About Us

It’s nice to be part of such a supportive, friendly and professional team. In my marketing and communications role no two days are ever the same. I'm responsible carrying out quality control checks on the website, pulling together eBulletins and newsletters, managing our social media accounts, branding activities, producing content for the website, organising advertising, reviewing communications processes, liaising with media, managing sponsorships, and working alongside our advertising and web agencies. 

I was a consultant at a boutique Public Relations agency in Sydney, working with clients mainly in the transport and healthcare industries, and prior to that I studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Newcastle. Coming from a PR agency to the world of property management has been a huge change, but a nice one. 

My first day at Leah Jay was a complete blur, but memorable none-the-less. I was learning not only how to do my day-to-day job, but the ins and outs of the industry and how everything in the office works. I was in desperate need of a nap by the end of the day! It was great to have a lot of friendly faces around to give me some tips and help me get settled in.  

I’m excited to be part of an industry leading company that’s constantly striving to be its best, and where everyone is passionate about the work they do. 

When I’m not at work I like to read – anything from a novel, to blogs, to trashy magazines. I also enjoy travelling, catching up with friends over a nice dinner, going to the gym, shopping and watching an unhealthy amount of reality TV. 

Is challenging and fulfilling. It is amazing to work with such a diverse team that are genuinely passionate and dedicated to what they do.

I had worked in administration before beginning my career in the industry in 2004, in residential property management. In 2005 I made the move to commercial property management upon joining Leah Jay and looked after this portfolio for almost six years, as well as being involved in other areas of the business. It was this involvement that prompted me to commence a Master of Business degree and become further involved in our marketing and communications. More recently I have made the move to Manager of our East Maitland office.

Being involved in the redevelopment of our East Maitland office has definitely been one of my personal highlights. It was an enormous learning curve; however watching the transformation and seeing the end result was extremely rewarding. 

My job! Working with a great team and being able to see our hard work pay off is not only exciting but extremely satisfying.

It’s the simple things in life that I love the most. Taking the dogs to the park, a weekend away camping or a simple BBQ with friends is how I love to relax.

With any job or workplace there are tough days and less tough days but the attitude of yourself and the team who supports you makes the difference. Regardless of what we have going on in the office, if any members of our close-knit team have a problem they need assistance with, whether it be a tenant/landlord dispute, a tricky repair or an abandoned property everyone is willing to roll up their sleeves, put their thinking caps on and assist in any way they can.

Before Property Management I was an administration associate with a large retail toy outlet. I have been working in the real estate industry for more than a decade in a variety of roles starting out as a receptionist for a small Lake Macquarie Agency, which eventuated in working for myself as a contract bookkeeper for three separate Real Estate Agencies Across Sydney.

Being a finalist in the 2012 Real Estate Institute Awards for excellence and attending the gala awards ceremony in Sydney with my team mates. I was a finalist in the Property Management category.  Unfortunately I was not a winner; but to be one of five finalists for the entire state is an amazing accomplishment. 

I really love the mentoring side of my role and nothing satisfies me more than to support and mentor a fresh faced, young Property Manager. They come into their roles with little or no experience and within six to 12 months they are confidently taking lead in a CTTT situation or breezing through some very hairy situations that regularly arise during the course of a day in Property Management. I get a real sense of satisfaction and kind of a sense of pride knowing I helped them get to their career goals. 

I love spending time with my supportive husband, my gorgeous baby girl and my two teenage step children. I am also into health and fitness so I tend to get a bit of a ribbing from my co-workers for being a gym freak; although they do come to me regularly for advice and motivation. 

In my short time at Leah Jay I have found all the staff to be extremely friendly and supportive. In my position as Commercial Property Manager I look after a portfolio of retail, commercial and industrial properties. I assist clients with a broad range of needs, ranging from tenant selection, the negotiation of leases and generally meeting all requirements of both owners and tenants.

I have worked for 10 years as a commercial property manager. 

In the first week of starting with Leah Jay I fell very ill and I found all the staff of Leah Jay to be very concerned and supportive.

I get a lot of satisfaction from meeting my clients' expectations and then exceeding them. As a commercial property manager I need to be highly organised, conscientious and efficient, and able to deliver exceptional service.

I enjoy the great outdoors and visiting many of the unique places Australia has to offer. I have travelled extensively to various countries. I also love craft including scrapbooking, folk art, card making, sewing and lead lighting.

