Don’t miss all of the very latest tools being put through their paces live at the Power Tool Fair in Somerset West. Throughout the day, most of the power tools will be demonstrated in a real life ‘hands-on’ situation – so you can see whether they’ll be able to do the job for you.

When: Saturday, 5 November 2011
Where: Builder’s Warehouse Helderberg, Nobel Street, The Interchange, Somerset West

The Power Tool Fair in Somerset West is a unique and dynamic show where trade users of power tools come to see new products and ranges first-hand. It offers the customers face-to-face  demonstrations and the benefits of the products in an exciting hands-on environment.

Up for grabs are some unbelievable prizes from the big name players like Makita, Bosch, Ryobi   and  Tork Craft Power Tool Accessories.

RYOBI CIRCULAR SAW C185-1300W FOR ONLY R399 (24 Month Guarantee)

GEDORE COMPLETE TOOLKIT FOR ONLY R2999 SAVE R800

There will be lots of specials on power tools and more killer deals at Builder’s Warehouse Helderberg, so be at the Power Tool Fair in Somerset West to avoid dissapointment!!

Trading Hours:

• Mon-Fri 8am – 6pm
• Sat 8am – 5pm. Sun 8am – 4pm

We offer you:

• Price structuring to suit your needs
• Biggest range with the best service and advice
• Delivery

Specials on power tools at the Power Tool Fair in Somerset West are valid only at Builder’s Warehouse Helderberg. Contact us on 021 840 1001 for more details.

Power Tool Fair in Somerset West – Builder’s Warehouse Helderberg is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

When considering laying new lawn, it is important to remember that South Africa is a country subject to drought and water is a scarce and valuable resource – which is why many local authorities have water-usage restrictions in place, so factor in the cost of extra water you may require while your new lawn establishes itself. Check with the Somerset West municipality about possible water restrictions that may be in force.

The first task is to excavate the yard where you will be laying new lawn. If the area is covered with masses of weeds, the weeds and undesired plant growth will have to be removed, either by renting small excavating equipment or hiring casual labour to assist you with the task.

The next step is to trim the edges, by using a shovel or spade. Trim the soil level where the lawn will meet hard surfaces like pathways, to about 50mm below the hard-surface level. This will keep the lawn just below paving height, allowing water to run off the hard surfaces to the lawn.

Before laying new lawn, the soil must be prepared properly. If the soil is sandy, top it with 25mm of loam to help retain moisture. Conversely, clay-based, hard soils should be broken down with gypsum and topped with 25mm of sandy loam.

You can now screed the area before laying new lawn.

Position the lawn in a straight, brick-like pattern as soon it’s delivered, using a spade to cut and trim. Butt the edges without overlapping or leaving gaps. Go over the turf with a lawn roller to improve root contact with the soil. A lawn roller can be hired.

Once the lawn has been positioned, water immediately. In the first weeks, don’t let the lawn dry out, watering twice daily if restrictions allow. Don’t spread any fertilizer on the soil before laying new lawn, as it burns off the fine root hairs. Wait for a period of four weeks before fertilizing and use a complete lawn food, adding a good handful for every square metre. A product like Wonder 232 can be used.

When spreading fertilizer, you may not be able to easily see where you have missed. A good tip is to mix the fertilizer with ordinary flour from the kitchen. The white will stand out against the green lawn, and will wash in when you water. Simple!

Leave the grass up to four weeks before cutting. Couch leaf lawn should be left to grow up to 30mm, while buffalo and kikuyu should be left to grow up to 50mm. Cut 25% off the leaf length on the first mow, and then gradually cut shorter.

After a few weeks, you should have a beautiful lawn to enjoy in your garden.

This article was submitted by Builder’s Warehouse, Helderberg. For more information contact them on (021) 840 1001 or visit them in Nobel Street, The Interchange, Somerset West.

On Wednesdays, Builders Warehouse has a Pensioners Day when the elderly benefit from a 10% Discount on all products, EXCLUDING BUILDING MATERIAL AND ITEMS ON PROMOTION

If you need any clarity on how to carry out your project successfully, the friendly staff at Builders Warehouse are ready to assist you with your questions.

Remember that all the materials and tools required for laying new lawn and other do it yourself garden and household projects in Somerset West are available from Builders Warehouse.

