9 minute read
Person of Interest – Kelley Rigby: The unstoppable wonder woman of management rights
Kelley Rigby:
The unstoppable wonder woman of management rights
By Grantlee Kieza,
Industry Reporter
One of the friendliest and most familiar faces working at the frontline of the management rights industry is Kelley Rigby. This month Resort News got to know her even more...
Despite her unlimited energy and contagious passion for Management and Letting Rights (MLR) Kelley is also immediately relatable. She has had a long history in management rights and is not only a successful, hardworking business owner but also manages to juggle the demands of motherhood with a multitude of MLR responsibilities that includes a monthly column for us here at Resort News.
However, a big part of Kelley’s appeal is that she openly admits that trying to ‘do it all’ is a struggle, she says it’s an ongoing challenge to “find a good worklife balance” and shares that she suffers from an occasional moment of “crisis of confidence”.
Incredibly, such is Kelley’s passion for this industry her responsibilities now include a new role as ARAMA’s Manager of Membership Services. But as busy and ambitious as Kelley is, her “blended” family is always her number one priority. “Family is my top job,” she told us, “I’ve got two little ones, Ryder who is three, Harley who is one, and three stepdaughters Reese, Charlie and Lily. My husband Scott is a FIFO worker, he is not home very often but when he is I love spending precious time with him. He is my calm and my sounding board; he makes me belly laugh and allows me, to just be me.” In her spare time, Kelley says she listens to audiobooks, “because I don’t have time to read”! Her favourite book is The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg, a book she turns to when she’s in need of “a kick up the butt” when she feels “her gratitude for life slipping”. On quiet evenings, Kelley likes to binge on her favourite TV show, Yellowstone. It’s an epic show about a family fighting to save their ranch and she says it always leaves her wanting to buy a farm and move to the country before reminding herself that she “has no idea about any of that”. On music, Kelley says her favourite song is ‘Unstoppable by Sia”… Of course, it is! Three years ago, “Unstoppable” Kelley started Letts Rebuild, which continues to make a real name in the industry.
What is Letts Rebuild’s main focus?
It’s essentially a company that specialises in business development for onsite managers. The typical real estate agencies have BDM’s (Business Development Managers) full-time looking after and building their rent roll, Letts Rebuild gives managers an opportunity to have someone doing that for them. Our marketing techniques range from telephone communication, video marketing, text messages, email, and post. Not only does it focus on winning over the investor into the letting pool but it is also educating them on the benefits of having an onsite manager, and at the moment this is something we feel the industry needs.
You obviously saw a need for that service within the industry?
Yes defi nitely. Managers go above and beyond, not only for their clients, for their community but also, they seem to forget to shout about it and we are there to do it for them.
Lett s Rebuild started by simply helping a friend (manager) in crisis because she was being targeted by an outside agent. I am so passionate about the industry and the people within it, and Lett s Rebuild is a perfect refl ection of that. We also send out newslett ers for our clients to keep their community informed and educated on what the manager has been achieving. Of course, we always add in a litt le article saying: “Why would you use an outside real estate agent who has to put your address in their GPS when there is someone onsite to look aft er your interests, someone who knows the building back the front?” It takes time to build relationships though, and that’s what we do.
What’s your background in property?
My family is very heavily involved in residential sales throughout the Gold Coast. My Dad owned and operated real estate agencies in Broadbeach Waters & Robina. From the age of fi ve, I was in the offi ce on weekend mornings with Dad waiting for the phone to ring. Back then that’s what you did, as there was no internet or mobile phones back then. I stepped into being Dad’s PA on weekends when I was 16 and still at school. It’s funny to look back and realise that we were in the management rights community even then and didn’t even know it. I say this because 85 percent of our sales were in complexes and my Dad refused to have a rent roll in his offi ce so we were always very liked by all the managers. I never knew why they liked us so much, but I do now! We were their friendly agents.
How did you become involved in the industry?
It has been 11 glorious years of being a part of our management rights community. It all started when I got a job working with the infamous Rusty Lush from the RAAS Group.
My dad was working with the team at the time and that is how it all came about. I started as the receptionist and worked my way into RAAS Care, then ended up managing that department. RAAS, Rusty and Kerrie will always hold a very special spot in my heart, and I have so much gratitude to them for introducing me to this industry that now runs through my veins. Aft er RAAS I did a few diff erent roles, mainly in residential sales until I started at ARAMA in 2018. It was an honour and a privilege to be part of team ARAMA, and one of the many reasons I am back working with Trevor, fi ghting the good fi ght.
Trevor has been pushing for more women to be in leadership roles at ARAMA and you stepped up as Gold Coast branch president?
When I spoke to other women in the industry, they were pushing for me to take the role. There are so many women running management rights businesses these days. In many cases, the women are the faces of the properties, and they are the decision-makers. When I send out contracts from Lett s Rebuild it’s usually the women whose signature goes on the deal. Management rights is also seeing a lot of young blood coming into the industry, and they are bringing a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. It’s great that we are now mixing it up a litt le bit in leadership roles and we can do things a litt le diff erently. I am very much enjoying seeing the women in the industry step up and start using their voices. We are privileged to have so many powerhouse women in this industry, many of which I am lucky enough to call mentors and friends.
Management rights has been under att ack a lot lately with threats to cut terms and other legislative changes proposed. How do you see the future of the industry?
I can’t think of the exact saying, but I believe crisis can bind a community closer together. We are seeing an infl ux of managers and business owners become members of ARAMA as they rally around and show support. Power comes in numbers so this is exactly what we need from our community. I won’t mention everyone by name, but Team ARAMA and its volunteers are dedicating many hours to ensure that we are being heard, on behalf of our members.
You ask me how I see the future of our industry, always positively… We off er an outstanding business model to unit owners, one that no one else could provide.
You are so passionate about management rights, where does that passion come from?
As I have mentioned my background is in residential real estate and although I loved the work the industry never aligned with my values. Management rights and the community of people that is home for me.
Besides fi nding time to ‘do it all’ what have been your biggest challenges?
In work life it has been fi nding my confi dence, stepping into my light, and not shying away from it for the sake of others around me.
In both personal and business, it still upsets me that not everyone in this world wants to see each other win. This is something I struggle with but am learning that is just life and people have their own journeys. Personally, my biggest struggle has been to embrace my past and not allow it to control my future. This is something I’ve worked on, and I am so proud of where I am now.
Who inspires you the most?
Mums. All mums. The ones that stay at home and slug it out day in and day out, those that balance the work-mum life balance and all the others in between. They all inspire me and have my utmost respect.
What is the best advice you’ve ever had?
Stuff what others think! My husband constantly instills this in me, to not care what others say or think because they will talk about you no matt er what, so you may as well go and live the life you want.
What are you most proud of?
My husband, although he works away, he is one of the best dads around. He might not be there for every event but when he is home, he is 100 percent present and would do anything for his tribe. His very large tribe! We are an amazing team, and I am so proud to call him my husband.
What are Kelley’s top tips for life?
Take a breath, try and be in the moment as much as you can with business and family. Doing it all is amazing and fi lls up so many cups, but it defi nitely isn’t easy.
What is happening in 2023?
It is going to be a big year for the Rigby household, no more babies but we have many goals we want to achieve personally and professionally. ARAMA is a big part of who I am, so to be back in helping the industry in a bigger and bett er role is a dream come true.
As for Lett s Rebuild, it will continue to grow and create new ways to help managers in their businesses. Lett s Rebuild also plans to release an online course to help managers learn how to do what we do, this is very exciting and you heard it here fi rst! We will forever be evolving and learning at Lett s Rebuild.