Has been refreshing. We have a wonderful support team which gives us the time to focus one on one with our clients. Having the option to ask for assistance at times makes the job a little better on those tough days!

I began my career in Property Management in the Newcastle area in 2010. Prior to that, I worked in the wine industry promoting the Hunter Valley region throughout Australia.

I always say that I was not prepared for the level of emotion involved in property management. In one aspect you are managing an investment and in another you are managing the relationship between an owner and a tenant. The trust that is earned when you provide the best outcome for both is a satisfaction that I treasure.  

To walk out the door at the end of the day and know you put in 100% and it paid off! You will never be finished or up to date in Property Management, however some days it’s nice to know that your efforts are getting the job done.

I am a little too organised. I feel a lot of pressure to perform well and push myself too much at times. I can’t work at a messy desk and have an addiction to fabulous stationary. To relax I love to lie in bed under the doona, watch movies, drink wine and eat chocolates!

provides a very friendly atmosphere and I must say, I am enjoying a brand new office. I am responsible for the operation of the East Maitland reception. I thrive off being in the frontline, meeting a wide range of people and having a fast paced day. I find myself learning a little more about the industry each day.

I attended Passmores Business and Management College in Newcastle, where I studied a double diploma in office administration and real estate/legal studies. I then worked as a Property Officer for a local Maitland real estate agency for 18 months.

On my third day at Leah Jay I had to have a photo shoot for my staff profile photo. This was not something I had done before so I felt like a duck out of water, but I powered through and the laughs certainly helped. 

I am excited by a job well done. I like going home at the end of every day knowing I have helped everyone with their needs; it is very satisfying.

I love being with my horses! I grew up in a small country town so they were a huge part of my life from the start. I recently worked on a cattle station in far North Queensland, allowing me to enjoy riding all day, every day, although I certainly didn’t enjoy the many snakes and cane toads.

I have great pride when telling people that I work for Leah Jay. My role as property manager involves overseeing a portfolio that includes properties from Branxton to Paterson and everything in between. I look after the day to day managing of the tenancies, from conducting open homes to the outgoing inspections, and covering all dealings throughout the journey to ensure the landlord gets the best return for their investment.

I've been in the industry for seven years. I have worked in Western NSW, starting off as a property officer in Orange and then a property manager in Cowra.

I am responsible for training up and coming property manager, Claire Lantry. I am excited by the challenge of training someone in a field that I feel so passionate about. Seeing her develop, learn and grow into a very competent Property Associate is rewarding. It is also developing my own personal skills as a mentor.

Nothing can really beat the reaction you get from tenants when you tell them they have been approved for a property, it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to my face every time!

I am from the country and always will be a country girl at heart. I'm down to earth, I love to smile and enjoy a good laugh. Throughout my travels through Europe I've learnt so many wonderful things and I love to see what this magnificent world has to offer.

I had a welcome return after being on maternity leave. I enjoy coming in each morning to such a positive atmosphere, and I have formed great relationships - both working and genuine friendships. I have had a number of different roles within the office. I started out in reception and upon my return, I provided support to the property managers and have now moved into admin support two days a week. I love the variety of tasks and the challenge of learning a new role within the same office.

I have worked in a number of real estate agencies and roles prior to coming to Leah Jay. Before making the move from Sydney I worked as the sales secretary, sales support and receptionist for a property management company. For a number of years I also ran my own cleaning business.

Every day brings a new moment to remember. I enjoy being able to help everyone who calls into the office, particularly when people remember me and are happy to see I have returned.

When my bank ledger balances each morning!

I have a beautiful daughter and husband. I love being a mum and wife and making the most of every moment with them. Interestingly, I have a growing collection of tea pots and I enjoy putting on morning teas - so old fashioned but fun!

Working at Leah Jay is unlike any working experience I have had so far. Everyone is extremely supportive and caring, they make it so easy. If you have a problem everyone chips in to try and help you out as much as they can; I have never experienced such team work. I am a Property Officer, which requires me to liaise with the property managers about what tasks need to be completed each day. That can be anything from assisting at open houses, chasing up arrears, processing applications or invoicing water usage.

I’ve always known I wanted to get into property management. I completed my certificate of registration while still at high school. So I began my life in the workforce as a receptionist and property manager’s assistant at a real estate agency in Maitland, which was great preparation for my role at Leah Jay.

