Don’t forget word of mouth
Even if you are using an agent to market your property, it doesn’t hurt to tell friends and acquaintances what a wonderful home it is. It all helps
Q: WE ARE using an agent to sell our home and she is obviously going to handle the marketing. Is it okay for us to also advertise or should we leave it completely up to her?
A: While your estate agent should have an extensive marketing plan for your property, it’s still important for sellers to spread the word in their personal capacity.
It’s not just about widening the pool of potential buyers, although word-of-mouth referrals are certainly valuable, but sharing personal insights into a home can also be a great way to help buyers form their own emotional connection with the property, making it more likely that they will make a competitive offer.
Go ahead and share your listing on social media with a short, personal description of the property and the lifestyle it offers – it could be just the nudge a buyer needs to make an enquiry.
– David Jacobs, Gauteng regional sales manager for the Rawson Property Group
Q: With the country now in the third wave of the pandemic, and tighter restrictions in place, how can estate agents continue to best perform their roles while also keeping themselves and their clients safe?
A: The third wave is growing much faster than our vaccination figures, which means now is not the time to relax our guard.
The Real Estate Business Owners of South Africa (Rebosa) has published an extensive set of Covid-19 workplace-readiness guidelines and templates for use by the real estate industry.
The recommended safety measures include encouraging agents to work from home whenever possible and adopting shift work for essential administrative staff to minimise in-office exposure.
Strict in-office hygiene controls and screening should also be employed regularly, while social distancing and mask wearing should be enforced at all times.
It’s also important for estate agencies to review their transmission-control protocol in the event that a team member tests positive for Covid-19.
To reduce risk during interactions with members of the public, Rebosa recommends agents provide consultations telephonically or via video call, and use electronic documentation and digital property services like virtual viewings of show houses whenever possible.
When face-to-face interactions are essential, agents are advised to meet by appointment only and never travel to a property in the same vehicle as a client.
Rebosa also recommends that agents limit the number of people present at meetings, maximise ventilation, maintain social distance and ensure all parties sanitise their hands and wear masks. This goes for valuations as well as show houses, which are best limited to pre-qualified buyers only as this reduces potential virus exposure and minimises any inconvenience for sellers – a win all round. – Tony Clarke, Rebosa chairman
Q: What is the current norm regarding pet-friendly rentals? I am a landlord and am concerned about allowing pets in my properties but I do understand tenants’ need for, and love of, their pets. How can this issue best be balanced?
A: Landlords should consider their stance on this issue and remain flexible on the topic – provided there are no external restrictions on pet ownership on the property – if they hope to hold onto reliable tenants.
Pet-friendly homes are sought after by tenants. In some cases, tenants may even be willing to pay a little extra to secure the right property.
They are also less likely to move in future owing to how difficult it is to find another rental home that will allow pets. This provides landlords with security and the possibility of higher rental yields.
However, there are several practical consideration that can influence a landlord’s decision to deny a tenant from owning pets.
Space is often a primary concern, especially in homes without the ground space for larger breeds.
Landlords may also fear the animals could cause damage to the property or that neighbours could lay noise complaints against their tenants’ pets.
There may also be body corporate rules around pet ownership in the complex that tenants might not follow, which would lead to landlords being issued with fines or penalties.
There are safeguards landlords can put in place to prevent any unwanted surprises.
Landlords can specify in the lease agreement exactly what sorts of pets are allowed, even giving specific measurements to prevent tenants from housing larger dogs on the property. If fearful that pets will cause damage to the home, landlords can add a damage deposit into the lease agreement.
While managing a rental property with pets may be slightly more complicated than one without, landlords who do allow pets can reap the rewards of this decision provided the situation is properly managed.
– Adrian Goslett, chief executive of RE/MAX of Southern Africa
Q: Is the “seven year itch” real when it comes to property? We have been living in our home for almost that length of time and I want to sell it and move. Is this a good idea or will this desire pass?
A: The seven-year property itch is a reality and it is common knowledge that it generally takes seven to 10 years of owning a property before it is worth selling.
Of course, drastic circumstances could see that time frame cut short, but if you are thinking of selling and you have been there for at least seven years, it might comfort you to know that, statistically, it won’t be a bad idea. – Herschel Jawitz, chief executive of Jawitz Properties.