Key takeaways
What property managers can take from Glenne’s approach
- Think like an owner. Glenne picks up litter, greets residents, and treats every building as if it were his own asset.
- Remember your purpose. Residents don’t want to come home and deal with problems, so the job is to make their homes as worry-free as possible.
- Manage expectations with clear, honest communication. When plans change, tell the board why and how you will fix it.
- Stick to the scope of work. Well-intended extras can create expectations the next manager can’t meet when staff change.
- Embrace the bad. Problems are the work in property management, and turning an upset caller into a thank-you is one of the best parts of the job.
About the guest
GM
Glenne Manlig
President, Alberta, FirstService Residential
Glenne leads FirstService Residential in Alberta, which serves about 225 communities and more than 25,000 homes across condominium and rental properties. He started as a resident manager in a Calgary mid-rise, worked for several REITs, and helped the Calgary Homeless Foundation bring property management in-house before joining FirstService Residential.
Episode summary
In this episode
Jared Sarbit talks with Glenne Manlig, president of FirstService Residential in Alberta. Glenne fell into property management as a resident manager in a Calgary mid-rise, then worked for several REITs and helped the Calgary Homeless Foundation set up in-house property management before joining FirstService Residential.
Glenne explains why an ownership mindset and a clear sense of purpose drove his career, how his team manages the expectations of owners, boards, and residents, and how FirstService uses its scale to keep costs competitive. He shares how housing demand has created back-to-back turnovers, why vendor relationships matter more than ever, and why operating costs are under so much scrutiny.
He also offers advice for new property managers, talks about attracting and keeping great people, and shares what he looks for in a janitorial partner.
Chapters
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:19Introducing Glenne Manlig
- 1:50From resident manager to president
- 4:03An ownership mindset
- 6:11Managing everyone’s expectations
- 7:21Balancing cost and long-term value
- 8:38FirstService Residential’s Alberta team
- 9:11Housing demand and faster turnovers
- 12:24Scrutiny on operating costs
- 14:18Advice: embrace the bad
- 17:22Staying within your scope
- 19:32Attracting and keeping great property managers
- 22:46What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 24:16The property he would love to manage
- 27:02Book recommendation: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
Jump to a chapter (15)
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:19Introducing Glenne Manlig
- 1:50From resident manager to president
- 4:03An ownership mindset
- 6:11Managing everyone’s expectations
- 7:21Balancing cost and long-term value
- 8:38FirstService Residential’s Alberta team
- 9:11Housing demand and faster turnovers
- 12:24Scrutiny on operating costs
- 14:18Advice: embrace the bad
- 17:22Staying within your scope
- 19:32Attracting and keeping great property managers
- 22:46What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 24:16The property he would love to manage
- 27:02Book recommendation: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
I think there has to be a mindset of ownership and you… certainly have to put yourself in the shoes of that building owner.
Glenne ManligPlay from 4:12
Embrace the bad.
Glenne ManligPlay from 14:34
Those relationships matter.
Glenne ManligPlay from 12:08
Need fast turnover cleaning for rental units?
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
Residential property management questions
What is FirstService Residential Alberta?
FirstService Residential is a residential property management company. Jared Sarbit describes its Alberta business as the largest in the province, serving about 225 communities and more than 25,000 homes, with condominium and rental teams in Calgary and Edmonton.
How is housing demand affecting property managers in Alberta?
Glenne Manlig says migration into Calgary and Edmonton means rental units now turn over back to back, with little or no gap between move-out and move-in. Property managers have to act faster and rely on strong vendor relationships to get units ready.
How do property managers control operating costs?
Glenne starts by clarifying the owner’s goals and what is realistic, then uses FirstService’s scale to get competitive vendor pricing. He also recommends regularly reviewing expenses, automating processes, and looking for new revenue opportunities.
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