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Michelle Rigg: empowering women and redefining property management leadership

With over three decades in property management, Michelle Rigg is no stranger to the industry. Currently serving as the General Manager and Licensee of Rentwest Solutions, she has spent the past 10 years shaping a workplace that prioritises efficiency, flexibility, and the well-being of both staff and clients.

Michelleโ€™s journey in real estate began in 1987, and over the years, she has developed a reputation for her strategic approach to leadership and team development.

She has just celebrated 10 years at Rentwest, where she credits Suzanne Brown, the agencyโ€™s director, for fostering an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

โ€œMy role is always about working with the team, supporting them, and ensuring theyโ€™re motivated and empowered,โ€ Michelle explains.

Her leadership style is deeply influenced by her qualifications, including a diploma in Neuroscience for Leadership.

This has shaped her approach to structuring workflows in a way that aligns with how the human brain processes information.

โ€œOur brains work best when they can concentrate on one thing at a time,โ€ she says. โ€œThatโ€™s why weโ€™ve adapted our systems to support a โ€˜brain-friendlyโ€™ working environment.โ€

Rethinking the work environment

Rentwest has been proactive in adopting flexible work arrangements, including a four-day work week.

While temporarily paused due to software upgrades, the model, originally an all-in-or-all-out approach, is set to evolve to better suit individual needs.

โ€œSome people thrive with a four-day schedule, while others prefer a traditional approach,โ€ Michelle says.

โ€œFlexibility is key to maintaining a happy and productive team.โ€

Also, while many corporate managers are calling staff back into office, she says remote work has played a significant role in the companyโ€™s success.

โ€œMost of our property managers work in the areas they service, which just makes sense,โ€ she explains.

“Driving across Perth every day is impractical, so our model allows them to be more efficient and responsive.โ€

To keep the team connected despite remote working, Rentwest has implemented structured in-office days and regular team-building initiatives.

โ€œWe start every Monday with a โ€˜kickstartโ€™ stand-up meeting where we celebrate positive feedback and set the tone for the week … Itโ€™s all about maintaining a strong team culture.โ€

Embracing AI for smarter property management

Rentwest is also pushing the boundaries of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence.

Michelle and her team have been exploring ways to integrate AI into their operations, from automating workflows to enhancing communication with clients.

โ€œWeโ€™re looking at AI-powered avatars to create personalised, consistent messaging for our owners and tenants,โ€ she says.

โ€œLoom has also been a game-changer for training; its AI-generated step-by-step breakdowns save us so much time.โ€

Navigating a changing market

While Perth has been a hotbed for real estate activity, (and some experts are predicting another bumper year), Michelle has noticed a shift in the market.

โ€œWeโ€™re seeing investors turn their attention back to Melbourne, and vacancy rates in Perth are stabilising at around 2%,โ€ she says.

โ€œItโ€™s a shift towards a more normal market, which means property managers and sales agents need to refocus on traditional prospecting and lead generation.โ€

Despite the challenges, Michelle remains confident about the future: โ€œWeโ€™ve navigated some tough times, from Perthโ€™s worst market in 40 years to the post-COVID boom,โ€ she says.

โ€œAdapting is part of what makes this industry exciting.โ€

Beyond her role at Rentwest, Michelle is a qualified workplace trainer and assessor, having spent over a decade on the Real Estate Institute of WAโ€™s property management chapter.

She says “training was one of the best things I ever did,โ€œ as it opened her eyes to the broader legislative and political impacts on our industry.

This passion for education extends to Rentwestโ€™s internal culture, where mentorship plays a crucial role.

โ€œWe have a diverse team of 42 people, including highly experienced property managers and around 10 assistants who weโ€™re bringing up through the industry,โ€ she says.

โ€œItโ€™s important to provide opportunities for career growth.โ€

Finding the right balance

At the heart of Michelleโ€™s leadership philosophy is a commitment to fostering an environment where work-life balance is a priority.

โ€œOur team is predominantly women, many with young families or caregiving responsibilities,โ€ she says.

โ€œSupporting them through flexible work arrangements isnโ€™t just a policy – itโ€™s a necessity.โ€

Looking ahead, Michelle is focused on ensuring Rentwest continues to lead the way in people-centred property management.

โ€œIโ€™ve found my home here,โ€ she says. โ€œSuzanne and I have different leadership styles, but we share the same vision for creating an environment where our team and our clients thrive.โ€

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Catherine Nikas-Boulos

Catherine Nikas-Boulos is the Digital Editor at Elite Agent and has spent the last 20 years covering (and coveting) real estate around the country.