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Today’s posts from our featured Port Elizabeth Blogger:

by The Port Elizabeth Property Blog:

Sharing is by its very nature something which society values and publicly promotes. As individuals though; personal nature, personal priorities and factors like your personal financial position can impact how you see sharing. 

On a playground sharing can be as simple as sharing a toy or maybe sharing lunch and is always beautiful behaviour amongst children.

As we enter the business world, something changes. In real estate for example in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; it is a widely practised custom that a listing agent will share with a buyer’s agent; so as to achieve a sale. This conduct is without doubt laudable; not just because both agents win; but more importantly the seller gets a sale and the buyer gets a home. 

It does however happen that even in Port Elizabeth; there exists another type of agent; namely the non-sharer. The non-sharer is a difficult creature to spot. In front of the buyer they are charismatic and are the first to proclaim their successes, even those which entailed sharing with other agents. 

But away from the client, its a different story all together. As a property lists on the various real estate portals, its not just buyers that respond, but also other agents. These agents are agents who are working with buyers and have (or should have) an intimate knowledge of the buyer’s requirements. They find this property and phone the agent. If the agents is a sharer, they set up a viewing and the stage is set for wonderful things to maybe happen. If the selling agent is a non-sharer – they will with varying degrees of friendliness (all the way to being down right rude) dismiss the buyer’s agent. This means that an opportunity to sell the property is lost. The buyer however moves on a buys another property. the seller on the other hand is blissfully unaware of the fact that buyers are passing over his property because of his non-sharing estate agent. 

In a seller’s market the non-sharer can exist quite happily; but when the market turn neutral or towards favouring buyers that it becomes increasingly difficult to hide the fact that he or she is showing buyers away, because they will not share commission.

It goes without saying that when an agent through act or omission; fails to act in the interest of the client that they are breaching the Code of Conduct and to me the violation of the client’s trust is even greater. It is this conduct which brings estate agents and the greater profession into disrepute.

We recently had a young couple start to work with us on finding a property and we found a property in a local suburb which, on paper, looked awesome. We contacted the agent and he simply contacted me back saying they had an offer, which had not been accepted and required bond approval. Our clients were already approved by the bank, so as the selling agent, should have allowed us to view the property with our clients. What followed was non-communication and a position where contray to any professional etiquette; failed to communicate with us. Our clients later went to see the property but it was not suitable (internally). In this case, we found the location of the property and wrote a note to the seller notifying them that we had a buyers and were battling to get a viewing. We did not seek the mandate, all we sought was the opprotunity to show our client the property. In this case, our buyers are going to be looking at other properties; but the conduct of the young agent has left a very bitter taste in their mouths.

I am not a fan of regulation, but in the case of estate agents not sharing, may be a space where regulation is required.

As for non-sharing agents, ironically, if you have a listing and they have a buyer they will have no problem calling you up, sweet as pie and want to share on your listing. 

In our practise we share from day one, because its not what you profess its what you practise.

If you are not sure your agent is a sharer, maybe insist they list your property with our local RNS or a MLS system; where sharing is regulated.

Sharing is great and it good for all.

Clinton Begley (PPRE MPRE CEA B.PROC (NMMU)) is an full status Principal/Director at BOLD REALTY, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In addition to his passion for real estate he is also an experienced trainer, coach and mentor. He holds a B.Proc degree through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (previously the University of Port Elizabeth) and is a non-practising Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer. His legal and real estate experience is augmented by studies towards a MBA degree through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School, which he is scheduled to complete soon. This article reflects the personal opinion of the author only, it is NOT intended as legal advice nor may any reliance be placed upon it. The article is purely for information purposes and you are advised to consult an expert before making any decision. The author nor any other person or entity may be held liable for damages of whatsoever nature from whatsoever cause.

Read more here: The Port Elizabeth Property Blog

Retiring or Scaling back, have you considered Port Elizabeth? by The Port Elizabeth Property Blog: Port Elizabeth, in the beautiful Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is indeed a wonderful city. We may not have the the bright lights and the mercenary allure of Johannesburg nor the powerful pull of the Western Cape. But Port Elizabeth has many other great attractions which are many. However there is something which is often forgot.

Port Elizabeth is a great place to retire. The climate is temperate, we are not too prone to extremes, the traffic is not in any any way in the league of the big centres and we have great health care.

On a less practical note we have wonderful recreational activities such as fishing, 4x4ing, hiking, all the sea based sports and the list is almost endless.

On the property scene we Ave a full spectrum of property and various estates catering to the retired or those scaling back. If you still want to work, we have a an airport with a few minutes from most places in Port Elizabeth, now that’s convenience. Property values here are also not nearly what they are for comparative properties in larger coastal metros.

If you are considering retirement, consider Port Elizabeth. At Bold Realty, we as estate agents, have experienced an increase in people considering retirement, wanting to know more about Port Elizabeth and the property market, both as buyers and investors.

Clinton Begley (PPRE MPRE CEA B.PROC (NMMU)) is an full status Principal/Director at BOLD REALTY, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In addition to his passion for real estate he is also an experienced trainer, coach and mentor. He holds a B.Proc degree through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (previously the University of Port Elizabeth) and is a non-practising Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer. His legal and real estate experience is augmented by studies towards a MBA degree through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School, which he is scheduled to complete at the end of 2015. This article reflects the personal opinion of the author only, it is NOT intended as legal advice nor may any reliance be placed upon it. The article is purely for information purposes and you are advised to consult an expert before making any decision. The author nor any other person or entity may be held liable for damages of whatsoever nature from whatsoever cause.

Read more here: The Port Elizabeth Property Blog

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This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.