Do It Yourself: Laying New Lawn in Somerset West is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

Helderberg Property:

Peter Gilmour, Chairman of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, takes a look at recent trends in asking prices set by sellers in the global property market and concludes that getting the pricing right for Helderberg property is becoming an art that demands extensive experience and expertise.

In South Africa, estate agents participating in the most recent FNB Estate Agent Survey revealed that the percentage of sellers having to drop their asking prices remained unchanged from the previous quarter at 81%, with the average price drop estimated at -12%.

“This indicates that many sellers in South Africa are still hoping to obtain unrealistic prices given the current state of the market,” says Peter Gilmour, Chairman of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. “The consequences of unrealistic pricing are clearly reflected in the average time properties remain on the market – 15 weeks and 4 days”. Realistic asking prices are those that are in line with the current market, and such pricing brings the average time a Helderberg property is on the market down to eight weeks or less.

Gilmour notes that this trend in which sellers are forced to drop their asking prices to make a sale is not a South African phenomenon. Sellers in the Helderberg property markets, as well as markets across the globe are facing similar challenges, and although the exact percentages vary from one market to another, the trend of reducing asking prices is a global one.

In the UK, it has been widely reported in the media that home owners in the UK are forced to accept offers of 10% below the asking price to sell their properties.

On the other side of the globe, data released by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia reveals that 67% of sellers in Perth are prepared to drop the asking price by an average 6% to get a sale, as the average paid for a property in the city has slumped. The average time required to sell a property in Perth today is 63 days.

In neighbouring New Zealand, the NZ Property Report says that the average nationwide asking price of sellers recently reached its lowest level in a year – coming close to matching mid-2008 levels. The stock of unsold houses continues to increase, and at the end of September there was an equivalent of 47.5 weeks of sales volume of unsold properties on the market.

Across the Pacific, the most recent data from Trulia.com, a real estate listings website in the US which tracks 50 major property markets in North America, shows that 20% of asking prices for current home listings were reduced at least once. Price cuts are more prevalent in some markets than others, and the average size of the cut also varies. In Minneapolis, for example, 40% of the listings had at least one reduction and the average reduction was 9% of the listing price. In Las Vegas, 12% of the homes had price cuts, but the reductions averaged 15% off the listing price.

In several US property markets the number of listing price reductions are decreasing – good news for the rest of the global property markets, given the reality that other markets tend to follow the US trends. However, Gilmour believes this trend is not reflective of a stabilising housing market, but rather an indication that sellers are beginning to price their properties more realistically.

“Sellers in South Africa should take note of these global trends and apply the learning.” Setting a realistic selling price is the way to sell Helderberg property quickly. ” The basic economic law of supply and demand will always prevail. When an oversupply situation exists, and the number of buyers is severely limited by the availability of finance, selling prices will be subdued and overpriced properties will simply not sell,” concludes Gilmour.

For professional assistance on setting the right price for your Helderberg property, contact us on (021) 852 6464, or visit our offices at Shop 33, Waterstone Village, Main Road, Somerset West.

The Right Price Will Expedite the Sale of Helderberg Property is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

The Psychology of Setting a Sales Price for Somerset West Properties:

There is more to setting a sales price for Somerset West properties than most sellers appreciate, says Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Setting the right selling price is crucial to achieve a sale in the current market. According to the latest FNB Estate Agent Survey, the average time properties (including Somerset West properties) remain on the market is around 15 weeks and 4 days – a reflection of unrealistic pricing. When asking prices are set in line with current market conditions, the average time a property is on the market is slashed by half, to eight weeks or less.

“There is more to setting the right asking price than simply establishing a value based on a comparative market analysis,” explains Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. “While such an analysis will provide a crucial guideline in terms of the pricing a particular type of property can achieve in the specific area, other factors should be taken into account, most importantly the psychological effect of a certain price range. This is not an exact science, but rather a skill acquired through knowledge of the specific market and experience with buyers, and highlights the value an experienced estate agent can bring to a property sale,” notes Goslett.

