Liz Keogh

Graduate of the Higher Certificate in Property Services and Facilities Management

Sligo

Can you tell us your name, job title and the course you studied at ATU?

Liz Keogh, Auctioneer / Property Negotiator, Higher Certificate in Property Services and Facilities Management.

Can you share your career path to date?

I previously worked in human resources for several years until I moved into the area of corporate relocation; this entailed dealing with new entrants to the country who needed to find long- and short-term accommodation and essentially be set-up to work and live in Ireland. I also did some interior design work when my children were young.

What does your current role involve?

I am a Property Negotiator at Auctioneera Estate Agency, covering residential sales around South and West Dublin. On a day-to-day basis, this involves preparing property market research in advance of meeting potential clients in their homes to discuss the possible value of their home on the open market. In this meeting I explain how Auctioneera works with heavy emphasis on how we charge a fixed fee for selling as opposed to the industry tradition of a commission-based sale. Once we engage a client to sell through our estate agency, I handle the viewings at the property and crucially, I oversee the sales negotiation through to the point at which they hand over the keys to buyers.

What motivated you to start studying?

At the start of Covid when my business went quiet, I started to look at what would be a good add-on to my relocation experience and came across the course at ATU and its online element also meant that I didn’t need to travel; I could study and get this qualification from my home in South Dublin.

Why did you choose this course from ATU?

When I began my research on courses, this one at ATU really stood out. I really liked the content of the Higher Certificate in Property Services and Facilities Management course in that it was wide ranging. It doesn’t just cover property on its own; it also includes the facilities management angle which I felt would be a good area to study for this industry. Furthermore, the ability to be able to study online and remotely gave me the flexibility that I needed with a busy family.

How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?

For the most part it was very workable because the lectures were recorded so if I was unable to view them in real-time, I could watch them at a later stage. However, on one or two occasions when work became very busy it was quite challenging to stay on top of the lectures and assignments, so a good degree of time management is required to not become overwhelmed.

How did you balance work and study?

As I was studying for the first year during Covid restrictions it was reasonably manageable, but it certainly meant a few weekends sacrificed to catch up.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer?

As I was self-employed, I could work the course around my timetable to a point. However, the downside of being self-employed meant that I didn’t have the benefit of being able to take study leave. In terms of how the course has helped with my current role of Property Negotiator at Auctioneera, the modules such as property economics and property valuations have helped me. I also found the module of construction technology and maintenance interesting as it has provided me with knowledge that I can use for advice with my property sellers when needed.

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying online?

Stay on top of the course work as the assignments tend to arrive all at once.

In what way has studying online with ATU benefitted your career?

I have since moved into residential property sales at Auctioneera which I am really enjoying. I would not have considered this move prior to completing the course at ATU.

Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?

The ability to study for the Higher Certificate in Property Services and Facilities Management remotely / online changed the trajectory of my career such that I was then able to enter the residential sales side of property. I might not have even considered this a possibility previously but the fact that a qualification from the course provided me with necessary credentials to attain my Property Services Regulatory Authority license has brought me to this point.

Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role?

Absolutely, the course is very practical, and the lecturers have also all worked in industry, so it was designed to be relevant whether you work in property or facilities. Also, the other students came from a wide variety of roles within the public and private sectors, so it was good to get all the different perspectives