What It Really Takes to Build (and Sell) a Property Management Business

What It Really Takes to Build (and Sell) a Property Management Business

David and Samantha are joined by Niall Heron — former owner of Wellington property management company Copo (previously Rent Wellington) — who sold his rent roll almost a year ago and has since moved into rent roll brokerage with ABC Business Sales. Niall shares how an accidental start in property management grew into a 260-property business, why he rebranded away from his own name, and the real lesson behind building a company that can survive without you. They dig into letting go of control, hiring for likability over experience, what actually makes a rent roll sellable, and where AI fits into property valuations. Plus, a preview of what Niall will bring to the stage at this year's PMC (29–30 October).

43 Managements in Her 1st Month: Sandy Dodson on Building High-Performance Teams & Art of the Hunt

What does it take to sign 43 managements in your very first month in the industry — during a lockdown — from your living room? In this episode of The Alternative Property Management Show, David and Harrison are joined by co-host Samantha Arnold and the unstoppable Sandy Dodson, Head of BDM at Wolfbrook Property Management and upcoming PMC speaker. Sandy brings decades of sales experience across hospitality, promotional marketing, and media — and she's applied every bit of it to property management with extraordinary results. From averaging 28–30 new managements a month for five years straight, to now leading a national BDM team of 10 across New Zealand (and now Melbourne), Sandy's insights into what it takes to truly hunt for business — not just take orders — are unlike anything you'll hear elsewhere. In this episode, we cover: * Sandy's colourful career journey — from restaurants and Olympic merchandise campaigns to becoming one of the industry's most decorated BDMs * Why 43 managements in month one during COVID lockdown came down to one simple thing: picking up the phone * The difference between order takers and true hunters — and how to build a team of the latter * Why you can't coach hunger, mongrel, or spice — and what to look for instead when hiring BDMs * How Sandy's weekly scorecard and activity-based KPIs keep her national team accountable without micromanaging * The power of Sunday afternoon CRM discipline — and why 10 management agreements showed up in her inbox on a Monday morning * How she's transitioning experienced property managers into BDM roles — and why it's working brilliantly * The role-play AI tool Sandy's exploring to train her team to have better conversations at scale * Why Renty gives BDMs full transparency over rental activity — and how Sandy uses it to stay ahead of conversations with owners * Oh, and there's also a very good recipe for a frozen pineapple margarita. You're welcome. 🎙️ Catch Sandy live at the PMC — 29 & 30 October at the Pullman Auckland. You won't want to miss her on stage. The Alternative Property Management Show is proudly brought to you by Renti & The PMC.

Andy Reid: Redefining Value, Becoming a Student of Yourself, & the Conversation We Don't Have Enough

What does "value" actually mean to your customer — and why can almost no one in the industry articulate it? In this episode of The Alternative Property Management Show, David and Harrison sit down with Andy Reid — 2026 PMC speaker, coach, and author — for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation. Andy shares his philosophy on reverse-engineering human behaviour to better understand what value really means from the customer's perspective, and why businesses need to build their processes around people, not the other way around. The conversation then moves into much deeper territory, as Andy opens up candidly about his own 11-year journey with depression and anxiety, and his experience of reaching a breaking point — twice. It's a raw, generous, and ultimately hopeful conversation about what it means to truly become a student of yourself, why prevention matters more than cure, and why no one should have to face these moments alone. In this episode, we cover: * Why most professionals can't define "value" from their customer's point of view — and what to do about it * Reverse-engineering human behaviour to build better business processes * Andy's personal story of depression, anxiety, and reaching the edge — twice * The importance of becoming a "student of yourself" in order to truly heal and evolve * Why mental health support can't be one-size-fits-all * Free, anonymous resources available to real estate professionals through the Real Care app A note before you press play: this episode includes an honest discussion of mental health, depression, and suicide, including Andy's own lived experience. Please take care while listening, and reach out for support if you need it — in New Zealand, you can call or text 1737 anytime, or call Lifeline on 0800 543 354. 🎙️ Catch Andy Reid live at the PMC 2026. The Alternative Property Management Show is proudly brought to you by Renti & The PMC.

From Corporate to Co-Founder: Ashleigh Clutterbuck's Journey to The Hancock Group

What does it take to walk away from a 10-year corporate career, leap into business ownership, and build something truly your own? In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The Alternative Property Management Show, David and Harrison are joined by Ashleigh Clutterbuck — BDM, co-founder of THG Property Management (part of The Hancock Group), PMC keynote speaker, and one of the most authentic voices in the New Zealand property management industry. Ashleigh opens up about her journey — from her early days at Ray White Christchurch, to navigating the personal loss of her mum, to finding the courage to back herself and go into business with Hancock Group co-founder Mehdi Keegan. Just 16 months in, the results are already speaking for themselves. In this episode, we cover: * How Ashleigh built her personal brand so powerfully that leads come to her — without cold calling * Why she left a 10-year career at Ray White and what gave her the courage to take the leap * The realities of starting a boutique property management business from scratch * Why Christchurch and the Selwyn district are some of the most exciting investment markets in New Zealand right now * Smart investor advice — why point of difference in a property matters more than ever * What to expect from Ashleigh's keynote at the PMC — 11 lessons from 11 years in the industry * How AI tools like Claude are starting to make their way into property management workflows * The power of personal brand, authenticity, and showing up consistently for your clients Ashleigh's story is one of resilience, self-belief, and genuine passion for people — and it shows in everything she does. "The hardest things in life are often the best things that happen to us." — Ashleigh Clutterbuck 🎙️ Catch Ashleigh live at the PMC — 29 & 30 October at the Pullman Auckland. Don't miss her keynote. The Alternative Property Management Show is proudly brought to you by Renti & The PMC.

25 Years in Property Management: Jodi Ford's Journey, Lessons & the Future of the Industry

What does it take to scale a property management business to 15,000 properties — and keep it there? In this episode of The Alternative Property Management Show, we sit down with Jodi Ford from Coronis, one of Queensland's most recognised names in real estate. With 25 years in property management under her belt, Jodi shares an honest, insightful, and at times deeply personal look at what it really takes to grow, lead, and evolve in this industry. In this episode, we cover: * Jodi's 25-year career journey — from typing landlord statements at 5 AM to leading one of Australia's largest rent rolls * How Coronis grew from a corporate agency to a franchise model spanning 15,000 properties * The real lessons learned from buying rent rolls — due diligence, risk management, and what she'd do differently * Why people leave leaders, not businesses — and how to retain great talent * The growing role of virtual assistants and technology in property management * How AI is reshaping the industry and what PMs need to do to stay ahead * Whether you're a property manager just starting out, a business owner looking to scale, or a leader navigating the rapid changes reshaping the industry — Jodi's experience is a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and passion. "Every acquisition taught us something new." — Jodie Ford 🔗 Connect with Jodi: * LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jodi-ford [https://au.linkedin.com/in/jodi-ford-4022b0bb] * Website: coronis.com.au [http://coronis.com.au] The Alternative Property Management Show is proudly brought to you by Renti & The PMC.