One of the most interesting moments would have to be one of the early open inspections I conducted, around forty or fifty people showed up. I was astonished to see how many people had turned up to view this particular property. To start off it was a bit overwhelming, but everyone was very helpful and patient, so that made my job a lot easier!

I really enjoy open houses.  I like meeting a wide range of prospective tenants. When I get back to the office I process the applications and sometimes everything checks out perfectly - then it’s really satisfying to inform the property manager and fingers crossed, an application is approved.

Well, this is a hard one, but I guess something different about me would be something I learnt off my older brother… I can shake my eyeballs…weird, I know! 

I just love my job - yes, it’s really busy and some days pass by in a whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I work as part of a fabulous team, providing administration support to the property managers.

After school I started a secretarial traineeship and worked as a receptionist for an ophthalmic surgeon. One day I saw an advertisement for a receptionist at a real estate agency and that’s how I landed in property management. Applying for that receptionist position was one of the best decisions I have made.

Once I took a call from a lady who didn’t mention her name. She was enquiring about renting a small flat.  The flat she was interested in was leased and I could hear the disappointment in her voice.  Afterwards I realised that she sounded very much like a former tenant, so I spoke to one of our property managers and together we organised a property for her. Despite the lady not mentioning her name, I was able to recall her as a lovely person who needed our help. It reminded me why I choose a career in real estate all those years ago.

I had call from one of our owners who needed copies of his statements and invoices.  He was in such a hurry and I could hear the stress in his voice. I organised the information and emailed him straight away.  Within 15 minutes he was on the phone again, at first my heart raced and I wondered what could be wrong. He simply wanted to thank me for being so efficient and prompt.  It’s the small things that make the difference.

I love my garden; there is always something to prune and I use this as a form of therapy.  And don’t get me started on my grass - I planted my whole back yard with buffalo runners from my Grandma’s house.  It took three months, but I really do love my grass.

I love my job... most days! I genuinely enjoy coming to work, and life as a Property Manager is never boring, meeting a variety of people from all different walks of life. Whether it's landlords, tenants or tradespeople everyone has a story to tell and a perspective to share.

Straight out of school my head and heart was always in property management, and whilst I took some time out to complete a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking, there's nothing as interesting to me as interacting with tenants and owners.

I find that the challenging moments most profoundly define my memories and help me to work through my personal fears. Whether it's helping a family deal with the loss of a loved one or coping with the consequences of the 2007 June floods.

It's the everyday victories that I relish, such as having an owner take the time to send you a thank you card for looking after their home or telling a prospective tenant they've secured the property and they squeal down the phone with excitement.

Okay...so the secret's out. I love Cookie Monster from Sesame Street and all 'Me Loves Cookies' things. I have quite a collection, from t-shirts to sheet sets, stuffed toys to cups, air fresheners to tissues, book ends and on it goes...

It has been a pleasure to come and join an office with such nice people. In my role at reception I have had many opportunities to learn new skills and learn all about how the industry works. I also enjoy meeting all the tenants and landlords that come into the office every day.   

I worked in the retail industry for four years at a patchwork shop, where I was lucky enough to have made some long-term friendships. I also spent a year working as a lighting consultant, while trying hard to figure out what career path I wanted to pursue. Having realised I wanted to get into the real estate industry, I then studied at night for a year.   

My most memorable moment would have to be my first day. Being new, I was so nervous already, but then I started on a day when the office was overwhelmingly busy and went home with my head spinning! But coming back the next day was equally as memorable and exciting as I settled in for the challenge of learning a new role.

I’m excited to be part of the industry, learning about the office and working with the pleasant ladies in the office.

I enjoy spending time with my friends. We’re always trying new things and going camping at different places.  

Leah Jay is a new learning curve for me, moving from ASIC forms and financial packages to property, and I constantly find myself learning something new. I am currently a Property Associate and the Assistant to the Manager. This role involves showing and creating advertising for properties and learning the ropes of property management, as well as some personal and administrative tasks for the directors and manager.

I was working at an accounting firm in the CBD as a personal and administration assistant, working mostly with the company and client's ASIC affairs. Prior to my big move to Newcastle, I completed an administration traineeship at an accounting firm in Tamworth. I now have the ability to organise three people and three calendars.

