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Property empires: when women rule the roost

Michele Alexander

12 May 2008

Three powerful real estate families: part II of investigation into what makes them tick by award-winning journalist

In this in-depth report on powerful real estate families, award-winning journalist Michele Alexander examines what makes them tick (read Property empires: Is blood thicker than water?). In Part I, the Jawitz family revealed some fascinating insights about how they run their successful estate agency operation. Today, we publish Part II, which looks at the KwaZulu-Natal-based Ortlepp family.

Part 1 ended off with Tony Balshaw, family business expert and author, noting that gender roles have changed. In fact female-led businesses have dramatically increased, as is the case in the Ortlepp family

Case study 2: The Ortlepp Family

In 1962, Adrian Ortlepp, together with Max Dales was one of the original founders of the company, which over the years has evolved into MAXPROP HOLDINGS. In 1988, a decision was made by the company to go the Franchise route. Adrian decided to focus all his resources in one franchise, Westville, Durban. His wife Nola ran the rental department. It was his youngest daughter Lindi who first started working in the family business as a teenager. Now she runs the business with her two sisters Kerry Warburg and Sue Foster. Adrian and Nola are the major shareholders whilst all three sisters are minor shareholders.

The sisterhood

With three sisters running the business one would expect a lot of cat fighting, spitting and competition.

But this doesn't seem to be the case with the Ortlepp sisters.

Lindi may be the youngest but her siblings voted her in as Business Manager. They agree they all have different strengths. Lindy is good at management and finance, whilst Sue is an outstanding agent able to sell ice to an Eskimo. Kerry is passionate about the development of the profession and is currently chairman of the Durban and Coastal Institute of Estate Agents.

How does the patriarch Adrian feel about three women running his business? "Dad loves having the women in the business," says Kerry. "Sometimes he drives us up the wall, but he is a very good negotiator and mentor. "

FAMILY TRADITION VERSUS THE NEW ERA

Though Adrian is still a very strong presence in the business, Lindi says he is increasingly allowing her to run things her way. "When I first took over as Manager, the first three months were really difficult, but three years down the road, I run the place on a day to day basis." There are times when Adrian questions why she wants to change family traditions that have worked for 20 years, but she feels "One has to change with the times and generally he lets me run the business the way I want to run it."

Fights and feuds?

"We are very straightforward with each other. We have lots of arguments and debates, but we are also a very close knit family," says Kerry.

What about accusations of favoritism by non-family members of staff? "That has happened on occasion," says Kerry, "but we have worked out a very fair system to keep everyone happy." In fact their father is often tougher on family members than anyone else. "But Dad has worked hard for 40 years and we consider ourselves one of the best run franchises in the MAXPROP group," says Sue.

The third generation

According to Tony Balshaw usually the first generation founds the business, the second generation builds the business but the third generation can often destroy it.

Continuity of the business is a heavy responsibility for 29-year-old grandson Justin Ortlepp but he is adamant he wants to be part of his grandfather's legacy.

Entry into the business

Tony Balshaw says he believes it is important for the younger generation to first get experience outside the family business. Justin did exactly this first setting up his own IT business and then working in the UK for several years. He says, "When I joined the family business, I started from the bottom as a secretary at reception. I am working my way up because I don't want to be seen as having a silver spoon in my mouth".

In 2007 Justin was awarded the title of best agent not only in Westville but also in the MAXPROP group as whole.

Author, Gerry Robinson feels one shouldn't groom your children for the business. Let them do what they want to do. "Fight like hell against bringing them into the business and have family members in it only if they genuinely, passionately and desperately want work there. Then you'll have the best of both worlds."

Michele Alexander is an award winning journalist who believes that human enagagement and connections make the world go around. She runs courses on how to communicate effectively with people, a critical key to success in business. For more information visit her website: http://www.powerfulperceptions.co.za/.

Next in the series: The story of a Cape Town-based real estate family that came up with an interesting business model to take on the established brands.

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