Property Management w/ Robbie Truax

In this episode of Keys to the Emerald Coast, we sit down with Robbie Truax, Area Director of Property Management, to hear her story and explore the vital role property management plays in our local real estate landscape.

Robbie shares her journey into the industry, the experiences that shaped her leadership, and what it takes to successfully manage properties in today’s market. From navigating challenges to building strong relationships with owners and tenants, she offers valuable insight into a side of real estate that often goes unseen.

Whether you're a property manager, REALTOR®, investor, or simply curious about the industry, this episode gives you a deeper understanding of the people and processes that keep our communities running smoothly.

🎧 Tune in to hear Robbie’s story and learn more about the impact of property management on the Emerald Coast.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Keys to the Emerald Coast, the official podcast of the Emerald Coast Association of World Tourists. Each episode we unlock market insights, advocacy updates, and member stories to help you thrive one key at a time.

SPEAKER_03 0:12

Welcome back, ECAR. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Keys to the Emerald Coast. I am Chad Nelson, Marketing Communications Director with ECAR, joined by my co-host, Maria Howell.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

Hello, Chad.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

Um, doing well. How are you today?

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Doing great.

SPEAKER_03 0:26

You're doing good? Yes. Okay. We're I I think we always talk about the weather because you know it's beautiful, it's generic thing we can talk about, but it is gorgeous out.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

You know what we do in my office, unfortunately? We put the live beach cam on the TV.

SPEAKER_03 0:39

Oh, why would you do that?

SPEAKER_02 0:40

I know. And yesterday was beautiful. I'm like, why are we not out there?

SPEAKER_03 0:44

Interesting. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 0:45

I need to not do that.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Yeah, that that's a weird. I'm not gonna lie, that's kind of a weird play. Live live beach cam in office when you're stuck.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

And we're only a few blocks from the beach.

unknown 0:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

Well, we are at the JVC broadcasting studio with with our favorite broadcaster and and and voice and all of the above, Scott Mallard. Also joined in studio by our property management director for e-car, Robbie Truax.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Hey, hey, how are you? I'm here. Yay, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:13

We're in we're in we're in here, we're in the building. Um wanting to we're in this kind of segment of our of our podcast, I guess, for the last few weeks. Just kind of bringing our area directors and giving them a chance to talk about their their sphere and really just want to give you a chance to kind of highlight property management and all the things it it entails, obviously, with a with a massive area of condos and rentals and all of that kind of fun stuff. I'm sure we can talk. But want to give you a chance, obviously, to talk just about yourself for a minute. Um, would love to know about your personal professional story, how'd you get into the business, industry, and then then how did you step into this role with eCar?

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Okay, so go down to checklist. No. Uh well, it all started on a Sunday in 1983.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

And it's very specific. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

I know it's a Sunday because my dad, this is sidebar. My dad was at a softball game. My parents met playing adult co-ed softball league. Oh, wow. And my mom had to leave him a note that she went to the hospital. Really? Yeah, he made it. And that's how I got my name, Robbie. I was named after my dad, who is Robert. But um, but yeah, a little bit about me. I I've lived in the area since 2007. Well, like we could go back to 1983, of course, but I grew up in Metro Detroit area and I joined the Air Force and the rest is history. I've been here since then, active duty for 11 years. I've met my husband here, and um, and he retired and started working locally at a nonprofit. Many people probably know the Air Force Enlisted Village. So he's over there now for going on 11 years, but I decided to separate from the Air Force in 2018 because we didn't want to leave. And it was a tough decision. I left definitely on a high note in my career for sure. But if I wanted to continue to promote and progress, we would have had to move. And so it was just a big decision for our family. You know, it's it's tough, but but we love it here. And um, my kids, this is all they know. They were both born on Eglin. Um, so I do have two teens at home, but I have a bonus daughter who is she's 22 and she lives out of state right now. But so I stay busy at home. Um, I got into property management. Uh we'll backtrack a little bit, where I've only been working exclusively in property management for two years now.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