He explains that, for example, a home may be valued at R1-million according to the comparative market analysis, which not only takes into account the sales prices achieved by similar Somerset West properties, but also factors in any features or improvements that will increase the value, and any defects that will reduce the value below the average. “Pricing a property at R1-million places it into a perceptual price bracket of ‘R1-million and over’. If the property is placed on the market at say R990 000, it falls – perceptually – into another price bracket. At R990 000, the property is no longer priced ‘in the millions’ even though the difference is a mere R10 000. In this perceptual price bracket, the property is likely to attract more interest from buyers, including those buyers who are looking at properties priced at below the R1-million mark,” he explains.

The same psychology comes into play when a seller is required to drop the asking price. Goslett says that when the asking price is reduced, the same principle applies. If the property has been on the market for R570 000, a 12% reduction, which is the trend in the property market at the moment, would amount to R68 400, bringing the new asking price to R501 600. However, at this asking price the property would remain in the same perceptual price bracket ‘over R500 000’. If the seller should drop the price by another R1 650, a relatively insignificant amount, the property now falls into the ‘under R500 000’ price bracket and will attract interest from a much wider market looking for more affordable Somerset West properties.

In some cases, however, setting the price too low could have unintended consequences. If the comparative market analysis shows that the average price of similar Somerset West properties is over R1 million, and the asking price is set much lower at say R750 000, prospective buyers may begin to wonder whether something is amiss, according to Goslett. As such, simply reducing the asking price without considering the psychology may not produce the quick sale the seller hoped for.

For more advice on Somerset West properties, contact us on (021) 852 6464, or visit our offices at Shop 33, Waterstone Village, Main Road, Somerset West.

Setting a Sales Price for Somerset West Properties is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

The best way to increase your chances of a successful sale is to ensure that your  Somerset West Property is priced correctly right from the start, says Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Typically, homebuyers only look at those properties that are within a price range that they can afford. But, he says, the pricing of Somerset West Property is a tricky business, with a Goldilocks-type familiarity. “If your property is priced too high, expecting that buyers will negotiate with you, you may just miss the boat by not attracting the right kind of buyers to view your property in the first place. Price your property too low, and you can lose out on making more money than you would like to. The trick is to get the pricing just right to suit the current state of the market,” he explains.

So what is real market value? “Essentially, real market value refers to what a seller could expect a buyer to pay for their property in a competitive market. However, it must be remembered that even though the market value of your home is usually set by a professional, in the end the true market value is determined mainly by what a buyer is willing to pay for the property,” he says.

The easiest and arguably most accurate method of establishing the market value of your home is to get a real estate agent to evaluate your Somerset West Property. Says Goslett: “Most estate agents offer free home market appraisals to anyone who is a potential client. There is no obligation to list your home with any particular one of these agents, and you can learn a lot from how they appraise your property and what they have to say about what the market is doing in your particular suburb and its surrounding areas.”

Goslett says that homeowners must remember that a good estate agent is well versed on the general and area-specific property market trends, especially those trends relating to the areas in which they operate. They know what is selling and what is not, who is buying and for how much, and where Somerset West Property is heading in the near to medium term. “It is their business to know these things, and a homeowner could garner a lot of valuable information from these professional individuals about the value of their home.”

The method used by most estate agents is a comparative market analysis (CMA), explains Goslett. “A CMA is a method used to determine accurate market values by comparing other similar properties that have recently sold in your area; what estate agents refer to as ‘comparables’. Analysing what houses of a similar size as yours sold for over the last three to six months, as well as determining the average price per square metre the homes in your area are commanding, the CMA provides agents with a solid price base to use to determine a reasonable asking price for the property in question.”

Any experienced agent will tell you however that there are other factors that will affect the value of your property, which also needs to be taken into consideration. These include market demand and the condition of the Somerset West Property, its size and elevation, does it have a view, the state of the garden, the age and modernity of the kitchen and the bathrooms, various security features, as well as various cosmetic updates, such as the flooring, fireplaces, light fixtures, and whether the home has been painted with a fresh coat of paint for example.

“Just like people often eat with their eyes, the same is true for shopping for a property – if a house looks updated, clean and well kept, and it boasts tasteful, modern decor, finishes and window dressings, then it will have a much higher commercial appeal to a much wider audience, and you may be able to enter the market with a slightly higher asking price,” advises Goslett.

