Learning first, leading next

After years of researching the industry, Rebecca (Bec) and Ali Nasir didn’t just buy their first management rights business. They bought into a community. Meet the couple bringing fresh perspectives and a people-first approach to The Pines Townhomes.

Every generation brings something different to management rights. It’s one of the reasons the industry continues to evolve, with people from all walks of life bringing new skills, fresh perspectives and plenty of enthusiasm.

Some newcomers arrive with decades of experience in property or hospitality behind them. Others come from completely different careers, bringing transferable skills and a genuine willingness to learn from those who’ve gone before them.

This interview was first published in the August edition of Resort News. OUT NOW. Read it HERE

Bec and Ali Nasir fit firmly into the second group. Rather than rushing into their first purchase, they spent several years learning about management rights, completing industry training, talking to experienced operators and waiting until the timing was right.

So when the opportunity to buy The Pines Townhomes at Pacific Pines came along in March, they knew exactly what they were looking for.

They’ll be the first to admit that no amount of research can prepare you for every challenge of life as an onsite manager. But only a few months in, they’re finding their feet, building relationships and embracing the opportunities that come with managing the 81-lot community they’ve chosen to call home.

For Bec, whose career took her from the fashion industry into operational administration with MR Sales, and Ali, who worked in cybersecurity and event management, management rights offered something different.

“We’re both people persons and genuinely enjoy management, even though we come from completely different professional backgrounds,” Bec said.

“We’d been educating ourselves on management rights long before considering a purchase.”

When the opportunity finally came along, it made sense on several levels.

“Once we were in the financial position to make the move, we saw it as a highly efficient way to accelerate our property investment goals while simultaneously purchasing our own home,” she said.

“Another massive driver for us is family. This is a venture our whole family has happily rallied around, and living onsite gives us the peace of mind that we can successfully balance the business when we decide to start our own family one day.”

Read: Management rights explained: A practical guide for first-time buyers

A complex that already felt like home

Sometimes the right business is just the right fit.

The Nasirs already lived in the area and knew The Pines well before it came onto the market.

“Its simple presentation caught our eye first; we felt something at first sight,” Bec said.

“Once we looked closer and saw the low-maintenance facilities, the healthy body corporate salary, the quality manager’s residence, well-defined duties and the convenient location, we were sold before we even reached out to the agent.”

Now living onsite, they’ve developed an even greater appreciation for the community.

“The Pines is quiet, understated and pleasantly reserved,” Bec said.

“It offers a great balance where residents know and look out for their neighbours, but also deeply respect each other’s privacy.”

The number of long-term owners and tenants at the complex says plenty about its appeal.

“It’s a testament to the lifestyle here that both owners and tenants tend to stay for long periods and are always genuinely sad when they eventually have to leave.”

Learning the realities of onsite management

The first month seemed almost too easy.

“It went incredibly well; we almost snuck in undetected during the transition,” Bec laughed.

But after that, reality arrived.

Balancing two full-time corporate jobs while learning every aspect of a management rights business proved challenging.

“Months two and three definitely had us questioning if we had bitten off more than we could chew,” Bec said.

“It felt very much like the Dunning-Kruger effect in action… but as we learned from our initial mistakes, we found our feet and our confidence again.”

The couple completed ARAMA’s Management Rights Industry Training Program before buying and say they often refer back to what they learned.

“I believe everyone entering the industry should complete this,” Bec said.

They’re also keen to undertake more practical onsite training later this year.

What has surprised them most, though, has been how generous more experienced operators have been with their knowledge.

“We’ve found there is zero gatekeeping in this industry; everyone is genuinely happy to help,” Bec said.

They’re equally appreciative of the professional advisers who helped guide them through the purchase and continue supporting them as they settle into the business.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with people who genuinely want to see us succeed,” Bec said.

“Tracy Hobbs from Hospitality & Strata has been incredibly efficient from an accounting perspective. Kelsey Huebner from MBA Lawyers made the legal side seamless and straightforward and was always happy to answer our questions, while Cameron Wicking from Mike Phipps Finance guided us through the finance process effortlessly.

“Having experienced professionals around you who are approachable and generous with their knowledge gives you a great deal of confidence when you’re starting out.”

Interesting in buying a management rights business? View the latest listings on AccomProperties HERE

It’s all about people

Ask Bec what she enjoys most about the role and the answer isn’t about property.

“It is incredibly fulfilling to improve people’s quality of life in whatever small way we can,” she said.

“We’re naturally ‘yes’ people and always eager to lend a hand, whether acting in our official capacity or just as helpful neighbours.”

That approach seems to have been well received.

The couple have already grown the letting pool from 29 to 30 properties and hope to continue building it. They also speak warmly about the committee and residents, who have welcomed them into the community.

“We were braced for a little bit of friction entering the industry, but we have yet to face any negativity and hope to keep it that way,” Bec said.

She believes good working relationships begin with listening.

“We make a conscious effort to ensure everyone who takes the time to voice an opinion or provide input is fully heard and acknowledged. That validation goes a very long way.”

READ: A day in the life of a management rights operator: What it’s really like

Looking to the future

Although still settling into the business, the Nasirs are already working with the committee on a range of improvements.

Some are practical, such as introducing modern management software, installing CCTV and addressing tree root issues. They’ve also worked with the committee to redirect planned capital spending towards higher-priority structural projects. Others are aimed at making an already popular complex even better, including additional visitor parking, refreshed landscaping and a full external repaint over the next 12 to 18 months.

Looking beyond The Pines, Bec believes one of the industry’s biggest opportunities is helping more people understand what onsite managers actually do.

“We’ve been surprised by how little some unit owners understand about what we actually do,” she said.

One conversation with the complex groundskeeper reinforced that point. After learning more about management rights, he and his wife are now looking into buying a business themselves.

“Onsite managers offer a level of stability and care that external property or strata managers simply cannot. We live here, we grow with the community, and we have a vested financial and personal interest in the complex.”

For those thinking about buying their first management rights business, her advice is to get involved before signing a contract.

“Take advantage of every educational and networking opportunity available and start interacting with the industry early,” Bec said.

“Go to the social events, chat directly with experienced operators, attend an ARAMA MRITP course, go to a Women in Management Rights luncheon and read the profile stories in Resort News. That’s where you get a realistic understanding of what you’re stepping into.”

It is still early days, and while both continue to juggle full-time corporate roles alongside the business, they’re already beginning to see the rewards of the leap they took earlier this year.

Talking to them it’s easy to see why management rights appealed. They enjoy solving problems, they genuinely like people and they’re already thinking about where they want The Pines to be in five years’ time.

For an industry built on relationships, that’s a pretty good place to start.

Want to know more about the management rights industry or ARAMA?

Resort News Editor Mandy Clarke will be at NoVacancy on September 23 and 24 at ICC Sydney. She will be available for a chat at the AccomNews stand, booth 708.

Get your free pass to NoVacancy HERE