In my first three days at Leah Jay I was not only learning how everything worked in general, I attended meetings with our website and marketing companies to discuss all the projects they were working on... my head was spinning for days!

apart from a new pair of shoes, I love learning new things and mastering them. I am a firm believer in trying again and again until you get it right. I am commonly faced with a new challenge at Leah Jay, some from left field and I love it!

I am a girly girl (despite coming from the country). I love netball, make up, fashion and art. I'll give just about anything a go, as long as heights aren't involved. I do have some unusual food habits and confess I have a weakness for anything satay. Strangely I have been described as a perfectionist when it comes to sandwiches.

It’s a great team with continual support. Given that we spend so much of our time at work it’s paramount to feel good and be appreciated. As a Senior Property Manager I manage a portfolio of properties, as well as assisting Leah with new enquiries, carrying out appraisals and co-ordinating new properties once leased. 

I have predominantly worked in property management and over the years I have had the opportunity to work in a hand full of agencies. I have also worked in trade exchange as a trade co-ordinator, which like property management, involved working with a client base to maximise potential business. 

Unfortunately it isn’t always the good stories that remain at the forefront… I had taken over the management of a property that had been privately managed for several years. Rent was a few months behind and the condition of the house was unspeakable. While I was doing my best find a resolution, it soon become clear the situation was irretrievable. The unfortunate outcome was an eviction with the local sheriff and locksmith. While many would say this is part of the job, what saddened me were the small children who had to move from their home due to actions out of their control. It really brought home the important role we play in people’s lives and the effect we can have. In this situation I liked to think of it as an opportunity for the family to make a fresh start. 

I found returning to Leah Jay after taking a short time of leave to be the most fulfilling choice I have made.

I really enjoy entertaining…more often than not I have a house full of people. I am very adaptable and I like to try anything at least once. I wouldn’t say adrenaline junky but I like to say I’ve given it a go, even if I didn’t like it. I’ve sky dived three times now, each time gets scarier! I’ve dived with sharks and would love to do it again with the Great Whites in South Africa. I was a Scout leader, which allowed me to attend the Australia Jamboree. I am extremely family oriented - we spend every other weekend away. If we'e not riding our motorbikes, we are in our boat on the lake.

Everyone has been so friendly and supportive….and patient with me as I am constantly asking questions! This is a very professional company with well implemented systems that really do help make managing a property portfolio (which is hectic at the best of times) a little easier. I am a property manager, responsible for the day to day management of a portfolio of properties.

I worked as a property manager on the Central Coast, until relocating to Newcastle with my family. Prior to that I was immersed in full time motherhood, coupled with some involvement in the family business.

An owner approved a tenant and when I called to let her know she was approved, she cried on the phone. It gave me goose bumps, because she was just so grateful to be approved. It’s times like these, where you assist someone who’s so appreciative of your efforts, that make the tough times in the job worth it.

Placing a quality tenant in a property pretty much straight after the last tenant vacated!

Well, I have a tendency to break out in song and/or dance…probably something I will have to keep under control for the sake of my colleagues.

It's extremely fast paced and no two days are the same. I've been fortunate enough to have been involved in a number of aspects of the company since I joined the Leah Jay team. I started out as Administration Assistant, which involved behind the scenes work, ensuring our website was functioning properly, to the Phone Room position where I was responsible for supporting reception, scheduling property inspections and listing the properties on our website. I am now a Property Associate and have my own small portfolio, which involves the daily management of properties.

I worked in Sydney as a temp. I worked for a number of international and national companies ranging from Visa International (the credit card) to marketing at a national real estate agency. I have taken some time off to start a family and have two amazing kids that definitely help keep me grounded. 

I love the feeling you get when you have helped someone find a home they love. 

I recently had the chance to help one of our Senior Property Managers on their portfolio. It was a huge learning curve but i loved it, and it made me realise that this is the industry I want to be in. 

What you see is what you get with me. I am very determined and once I have my mind set on something, I must see it through. Although my family may argue that I am stubborn instead.

It is great working for Leah Jay - it's a good atmosphere and great learning environment. My role as a property manager involves me conducting routine inspections, organising repairs and maintenance and most importantly, communicating with landlords and tenants about matters both small and large.

I have been involved in property management for two years now at other offices.

Would be when one of my owners brought me in a bunch of flowers and chocolates to say thank you for all the hard work I did in leasing his newly built block of units. I had worked non-stop, conducting open house inspections, and was able to give him the end result he had set out to achieve.