The main element in determining an accurate value is current market conditions, says Goslett: “The keyword here is ‘current’. If nothing else, recent market fluctuations have shown that property can be worth one amount one day and something else the next. Last year, for example, residential property price growth showed dramatic changes during the course of 2010 – peaking at around mid-2010 at 11,1%, and slowed down significantly to an average of 2,6% y/y in the second half of the year.”

For more advice on selling your Somerset West Property, contact Lee Sieberts on (021) 852 6464 or visit our offices at Shop 33 Waterstone Village, Somerset West.

How to Determine the Real Market Value of Your Somerset West Property is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

184 Steps in a Somerset West Property Sale

Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, considers the numerous activities involved in selling a single Somerset West Property and concludes that it constitutes but a fraction of the true value estate agents bring to the property industry.

Recently, the US National Association of Realtors (NAR) presented a document to Congress detailing all the tasks that real estate professionals must complete to close a single deal. The list contains 184 tasks ranging from the pre-listing activities to the conclusion of the sale and relates exclusively to the activities relevant to the sale of  any one property, including Somerset West Property.

“The list of activities compiled by NAR provides an insightful overview of the complexity involved in today’s property transactions and is certainly a detailed justification of the sales commission earned by estate agents, which has often been called into question by those who believe that sellers can save money through DIY property sales,” comments Goslett. He adds that while sellers can indeed sell Somerset West Property unassisted, it would require a considerable investment of time and effort to complete these 184 steps. “And even if all the steps are successfully completed, the results may still not match those that can be achieved by a professional estate agent,” he says.

He attributes this to the fact that beyond the actual activities performed by an estate agent – although already ample justification for any remuneration received – the real value of professional estate agents lies in their expertise.

“As with any other profession, the real value in using a professional estate agent lies more in what they know, than in what they do. What an estate agent actually offers is the knowledge, industry and market insight, expertise and experience that ensure a property is sold at the best possible price in the shortest possible time, and that the interests of all the stakeholders in the transaction are protected,” explains Goslett.

He adds that a professional estate agent brings to the transaction an extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations that apply to property transactions in South Africa, the rights of buyers and sellers, and the bylaws and regulations that affect property in an area, which serves to protect both sellers and buyers. “Expertise in dealing with over-optimistic sellers, negotiating with buyers and closing sales, is invaluable. Professional estate agents have established procedures, systems and business relationships in place that not only streamlines the process, but ensures optimal results,” says Goslett.

In addition, professional estate agents have the crucial industry and market insights to ensure Somerset West Property is marketed effectively through all available channels, that the seller receives excellent advice regarding ways to improve the curb appeal of a property, that the pricing strategy is based on comparative market information and a finger-on-the-pulse ‘feel’ for the prevailing sentiment among buyers, and that current and future developments in the area are considered. They bring the essential experience in drawing up valid contracts, dealing with valuers, bond originators, conveyancers and officials, and taking care of the numerous mundane details of surrounding show days, multiple listings, newspaper advertising and screening buyers.

In many professions, the role of ‘brokers’ or ‘agents’ are questioned as consumers with easy access to more information have become more educated and empowered to conduct their own affairs.

“However, paradoxically, as access to information and consumer knowledge increases, the need for expert advice and professional assistance becomes more, not less, crucial,” says Goslett. “In the same way a consumer would approach an expert to handle legal issues in an increasingly intricate legal landscape, to address health issues as medical technology advances and to fix electronics as the equipment becomes more sophisticated, so consumers should rely on reputable, professional and experienced estate agents to ensure that their rights are protected in an increasingly complex property industry and that the results of a property transaction are optimised to the benefit of all the parties involved in a dynamic property market impacted by numerous factors, trends and developments,” he concludes.

For more information on the sale of your Somerset West Property, contact Lee Sieberts on (021) 852 6464 or visit our offices at Shop 33 Waterstone Village, Somerset West.

Somerset West Property: The Value of an Agent is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

In today’s tough economic climate, we all need to cut costs, but have you ever considered how much you spend on cleaning products? Did you know that there are numerous eco-friendly “home remedies” that clean as well as expensive products?

Bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice, white vinegar and borax are all you need to keep your Helderberg property clean and fresh-smelling.

Eco-Friendly Tips to help you in your kitchen:

• A quarter cup of white vinegar added to dishwashing water will leave your glasses sparkling clean.
• Use on tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda for washing the dishes.
• Table salt can also be used as a gentle scourer.
• One tablespoon each of bicarb and borax in the detergent compartment of your dishwasher will clean your dishes. Both are mild abrasives and germ zappers.
• A paste of lemon juice and bicarb can be left on hard surfaces to remove stains. Be careful with marble, lemon juice and vinegar can cause it to etch.
• Lemon juice can be sprayed on stains on clothes then left in the sun to dry. The stains will disappear.
• Mix a quarter cup of lemon juice with water to help remove grease and stains on aluminium and porcelain.
• Mix half a cup of vinegar and one cup of lemon juice in a basin of warm water to wash your defrosted fridge.
• A substitute for air freshener can be made by simmering cloves and cinnamon in a pot of hot water.
• Use a half a lemon dipped in borax to remove stains from floors, then rinse with cold water.
• Make a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda, salt and water, rub the mixture inside the oven, leave overnight and wash down with warm water. Bicarb is a good but gentle scourer and will work on thick grime.
• A quarter cup each of vinegar and bicarb will unblock a drain. Poor down the drain and plug it, as the mixture fizzes quite a bit. When the fizzing stops, pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Flush drains every week with boiling water to prevent blockages.
• Equal parts of vinegar and water make a good floor-cleaner.

Eco-Friendly Tips to help you in your bathroom:

• Three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda can be used to scrub a toilet.
• A cup of vinegar left overnight in the toilet bowl will remove most stains.
• Flush the toilet and spray vinegar around the rim, leave overnight and scrub down the next morning.
• You can whiten your teeth by dipping your toothbrush in bicarb.

Laundry can be a problem, but there are things you can do to make things more eco-friendly, easier and cheaper:

• Using cold water instead of hot will cut down on your electricity bill.
• Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to boost the whitening action of your laundry detergent.
• Replace fabric softener with a quarter cup of white vinegar.
• Rubbing white chalk on oil stained fabric will help remove the stain.
• Treat spots as soon as they happen.

Other general eco-friendly tips that will help around the house:

• To clean windows, add a cup of vinegar to a bucket of cold water and use crumpled up newspaper.
• To clean carpets, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, using about one cup per medium size room. Vacuum after 30 minutes. To soak up big spills, sprinkle corn flour on the spill; after 5 to 15 minutes, sweep the debris into a dustpan and vacuum.
• To polish furniture, mix two tablespoons of olive oil (cheap varieties work just as well as the expensive ones) with one cup of vinegar. The mixture can be sprayed onto furniture. Use a soft cloth to buff.
• Leave an open box of bicarbonate of soda in a room or fridge, it absorbs smells.
• Plant sweet basil around the patio and house to repel mosquitoes.

Acknowledgement: Nwabisa Msutwana-Stemela and Lynette Johns

If you have any more eco-friendly household tips, please feel free to add your comments.

Save Cash With an Eco-Friendly Plan to Clean Your Helderberg Property is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

Recessionary times are reflective in the current consumer perception of the real estate industry in America, according to J.D. Power and Associates’ 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study.

“Although the study focuses exclusively on the American market, there are many parallels that the South African real estate market can draw in relation to this study,” says Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

The study shows that, reflective of the real estate buyers’ market conditions in many regions in the US, satisfaction with real estate companies among home buyers has improved since 2009, while that of home sellers has declined.

Similar to conditions in South Africa, Goslett notes that the report showed that among both home buyers and sellers, the perceived and real-time importance of real estate agents had increased substantially in 2010, compared with 2009. “Buyers are increasingly relying on the negotiating skills of agents and overall, they seem to be satisfied with the purchase prices they are obtaining. However, despite the fact that agents appear to be doing a good job of negotiating and marketing on behalf of home sellers, the tough economic conditions are negatively impacting on their clients’ overall satisfaction with regards to services rendered.”

The results of the study were achieved by analysing three factors in the home-buying experience, namely agent/salesperson, office and a variety of additional services. Four factors were examined for the home-selling experience, including agent/salesperson, marketing, office and variety of additional services. Overall satisfaction amongst home buyers was primarily driven by increased satisfaction with agents, while overall satisfaction amongst home buyers decreased in all four categories.

