As part of its strategy to elevate the skills, experience and preparation of its property  managers, Laing+Simmons collaborated with team building and communication  experts Crime Story in a session which linked the transferable skills of crime-solving and property management in a unique, immersive way. 

Founded by former detective Luke Taylor, Crime Story undertakes immersive workshops  which challenge participants to investigate mock crime scenes, in which they identify and  review evidence as a practical way to hone critical skills in attention to detail, analytical  thinking and effective communication – all essential in effective property management. 

After gathering evidence, property managers then interrogate 'witnesses' and navigate  deliberate red herrings to solve the 'crime.' 

Laing+Simmons Head of Property Management Michael Anania says providing a broader  scope of hands-on training is necessary to reflect the elevated expectations of property  managers in the current market, and the dynamic nature of the work they do. 

“Our collaboration with Crime Story will upskill our property managers when it comes to  communication with tenants and landlords, help them establish clear pathways to efficiently  expedite solutions through asking the right questions, and better handle difficult  circumstances. Feedback from our participating property managers has been  overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Anania says. 

Luke Taylor of Crime Story acknowledged Laing+Simmons for “what they are doing to  change property management for the better and upskilling their teams with real-life  challenges that they can then take away and use in everyday life.” 

This latest collaboration complemented the recent session Laing+Simmons property managers had with the KYUP! Project, which equipped them with strategies and techniques  to deal with domestic violence situations. The Crime Story session also covered everyday  dealings with clients on factors related to domestic violence, and markers to look for which are otherwise lost to the eye. 

“Our strategic approach when it comes to training is to be as comprehensive as possible and  this involves broadening the exposure and experiences of our people beyond traditional real  estate realms, to ensure they have the best possible opportunity to continually grow their  skills and knowledge,” Mr Anania says. 

To this end, Laing+Simmons has established a framework for its offices to have a reliable emergency plan for when property managers encounter danger, and encourages its people  to download the Daniel Morcombe Foundation 'Help Me' App to discreetly alert the office of potential hostility or danger during open houses or property inspections.  

Laing+Simmons property managers will re-group with Crime Story again in 2025 to solve  another ‘crime’.

The company also trains its property managers on the proper protocols to observe when handling tenant accidents, injuries and fatalities, covering legal and ethical considerations, to  ensure they are fully equipped to deal with the wide variety of challenges they may face. 

More Laing+Simmons reading:

Laing+Simmons Launches The Prospecting Academy | The Real Estate Conversation

New Offices Expand Laing+Simmons Sydney Coverage | The Real Estate Conversation

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New Offices Expand Laing+Simmons Sydney Coverage