What does it actually take to build a property management business from scratch in one of Australia's most competitive markets? No trust account. No acquisitions. No inherited rent roll. Just one man, a studio apartment, and a belief that property management had been done wrong for decades.

In the latest episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) podcast, NU Management founder Grant McKay joins Alex Whitlock to share the unfiltered story behind one of Sydney's fastest-growing boutique agencies, built entirely from scratch in under four years in one of Australia's most competitive markets.

From downgrading his lifestyle to fund the startup, to scrapping traditional titles, ditching trust accounting, and obsessing over five-star reviews, McKay reveals the unconventional decisions that fuelled his growth.

He also gets candid about the real cost of scaling alone past 100 properties, finding the right people, and what it truly means to be a custodian of someone else's most valuable asset.

This is property management as it should be.

In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, host Alex Whitlock speaks with Managed's key account manager Mignon Ahrns and customer success team leader Bairave Jeyasothy about how technology is reshaping the property management industry.

The guests explore how automation, owner portals, and task-based workflows are reshaping property managers' daily work, giving owners real-time visibility into payments, maintenance, and leases while easing administrative burdens.

The episode also examines operational pressures: from trust account reconciliations to constant emails and calls, and how automation lets agencies redirect focus from manual tasks to client relationships and business growth.

Finally, the discussion looks at the industry's evolution. With new entrants from sales and accounting, and agencies embracing automation, property management is becoming a more strategic, tech-driven profession.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, InvestorKit CEO and founder Arjun Paliwal joins host Liam Garman to unpack what defines an elite buyer's agent: from data-led investing, to technology and building a culture of excellence.

Fresh from winning Buyer's Agency of the Year at the Real Estate Business Awards for the third time, Paliwal reflects on building InvestorKit and the philosophy behind its rapid growth.

The conversation explores how Paliwal's background in banking and finance shaped his approach to property investing, highlighting the role of curiosity, data analysis, and strategic portfolio planning in identifying emerging markets ahead of the curve.

Paliwal also challenges common assumptions about the buyer's agent sector, warning that many investors rely on inspiration, hype, or simplistic formulas rather than rigorous analysis and long-term planning. He explains that elite buyer's agents differentiate themselves through specialised teams, deep research capability, and disciplined due diligence rather than one-person operations.

Finally, the discussion examines how technology, digital marketing, and content strategy are reshaping the industry.

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If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.