MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

What do you need to look for when hiring an estate agent? – Featured Blog

By

Today’s posts from our featured Port Elizabeth Blogger:

What do you need to look for when hiring an estate agent? by The Port Elizabeth Property Blog: Where do you get advice when thinking of selling, buying or even whether a proposes major renovation will add more value to your property or whether you are over capitalising?

The key is to look for someone in the real estate business who has their finger on the pulse in your area. Yes, its your area specialist that you need to find. Its that agent who knows your area like the palm of his or her hand. Its that agent who has the facts of what properties really sold for, not what sellers wanted. Its that special agent whose proven professional qualifications and credentials are open for all to see. What you are looking for is a professional who has the knowledge and skills to guide you. Too often buyers and sellers confuse this which is the true value for the client with the more obvious and in your face – personal branding of agents.

In closing, also look for a property professional who is prepared to take time with you. If an agent is on their way out before you even had the chance to get to know them, remember as the transaction goes on, this will not improve.

Find a real estate professional who cares, knows what they are talking about and can prove it (remember a real estate name badge does not equal a guarantee of ability, knowledge or commitment).

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. 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

Buying a home is a sensory experience by The Port Elizabeth Property Blog: On the way to a mandate appointment, I happened to notice how beautiful Port Elizabeth really is. We may not enjoy the highest standard of living but we are way up there when it comes to quality of life. In addition, the radio announcer mentioned that we have the best drivers in SA.

How we experience our environment is based on how it impacts all five our senses.

Beauty as they say is in the eye of the beholder, which makes it very subjective. This can have very real implications, when it comes to how you improve your home. As a professional property broker, I often get the privilege of viewing many and varied homes, all over our beautiful city.

Apart from location, suburb appeal and all that goes with the area which gives a home context, the way the home looks both from the street and how it looks from within are massive determinants of perceived value.

Although gardens frame the property, today I am only referring to the inside of a home. 

Firstly, FLOW is a major ingredient in making a super home. So often one finds that a home’s flow is oddly out of sync with conventional expectations. An example may be a bedroom, as you walk in. In yesteryear this may have been fine, but times have definitely changed. Another example is the bedroom, which is also the only way to access another bedroom or living area. 

The degree of CLUTTER. This is the subject of TV shows and there is good reason, because clutter kills space, makes residents unhappy and it kills excitement that buyers have, when viewing your home.

DECOR. The colour of a floors and walls can make or break the feel of your home. Dark colours are like chilly paste, use with discretion. So just like chillies, some like it and some really do not. Personally, I love accents in dark colours, for a splash of the dramatic, but too much creates the illusion that a room is smaller than it is and in dark homes, it can really make a rook look dark.

SMELL. If you smoke or have pets, make a conscious effort to be aware that these smells are potentially a problem for buyers who do note share the same passions. 

These are just some elements which impact our experience when we buy property and being sensory beings, we need to acknowledge the impact of the built environment of our home on buyers; which in turn affects the price they will be prepared to invest to secure your property for themselves.

Before investing in a renovation or additions, speak to a local real estate professional who can possibly assist you in ensuring that what you plan, will positively impact your property’s value and not result in overcapitalising.


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 completing. 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

Click HERE to submit your blog to be part of this daily feature.

CLICK HERE to get a daily digest of PE Goodness straight into your inbox with the MyPE Monday to Friday Newsletter.

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

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.