Jake joined Goodwins a year ago following a solid five-year stint in the building industry. He started a building apprenticeship and particularly enjoyed working on heritage and architecturally designed houses. But post COVID the building sector slumped. It prompted Jake to reconsider his future. He’s still in property, only he’s not swinging a hammer. But he retains his builder’s eye and can spot a dunger from three blocks away. Jake’s Goodwins portfolio continues to grow, and once it surpasses 40 properties, he’ll be able to drop ‘cadet’ from his title and work as a fully-fledged property management pro.

Q: I like to start these interviews with a big question – answer it any way you want. Where do you come from?

JC: “Well, I grew up snow skiing. I loved it. I was lucky my parents taught me how to ski when I was young and it took me a long way. I dedicated myself to skiing for seven years, even competing in freestyle at one point. And then I tore my ACL. I prefer snowboarding now.’

Q: What’s your sweet spot in terms of the properties you source and manage?

JC: “No specialisation just yet – I’m focusing on growing my portfolio. Right now I have a 50:50 split between houses and apartments, mostly in central Auckland. But I’d like to add properties on the Shore.”

Q: How is the market right now? Is it easier to fill apartments than houses?

JC: “It’s best to think in terms of price. If the price is right, you’ll tenant a property, regardless. Certainly, though, the market is a little tougher than it used to be.”

Q: National figures show a large increase in available rental properties and a much smaller increase in rent seekers. What’s happening in your domain?

JC: “That sounds about right. It’s a tenant’s market at the moment. And they’re obviously price sensitive. It can put a little downward pressure on rents, so we’ve got to be negotiable on price. If that means getting the right tenant then it’s worth it.”

Q: Given that it’s now harder for a landlord to rent their property, what can they do to increase their chances – other than perhaps knocking a bit off the rent?

JC: “Presentation goes a long way – that includes both the property itself and your advertising, which is sometimes overlooked. Professional photography is always worth the investment. Then consider the house itself – think dated curtains and carpets. That’s what people notice first. It’s not the biggest investment in the world and they last a decent amount of time. A little can go a long way.”

Q: What are the biggest reasons a landlord should seek out a professional property manager?

JC: “Working with a property manager is much less daunting. There’s so much to keep on top of – things like healthy homes requirements and regular inspections for insurance policies.”

“Some property owners are happy to do their own maintenance but, for whatever reason, inspections are forgotten. It can come back to bite them if they need to make an insurance claim.”

Q: Putting your builder’s hat on – if you were buying an investment property right now, what would you be wary of?

JC: “Signs of water damage, like lifting carpet and paint and that sort of thing at the bottom of the skirting boards or on the walls. I also like to get a sense of how the house has been kept. For example, you don’t want to be pulling up a floor in five years because a dog’s peed all over the place. You should also bear in mind the era in which the house was built. The 1990s are famous for leaky homes built with unproven materials and lax building regulations.”

Call Jake on 021 278 7171 to put your property into the hands of an up-and-coming property management pro.