Peter Lewis: Even old dogs can learn new tricks

Long ago, when I first became a landlord, there was no Facebook, no chat groups, and communication between landlords was minimal. Learning to run a
residential rental was similar to learning to ride a bicycle – trial and error at the cost of scraped knees and bruised knuckles. I fell down,
got fleeced, swindled, and defrauded. But somehow I survived.

However, life is too short to make all the mistakes yourself so later in my landlording career I became involved with the APIA. Here, I learnt that
I was not the only bunny in the game. Other like-minded people had also learnt the hard way and had managed to fight through the thickets of legislation,
taxation and frustration to relative success. They too carried the scars.

Within this business, some things stay the same. Over the years, human nature does not change, and landlording is quite often about human management.
However, although the Residential Tenancies Act does date from 1986, there have been a number of amendments, deletions and additions to the Act
over subsequent years. The interpretation of various clauses has also changed over time as both Governments and the Tenancy Tribunal adjudicators
have veered in their beliefs interpretations and opinions. Other legislation in the form of taxation, health and safety requirements, and local
council demands seem to present an unending series of non-stop challenges to every residential landlord.

As a consequence, no-one can sit back with a self-satisfied smile, relax, and say “I know it all”. The truism is that those who do claim to know it
all probably don’t know what they don’t know. It does take constant effort, an open mind and willingness to listen and evaluate in order to keep
up with current legislation, regulation and market changes.

Thus I do make a constant effort to attend the seminars and webinars presented by APIA. The presenters on such topics as current property market analysis
and the potential impact of financial market challenges are vital in order to keep my rental business solvent and profitable.

When the opportunity to attend the one-day Hit The Ground Running seminar was presented, I knew that this would help me update my knowledge in order to survive and prosper in 2019. Although the seminar was deliberately
aimed at beginner investors, by looking at the scheduled speakers and their subjects I could see that these people were worth listening to. I do
not necessarily agree with every bit of their analysis of what is going on around us, but the opportunity to listen, consider and interact with
these people was well worth one day of my time.

As an additional benefit, to meet with quite a number of enthusiastic young (and some not so young) people keen to start out or advance their property
investment business was stimulating. We do need new blood in this industry, and they represent it.

If I go to a talk, a seminar or a presentation and then walk away afterwards thinking “Well I learnt one new thing out of that” then I consider I have
spent my time well. No matter how long you have been in the business I do recommend that you take the time and make the effort to get out there,
sit down among others, open your mind and absorb something new.

Old dogs can learn new tricks.

This is a guest blog submission from APIA member Peter Lewis. Guest submissions are a way for APIA members to share their views and experiences with each other and do not necessarily reflect the views and position of the APIA.