OVERCOMING CANCER TO THRIVE IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Have you ever wondered if it’s too late to switch careers or start something completely new?

Perhaps you’re considering a career in property management or need some encouragement to embark on a new venture.

If you’re curious about starting a new career later in life, want to learn how to balance work with life’s challenges, need motivation to overcome obstacles, or simply seek tips on managing tenants and property, then you won’t want to miss our chat with Kerol.

Kerol started her career as a bank officer before moving into a role at the Department of Defence, where she was a receptionist for an army general. After starting a family, she and her husband embarked on various business ventures, including owning a general store and later a motel, where even their young children helped with small tasks like restocking teas and coffees for guests.

When Kerol’s daughter, Krista, turned 10, Kerol identified a gap in the market for a party supplies store. This led to her opening a successful party business offering everything from chocolates to catering packages. However, in 2020, life took a challenging turn when Kerol was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After undergoing intensive treatment and later watching her husband battle prostate cancer, they decided to sell the business and take a well deserved break.

Little did Kerol know that life had more in store for her. Her daughter, Krista, opened a real estate office and asked Kerol to help out. What started as a casual receptionist role soon evolved into a full career in property management.

At the age of 58, and after undergoing extensive chemotherapy, Kerol faced a new challenge: studying for her property management license. Due to the effects of chemotherapy, she found it difficult to retain information and struggled with forgetfulness. However, with sheer determination, Kerol adopted an “old school” approach. She wrote down every question, researched the answers, and meticulously typed out each assignment. Her hard work paid off when she achieved 100% on nearly all her units, an impressive feat given the circumstances.

Kerol’s dedication to learning and her ability to overcome challenges shine through in her story. She openly shares the pride she felt when her property management license arrived in the mail and the joy she experiences from visiting tenants and helping people find homes.

One of Kerol’s favourite aspects of her new career is building connections with tenants. She genuinely enjoys visiting homes, hosting open houses, and fostering positive relationships with the people she serves. She recounts how her first tenants came to an open house, and despite knowing the house wasn’t right for them, she guided them to another property that turned out to be perfect. For Kerol, these connections are what make the job rewarding, and she cherishes the friendships formed along the way.

However, property management is not without its challenges. Kerol highlights the difficulties of working with tenants who may not speak English fluently or who have different cultural understandings of cleanliness and home maintenance. She recalls an instance where she had to guide a tenant on how to deep clean an oven, showing patience and understanding in bridging these gaps.

Kerol’s advice for anyone starting in property management is to be patient and adaptable. She emphasises the importance of clear communication, especially when dealing with tenants from diverse backgrounds. Whether it’s guiding tenants through cleaning procedures or addressing their concerns, she believes that empathy and patience are key to success in the industry.