In the midst of this pandemic with its uncertainty and financial stress, hands-on commercial Property Management teams have a challenging part to play. Our role has always been a bit of a balancing act; listening to all points of view, weighing up alternatives and driving decisions that tenants, landlords and Asset Management teams can all get on board with. But, now more than ever we have to get this balance right to help ensure the future of the centres we manage.
At PM+U we are playing a proactive role in brokering tenant deals that balance the need for cash flow while doing what we can to help tenants’ businesses to stay afloat. Open, honest communication has been essential. We are constantly faced with difficult decisions. Of course there have been some unavoidable causalities; not all businesses are going to come through this intact. However many of our relationships have grown even stronger.
This is a tough time for everyone and we’re not out of the woods just yet. As Churchill said “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” What is clear to us is that we need to continue nurturing mutually respectful relationships with our tenants and landlords and maintain strong lines of communication. An ability to see the bigger picture along with qualities such as empathy, adaptability, patience and reason are going to be key ingredients in continuing to survive these challenging times.