Leading Our Leasing Squad

With 15 years’ experience in the real estate industry, Leasing and Property Management Manager Ashley Hawthorne is leading the way with his growing team of eager client managers. Ashley started his career as a move consultant for prestigous property brand Foxton’s, in London, before being headhunted to work as a Lettings Manager and breaking records with a national estate agency with UK, before moving to Dubai in 2014.

With an infectious, go-getter attitude, Ashley has a passion for property that is an inspiration to his colleagues in Espace. We asked Ashley to share an insight into what keeps his excitement for the industry alive, and the advice he would give to young agents looking to carve out a career in real estate.

My wakeup call starts every day at 5:30am by my 5 year old Staffordshire terrior demanding a walk. I’m out of the house by 7:20am, Starbucks Frappacino in hand by 7:40am and at my desk by 7:50am prepping for the day ahead.

Intense, varied, a real roller-coaster.

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I’m all about the chill time these days – focus on the personal goals in your personal time and come to work on Sunday ready to get stuck in. Dubai is all about lifestyle – work hard, play hard and if you dont put everything into it professionally, the fun times will run out.

For anyone joining my team, I always say

“make sure you fully commit yourself”. People think it’s going to be a quick buck but now more than ever it’s all about the amount of effort you put in, over the next agent. Don’t get dazzled by the bright lights on touch down, there’s plenty of time for that a few years in! I always remind them, if they’re just embarking on their real estate career, that it takes blood, sweat and tears to make a change in your life.

Busy! It’s very much a tenant’s market. Properties that are priced right will always rent. Our job is to advise landlords of the current market values as most are stuck in the previous year’s rental value.

“Although the prices are down, the market is still very busy. Dubai is one of those places that will always rent well. It’s a transient city. The demand will always exist.  It is volatile but it’s dynamic and I love the momentum of the city’s real estate market!”

In the older, established communities such as the Arabian Ranches, tenants are prepared to move very close proximity to their current home to, for example, Arabian Ranches 2, because they know the property is brand new. We are also seeing many innovative incentive schemes to help landlords get new tenants in quickly. These include not only multiple cheques or monthly payment installments but also a month of free rent.

With so many new communities opening on a monthly basis that are not only brand new but competitively priced, landlords in older communities are having to make upgrades to compete with more pristine units. But any property for rent should be frequently maintained and checked and this is why property management plays a key role in the secondary market, and in securing a good quality tenant.