Wednesday, March 14, 2007

That's your job

There are only three property managers and I don't wish to name names, point fingers, imply incompetence, idiocy or plain old brain damage but what the heck does Edwin think his job actually involves?

I feel like saying, "Get the owner to sign the management agreement and enter his details into the database. That's it. That is your job."

Instead, it ends up like this, "Edwin - do you have a few minutes?" We step into the conference room and park ourselves in uncomfortable but matching blue chairs, resting our coffee mugs on the imitation veneer table. There's a bunch of dieing tulips in a new vase perched at the far end of this fine piece of a furniture - Edwin looks a bit nervous.

  • "Eddie, I say, you've entered another owner but his details are wrong."
  • "Wrong? No? Wrong?"
  • "OK, OK - let's not use the word 'wrong'. Let's say 'inaccurate' just to get the conversation going."
  • "Inaccurate? No? Inaccurate?"
  • "Listen, I'm trying to bring this gently but 'inaccurate' is not capturing the essence here: 'wrong' captures this much better."

Edwin lowers his eye brows and his forehead follows.

  • "For example, I want to make contracts for a new deal but there is no owner address."

Edwin's frown is frozen like he's been injected with too much botox.

  • "There is some bank information like the account number but the account name, IBAN number, and SWIFT code are all missing. And... by the way, the bank is 'ABN Amro Bank NV' and not 'abnarmobank'"

He nods like he's hearing this information for the first time instead of the 50th time. I smile like I've got tooth ache but, in reality, I have a headache.

No comments: