When a property owner decides to put his property on the market, it is normally done with a feeling of anticipation and slight anxiety. The property owner expects to get proper returns for his investment in as short as possible timeframe, but at the same time is worried how the market will react to his property offering. Will I get my price? How long will it take to get the right buyer? Which agency should I use to market my property or should I use all of them? Must I try to market the property privately first? At what price should I go into the market?

Decisions as important as those relating to the valuation or the sale of a property are not something you should leave to chance.  Would you fix a broken tooth yourself or risk a court appearance without a lawyer. Use the market and service expertise of a professional estate agent.

Why should I use a professional real estate agent to market my property?

This question probably arises in the minds of most buyers, sellers and property owners alike. Selling a property is usually only a once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime decision. Some sellers are looking for the most attractive offer as quickly as possible and without complications, while other sellers want to find a sound buyer and to get the best possible price. But they are all looking for the agency who will accompany them in the most effective possible way in selling their property. Let us look at some of the criteria which will assist you to getting the best results in the shortest time frame with the least amount of inconvenience to you.

• There are countless estate agents in almost every town or city, but not all of them have the necessary qualifications. You should from the beginning invest sufficient time to select the right agent for you, in order to achieve the best result.
• Study reports in the regional section of your newspaper about how prices are doing on the local property market.
• Study the local newspapers or local property advertising medium and have a good look at the property pages. Who is always advertising new properties? Which advertisements catch your attention?
• Compare the internet presence of different estate agents and the properties advertised on their websites. Who advertises on more than one website, focussing on the most active property websites available? Compare your property with those advertised from your neighbourhood on these websites. Which agency is more active and successful in your neighbourhood or in your section of the market?
• Sole representative agents will invest the optimum amount of time and money to market your property.
• By appointing more than one agency, the property could lose its uniqueness and thus the possibility of obtaining the best possible price. Multiple advertising, multiple approaches to customers cause confusion and annoyance for anyone interested in the property and in the market itself.
• Owners often choose an Open Mandate when marketing their properties, believing that the more agents they have working on their property, the sooner they will achieve the best price for their property. Unfortunately the reverse is often true. No agent likes to spend time and money on a property they might not sell.
• Under a Sole or Exclusive Mandate, both the agent and agency are contractually bound to do their very best to market your home within the stipulated time frame in the mandate form.
• In most cases a Sole or Exclusive Agent will obtain a higher price for your property when they know they have time to negotiate with the Buyer, without worrying about other competing offers from other agents. Remember, competing offers are not necessarily higher.
• A Sole or Exclusive Mandate secures you a dedicated marketing plan, a concentrated effort, wider coverage and it prevents possible double commission claims when the same buyer is brought through your home twice, by competing agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t I miss out on potential buyers if I only have one agent working on my property?

• Buyers wanting to buy in your area will automatically visit our many show houses.
• 60% - 80% of property sales come from our “For Sale” boards as well as our show houses as opposed to only 5% coming from press advertising.
• Experience has shown that if you market the right property at the right price – success will be the result.
• There is only one pool of buyers. Buyers normally contact all the active agencies in a specified area to assist them in obtaining the right property.
• You as the Seller have more PRIVACY, SECURITY and CONTROL over the selling process.
• You are insured that only qualified buyers will be brought to view your property.

If I have a limited space of time in which to sell my house, is it not better to give it to every agency in my area?

• The more agents marketing your house, the less committed they will be. Too many “For Sale” boards in front of a property indicate a desperate seller. Potential buyers will be of the opinion that they can make much lower offers.

Is the average commission higher on a sole or an exclusive mandate than on an open mandate?

• Agents earn commission based on a percentage of the selling price. Due to the fact that the average selling price is higher on a sole mandate as well as due to the money, time and effort spent, the average commission is rightly higher than on an open mandates. This acts as an incentive for the agent and supporting agency to work at selling the property at market value to increase their profitability.

Property.CoZa Marketing Plan Includes The Following:

• The main benefit of an Exclusive or Sole Mandate is that it empowers me to tailor make a marketing plan for your property, positioning it strategically in the optimal target market.
• Completing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to enable us to determine the market related value of your property.
• Erecting a For Sale sign outside your property within 24 hours after listing the property.
• Development of a buyer profile.
• Offering your property to qualified buyers within our database.
• Referencing your property with our weekly updated show house contacts.
• Photographs for window and advertising displays.
• Placing selected advertisements for your specific target market.
• Advertising your property to all the other agents in our office so that they are aware of the features of this property as it might suit one of their clients.
• Show house campaign. Pre-arranging to place your property on show regularly as discussed with you, for the duration of the mandate period or until it is sold, whichever is the earliest.
• Prepare a personalised brochure on your property.
• Qualifying buyers and only bringing them to the property on appointment.
• Updating you regularly on the progress of the marketing plan and to follow up all leads.
• Reviewing the price of your property – giving you regular price comparisons with new listings made.
• Giving you constructive feedback in order to enhance your home for optimal positioning in the market place.
• Placing of your property on our internet site as well as 20 other most active property internet sites featuring South African properties.
• Weekly progress report.
• Ensure continued exposure of your home through a planned marketing campaign.
• Present you with all written offers.
• Assist you with your next purchase if required.
• Arranging finance with the 4 banks as well as SA Homeloans in order to speed up the sales process.
• In addition, we automatically adhere to the terms of the code of conduct (Act 112 of 1976) issued by the Estate Agency Affairs Board.