What are your top three secrets to success?
My top secrets for success are passion, dedication and commitment.
What is the one thing you wish someone had taught you or told you when you first started out in property and why?
I wish I had known from the start that one should invest some of each commission pay-out and save because in this industry we have no salaries
What is the most vital business tool that estate agents should have at their disposal in today’s market and why?
The most vital tool an estate agent can have in today’s market is knowledge – about interest rates and home loans, market trends, area demographics and pricing, for example, and the more specific, the better.
Do you remember the first property you sold? Please tell us about it.
The first property I sold was in Naturena Ext 15. I listed it at R295 000 in February 2005 and about three weeks later I received an offer of R270 000, which the seller accepted. I remember being very nervous during the offer presentation, but, fortunately, I had asked one of my senior colleagues to go with me and after the seller accepted, the feeling was electric. I didn’t even think about how much I was going to make, I just wanted to get the deal through as soon as possible. I also knew then that this was the industry I wanted to be in, and after I sold two homes the next month, I never looked back!
What advice would you give to new kids on the block about making a success in their career in property?
My advice is to stick to the basics, be consistent, don’t try to take shortcuts, acquire more knowledge about the market and be passionate about what you do.
