There’s no place like home—and for Michael Roach, that’s true in more ways than one. The lifelong Burnaby resident is the owner of Ascent Real Estate Management Corporation, an independent property management company that specializes in strata and rental management in the Metro Vancouver area.
The company, he says, is a blend of the best of both big and small—a bit like the city it calls home. “We provide all the advantages you would expect from a large global brand but with the personalized service of a locally-owned boutique agency,” he says.
“We offer a service level that cannot be matched by other firms in an industry increasingly dominated by mergers and foreign ownership.”
Roach has owned Ascent for a decade but started his property management career there as a strata manager in 1999. Today, the company has 45 employees, including 16 strata and rental managers, 24 support staff and a five-member management team, among them a handful who have been with the company for more than 25 years in all.
“Ascent’s people are our most valuable asset,” he says. “Customer service is our top priority and that starts with the staff. Our people are at the heart of our success.”
Roach, who was born and raised in Burnaby and earned his economics degree at SFU, became interested in the field after serving on the strata council at his first condo, learning the ins and outs of strata management from a resident’s perspective.
That position required him to work alongside the property management company for his building, which happened to be Ascent. He quickly developed a love for the work and when an opportunity opened up to come on board with the company, he jumped in with two feet. Now, as head of the company, Roach says part of their success has been a focus on excellence that isn’t just philosophical but practical.
“Our services are based on four principles and I think they are the foundation of quality and excellence,” he says. “Integrity: what we promise is what we’ll deliver. Reliability: we will always be there for our clients when they need us most. Stability: we’re local and we aren’t going anywhere. Financial management: our property managers and staff treat your property as if it were their own and keep accurate records, in compliance with bylaws and regulatory requirements.”
Roach says it’s been a profoundly rewarding career, and he’s excited to see what the future will bring.
“You’re helping people with their biggest, most personal asset—their homes,” he says. “We want our clients to feel we provide them with professional, experienced and knowledgeable guidance and advice, and that they can trust us to work closely with them to protect, maintain, and enhance the value of the property. We also want them to feel listened to, helped and that we care.”
Ascent’s commitment to excellence extends well beyond the walls of the business and into the local community, through volunteer efforts and donating time, energy and funds to local projects. “Great companies are also great citizens,” he says.
Visit www.ascentpm.com for more information.
