A full-service property management team keeps Camana Bay operating smoothly, managing and maintaining the Town Centre's spaces, whether inside or out. Get to know their roles in our Day in the Life series.
We begin with Property Manager Ally McRae. Recently recognised as one of the Institute of Real Estate Management's 2023 30 under 30 recipients, Ally is “a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication to one's craft," according to her direct manager and Dart Senior Property Manager Juliet Grant.
CBT: What drew you to this field?
AM: I studied business for real estate in university, which was a very maths- and theory-based degree. After graduation, I wanted to do something more practical. I happened upon a property manager position and have been doing it ever since. It’s a dynamic career path — no two days are the same and you have to be a jack of all trades. We see people at their worst moments when they’re having a crisis, but I love being able to help provide a solution that turns their day around.
CBT: What is your favourite part of your job?
AM: I’m a people person, so I love that I get to interact with a lot of different people through my work — from all of our residential tenants to our many vendors plus my coworkers on the [property management] team and other departments here at Dart. We collaborate with so many people on a regular basis. It makes me feel very connected to the Camana Bay community, and I know there will always be a friendly face around the Town Centre.
Timeline of a typical day
Do you have a set schedule for tasks or is every day different?
AM: Every day is different, so I absolutely live and die by my Outlook calendar! Property management involves a fair amount of administrative work, but also a lot of property visits, so I’m often walking around Camana Bay over to The Terraces or Kapok.
What are some examples of the variety of tasks you are presented with as property manager?
AM: Replying to emails and answering phone calls takes up a lot of my time, as tenants are our number one priority. I also get involved with budgeting, service scheduling, processing invoices, leasing negotiations and paperwork, writing reports on asset performance, and handling the random things that pop up, from responding to leaks to replacing toasters.
Who inspires you?
AM: Marvin Cox, our vice president of property management. He worked his way up from the bottom, so everyone on our team has a lot of respect for him. He uses his influence to fully support us, which gives us all the confidence to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.
This article was published in the September/October 2023 print edition of Camana Bay Times.
