Empowering business success

Two businesswomen are empowering each other to succeed in what are traditionally “male-dominated industries”.

Lucy Bates and Kim Rozendaal have successfully launched their businesses in recent years.

At a time when businesses experienced a downturn during the drought and pandemic, their ventures experienced consistent growth which continues today.

Lucy established LMB Property Valuations in February 2019 after successfully building her career as a valuer.

“I have been in the valuation industry for 16 years,” Lucy said.

“I am very passionate about what is happening in the region, providing clients with unbiased expert advice to assist in their property-related decisions.”

Lucy grew up in the small rural town of Boggabri and has spent her life living and working across large areas of regional NSW including the North West and Central West.

“I take pride in ensuring clients are provided with advice that is accurate, informative and of a high standard of professionalism, all with the utmost duty of care and due diligence,” she said.

Lucy’s valuation services cover a number of purposes, including stamp duty, capital gains tax, succession planning, retrospective, accounting, family law matters, insurance (replacement), acquisition/compensation and evidence of value for selling/buying and investment.

While she does not offer property valuations for mortgage purposes, she can offer independent valuation allowing clients to understand and be more informed about what the market is doing, what sales evidence has occurred and how the value of the property is determined.

Alongside partner Kyle Barnes, since launching LMB Property Valuations, Lucy has ensured it is a family-oriented business as her family has grown.

With partner Kyle, she enjoys spending time with her two children – Coen, 6 and Matilda, 2.

Thanks to family support, she is able to offer her services across the North West and Central West regions and is willing to travel wherever the business opportunities are presented.

“It takes incredible support to be able to do that, and I am forever grateful to have that family support behind me,” Lucy said.

Strong family support is the backbone to LMB Property Valuations which has enabled Lucy’s business to enjoy continued success.

“It has really taken off, and with our recent move to the Narrabri region I am excited to continue growing,” she said.

Kim established KR Property in 2020 while working part-time. The initial success was so overwhelming that Kim decided it was time to focus solely on her real estate business.

“It has just grown and grown beyond my wildest expectations,” Kim said.

Since launching KR Property, Kim has consistently maintained an honest, client-focused business.

“Our clients are at the very core of what we do,” Kim said.

“We want to deliver great results and are proud of the quality in the way we conduct our business.”

KR Property specialises in residential, commercial, industrial and rural property sales.

As the business has grown, the need to expand and provide additional staffing resources has seen Kim establish a KR Property team.

Eden, the daughter of Kim, boasts a class 2 real estate licence and is also a qualified stock and station agent.

Assistant agent Jenny Jones will soon boast a class 2 real estate licence as well, adding to the qualified and professional KR Property team.

As LMB Property Valuations and KR Property have enjoyed their own success, the businesses have crossed paths as they operate in the same industries.

“Real estate and valuation can work together,” Kim said.

Their paths also crossed when Lucy and Kyle were looking to purchase a new property and turned to KR Property.

Lucy and Kim spoke with The Courier to show that two relatively new businesses can empower each other to succeed.

“In property valuation, I can work effectively alongside KR Property and other property agencies and services,” Lucy said.

“I want people to know that we have property valuation services available here in Narrabri.”