Key takeaways
What property managers can take from Ben’s playbook
- Master the five superpowers. Ben’s list for property managers is organization, problem solving, perspective, reading commercial leases, and emotional intelligence.
- Bring context, not just questions. Instead of asking whether to approve a $5,000 repair, share where the budget stands and what you recommend.
- Become an expert in your field. Stay on top of industry trends, learn the fine print, know your building’s numbers per square foot, and leave every vendor call having learned something new.
- Take fiduciary responsibility seriously. Acting in your client’s interest means doing the harder thing, like negotiating one more time, even when nobody asked.
- Expect your janitorial partner to be your eyes and ears. Cleaners are often on site more than anyone else, and the best ones flag problems with a photo before the manager hears about them.
About the guest
BR
Ben Raps
CEO and Principal, Taurus Commercial
Ben leads Taurus Commercial, a Surrey, BC firm that manages retail, office, and industrial properties for investors in Western Canada. He worked as an engineer before joining the business his father started, then narrowed its focus from sales, leasing, and management to commercial property management alone. Today the team has about 14 people.
Episode summary
In this episode
Jared Sarbit talks with Ben Raps, CEO and principal of Taurus Commercial in Surrey, BC. Ben left a career in engineering, joined the small real estate business his father had built, and narrowed its focus to commercial property management for mid-market retail, office, and industrial properties.
Ben shares the trait that has helped him most, choosing the hard path, and walks through his five superpowers of a high-performing property manager. He explains how to become an expert in your field, why knowing your numbers matters, how to approach potential mentors, and why character and fiduciary responsibility build trust with clients.
He also talks about the role of humour and likeability, what he looks for in janitorial partners, and why he recommends The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.
Chapters
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:10Introducing Ben Raps
- 1:26Coming to property management as an outsider
- 4:16From engineering to Taurus Commercial
- 9:59Working with his father
- 11:53Choosing the hard path
- 14:47What clients want from property managers
- 16:35Five superpowers of a high-performing property manager
- 27:11Putting the ideas into practice
- 29:27Technology and AI
- 34:02Become an expert in your field
- 41:11Know your numbers
- 42:44Networking and finding mentors
- 49:53Character and fiduciary responsibility
- 52:28Likeability and humour
- 55:15What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 59:54The property he would love to manage
- 1:00:59Book recommendation: The Big Leap
Jump to a chapter (18)
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:10Introducing Ben Raps
- 1:26Coming to property management as an outsider
- 4:16From engineering to Taurus Commercial
- 9:59Working with his father
- 11:53Choosing the hard path
- 14:47What clients want from property managers
- 16:35Five superpowers of a high-performing property manager
- 27:11Putting the ideas into practice
- 29:27Technology and AI
- 34:02Become an expert in your field
- 41:11Know your numbers
- 42:44Networking and finding mentors
- 49:53Character and fiduciary responsibility
- 52:28Likeability and humour
- 55:15What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 59:54The property he would love to manage
- 1:00:59Book recommendation: The Big Leap
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
If property management was a sport, the commercial lease would be the playing field.
Ben RapsPlay from 22:29
The beautiful thing about perseverance is anyone can just do that.
Ben RapsPlay from 14:14
A great company will be your eyes and ears.
Ben RapsPlay from 56:59
Want a cleaning team that flags problems early?
We’ll walk your building with you and send a written cleaning scope and price. Free, no obligation.
Read the conversation
Full episode transcript
Show transcript
Paste the edited transcript here.
FAQ
Questions about this episode
What does Taurus Commercial do?
Taurus Commercial is a commercial property management firm based in Surrey, BC. Ben Raps says it focuses only on managing mid-market retail, office, and industrial properties for investors in Western Canada, with a team of about 14 people.
What makes a high-performing property manager?
Ben lists five superpowers: strong organization, the ability to solve hard problems, the perspective to see the bigger picture, the ability to read and interpret commercial leases, and high emotional intelligence for working with tenants, trades, and owners.
What should property managers expect from a janitorial company?
Ben says cleaners are often on site more than anyone else, so a great janitorial company acts as the property manager’s eyes and ears. That means reporting issues, ideally with a photo, before the manager hears about them from someone else.
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