Being a successful estate agent isn’t just about knowing the property you’re selling. It’s also about the area surrounding that property and what makes it special. We asked private property for tips on how to become a local neighbourhood expert.
Why do agents need to be local neighbourhood experts?
Buyers and sellers want to deal with an agent who has extensive local knowledge. An agent who can advise them on property trends, building and infrastructure works, rezoning issues, schools, amenities, entertainment and even crime in the area is much more valuable to a prospective buyer.
THE DETAILS TO OFFER
It’s a good idea to have insight into
1: all the relevant market details: sold prices of properties, market trends and so on
2: practical information: on the best schools in the area, shopping options and traffic constraints, for example
3: the softer, less rational aspects, such as interesting leisure possibilities for the weekend and why people love living there
Looking for all the info you need to become a local expert?
Private Property’s new Neighbourhoods section (privateproperty.co.za/neighbourhoods) offers:
- DATA ON PROPERTY TRENDS in specific areas
- DATA INSIGHTS including average sales prices for houses, apartments and complexes
- PRICING TRENDS for the past few years, which indicate how much capital growth has been experienced in the area
- RENTAL DATA alongside sales data, offering an invaluable tool for buy-to-let investors chasing higher yields
What’s the sales advantage?
In today’s increasingly digital age, everyone can access property listings on websites such as Private Property, but agents still offer value through local market knowledge and expertise. A neighbourhood expert provides not only property trend data, but also information that is not available on the internet, such as what rush hour traffic is like, which infrastructure projects are planned, or how good the local schools are. An agent who can answer all a client’s questions on the property market, as well as what it’s like to actually live there, will stand out from other agents in the area. This will invariably lead to more sales and more mandates.
FINAL TIP
To be regarded as a neighbourhood expert,it’s essential to be visibly involved in the local community and its projects. This enhances your reputation as a local expert and allows you to connect with the area in which you work. It’s also important to keep abreast of what’s going on in the area by attending meetings and speaking to various residents and business people. The goal is to become an indispensable part of the community.
FIND YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
The following neighbourhoods are profiled on privateproperty.co.za/neighbourhoods:
EASTERN CAPE
• DIE MOOT
• EAST LONDON
• JEFFREYS BAY TO TSITSIKAMMA
• PORT ELIZABETH
GAUTENG
• ALBERTON
• BEDFORDVIEW AND SURROUNDS
• BENONI
• BOKSBURG
• CENTURION EAST
• CENTURION WEST
• EDENVALE
• FOURWAYS, SUNNINGHILL AND LONEHILL
• GERMISTON
• JOHANNESBURG CBD AND BRUMA
• JOHANNESBURG SOUTH
• KEMPTON PARK
• KRUGERSDORP
• MEYERTON
• MIDRAND
• MOOT
• NORTHCLIFF
• NORTHERN PRETORIA
• NORTHRIDING TO LANSERIA
• PRETORIA CENTRAL AND OLD EAST
• PRETORIA EAST • PRETORIA EAST (SOUTH)
• PRETORIA WEST
• RANDBURG
• ROODEPOORT
• ROSEBANK
• SANDTON
• SILVERLAKES AND SURROUNDS
• SOWETO
• SPRINGS
• VANDERBIJLPARK
KWAZULU-NATAL
• BALLITO (SALT ROCK, SHAKA’S ROCK)
• DURBAN CENTRAL
• DURBAN NORTH
• HILLCREST
• PIETERMARITZBURG (HILTON)
• MARGATE (SHELLY BEACH, RAMSGATE)
• UMHLANGA
NORTH WEST
• HARTBEESPOORT AND SURROUNDS
WESTERN CAPE
• ATLANTIC SEABOARD (SEA POINT TO CAMPS BAY)
• CAPE TOWN CITY BOWL
• CAPE TOWN SOUTHERN SUBURBS
• (FALSE BAY) PENINSULA, SIMON’S TOWN, FISH HOEK, ST JAMES, MUIZENBERG
• GEORGE
• GORDON’S BAY
• KNYSNA
• MILNERTON AND SURROUNDS
• TABLE VIEW AND BLOUBERG