I remember the day I was told I was ready to manage my own portfolio, which is what I had been working hard to achieve.

My enthusiasm makes me, me. I am very eager and like to try new things.

Everyone is extremely professional and the systems and procedures that are in place here are amazing. Working in a supportive team helps to deal with any challenging tasks that come my way.

I studied marketing and advertising, which lead to working at the Greater Building Society Head Office. It was then I decided to study real estate part time, before I began as a property officer at Maitland.

One of the most memorable experiences was when I approved a lovely old man who was on a pension. He had been knocked back by other agents because he was on a pension, even though he had excellent references. When I informed him that he was approved by the owner he was so happy and grateful he cried. He told me I had made his week!

Each day is different with the people you meet and deal with. I work in such a great atmosphere - everyone works as a team and the support is fantastic.

I’m definitely tenacious. If there is something that I want I won’t stop until I’ve got it!

It’s a positive environment to work in. Despite the demands of our individual roles and the varied levels of experience and expertise, we’re able to come together to provide support and advice to one another. It’s a high pressure environment and you’re constantly challenged. As Accounts Manager I am responsible for our Rental Trust accounts for both Hamilton and Warners Bay – receipting the majority of our tenants' rent payments each morning, paying accounts and processing our mid and end of month disbursements to our landlords and tradespeople.

There was no life before Leah Jay…no seriously I started in July 2005 fresh out of high school. This is my first full time employment!

The first time we disbursed over one million dollars to our landlords at an end of month run – being responsible for maintaining that and realising how much we had grown as a business to have that amount of money running through our trust account was quite exciting. It was also validation that we are providing a quality service.

The first time I completed an end of month run with no software issues or problems. We’d often have to stay in the office after hours to ensure our landlord payment files uploaded to the bank. Several software upgrades later and after having perfected the process, it became much more streamlined and efficient. The first time that it was completed without hitches or hiccups was very exciting and rewarding.

I’m a twin! And my twin sister and I have ‘twin’ beagles. A video of them was featured on Australia’s Funniest Home Videos and even won the weekly prize.

I believe actions speak louder than words..... I have been working for Leah Jay for over five years, so that pretty much says it all. I am a Leasing Consultant, so basically, I show people through our properties and assist them in securing a property when possible, especially with people who are relocating to the area.  We offer a service that is a little different and judging from our thank you emails and faxes of appreciation, it works well!

I was a Property Manager in the Warners Bay area and previous to that I worked in Hospitality and was involved in the setting up and running of Rafferty's Resort at Cam’s Wharf from its conception.

Oh plenty of those…lots of good and some not so much. For instance during a hot weather spell a tenant called and advised us that she had called the police because her neighbour still had his air conditioner on at 10.30pm at night. 

At the end of each year Achievement Awards are given out to staff and last year I received one of them.  I believe what ‘sealed the deal’ was when a Centre Manager of a large shopping centre in the Maitland Area, that I assisted three years ago, mentioned my name in conversation to one of our directors.

Fundamentally I get great joy out of assisting people and believe that you ‘get what you give’ in life. I love all things arty and creative and recently graduated with a Certificate IV in Colour & Design. My latest passion is Zumba and I have just become an instructor.

It’s a friendly team environment.  We’re given the tools, training and skills to confidently carry out the job with good support. I am a Senior Property Manager, which means I manage a portfolio of properties and support other staff members and assist where required.

My early working life was spent as a secretary for a large insurance company. I made the move into real estate over twenty-five years ago, firstly as secretarial support before progressing into residential property management.

Each day is different and there is always something to learn. Just when you get one problem solved, or a property leased or a situation settled, then another issue comes along.  I enjoy meeting, talking and general interaction with clients, whether it be owners, tenants or tradespeople.

I was excited recently when a current owner gave me another property to manage that his daughter had lived in.  We listed the property on the Thursday afternoon on the websites, had an inspection the next day,  applications on the following Monday, approved Tuesday and lease commenced on the Friday – a good quick result and a happy owner. 

I try to have a positive ‘can do’ attitude, be happy  and stay calm. Especially in this line of work, a sense of humour helps to put things in perspective.

It is like working with family, because everyone’s there for one another. As Administration Assistant I help with preparing leases, invoicing tenants and general office duties. 

I was a receptionist for a number of years at various companies.

Our Christmas parties stand out in my memory... they’re always memorable for one reason or another. It’s great to enjoy the company of everyone outside of work.