Drawing from the report, Goslett provides the following four tips to consumers looking to buy or sell a property:

• It is critical to find the right agent: Due to the intricate nature of real estate transactions, it is essential that a buyer or seller is able to get on and relate to their agent. A transaction might take several months to finalise, and as such it is important that the client can see eye to eye with their agent and trust them impeccably in order to achieve a satisfactory experience from the process.
• Look for agents that go the extra mile: Buying and selling real estate is a complex undertaking, lined with many potentially complicated and unforeseen hitches. Apart from an agent, buyers or sellers need to work with a whole host of other professionals, such as movers, bond originators, inspectors, appraisers, contractors, and so on. A professional agent can go a long way in making the process easier by not only ensuring that their job is done as efficiently and professionally as possible, but also by predicting what needs to be done beforehand and making recommendations and referrals of trusted professionals to their clients.
• Marketing should be the primary focus for sellers: Sellers ought to pay particular attention to the tools agents use to market their listed properties. When choosing an agent, be sure to find out about their approach to open houses and online marketing in particular. J.D. Powers research showed that potential buyers often search for real estate online long before they engage a buying agent or attend an open house. Check out online websites – the more tools that will assist in attracting prospective buyers’ attention, the better.
• Understanding the full cost of buying a property should be paramount for buyers: Serious buyers need to establish what their budget is and look at houses in the appropriate price range. An agent can really help buyers by assisting them in working out all the extra and unforeseen costs involved in purchasing a property.

Helderberg Real Estate: The Agent Makes All the Difference is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

No fewer than eight RE/MAX Helderberg Sales Associates were recognised for their outstanding achievements in 2010 at the dazzling RE/MAX of Southern Africa 2010 AWARDS BREAKFAST ceremony held at Westin Grand on 1^st March 2011.

RE/MAX Helderberg won 3^rd place out of 18 single offices in the Western Cape, and 10^th place out of 55 single offices nationally! There are a total of 33 RE/MAX offices in the Western Cape, and 130 RE/MAX offices nationally

Left to right back standing – Charlene Hart, Malinda Burden, Howard Love, Adri McFarlane, Frank Freeman, Mark Winter, Lizette Lochner, Di Havard, Glenda Van Reenen, Salo Saayman, seated left to right: Linda van Nes, Tracy Stanford, Maarten Laubscher, Pieter Kotzé, Liezl Brown, Elmare Doran, front: Lee Siebert, Stella Marais (not in photo: Johan Gouws, Wendy Giardino, Anita Graham, Carmen May)

Among the award winners, Pieter Kotz won the coveted RE/MAX SA Platinum Award for exceptional registered commission earnings in 2010.

In the 100% Club award category the winners were:

Executive Club winners were:

                   In a difficult market RE/MAX Helderberg has achieved exceptional sales volumes, and sales of RE/MAX sole mandates have increased significantly since the team moved offices to Waterstone Village Shopping Centre in December 2010.

Sellers are enjoying maximum exposure for their properties in RE/MAX Helderberg’s 24 / 7 – 365 days-a-year property exhibition.

The RE/MAX Premier Collection showcases luxury homes in the high end market, and offers a select marketing option for unique properties.”Our position is attracting more high-end buyers – we are geared for this market”, explains Lee Siebert. “We have increased our rental stock among more exclusive properties, and have seen considerable growth in the leasing market through 2010 and as a result of our new location”.

RE/MAX Helderberg is increasing its market share through premier market presence and is looking to recruit more top Sales Associates to their winning team.

In his address at the Awards Breakfast RE/MAX SA CEO, Adrian Goslett, reported R14BN in reported sales in 2010 for the RE/MAX Group, representing a 40% increase on the previous year, and registered sales of R11BN, representing a 38% increase for RE/MAX. The new RE/MAX website www.remax.co.za measured a 47% increase in the number of page views. RE/MAX SA experienced a nett gain of 230 agents in 2010, and 18 new franchise licences were granted.

Chairman of RE/MAX SA, Peter Gilmour, commented: “ While 2011 will not hold the next property market boom, it certainly promises to be a watershed year as a new real estate business model emerges.

A number of significant market developments are reshaping the real estate agency landscape. Most notably, legislation has irrevocably changed the rules of the game, while the drive towards greater professionalism has significantly raised the bar, and a tougher market requires innovative new approaches and a renewed focus on specialisation. Simultaneously, technology is creating a whole new playing field, which is also becoming increasingly globalised.

