KUALA LUMPUR: When the Covid-19 pandemic grounded the aviation industry, Michelle Lai was among the thousands of cabin crew members who got swept up in the wave of retrenchments.
But where others saw an end, she found a new beginning — on the ground.
Faced with job loss and five empty investment properties, Lai picked up tools, taught herself design and single-handedly turned her vacant units into stylish, rentable homes.
What began as a survival strategy quickly evolved into a thriving business.
Today, Lai and her husband, Francis Yee, are the co-founders of Auntie Michelle Resources, a property solutions company that recently made regional headlines by completing the fastest simultaneous renovation of 39 condominium units — each fully furnished and tenant-ready in just 192 cumulative work hours.
The achievement was officially recognised by Asean Records during the 5th Gathering of Achievers in July.
“Every month of renovation delayed is a month the owner struggles with loan repayments.
“Speed is critical. We want to help reduce non-performing loans and turn vacant properties into productive assets,” Yee explained.
Just before the pandemic hit, Lai managed to get a smooth start in real-estate investment with her husband.
But when countries started closing their borders and flights were abruptly suspended, her income froze overnight and she had no tenants for her new units.
“Five of my newly completed units had just received vacant possession.
“I couldn’t afford to hire an interior designer, so I did everything myself — liaised with contractors, came up with the designs and handled the entire rental process on my own.
“I was in survival mode,” she recalled.
To her surprise, the units were rented out almost immediately.
Her success quickly caught the attention of her investor friends, who were stuck outstation and unable to manage their properties.
Requests for help poured in and what began as a favour for friends eventually formalised into a business.
The name “Auntie Michelle” might sound quirky, but it reflected Lai’s warmth and philosophy.
“Most of my tenants are in their early 20s. I’m not that young anymore, and I wanted them to feel someone is looking out for them in the city — an auntie who cares,” she said with a smile.
Today, that same care is extended to both property owners and tenants, through end-to-end services that cover everything from renovation to design and rental management.
At the heart of her business is a strategy she and her husband called the “3M Rental Strategy” — Market Research, Model Renovation and Management.
As a woman leading renovation teams and negotiating with contractors in a male-dominated field, Lai faced her share of challenges.
Her leadership and problem-solving skills had since inspired other women to take up roles in construction and property management.
Lai’s work is helping property owners protect their investments, making homes more accessible to young tenants and creating a more sustainable rental ecosystem.
“I didn’t plan to start this business,” she said.
“But when life grounded me, I built something new from the ground up.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