So before then, I was your regular sales agent working um in real estate, working with buyers and sellers. But my husband and I wanted to build legacy and we wanted to have rentals. That was always a dream um to have potentially a rental property for each of our children. And part of that, like something about me, is I like to learn as much as I can if I want to do something. I'm gonna research everything about it. And there was opportunity at our sister company. I was working with Royalty One Group with Jackie Laberto, our broker, but she also is the broker for One Family Property Services, and there was an opening for a property manager. I had zero experience for being a property manager, but I was eager. And now looking back though, when I was active duty Air Force, I was working in CE and I was facilities management and CE and in Red Horse on base. So, in some sense, I was doing property management even while I was active duty, but it never connected until I'm like sitting service calls, work orders, all of that, where I'm like, oh my God, I I actually do have experience with this. And um, and so that made it a little bit more seated in in my heart, if that makes sense, where you know, more than just like, hey, I'm gonna do this because it's something I want to do. It's like actually I've been doing this and now I get to do it in a different way um and continue to serve. Yeah, it was pretty cool to realize that. You know, we want you want to have a full circle moment to keep going. Not every day is easy, not every transaction or interaction with owners and tenants can be easy, but that helps to like, okay, Robbie, you got this, you know, this is a life or death. That's that helps. No one's gonna die. No one's gonna die here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:41

Well, I guess what for those that I mean, you yourself maybe have had not kind of dove into the deep end with with property management for those of our our members or people who are listening. What all does property management really entail? Why how is it different than um normal real estate?

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Oh, big time difference in the sense it's hard. I mean, I know what we did, what I did working with buyers and sellers, and you know, I feel like that was a lot more emotional, you know, helping a buyer find their first home or um helping a seller say goodbye to a home where they brought their children home or, you know, or they're where they they've lived in for 25, 30 years. That felt emotional. But once the transaction is done, yes, we're great because we're doing all the follow-up and we're staying connected to our clients even after the sales uh sale is closed. In property management, this is it's only the beginning when we sign a contract, when we are signing our management agreement, when we're signing the lease, our relationship is essentially just beginning. And it's as long as this is in place, as long as the lease in place for the rest of the year, quote unquote, I'm stuck with you and you're stuck with me, you know. Um, and so our interactions each week, each month, um, the every inspection that gives us an opportunity to maintain a relationship. And so I would say that's what makes it hard because it just doesn't stop. I sign an agreement today and I'm like, okay, this is the beginning. And now, you know, I hope to be able to serve him as as best as I can, um, because it's an ongoing thing, just like a marriage, just like a relationship with your kids or friendship, it you have to put in the work, and so that's why I would say it's the biggest difference how continuous it is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

Never never thought of it that way. I know, I know. I love that perspective.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

Yeah, that's that makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

Yeah, I think in terms of yeah, it's almost like that one and yes, I think uh our our members are going to stay connected with a lot of their clients, but for the most part, yeah, it feels a very okay, we we made the sale, we kind of move on. It's like, whoo, that's done.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

But it's not an ongoing baby restarting. It is a continue like everything you do when you're at escrow or when you're under contract to please your clients, right? Um, and and being under contract can last for some of the experts can last from seven days to 45 days, right? Uh, but again, it's like okay, that but that takes a lot of work to please make sure everyone is satisfied and all the T's are crossed and all of that. But yeah, with with property management, it's operational. It is all the time, is is less transactional. Like it truly is. It's like, yes, we want rent paid, all of that. But you know, we want to also preserve the property. We want to make sure that we're giving the owner advice about their investment for the long term because a lot of owners are more than just making ends meet. This is part of them building their portfolio and everything. And so, um, so it it it's more operational and and and interactive, I would say.

SPEAKER_02 8:58

Yeah, it's good. Can we rewind a little bit? And how did you get uh involved with the board?

