Joel Helm, CPM, broker, has been in property management all his life. “My father owned and managed properties,” he reminisces. “As a boy, I would help my parents by cutting the grass and collecting rent.” As time went on, his path became clear. He greatly enjoyed the work and decided to open Helm Property Management & Realty Ltd.
Although only in his 30s at the time, Joel had both the experience and an aptitude for the business. He partnered with Jeff Rubin, a licensed Realtor, and worked alongside him as he grew his own list of certifications and designations. In time, Joel and Jeff’s paths naturally diverged and Joel continued to grow Helm.
Now, 35 years later, Helm is widely known as the trusted, experienced choice for the management of buildings, turnarounds, rentals and condominiums; providing financial management services to clients, along with owner representation/liaison services; managing homeowners associations and commercial properties and more. Anything under the umbrella of making life more efficient for commercial or investment property owners is under the purview of Helm.
For Joel and his team, working with clients starts long before contracts are signed and continues consistently with a very high level of focus and attention to detail as they work collaboratively with clients.
“With our rental properties, we are always monitoring activity and vacancies, keeping an eye on trends and the needs and wants of prospective tenants. We continually tweak what we can to maintain steady occupancy,” says Joel. “For all of our properties, we are focused on ensuring the clients get the best value. We are methodical and detailed in having the right contractors or trades in place to do the work that needs to be done. We look for the best way to accomplish goals alongside our clients.”
When Helm comes on board, some property owners ask if they will continue to work with the contractors already in place. Joel notes that they not only can – if those in place are the best for the job and will provide the maximum value – but they would be happy to add such contractors to their network for other opportunities. This applies across the board for trades, insurance and utilities. Helm will seek quotes and do due diligence, and will always proceed with the best choice for each unique situation.
“There is a high focus on working in tandem with our clients,” shares Joel. “It is a continual growth journey for them and for us. We strive to make things better for our clients, and that means we don’t hold to things we have done for 20 years just because we have ‘always done it that way.’ If new solutions or professionals to add to our network are available and those solutions and people align with our goals and values, we remain open and agile. A lot of time, effort and thought go into ensuring our clients receive the best service possible, and that means being open to the new ideas, processes and people that improve outcomes for clients.”
The level of care doesn’t stop once the contract is signed.
“We will always make suggestions, based on our years of expertise, to help clients maximize their returns,” shares Joel. “There are many things we have picked up over the years that our clients may not have realised, and vice versa! We are always learning and looking into what works. It’s a collaboration that we leverage to help each client maximize their returns.”
The Capital Tower project is a testament to Helm’s commitment to service and client care.
“That is a building with about 200 units,” Joel explains. “The owners were facing challenges with high vacancy rates and ongoing safety concerns. Social workers were hesitant to visit clients in the building, and the environment made it difficult for tenants to feel secure. The owners had tried hiring security, but the issues persisted.”
Joel and his team approached the situation with a focus on long-term solutions rooted in respect, compassion and professionalism.
“We started by hiring external security professionals who were independent and committed to maintaining a safe environment,” Joel shares.
The next step was bringing in a strong site manager who could address challenges effectively. Within a year, the building underwent a remarkable transformation. Tenants who had previously felt unsafe were now able to live in a secure and supportive environment. Many tenants, who were transitioning out of difficult circumstances, expressed their gratitude through letters to Joel and his team. With safety restored, the property owner was able to focus on deferred maintenance, further improving the quality of life for residents.
The success of this project not only strengthened the relationship between Helm Property Management and the building’s owners but also demonstrated the positive impact of their thoughtful management approach. The owners continued to entrust Joel with additional properties, allowing them to extend their approach to improving communities across the city.
Capital Tower is just one example of many of the care and customized solutions that goes into every property Helm manages. Each property is different; some require assistance in overdue rent collection, some in catching up on maintenance and some are already running smoothly and require extra hands for administration due to high occupancy and demand.
Joel notes, “Our solutions demonstrate the care we take in looking after each property as if it was our own. All the people in the Helm office are naturally caring and we want to resolve situations efficiently, effectively and respectfully.”
This is reflected internally as well as client-facing.
“In our office, we keep up with technology,” shares Joel. “We had software that we were familiar with for many years, but times change. When we moved from a server-based application to a cloud-based application, that naturally came with some trial and error and new things to learn. The staff remained dedicated in working through such changes.
Some of those changes and challenges can be urgent. Joel explains, “On Friday, April 14, 2023, a fire broke out in the building next to my office, causing significant damage to our own space. The roof was compromised and the basement flooded, leaving us with only my laptop and cell phones to manage day-to-day operations. Despite the challenges, the team demonstrated incredible commitment and dedication, working tirelessly over the weekend alongside the insurance company to get us back on track. By Monday, we were up and running, ensuring our clients were well taken care of during this unexpected disruption.”
“I feel fortunate to have good people working with me. I want to help my team with their goals and have Helm Property Management as a place of empowerment,” Joel smiles. “Everyone on this team is incredible. The staff are dedicated and take the time needed to get things done for our clients. We work cohesively with everyone doing their part.”
It all comes down to a passion for the work rooted in a value of care that sees Helm seeking to add value to each client, each tenant and member of its team.
“This is why we have a variety of services, backed by decades of experience, for our clients,” says Joel. “The fundamental value of Helm Property Management is care. We care for each property as if it was our own. We really do. And that means being proactive, agile, respectful, open to learning and adopting new processes and sharing the processes that have stood the test of time. Starting from a value of care is what has attracted a like-minded team that works seamlessly from the office to the field in support of the best client outcomes.”
He concludes, “When we started, we didn’t have a lot of properties. It was challenging, but some good advice I received was just to keep doing what we were doing. By sticking to our values and putting people first, both clients and team members, we have achieved success and continue to grow. In the end, it’s all about growing, caring and learning together.”
15533 Stony Plain Road
Edmonton, Alberta T5P 3Z1
(780) 408-3082
info@helmproperty.com
