Estate agent job feels like home
Carel van Niekerk is the owner and business manager of Jawitz Properties Tygerberg. He tells Margaret Harris that buying a house, which he then renovated and sold, sparked his interest in the property industry
Why do you prefer working as an estate agent rather than a maintenance manager?
As an agent, I have my own business, which I much prefer, and I am pleased to say Jawitz Properties Tygerberg has been operating successfully for one full year as of July 1 this year. I love working with people, and I find it very rewarding to help clients find their dream homes, or sell their properties. I also love property and enjoy viewing homes, looking at the renovations people have made, for example. What qualifications do you have, and how do they help you do your job?
I have technical college training and did a number of courses when I was in engineering, including maintenance of engineering equipment, hydraulics, pneumatics and occupational health and safety training.
Through Unisa I completed firstline management and middle management courses, which later allowed me to gain my real estate national qualifications framework level four and five qualifications from Iselesele Property Academy. I did those courses through Unisa for my management position in engineering, not realising that they would help me later by exempting me from having to study further when I realised I wanted to be a real estate agent. All these qualifications have helped me get to where I am now, professionally. When you were a child, what did you want to grow up to be?
I grew up on a farm, and wanted to be a farmer. I did a little farming on the side when I lived in Musina years ago, but to own farmland today is very expensive. I dream of owning my own piece of farmland in the Western Cape one day. What do you love most about what you do?
I love helping and supporting buyers and sellers in either finding their dream home or selling their property for a new start. It’s exciting to be involved in that process, because I am also passionate about buying and selling property personally. What qualities do you need to do your work?
Estate agents need to have integrity, a passion for property and a passion for people. You also need to be prepared to work long (and irregular) hours. What is the best career advice you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Years ago a mining manager I worked for told me that if you need to solve a problem, no matter how long it takes, you will solve it eventually, and if you need or want to do something, you just have to get on with doing it, and make it happen.