I never did well in school as a child, despite my best efforts, and I was never a top student. Upon realising I possessed the gift of gab, I knew my talents lie elsewhere. I was lucky enough to discover my natural talent in communication and how I enjoyed communicating with people, whether I knew them or not.
In hindsight, I feel it was all thanks to my dad that I received this natural ability. I saw him make the most of his excellent communication skills and penchant for building relationships to work his way up to become the Principal Property Manager of a London-based residential block management firm. He did not spend much time with our family because he had to travel to London for work, but I loved spending time with him on the weekends and talking about open houses and UK real estate trends.
I had no idea at the time that those light hearted conversations with my dad would eventually lead me to a career in property management. I wish I could say it was all smooth sailing from the start, but it wasn’t. In fact, if it wasn’t for my dad’s property protection trust will, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into property management at all.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it? I know, it’s tricky. Let me elaborate
A Cruel Twist of Fate
I still remember that unfateful day like it was yesterday. My mother sobbed uncontrollably while driving me on the way to the London hospital where my dad was admitted. He was on the way back to York when a rogue car accident left him unconscious and in the hospital, battling between life and death. Our worst nightmare came true when he couldn’t make it through.
A few days later, we arranged his funeral just the way he may have wanted—a quiet one at home with close families, friends, and a few of his work colleagues in attendance. My mother and I put up a brave face, even though we were clueless about how we’d be able to manage our day-to-day expenses, the mortgage of the house, and my education expenses on a single paycheck.
A few weeks passed, and the condolence calls and messages had almost dried up. Soon enough, it was time to discuss dad’s will. Surprisingly, we found out that we had a separate trust fund in the will for which I was the beneficiary.
Dad also included a property protection trust in his will to keep our home from being claimed by others. I was amazed at his forethought and planning. Thanks to my dad’s trust fund to help me with my higher education course fees, my career in real estate was no longer under the shadow of uncertainty.
Getting Back on the Horse
I was more determined than ever to excel at whatever I aimed for. After clearing my GSCEs with flying colours, I diluted the trust fund and set forth to craft a path in property management. Next stop was clearing my A-levels, which I subsequently did, which became a stepping stone to kick-start my professional BSc (Hons) degree at Liverpool University, which was fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The daytime went into attending classes and seminars learning all about land and property management, while the evenings were spent waiting tables at a local restaurant. While a major chunk of my earnings went into paying the rent for my student accommodation, I somehow managed to save a small lump sum amount as savings. The course helped me further fine-tune my communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills while refining my ability to analyse and make time-bound decisions.
Setting Up for Success
Just like that, three whole years had passed, and I had successfully completed my full-time BSc (Hons) in Real Estate. I couldn’t help but remember Dad as I waved to my mom in the audience while I received my degree on convocation day.
The theoretical knowledge and practical exposure I gained in these years were invaluable to my professional career. The last leg of my journey was obtaining a license from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). I secured the ARLA license in no time and was ready to gain professional experience in real estate.
I then applied for a trainee position at one of the most prominent firms in London, the same firm my dad used to work for. They only accepted a small number of applicants, so the odds of getting in were extremely low, and the competition increased every year. After multiple rounds of interviews, I finally made it through! My dream to work in the same property management company my father worked at had come true!
Summing Up
Today, as an accomplished Lead Property Manager, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if my dad hadn’t left us that trust fund for my education. It was all thanks to him that I had the opportunity to climb the real estate ladder. My father made sure his family was secure even when the circumstances were beyond his control. This is one life lesson that I aim to implement as well.
