Lodge Property Manager

About Jack Devane

For Jack Devane, it was a dabble in the construction industry that convinced him a job helping people was what he wanted to do. Prior to joining Lodge Rentals, first as a Property Manager Assistant and now as a Property Manager, Jack managed civil and residential projects and oversaw operations at a construction company. This experience ultimately led him to transition into the property management industry, where he’s now putting his building knowledge to a different use. “Working in a project management capacity in construction taught me a lot about managing different priorities, alongside more practical skills such as identifying potential building damage and areas that need maintenance,” he says. “It was also where I learned that I really enjoy working with and helping people. I was ready for a change and venturing into property seemed like a natural next step.” Jack’s now been with Lodge Rentals since the beginning of 2023, and he’s glad he made the move. “I love to meet new people and build relationships, and now I’m in the perfect job for that. Building relationships with people over a long-term period is essentially what property management is all about, being able to create that sense of trust between us, landlords and tenants.” Jack loves a chat, which is just as well considering he’s in a people-centered job, and within a team environment that values working hard and having fun along the way. “The culture at Lodge is a real stand out to me. Everyone is extremely supportive and quick to help with advice and share their expertise when they can. And it’s a bonus that everyone’s great to get along with and have a bit of a laugh with.” Jack started out as a Property Management Assistant, which is a relatively recent addition to Lodge, one that grew out of demand as Property Managers became busier with their portfolios. There is one Assistant Property Manager for each of the three rentals branches and each helps their branch’s Property Managers with day-to-day tasks to help create a seamless experience for landlords and tenants. “Initially I helped our Victoria Street branch, supporting the Property Managers there mainly through managing viewings, and pre-entry and regular property inspections.” Now, as a Property Manager, he manages a portfolio of properties, and says he’s glad to be in a role where professional development is encouraged. “It’s great to be learning the processes and systems from the ground up, and also helping support people through the rental process, which for some people can be tough to navigate.” Outside of work, Jack devotes many of his weekends playing cricket for Fraser Tech, where he’s the club captain, and is also heavily involved with Hamilton Men’s Cricket and the ND ‘A’ squad. Jack previously spent a year in Holland playing, but his feet are now firmly on the ground in Hamilton where he can balance his passion for cricket with a career in property.