Key takeaways
What property managers can take from Jesse’s approach
- Technology changes the speed, not the job. Jesse went from a daily fax machine to real-time dashboards and AI, but he says the business still runs on relationships, trust, and service.
- Small data wins add up. Cutting 15 minutes of daily runtime from a piece of equipment, without tenant complaints, lowers power costs, extends its life, and reduces emissions.
- Give tenants a reason to come in. Lounges with games and TVs, well-used gyms, and conference centres booked months ahead are helping GWL keep its Calgary offices busy.
- Advocate for yourself. Tell your leader what you want, volunteer for projects, and get to know leasing, asset management, and development so you understand the whole picture.
- Vendors will make mistakes, and the response matters most. Jesse tells new contractors to fail fast and fail small, own it, and keep moving.
About the guest
JB
Jesse Buhler
Senior Director, Property Management, GWL Realty Advisors
Jesse leads property management at GWL Realty Advisors, the Canadian real estate investment and management firm owned by Canada Life. He started in residential property management in Vancouver, then worked at Colliers and Artis REIT before joining GWL. He chairs the BOMA Calgary Foundation and coaches youth hockey.
Episode summary
In this episode
Jared Sarbit talks with Jesse Buhler, Senior Director of Property Management at GWL Realty Advisors. Jesse grew up in an entrepreneurial family in Manitoba, worked in restaurants and nightclubs, and started his property management career in residential in Vancouver before moving to Colliers, Artis REIT, and GWL.
Jesse compares residential and commercial work, shares how property management has changed since the fax machine days, and explains how GWL uses building data and AI to cut equipment runtime, energy costs, and emissions. He also covers the tenant amenities that are getting the most use and how his construction and marketing background shapes the way he leads.
He talks about the BOMA Calgary Foundation, which funds education for people in the industry based on need, and shares his advice for new property managers and the vendors who work with them.
Chapters
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:34Introducing Jesse Buhler
- 1:49Who GWL Realty Advisors is
- 2:15From an entrepreneurial family to commercial real estate
- 6:07Residential vs commercial property management
- 9:17The qualities behind his success
- 12:39How property management has changed
- 14:46Managing office, industrial, and retail
- 16:38Tenant amenities that get used
- 18:02GWL’s approach to clients
- 19:05How construction and marketing experience helps
- 21:15AI and the trends shaping the industry
- 25:03The BOMA Calgary Foundation
- 31:31Developing new talent
- 35:44Advice to his younger self
- 36:51What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 39:11The property he would love to manage
- 40:28Book recommendations
Jump to a chapter (18)
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:34Introducing Jesse Buhler
- 1:49Who GWL Realty Advisors is
- 2:15From an entrepreneurial family to commercial real estate
- 6:07Residential vs commercial property management
- 9:17The qualities behind his success
- 12:39How property management has changed
- 14:46Managing office, industrial, and retail
- 16:38Tenant amenities that get used
- 18:02GWL’s approach to clients
- 19:05How construction and marketing experience helps
- 21:15AI and the trends shaping the industry
- 25:03The BOMA Calgary Foundation
- 31:31Developing new talent
- 35:44Advice to his younger self
- 36:51What he looks for in a janitorial company
- 39:11The property he would love to manage
- 40:28Book recommendations
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
Technology has made us more efficient and more insightful, but in the end of the day, property management is still a human business.
Jesse BuhlerPlay from 0:22
It’s not about what I’m saying, it’s about what my audience is hearing.
Jesse BuhlerPlay from 20:33
Fail fast and fail small, own it and keep moving.
Jesse BuhlerPlay from 38:07
Want a cleaning partner who owns their mistakes?
We’ll walk your building with you and send a written cleaning scope and price. Free, no obligation.
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Full episode transcript
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FAQ
Questions about this episode
What is GWL Realty Advisors?
GWL Realty Advisors is a Canadian real estate investment and management firm wholly owned by Canada Life. It manages and develops office, industrial, retail, and multi-residential properties across Canada for institutional investors and pension funds.
What does the BOMA Calgary Foundation do?
It is a registered charity that removes barriers to education for people working in, or joining, the building industry. Funds are raised from the industry and awarded based on need rather than grades, and they now go directly to recipients through a digital application.
What does Jesse Buhler look for in a janitorial company?
Since cleaning itself is not unique, he looks at the service around it: how the company communicates with tenants and his team, and how it handles mistakes. He wants vendors to own problems quickly instead of hiding them.
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