The Raine & Horne Property Management Retreat attracted Property Managers from across NSW with representatives from its office networks in the Sydney metropolitan area, the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Southern Highlands, and the Riverina. 

The retreat aimed at providing delegates with a unique networking and educational experience by offering some of the best and brightest guest speakers, including Ms Fiona Blayney from Real Plus, who presented a seminar titled “Controlling the uncontrollable a new way of working.” 

The retreat puts Property Managers front and centre

Event organiser, Ms Maria Milillo, National Manager- Operations & Property Management, Raine & Horne Group, said, “Unlike other events, the retreat is for Property Managers only and showcased an exceptional grouping of entertaining and informative guest speakers.

“After one of the most challenging years on record where Property Managers had everything bar the kitchen sink hurled at them, the retreat was an opportunity to discuss ways they were forced to pivot and adapt their processes and procedures as legislation changed almost daily at the height of lockdowns 12 months ago. 

Apart from Ms Blayney, other speakers included Ms Rosy Sullivan from the Australian College of Professionals, who addressedc the issue of compliance and common mistakes.

There was also a panel session where some of Raine & Horne’s brightest Property Management stars shared their insights, wins, losses and challenges over the past year. The panel included Katie Tilden-Bingham from Raine & Horne Gosford, Bruna Romano and business development whiz Adam Freitas from Raine & Horne Newtown and John Katergarakis from Raine & Horne Bexley/Beverly Hills. 

“The panel addressed how the expectations of landlords and tenants changed through the pandemic and how these changed expectations must be addressed by our service models,” Ms Milillo said. 

Networking and winemaking

The event also attracted a broad suite of sponsors, including Direct Connect, Detector Inspector, Inspection Manager, Rental Rewards, BMT, and REA. 

Ms Milillo said reviving the networking benefits of being part of a major real estate group such as Raine & Horne was a central goal of the retreat. 

“Our delegates were excited to be back in a seminar environment and to be networking face-to-face with their peers rather than via Zoom."

Ms Milillo added, “The retreat was not all hard work, and we included plenty of fun networking activities including a unique Hunter Valley winemaking activity, Grapes to Glass, where teams competed to produce their very own wine in just two hours, which they presented to an expert winemaker for judging.”

Positive delegate feedback

Mr Paul Pettenon, Principal of Raine & Horne Concord, took eight Property Management team members to the Hunter Valley for the retreat.

“We attended the retreat as a thank you to my team after a challenging 12 months. The event also enabled them to bond with their Property Management peers in the Raine & Horne network and particularly regional offices such as Raine & Horne Tamworth and Raine & Horne Goulburn,” said Mr Pettenon.

“The speaker line-up and content were brilliant, and we left with plenty of new tips and strategies to help us enhance our services to our landlords and tenants when we return to Concord.

“We were also thrilled to be able to interact with the many sponsors and get a feel for the new Property Management products that are available to take us ahead and help us manage through this recovery period we are operating in now.”