I won a Staff Award for Excellence the 1^st year I joined Leah Jay, which was so satisfying to know that all my hard work was being appreciated.

I like to be in control of my environment and have systems in place so things work smoothly. I also love Ballroom and Latin American dancing.

It’s fast paced, challenging and fun. We have a diverse team of people that I think complement each other really well. It’s a supportive work environment and everyone is always happy to give advice or lend a helping hand. I am responsible for the day to day management of a portfolio which involves tenant selection, organising maintenance and repairs, conducting ingoing/outgoing and routine inspections, arrears control and communicating with owners and tenants.

I worked in the retail industry for three years while still at school. I then began working as a receptionist for a real estate agency in Newcastle, before commencing with Leah Jay in 2008.

Starting my role in property management – it’s hard to grasp what is involved while working on the fringe, so moving into my current role was a very eye-opening and memorable experience for me. It has been an amazing learning curve. Every day is different and brings a new challenge, which is what I love about it.

Being in a position where I get to work with the leasing consultants and assist people in finding a new home is always rewarding - I get excitement and satisfaction out of helping people and meeting their needs and expectations. 

I’m inquisitive – I like to know everything! If there is something I don’t know, I’ll ask someone who does or I’ll Google it until I find the answer!

Everyone who works here is passionate about what they do… including me, even after more than twenty-five years in the industry. I started at Leah Jay in 1996 as a property manager and for the past five years I have worked as a Leasing Consultant. I really enjoy my role, as I take a genuine interest in assisting people relocate at a time that can be very stressful.

Well basically property management is all I have ever done, since I started my career twenty-seven years ago as a receptionist in a small agency. I was lucky enough to work with Leah some 20 years ago and we developed a great working relationship. I also worked in property management whilst living in London many years back, when I enjoyed some travelling time.

Overall it’s the joy and satisfaction of assisting people, both landlords and tenants. Oh… and the occasional time when you knock on a door for an inspection, no one answers and you go in to surprise a tenant who’s wearing nothing more than a towel, and sometimes the towel has even gone astray.

Recently I assisted an executive who was relocating from Melbourne. I was able to find out a bit of background information on their personalities and lifestyle, which enabled me to find the ideal property. When they eventually arrived to inspect the property and I was happy to hear, “it is perfect, just want we wanted!”

I definitely enjoy a good meal, whether it be a home-cooked Italian meal or a sampling of Indian or Thai at a local restaurant. I enjoy going to local markets and searching for bargains. I’m part of football crazy family, so do enjoy watching a live weekend game with the family.

I was relieved in my first week of working at Leah Jay, I felt comfortable and right at home. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, making my transition an easy and smooth one. I am excited about being part of a professional company whose people are passionate about what they do.

I have worked in the industry for over five years, commencing as a property officer and receptionist. I progressed to property manager a few years ago, which eventually lead me to working here at Leah Jay. Before then I was a cleaner whilst studying business administration, graphic design and later, property management whilst being a mum to two active boys.

I have many memorable moments, all of which make me smile. My most recent would be the excitement of driving a Leah Jay car home on my first day. As this was not my own car I was being very gentle and light on the accelerator - I was driving up Russell Road in New Lambton very slowly not knowing if I was going to make it to the top! I was over conscious and extremely careful not to wreck the motor by revving it too much; I am not a hoon but I do like to accelerate more than most people. I have since adjusted to driving my Leah Jay car and have no issues with hills anymore.

Working in a great environment and receiving positive feedback from clients. It is a good feeling when you know your hard work and efforts are much appreciated.

I have a good sense of humour, I always joke with people in general conversation to create a smile or a laugh. I love getting out on the weekends to watch my kids play soccer and catching up with family and friends. I am interested in learning new things, like a good challenge and believe laughter is the best medicine on a bad day.

The best way to describe working at Leah Jay would be supportive, friendly and professional, which is so important when you spend almost as much time at work as you do at home. In my role, I look after a small portfolio of properties, which involves the day-to-day management these properties and taking care of any issues that arise. Prior to this, I was in a role where I was responsible for updating and listing properties on the website and providing support to the other property managers as well as reception. This was a great role for me to learn the ropes of the industry.

