are often juggling so many balls but you need to be good at prioritizing your workload. As a PM, 9 times out of 10 people only contact you when they have problems so having good people skills is a must and an ability to manage people’s expectations.
E: What is the largest number of inspections you have ever had to complete in one day?
S:During my time in residential lettings, I was once managing a large block of flats in London with over 250 units in total. During one of my routine visits I had to complete 25 internal inspections in one day! That was certainly a busy day!
If you are looking for a role in property, would like to be featured in our next interview or are looking to grow your property team get in touch with Eva at e.clarke@select.co.uk