Pam Golding Properties Durban North and La Lucia
What are your top three secrets to success?
I care! I genuinely care about my clients’ needs and about them as people, and this allows me to always work in their best interests. I am honest and ethical. This job is a marathon, not a 100m dash. My clients trust me and for that reason they are confident to recommend me to their friends, which results in a lot of word-of-mouth referrals and loyal clients. Work hard! It is all about going the extra mile.
What is the one thing you wish someone had taught you or told you when you first started out in property and why?
In this industry, you will have ups and downs and you will see all aspects of human nature at times. Stick to what you believe in, to who you are as a person and never ever compromise on these. Stay true to your values and principles.
What is the most vital business tool that estate agents should have at their disposal in today’s market and why?
An iPad or a tablet. Information is power, and with the apps that are available to agents today, you can have all the information you need right at your fingertips.
Do you remember the first property you sold? Please tell us about it.
The first house I sold was nearly 20 years ago, but then I left the industry for many years. The first house I sold when I joined the industry again was a duplex in Sunningdale. The delightful couple who bought it had retired and the husband was moving from Nelspruit, where he had been working for the last couple of years, and his was wife from the Eastern Cape. The day we viewed the unit it was pouring with rain, the wind was howling and the whole area had lost power. It was the first property they had seen and they bought it.
What advice would you give to new kids on the block on making a success of their career in property?
Keep it personal! Personal contact, personal care. This job has far more to do with people than it does with houses.