From dreams of owning your own jeans business to a job in an international real estate organisation, sometimes a career does not turn out the way you envisioned. Such was the case with Sergio (48), property manager (in training) at Plaza Resident Services for two years. He explains how, after secondary retail school, he became a professional musician before finally, after a career switch, finding his niche as property manager in Maastricht.
From professional musician to property manager
For years, the stage was Sergio's working environment. Although he did what he loved, sharing the stage with several artists as a bass player, he decided to take a new path after eight years. ‘Long days, waiting backstage a lot, being away from home a lot, it all started to weigh more and more heavily. Especially as I was also getting a year older. I then made a conscious decision to focus on starting a family and take a different career path.’
Sergio swapped the music world for a career in real estate. First as vacancy management coordinator at another organisation, but when he was approached for a project in Maastricht, the city where he was born and raised, he couldn't say no. ‘I got the chance to work as a caretaker at Plaza Resident Services at a housing complex for students in Maastricht. There I now combine my work, my family, consisting of a lovely wife and two children, and I can still make music, but as studio work or music lessons.’
‘When I started at Plaza, the complex was still partly under construction. As there is a lot involved in a complex under construction, I was soon given more responsibilities. Together with Janou, the technical property manager, I coordinated the progress of construction and assisted with various tasks, such as placing underground waste containers and laying pavements and gardens. Since I was already performing the tasks on the job, but did not yet have the right piece of paper, I was allowed to take the property manager course. For that opportunity, I am very grateful to Plaza Resident Services.’
‘Looking back now on my time working here, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. The Maastricht residential complex under construction has grown into a vibrant residential community with 800 student homes. It really is the end result of joint efforts on site and valuable support from my colleagues at our headquarters in Eindhoven. Together with the other caretakers, like my immediate colleague Gilbert, we have now welcomed more than 800 residents from all over the world.’
‘The daily contact with our residents is one of the best things about my job'
Plaza Resident Services goes to great lengths to give new residents a warm welcome. With every move-in, new residents receive a welcome pack from us, carefully put together with useful items such as a toothbrush, a tea towel, and a toilet roll. All items that come in handy when you first move into your new flat. ‘It seems like something small, but it's actually very well thought out. You break the ice immediately and build a nice relationship with the residents from the very first moment. After all, as a caretaker, you are the ears, eyes and nose of the building. By building a good relationship with the residents, listening to them and talking to them, we can anticipate any needs and make sure everyone feels at home.’
Because the complex provides living space for students from all over the world, it is a special place to work. ‘Our residents really come from every corner of the world, from China to Canada. I really enjoy introducing them to the local specialities of my city, beautiful Maastricht. A real Limburg flan, for example. At the same time, I also regularly get to sample other cultures. The other day, for instance, a resident's mother came to us with a pan of pasta. Of course I don't say no to that.’
A fresh approach
Looking to the future, Sergio, with his official property manager degree on the horizon, is determined to continue contributing to the success of Mosaic World and Plaza Resident Services.
‘There really is a fresh approach within Mosaic World, focusing on collaboration and creating community for our residents. We are not a stuffy property management company with bureaucratic procedures and entrenched departments. I have a lot of contact with my colleagues from different departments at the various locations in the Netherlands. We don't just talk about work, there is also room for a chat about other things. For instance, my colleague Susanne from the customer contact team recently sent me multivitamins because I had a bad cold a week earlier. Together, we strive to provide the best possible service for our residents, in a dynamic way. Led by our energetic director Patrick Dillen, we all work hard to do a little better every day. That's what makes working at Plaza Resident Services really fun!’