The RE/MAX Helderberg Team is among the best in the country, and is delivering spectacular results in the new offices at Waterstone Village.”

For more information contact Lee Siebert at RE/MAX Helderberg on 021 852 6464 or visit www.remax-helderberg.co.za.

RE/MAX 2010 Awards Breakfast is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale

After experiencing a guesthouse whether on holiday or business, many people entertain the idea that such a venture would be a dream lifestyle.  Working from home, in luxurious surroundings of your own creation and meeting lots of interesting, often international people.  You are thanked for your warm hospitality and excellent catering and you own a thriving business that you intend to sell for a handsome profit someday, right? Well, not entirely, having your own Somerset West guesthouse is truly a labour of love.

Do you have a Somerset West Guesthouse Dream?

The last decade has seen a proliferation of guesthouses mushrooming up all around the country, including Somerset West and, according to RE/MAX Living Broker Owner, Gerlinde Moser, there are quite a few for sale at any one time.

“Guesthouse owners often do not want to make public the fact that their business is on the market as it may have a negative impact on business.  Interested buyers therefore need to approach a reputable agent with a finger on the pulse of the market,” states Moser

Moser noted prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup that it would mean that people searching for business opportunities may choose to open a guesthouse. “A seller should also consider using an agency with an international network, as many potential buyers are foreigners and make enquiries through channels that they trust”, cautions Moser.

There certainly is a common perception that the guesthouse market is saturated. “The White River area is a current hotspot for guesthouses, many of them owned by ex-Johannesburg city dwellers that have chosen a quieter life,” says RE/MAX Active Broker Owner, Greg Gulle.

Whilst Knysna is bursting with new guesthouses, Plettenberg Bay’s RE/MAX Prime Properties Broker Owner, Cheryl Anley says that there are mostly self-catering options in their local market.

“Opening a guesthouse is quite an investment and unless you are in it for the long-haul it is not necessarily a business one can make a huge profit on. The value of the property remains the greatest asset. Measuring the value of the guesthouse as a business is much harder to do”  warns Anley.

RE/MAX of Southern Africa Regional Director, Bruce Swain, believes that owning a Somerset West guesthouse should be a passion. “It is hard work to ensure that people are always comfortable and happy and often there are personal sacrifices around time and space.”  Swain is however optimistic that the South African property market offers lots of opportunities for people looking to own a guesthouse.  “Be sure to choose an agent who has the experience and the credibility to assist you in making the right choice both as a business and as a property investment”.

Buying a home as a guesthouse is best done with most cash upfront as banks are often reluctant to mortgage a new business with no proven profitability.  If you are not in a position of liquidity, it might be best to buy an existing guesthouse, and get an accountant to prepare a financial model for the business.

If you are intending to convert a Somerset West Property into a guesthouse, make sure you do a thorough investigation of the market and area.  There are huge costs involved in starting up a guesthouse from linen and cutlery to ensuring that there is adequate parking and, sometimes, accommodation for your staff too.  Please also be sure to comply with the local municipal licensing requirements.

Owning a Somerset West guesthouse can be an exceptionally rewarding and interesting career choice but make sure that you go into it for the right reasons and choose the right property agent to help you make all the vital choices about position and price. Your guesthouse dream can become a reality – and have you sleeping soundly, well, until its time to get up and make everyone breakfast again.

For more information visit RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Issued by:                  Magna Carta Cape Town
On behalf of:              RE/MAX of Southern Africa
Contact:                     Sam Watson
Tel:                             (021)417-5801
E-mail:                        samantha.watson@cape.magna-carta.co.za

About RE/MAX of Southern Africa

The RE/MAX franchise network is a global real estate system operating in 62 countries.  More than 6,000 independently owned offices engage 114,000 sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, relocation, and asset management.  RE/MAX in Southern Africa engages over 1,950 associates, in more than 155 independently owned offices across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia & Mauritius.

For more information on Somerset West Property or owning a guesthouse, contact Lee Sieberts on (021) 852 6464 or 072 434 7497.

Turning a Guesthouse Dream Into a Reality is a post from: Somerset West Property For Sale