Caitlin from Freedom Real Estate Group talks with Chris Sonnino, property manager at Independence Property Management, about his background, career path, and the challenges of managing properties.
Hi, guys. Caitlin here, your marketing and communications coordinator for Freedom Real Estate Group family of companies. And today is vlog episode 18. And today I have our property manager, Chris Sonnino here. That's how I say, right, Sunina? Okay, the second shore. And we're going to be interviewing him just like we have in the past with our director of investments, Mark Woodring. So I'm going to go ahead and get started with an easy question on who is Chris Sonnino?
Yeah, well, easy question for you to ask. It was actually really hard for me to figure out an answer to this question. But personally, I'm turning 30 this year. That's pretty exciting, right? Yeah, I grew up here in this, in the Dayton area. Cat down to four, which is not as exciting as it should be. And as you said, I'm the property manager here in Independence Property Management, part of the Freedom Real Estate group of companies.
Perfect. My next question is, what made you get into property management or how did you get started in property management?
Yeah, so I was actually working at a hospital, local hospital, and somebody approached me and was talking about one of their rentals. Really intrigued me and I got a leasing job thinking that was a good idea. And next thing I know, I'm just thrust in this wonderful world of property management and I say it's been pretty exciting.
I did not know that. Learn something new every day. So next question is, how did you get started with ipm, AKA Independence Property Management?
Yeah, so just developing the career and I came across this wonderful ad for somebody that needs some help with property management. And sat down with Danny and we started talking about what her vision was for property management company for her turnkey company. And we just kind of hit the ball rolling there. And I've been here ever since.
Perfect. And how long when did you start?
The very beginning. 2019.
Yeah, that is exciting. Going from there. What is your favorite part about your position?
I have to say, interacting with potential clients. I mean, that's a big one. Just seeing the evolution of them from the first call, the way through the first purchase or multiple purchases, depending on what they're doing. And just having that relationship building conversation. That's probably where my strong suit is too.
Yeah, absolutely. When I was in property management, I was a leasing agent. That was one of my favorite things to do as well. Just to see everything through from the beginning to end. And seeing them move into their new home and how excited they were, I absolutely loved it. So we're gonna turn things around a little bit. What is the most challenging Part about your job and how do you tackle that?
Well, you know, in our industry, as you know, we have multiple different types of services. We service our residents, we have vendor services and our clients, our owners. And there's definitely a dichotomy there, a balance to making sure everybody's happy. And that can be a challenge sometimes. But, you know, but with that, I mean, it also becomes, you know, a strong suit for us being able to develop all those relationships, as I said.
Oh, absolutely. All right. Another question. This is more of a fun question. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Well, I'd have to say probably time travel, but not for what you think. I actually want to be able to be in multiple places at once. That'd be pretty cool. Yeah. I feel like, especially in our industry, that'd be a really cool thing to be able to do.
That would be nice and to have it all. I've always kind of thought that. And I'm like, but if you do that, it does, like, each individual person at that place have their own memories or is it all collected into like one?
It'd be really cool if it was collected.
So that's what I've always thought too. No, I agree. And just say get to experience. That would be really cool. All right. When you were growing up, what did you want to be?
You know, preparing for this. I said astronaut, actually. That's one of the things that I actually didn't want to be. I actually want to be a doctor, believe it or not. At one point I went to school on a pre med track and I liked helping people. But there's a lot of. There's bad times in that field. So I was like, okay. That's why I was working at a hospital, actually. So eventually, obviously, I came here and that's much happier here doing this.
Was there like a specific field that you were wanting to go to?
Diagnostic medicine. That's what I wanted to do.
Very interesting. Well, I don't have any questions. Short and sweet. Do you have any questions for me or anything that you wish I would have asked?
No, no, it's pretty straightforward. Yeah.
All right, well, there you guys have it. An interview with our property manager, Chris. We will be seeing him again next week on why investors should choose and hire a property management company. So if you guys want to see that, make sure you come back next week to see Kris again. And remember to invest smart, live happy. Bye, guys.
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