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Sure. I'm well, okay. I a little bit about me as well is that I always want to make a difference, and sometimes I can't say no. And so mix that and here you know, I always say no to you. No, it's not like that. It's like I am every time, and I know, and I'm in the rooms now, especially and in those conversations since being on the board um this January. Um, I know that Chad and Board and Melissa and everyone, all the staff, there you're always thinking about how to talk to the agent and how to attract the agent. You guys attract me. You know, I'm reading the emails, the weekly Wednesday emails, get the text messages. Um, I'm I'm signing up. It it's working for a person like me because I want to learn, I want to be involved, I want to be a part, if that makes sense. Like I'm I'm not well, it can be busy and it's like, you know, it's hard. Like we can't be everywhere all the time. I want to try my best to be. And so once the board opportunity came up, Kimberly was actually the one that reached out to me to ask me to um to consider it. And then I was in the room with my broker when I got the text message, and she's like, You should do it. I'm like, I mean, you're supposed to talk me out of it. You're supposed to tell me like, Robbie, you're not, you don't have time for this. This isn't, or you know, whatever. But one thing about Jackie, she would never do that. She would always be like, Okay, how can you elevate? How can we elevate? How can you have an impact? It's it's always pushing me and us towards that. And so, um, so yeah. So I got involved with war because I want to um be a person, I want to make a difference. Yes, I'm new as a property manager. I I always say I'm a new property manager with just two years um in, you know. So there's sometimes we even when I was going through the election, I was like, I might actually win. I don't know, like, you know, like he's like, it's one thing to put your n name in the hat. It's another thing to okay, now people have put their confidence in me and now I have to step up. But obviously, I don't know everything, I don't have all the experience of everything, but I do have a lot of experience just in a short time um because I do this full time, yeah, completely.

SPEAKER_03 11:37

I think, like you said, being a a lifelong learner and somebody that is constantly after that growth. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

That that's I mean, that's why I enjoy eCar and what e car has to offer. That was something when I first started in real estate actually in 2021, it came after I left a a different role in um at a local church nonprofit sector and like um an ordained minister for the audience, just so you guys know. But but it's like which is very different in some ways than what I'm doing now. But someone was hiring for an administrative role. It was operations role. I wasn't licensed, it wasn't licensed role or anything like that. Um, and so I jumped in and to just do that, but they were not very interested in all this extra, right? It was about it's about the sales and it's all good, right? But I learned so much, it was awesome. Um, but once I went out on my own within, it was less than a year when I got licensed and and went out on my own. I was like, okay, so where's my books? Where's the classes? Where, you know, where and so eCar is been awesome with all those offerings. Like Paula is yeah, one of, you know, she's one of the very first people you are able to connect with once you're say you want to get involved because education is usually like that. Yeah, that first step. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:02

We go, we talk about her a lot. I know, I know, I know.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

You guys need to get around here. Has she? Oh, I'm telling you, we have been trying and she keeps pushing it off.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

I'll tell her, I'll do it with her. No, we do need she might need a a partner. Uh but we need to tell her this is your duty, Paula. Paula, we need the people need you. We still need Wendy on, too.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

I don't think we've had Wendy or Paula.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Yeah, do a whole staff panel. That might be work.

SPEAKER_02 13:30

Yeah, maybe that would work. Get a staff panel, and then they they're not like on their own.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Yeah, I bet that's how they it would have felt.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

We could have some fun with that one.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

I think I think so.

SPEAKER_03 13:38

We'll we'll see how many mics Scott can bring in. It could get dangerous. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Um so um, so yeah, so what's the the property management market look like up there?

SPEAKER_00 13:49

So well, it's crazy. Um, right now, in the meetings that I'm having and talking to my owners and and agents. Um, I work with a lot of agents who don't do this, right? And they're like, okay, Robbie, can you tell, you know, I have a buyer that's looking for this, this, and this. Um, it is busy right now. It's pretty um consistent on the rental side. I focus on long-term rentals, but and but my background before um then or before I was in property management, even I did work with investors or a lot of um a lot of investors that were looking for their short-term rentals on that side. That's kind of how I saw it, or saw the market or my experience back on that end. But right now, it is busy and consistent. I tell owners that I can move some, we could have 20 move-ins in January and that and that that's a busy January, right after Christmas, right after New Year, to have, you know, um, I'm just as busy in between December 15th to January 15th as I am in July. And so I try to explain, like, because of the area we live in, that we're so blessed. We it's more than just the weather, it it is the military, it is, you know, our the the military, but also the government contract roles and jobs that people that are moving here for that all the time, all year round. Um, but it's fun to watch how in Fort Wand Beach versus Crestview, for example, like how that market right now, for the first time when I was like when I was looking at it today, active rentals, there's more in Fort Wallon Beach than Crestview. Wow, which is has not been the normal. It's just like 10 more. It's not that many more, but then it's it's half in the half of that in Navarre um and Niceville.

SPEAKER_03 15:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

And then even fewer in Destin. And so just looking at for people to understand that when if you're a buyer looking for a rental, take your location in consideration. Know where people are looking. People want to be closer to the bases, yeah, and all of that, but your location matters um big time where you're selecting, especially if you're not gonna be here a long time or if one day you do want to rent it out. Just it's important to know that hey, it's pretty busy up in Crestview for a rental. It's good because it prov it's more affordable, but it can be provide a lot of competition when it's time. There's only so many four-twos that someone can look at before they just go, okay, that one's they just close their eyes and pick one because it can be a toss-up.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

So inventory is up, I guess, because I know we used to have low inventory um during COVID or after COVID. Um, and so I've noticed now seemed like there's been an uptick.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

I think it's definitely um much higher than back than like um during like you said during COVID. Cause when I got into real estate, it was 2021 and it was like everyone's fighting. Um, we're undercutting cutting to get the sale or make the deal where it's now. It's it's a lot more options for people. I like that for tenants. I tell them, like, okay, we have an application already for this one, but here are other ones that meet your same criteria. And that makes me feel like I'm I am able to serve people a lot more because okay, we get it. This one didn't work out, or you know, the timing doesn't work, but we have something else for you. Um, so we work hard to be able to do that.

unknown 17:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:30

What's uh uh like what's one piece of advice? I mean, a couple years into this role specifically, what's kind of your one piece of advice that you would either give yourself a couple years ago or somebody uh that's maybe looking to do the same move and get into property management? What would you tell them about this industry and kind of this sector that you're in right now?

SPEAKER_00 17:51

I would say working with an any agent, whether it's property manager, you working in property management or just working in sales is relationships with other agents matter. That is the biggest support that I have um as far as like, okay, you're on the right track, you're helping somebody, you're making it like your peers being able to work well with with my peers has been so rewarding. But also relationships with the owners, with your clients. Um, just knowing that it's yes, it's nice for someone to cold call you. Off they just Googled and found your name.

unknown 18:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

But man, nothing beats a personal referral. Um, someone that already knows, likes, and trusts you. So I would tell people like, share what you're doing, share how you can help, um, because they already know, like, and trust you. So don't be shy about that. So um I would say relationships, not only with other agents, but just lean into having relationships with your clients um because that will fuel your business. But don't, you know, buy I think that's better and more valuable than no withfense and buying leads and things like that. Yes, like when you buy leads, that's still helping people, but man, it just it truly is so much more rewarding when you're able to like take someone um across the finish line.

SPEAKER_03 19:20

Uh yeah that that rewarding and that purpose behind a previous connection or being three connections down the line.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

For sure. Kids, I know you know, working with uh kids of a previous client can um be pretty cool too. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:40

Very cool. Well, good. Well, uh I know we're all kind of in a busy schedule, but uh I really do thank you for taking some time out and spending a little bit of time talking about some property management with us. I I feel like there's so much more to uncover, obviously, throughout this area. Always, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

Because it can cover, you know, Pentacle of Anima City, literally.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

It runs the full game. And I I think a lot of we we have area directors, but in terms of property management, it's really it's everything that kind of e car. Yeah. I think Melissa Skineki calls it the the mothership. We called it the umbrella for a little while. Everything that kind of falls under the umbrella, but yeah, it's a it's a large area um and a very sought after area. So it really is. We we'd love to probably have you back on and dive into this a little bit deeper. But uh yeah, thanks so much for coming on and it's been fun.

SPEAKER_00 20:34

Thank you. Thank you guys.

SPEAKER_03 20:36

Well, everybody, thanks so much for listening in. You can find us on Spotify, Apple, Podcast, wherever you're listening to to this marvelous podcast, and I'm sure many more. But um we want to hear from you. As always, please reach out. You can call the office, you can shoot us an email. We'd love to hear from you. We would love to bring whatever you want to hear to this podcast, whoever you want to see. We really gotta start doing some video. I think we we gotta add that here pretty soon. We'll we'll have a way to tap in and give us some questions and comments. Maria are gonna Marie and I are gonna bring some fun stuff to you soon. Yes, we are. I love it. All right, well, thanks for listening in, and until next time, we'll talk to you soon.