Amelia has been featured in the latest issue of Landlord Life, the magazine for property owners published by The Guild of Property Professionals.
In her Q&A, Amelia shares how she joined Rockett Home Rentals while studying Criminal Justice at university. Having grown up around property renovations, she already had a keen interest in the industry, and her role gave her the opportunity to gain experience across every area of the lettings business.
Two and a half years later, Amelia has taken on greater responsibility within the office and become an important part of the close-knit Rockett Home Rentals team.
From solving property problems to teaching karate and playing competitive golf, here is your chance to get to know Amelia and learn more about her role, interests and ambitions for the future.
How long have you worked here?
2½ years.
How did it all begin?
I began working at Rockett Home Rentals while studying Criminal Justice at university. I had always had a keen interest in property, as my parents bought, renovated and sold several houses while I was growing up.
I continued working at Rockett Home Rentals throughout university and had the opportunity to experience all areas of the business, from managing applicants to handling checkouts and deposits.
After completing my degree, I went on to study for a master’s in Investigation Practice, originally intending to pursue a career within the criminal justice system. By that point, though, I had been at RHR for over a year and realised how much I enjoyed working in lettings. I asked Bill if I could stay on full-time while finishing my master’s, and I began taking on more responsibility within the office and moved into a more managerial role.
What do you like about Rockett Home Rentals?
I love the variety that comes with working in lettings and property. One minute I can be dealing with a checkout and the next the phone rings with a completely new challenge. No two days are ever quite the same.
I enjoy solving problems and working out the best possible outcome for both landlords and tenants. I also love that we have a small, close-knit team. We all get on really well, which makes working at Rockett Home Rentals genuinely enjoyable.
What are your future plans?
I hope to continue moving the business forward alongside the team, growing our landlord property portfolio, introducing new systems and continually improving the way we work to make things better for both landlords and tenants.
I’ve gone from photocopying documents and hanging keys to meeting landlords in gorgeous houses and taking on more responsibility within the business, so I hope to keep progressing and see where it takes me!
How does your academic background help with lettings?
I think one of the biggest things my academic background has taught me is how to communicate with people and defuse difficult situations when they arise. A lot of my coursework was people-focused and involved understanding different circumstances, assessing information and problem-solving.
There are also skills I gained through both my undergraduate degree and master’s that transfer surprisingly well into lettings, particularly time management, understanding aspects of the law and looking at situations objectively to find the best way forward.
What is something you wish you knew when you started?
Having the key to a property doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting in!
You never know whether it’s the fourth copy of a key to be cut or whether the lock has mysteriously been changed.
What do you get from golf?
Golf requires a lot of patience and perseverance. It has definitely taught me that practice and hard work are what get results.
What do you get from karate?
Teaching karate has taught me how to adapt to different people, needs and learning styles. We have people of all ages and abilities in the class, so I have to be able to quickly adjust how I explain or demonstrate something depending on the person.
I think that’s made me much more patient and adaptable, which are skills I use all the time when dealing with different people at work.
What does being part of The Guild of Property Professionals mean to you?
Being part of The Guild of Property Professionals means I have access to a wider network of experienced agents who I can turn to for advice, share ideas with and learn from. It’s reassuring to know that support is there, particularly when the property industry is constantly changing.
The Guild of Property Professionals also helps us stay up to date with legislation, compliance and marketing. For me, it’s about having that additional expertise behind us while giving our landlords and tenants confidence that they’re dealing with a professional team committed to maintaining high standards.
What advice would you give to landlords?
The biggest piece of advice I would give a landlord is simple: buy a property you would be happy to live in yourself. Looking after a property, keeping it well maintained and creating somewhere people genuinely want to call home makes a huge difference – for both the landlord and the tenant.
What advice would you give to tenants?
Remember that while it’s your home, it’s also someone else’s property. Look after it in the same way you would hope somebody would look after your own.
And if something goes wrong, tell us! Reporting a small problem early is nearly always much easier than dealing with a big problem later.
Supporting Landlords and Tenants
Amelia’s ability to communicate, adapt and solve problems helps us support landlords and tenants through the many different situations that can arise in lettings. Her journey at Rockett Home Rentals also shows just how much there is to learn and experience behind the scenes of a busy lettings agency.
Take a look at our properties currently available to rent, and if one catches your eye, contact Amelia and the team at Rockett Home Rentals to find out more or arrange a viewing.