Cairn Estate & Letting AgencyAmrit Chall – Property Manage Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? I ensure properties are ready, compliant, and accurately documented by managing inspections, viewings, and inventory tasks. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The great team, we work together and everyone wants to do their best for clients and tenants. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? My proudest moment is receiving positive feedback from tenants and landlords. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? Focus on progress not perfection and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I love going on long walks to clear my mind. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Don’t stress too much, work hard and stay positive. Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? My colleagues who are very supportive and my family. What qualities do you most admire in others? People who follow through on their commitments and support the team, How do you unwind out of work? I like getting outdoors, going to the gym and spending time with family & friends. Favourite book and film? Harry Potter. Where is your favourite place in Scotland? The Isle of skye.
Sarah Stewart, MARLA Cert CIH Level 3 – Property Sales Administrator Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? I support both the Lettings and Sales teams with various administrative tasks. Each day is unique, bringing different challenges and responsibilities. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? One of the best aspects of working for Cairn is the team’s support, warmth, and friendliness. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? My proudest business achievements must be successfully obtaining both my ARLA and Letwell qualifications. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? A former manager advised me to prioritise building relationships with my clients rather than just focusing on the figures. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I am a published author, and I aspire to publish more of my work in the future. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Don’t be afraid to start over. Life will present many challenges, but you are more resilient than you realise. You don’t need to have everything figured out in your teens or early twenties, be gentle with yourself. It will all work out in the end! Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? My husband, he has experienced significant loss in his life, yet he continues to face each day with optimism and a smile. He truly is one of a kind! What qualities do you most admire in others? The qualities I admire in others are honesty, empathy, humility, and dependability. We live in a competitive world, and these traits can be hard to find in people. So, when you do encounter them, it’s a wonderful thing. How do you unwind out of work? I enjoy reading, writing, watching TV and films, cooking, listening to music, travelling, attending gigs, and walking my cockapoo, Ollie, in the park. Favourite book and film? I am a huge fan of Anne Rice, and “The Vampire Chronicles” is my favourite book series, though it’s tough to choose just one book as my favourite. In terms of films, my top choice is “Interview with the Vampire,” but I also want to give a special mention to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and any old classic horror film. Where is your favourite place in Scotland? I’m originally from Ireland, but I have come to call Scotland my home over the last few years. I have been fortunate to travel extensively throughout the country. One of my favourite places is Kirkwall in Orkney, as well as Orkney as a whole. There are so many incredible sights to see, such as Skara Brae and the Standing Stones of Stenness.
Claire Vine – Property Manager Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? Managing the standard of the flats and tenancy, while supporting and building relationships with the landlords and tenants. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The team are genuinely supportive. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? Being part of a team who kept a property business going through the covid pandemic and lockdowns when a huge percentage of tenants left overnight. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? Taking the time to meet people face-to-face (tenants, landlords or neighbours) goes a long way. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I qualified in massage therapy but had to give it up when I developed shoulder issues. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Take chances. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll survive. Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? My Mum (2-time Breast Cancer survivor). What qualities do you most admire in others? Honesty, loyalty and a good sense of humour. How do you unwind out of work? Reading, watching movies/TV shows, spending time with friends. Favourite book and film? Books, I’d say the Terry Pratchett Discworld Series (it’s hard to pick a favourite), and Movies is a tough one, probably the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Where is your favourite place in Scotland? Glasgow. It’s home.
Heather Macmillan Cert CIH Level 3 – Head of HMO & Investment What made you return to Cairn? I missed the strong team ethos, everyone supports one another, and there’s a real sense of genuine friendship amongst the team. At Cairn you feel valued, and I missed being part of such an amazing group of people. Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn ? As Head of HMO & Investment, my role can be intense, busy, rewarding, no two days are the same, exciting and lots of fun! What is your proudest business achievement ? All my relationships I’ve built up with clients over the years, I know they trust me 100% – it is nice for me to know how much they value our working relationship. How has your industry changed in the last decade ? The lettings industry has changed hugely with the ever-changing legislation, the biggest change being moving from SAT to PRT tenancies. This had a massive impact on the letting of HMO properties as we could no longer set the usual 12 month contracts to begin and end during the summer months for typical ‘HMO season’ Give us an interesting fact about yourself ? I can’t leave the house without checking I’ve turned everything off about three times! What is the best piece of business advice you have been given ? Always be honest, communicate and do not hide behind emails – this is the ethos I live by and always encourage my team to do the same to ensure we provide good customer service at all times. What advice would you give your 18 year old self? Don’t stress over things out-with your control. Who are your hero’s inside and outside of business ? My dad is my hero inside business having started several successful businesses, I admire his hard-work and determination to provide for our family. My mum is my hero outside business, she is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. What qualities do you most admire in others ? Honesty, hardworking, loyalty, team-player. How do you unwind out of work ? Going to the beach to watch the sunset with my dog or if its raining cosy up in front of the fire with the dog and a glass of red! Where is your favourite place in Scotland ? St Andrews or Aviemore
Meet the team – Nicola Ainslie – Business Development Branch Manager – Edinburgh Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? As the Business Development and Edinburgh Branch Manager at Cairn, I oversee operations, drive growth, and build strong relationships to ensure the success of our letting and management services. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The people! From day one, I felt like I had been here for years—a credit to the team’s warm welcome and the company culture that makes coming to work so enjoyable. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? With 27 years in the property industry, I’ve had many proud moments, but stepping into my role at Cairn and feeling like part of the team so quickly is a big one. It’s a testament to finding the right fit in both culture and career. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? You don’t know it all—listen to those around you, especially those with knowledge and experience. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I’m a dedicated football mum, and no matter how many games I watch, I’ll never get tired of standing on the sidelines cheering my kids on. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? You don’t know everything—listen to others, especially your mum! Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? My mum—she always gave great advice (even when I didn’t listen). What qualities do you most admire in others? A positive attitude can be contagious, uplifting and create an environment where innovation thrives. A willingness to learn, improve, and embrace new challenges is essential for long-term success. How do you unwind out of work? Watching my kids play football, spending time with family, and enjoying the friendly football rivalry at home as I support a different club to my husband and kids. Favourite book and film? Even after all these years, Dirty Dancing is still my go-to movie. Where is your favourite place in Scotland? Any football pitch where my kids are playing—that’s where I’m happiest!