I worked in the accommodation industry in Melbourne at a 4 star property. I was involved in all aspects of the business including website design and management, SEO, marketing, rate management, front office, reservations, recruitment, purchasing, renovations and building planning.  I took a year to work in Canada - also in the accommodation industry - in a beautiful place called Jasper, which is in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Then, after 13 years, I wanted a career change but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so I took on an administration role for a company that manufactured and imported commercial cooking equipment while I figured out what my next career move would be. And then I decided on Real Estate and moved to Newcastle!

Making such a big career change was scary and I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I remember how overwhelmed and silly I felt for the first few weeks after I started. Thankfully the people I work with made it much less intimidating and let me ask them hundreds of questions and were happy to help me.

I am a ‘people’ person and I love being able to build relationships with people and know that I am helping them find what they are looking for. My mentor taught me that a smile goes a long way and without the customer, there is no business, so I find it exciting to strive to not only meet my customer’s expectations but to exceed them. 

I love good food and living in a multi-cultural melting pot like Melbourne for most of my life, I have always had great range of international flavours nearby. I love to laugh so I married a man who keeps me and our son in stiches. I enjoy entertaining and spending time with my family, friends and my precious pooch. My biggest weakness is desserts, especially dark chocolate, but I go to classes at my gym very regularly so I can indulge! I have been lucky enough to travel a fair amount within Australia and overseas which has been a wonderful experience.

I manage a portfolio of properties, many of which I have looked after in excess of 15 years. Duties including selecting tenants, control of arrears, ingoing and outgoing inspections, routine inspections, organising repairs, consulting with landlords and tenants, and attending CTTT if required.

Well I have been associated with property management and real estate for some 30 years. Prior to  joining Leah Jay I have always been involved with offices that deal with sales and property management and have always found that property management was put second best, so working with Leah Jay specialising in looking after owners and tenants is very enlightening.

One of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had was with a lovely Sudanese couple who have four children, were looking for rental accommodation for quite some time and felt that “no other agency would not  give us a go”. Since their tenancy with us began, I have found the property to be as neat as a pin and I’ve also been told the tenant even mows the elderly lady‘s lawn who lives across the road. Now that’s a good neighbour!

I’m probably best described as an “easy going nazi”, which sounds like an oxymoron...but you see I am a perfectionist and easy going most of the time. But there is also an no-nonsense side to me, which is not seen very often, luckily. I love to please people and get a lot of happiness out of making people feel important and special.

I face a different challenge every day at Leah Jay. It find that it's exciting as I know with the support of my co-workers there is a lesson to be learned on a daily basis. I now manage a small portfolio of properties alongside Danielle MacAskill. My role involves selecting tenants, control of arrears, ingoing/outgoing and routine inspections, organising repairs, consulting with landlords and tenants also attending CTTT if required.

After completing my HSC in 2008, I continued my school job working as an Assistant Manager in retail, until commencing with Leah Jay in 2009.

It’s the people I meet that make my job memorable and I love learning about the cases in property management with grey areas. I love a good challenge and a chance to expand my knowledge.

On the front line I have developed good relationships with our tradesman, tenants, prospective tenants and landlords. Hearing from them and being able to ask them how their weekend was or how their family is does make me smile and makes me feel motivated.

Despite my age, all evidence suggests that I’m actually a middle aged woman. I’m obsessed with 70's and 80's music, such as Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and even Phil Collins. A glass of red wine with dinner and an early night is more my speed…which is probably not how others my age are spending their Saturday nights!

Is fun and challenging all at the same time. The staff are lovely and made me feel welcome the minute I walked through the Leah Jay doors. They were all very helpful in making my transition as smooth as possible. Every day is different and having the support network I have here helps me to be motivated and strive to be the best that I can be.

I lived on the far south coast of NSW and worked for my mother as a property officer at her agency in Merimbula.

Coming from a small office on the coast to a busy, fast paced office in the city everyday has had its memorable moments, its highs and lows and some days you just have to laugh, I believe it keeps us sane.

I love meeting the tenants, owners and tradies. I love the satisfaction of helping clients to the best of my abilities and creating great relationships with everyone. You get a lot of different characters that come through our doors which continues to keep things interesting.

When not working in property management I am usually found using the right side of my brain doing something creative. I have a passion for fabrics, furniture and mirrors so I’m always on the look out for an amazing antique piece that I can restore or re-upholster. I stay up extremely late bedazzling a costume or two. I would rather spend time looking through furniture stores than shop for clothes, which some may find strange. I am also a keen equestrian rider.