Assumptions

Our latest weekend reading included a piece on “assumptions”. It was primarily aimed at teachers. In the current debate around teachers’ salaries – whether they are adequate, and whether teachers should be paid by performance or longevity – we thought it particularly appropriate.

The focus of the article was that very often we make assumptions that are un-warranted. With teachers it is often that students are enrolled in the learning process, when in reality they show up because they have to. Or in a professional learning environment people show up to gain the credits – not because they are committed to learning.
And of course generally it is impossible to teach well if there is no commitment to learning. So very often the foremost task of the teacher is to change that. Until there is some commitment to learning, rather than just showing up, it is very hard for learning to take place.
 
It is a fundamental assumption that is very often made in education, and emphasises that the very good teachers are those who inspire a thirst to learn. And we believe they should be rewarded for it.
 
In our industry there are very often similar assumptions made, which are fundamental roadblocks to doing our job well. Because property professionals are talking and living property constantly , we too often make the assumption that others have the knowledge we do.

So often they don’t. And why should they? We probably don’t understand the finer points of their professions.
 
Unfortunately many people have a reticence to ask when they don’t know. By assuming they do know, and forging on regardless, we take the risk that it will all unravel in the future. Or that the prospect will be reluctant to show their lack of knowledge, and simply shrink away.
 
We have seen numerous examples of prospective tenants, and buyers, who did not understand how a body corporate works. We have seen a tenant sign up to $200k ++ lease (on a very standard ADLS lease form) and then express surprise that they needed to pay OPEX. It’s very common to have a tenant expect a landlord to fix a leaking tap – and then query the bill when they receive it.

And as for DD , PPA, PCDS, PSDS, CRE, LTV, SPA, CT, LIM, Property File, IM, IEP, and more, these can all be extremely confusing to the unwary and un-initiated.

By failing to ensure  that our potential clients are informed in the process, and understanding of the industry, potentially exposes us to failure and rejection for all the wrong reasons

It is very often better to assume a lack of context and understanding, than the other way round.