Meet the Team – Gillian Docherty, Finance Assistant Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? As Finance Assistant, I work alongside the Finance Manager and Finance Director, maintaining accurate tenant and landlord accounts, invoicing and payments. Helping with month end/quarter end and reconciliations. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The Team, everyone is so welcoming, enthusiastic, great to work with and extremely knowledgeable in their field. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? My proudest business moment would probably be achieving my AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, I am keen to progress further and obtain the final Level 4. This was challenging to do whilst working full time with a young child but I did it. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? Ask for help when needed, you’re not helping anyone by sitting unsure. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I decided to join a charity Great Wall of China Trek myself in aid of Clic Seargent Cancer. This was daunting for me to do as I didn’t know anyone and travelled across to China myself but I have made friends for life and gained so much from this experience. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Stick in and focus, it will help you in years to come Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? Not anyone in particular, but someone who strives to do their best and haspassion in their life. What qualities do you most admire in others? Trust, honesty and a hard worker How do you unwind out of work? Binge watching tv series or spending time with my family and son Favourite book and film? Book: Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally Film: The Labyrinth Where is your favourite place in Scotland? St. Andrews, I love the town’s atmosphere and sea air. The restaurants, bars and cafes along with quirky little gift shops are great too!
Meet the Team – Suzanne Hatley, Short Term Lets Manager My role as Short Term Let Manager consists of overseeing the day-to-day operations ensuring our guests have an enjoyable and memorable stay, maintaining our high standards along with maximising revenue. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The most rewarding aspect of working for Cairn BnB is the satisfaction of happy guests and the varied responsibilities my role brings. No two days are ever the same. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? Hearing how we have gone above and beyond for our guests in our reviews is a proud moment for both me and the Cairn BnB team who work hard to ensure all our guests receive our 5-star service. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? Treat others as you would like to be treated in business and everyday life and learn from your mistakes. Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I am an avid snooker fan. Top of my bucket list would be tickets for The World Championship watching Ronnie O’Sullivan win another. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Listen to your mother and believe in yourself. Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? My hero has to be my mum, Lorraine. She is the most kind, compassionate, brave and selfless person I know. What qualities do you most admire in others? Honesty and Loyalty. How do you unwind out of work? My time outside of work is spent with my 9-year-old son Robbie and my 5-year-old daughter Lucie. Saturdays are busy with ballet, tap and swim club. Sundays we enjoy family walks with our Border Terrier Betsy and a cycle to our local café for Brunch. Favourite book and film? My all-time favourite book would be Memoirs of a Geisha. This is the book I read for my Higher English back in 1996 and it still sits on my bookshelf to this day. It is one of the few books I go back to as it is such a beautiful read. Where is your favourite place in Scotland? As a child I spent a lot of time during the holidays in St Andrews. Now my children and I spend as much time as we can in the East Neuk of Fife. The Beach Huts in Crail are a particular favourite.
Meet the Team – Carol Fraser Property Manager Describe your role in one sentence at Cairn? My role is to ensure that our tenants are safe and happy, and that our landlords feel their properties are being looked after. What’s the best thing about working at Cairn? The team are so friendly and helpful, and there’s a huge amount of experience to draw on. What is your proudest business achievement/moment? What comes to mind for me, is when I am able to give excellent customer service and help someone who is going through a difficult time. What is the best piece of business advice you have been given? Just focus on one thing at a time… Give us an interesting fact about yourself? I’m good at headstands. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? To stop being a people pleaser. Who are your heroes inside or outside of business? I don’t really have a specific hero, but someone that comes to mind is an athlete, Tim Marovt who was paralysed and is now running marathons. I’m always inspired when people have a great attitude to overcoming adversity and it’s a good reminder to me to not complain! What qualities do you most admire in others? Honesty, Integrity and fairness. How do you unwind out of work? Training keeps me fit and strong, and I also enjoy hanging out with friends and going for brunch / cooking. Favourite book and film? I recently saw “A man called Otto” – get the tissues out! I don’t have one favourite book – The Time Travellers Wife, 1984 Where is your favourite place in Scotland? Sandwood Bay (so far) – Absolutely stunning
Unlocking Career Progression with Cairn Estate & Letting Agency Are you looking to build a rewarding career in the property sector? At Cairn Estate & Letting Agency, we believe in nurturing talent and providing ample opportunities for career progression. Our team is the backbone of our success, and we are committed to investing in their […]
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