Friday, August 22, 2014

Nearly 5 000 land claims processed

The Department of Rural Deve-lopment and Land Reform has processed close to 5 000 applications from claimants ever since President Jacob Zuma assented to a law that re-opened the lodgement of land claims.

The President assented to the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 15 of 2014) at the end of last month, which reopened the lodgement of land claims on 1 July for another five years.

The President assented to the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 15 of 2014) at the end of last month, which reopened the lodgement of land claims on 1 July for another five years.

Briefing members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Commit-tee on Rural Development and Land Reform at the department’s Mowbray regional office, Nomfundo Gobodo, the Chief Land Claims Commissioner, said the process had gone smoothly ever since it was re-opened.

"As of 25 July 2014, the claims captured over the past four weeks increased to 4 917.

"The electronic lodgement system has been stable and all 14 lodgement sites are fully operational," she said.

Gobodo said normal system problems that have been experienced were attended to by the support team and were resolved immediately.

She said, however, that it was difficult to anticipate how many claimants would come forward on a daily basis, but her office had the capacity to facilitate all claims.

Early data showed that 300 claims have been lodged across all lodgement offices on a daily bases, she said.

It is estimated that 7.5 million people were alienated from their land after the 1913 Land Act was signed into law. To date, only 1.7 million individuals have benefited from the restitution programme.


A bulk of the new claims is expected to come from individuals and communities who were left out and are aware of their rights. The previous round of claims was done between 1994 and 1998.

Claims that could not be finalised during the pre-1998 round would be prioritised, Gobodo said.

The department will deploy mobile offices to rural areas to help people, who might not be able to afford transport to prepare their claims.

This will be a process of ensuring that they have everything they need to lodge a valid claim, from the identity documents or information of the persons or relatives they may be claiming on their behalf, to ensure their claims are not disqualified due to a lack of information.

Phumzile Ngwenya-Mabila, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, said the visit by Members of Parliament (MPs) was aimed at assessing the lodgement process and the progress made since the second phase was opened.

The visit also gave them an opportunity to assess government’s implementation plans, capacity and turnaround time to administer the claims.

She told journalists that the visit would arm the committee with all the information they need when they go back to Parliament for them to exercise their oversight role over the department. - SAnews.gov.za

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

GEAR UP FOR SPRING!


Spring is fast approaching and good agents are gearing up for the influx of additional buyers by getting good saleable stock. 

The only way to know about the one or two "diamonds"(good saleable well priced properties) in your area is by having a system to follow that will make you aware of all the properties that comes into the market first! This is a challenge in itself as there are a lot of agents out there competing for the same inventory or "stock".  


It is a known fact that the agent that potential sellers chose to assist them in selling their property is the agent that has the ability to become, and stay, top of mind. Property owner or sellers are influenced by the marketing activities that they experience in their area and unlike buyers that study the newspapers and frequent the internet to make up their minds, sellers only have the agent's activities in the area, to determine which, out of all, they will appoint as there agent. In other words the best known agent will get the business!


Anything that makes you well known can be seen as good marketing, this is normally not just one thing, it is a combination of activities done repeatedly in order to become "top of mind". Canvassing is about repetition, you have to be noticed in order to be remembered.
The more effort it takes is normally an indication of the response we will get, only by really getting involved in our communities and becoming part or the area and its people, can we be sure of their ongoing support and business.


We as agents need to make "canvassing" or target area marketing interesting as this is a big and very important part of our day to day activities as estate agents. Prospecting can be time consuming but it is neither difficult nor hard and if done correctly, will establish you as the agent of choice.
Here are a few tips on how to become well know:

  1. Have at least 20 "FOR SALE" SIGNS up in your area as this is an easy way of canvassing, signs work for you while you are doing something else and gives the impression of a active agent!
  2. Contact all "PRIVATE SELLERS"in your area and offer your services to them, most of them are frustrated and there are more of them than what you might think.
  3. Have your car "BRANDED" or at least use your Magnetic stickers as nothing says, "active agent" like a moving billboard!
  4. Talk to at least 5 People a day, "KNOCKING ON DOORS" is still one of the best ways to become well known. If it works for politicians, it will work for you!
  5. Get a mail drop or Pamphlet out to your sellers every month.  Remember it is called JUNK MAIL because it is about quantity and repetition rather than quality.
  6. Spend time with the people that know what is happening in the area, these are the people that are home during the day. Get your "INFORMANTS" to work for you!
  7. Don't be a secret agent, give out your BUSSINESS CARD to everyone, leave this at the properties you visit, every time you visit it and wear you name tag!
  8. Conduct a SHOW HOUSE in your area every weekend, it is all about visibility and branding and not necessary about the number of visitors!
  9. Use your "THANK YOU CARDS", by thanking people for their business and services; you will get business of your own.
  10. Utilise the influence of the SMALL BUSINESSES in your area by working with them, remember one hand washes the other.
  11. Get involved at your local SCHOOLS by offering your time rather than money and you will amazed at the listings that can be generated.
  12. Always leverage of you own SPHERE OF "INFLUENCE" by regularly reminding your friends, colleagues, fellow club members and associates of what you do.
  13. Make 10 "COLD CALLS" a day with a well thought out script to sellers in your area with great results!
Sellers list their properties with the agents that they perceive to be active in their areas, by regularly doing these activities; you will become the agent of choice and start earning the commission that you deserve.   

The biggest mistake that we as agents can make is to rest on our Loral's and expect the Sellers to contact us when they consider selling their properties.
Let's get out there and make thing happen for us this spring!

Stefan Louw




Monday, August 18, 2014

Langebaan, Myburgh Park - R6,600,000


This exclusive and stylish home offers spacious, open plan living at its best. Designed for the discerning, it offers a combination of a large lounge adjacent to designer open plan kitchen leading to an entertainment room with bar and built in braai. Sliding windows open to unsurpassed views of the Langebaan Lagoon.

Danie Mulder: (082) 493-5421 / (022) 714-0016
danie@eralangebaan.co.za

View Property

Blouberg, Bloubergstrand - R5,800,000


A setting to sooth your soul! Open the door to a sophisticated lifestyle. This fantastic Tuscan double volume delight allows you to take refuge from the pressures of daily life. All bedrooms are very spacious & comfortable, the main en suite offers smashing views from its private balcony. 5 Reception areas, open plan living for the entertainers need.

Lindy Dippenaar: (083) 480-3703 / (021) 557-1124
lindy@erasteer.co.za

View Property 

Blouberg, Big Bay - R3,000,000


Bloubergstrand at its best! Spacious and absolutely beautiful house in a secure Estate. Five very spacious beds, three full bathrooms, double garage...... All these just 2 min walk to the famous beach.

Gina Radkova: (079) 166-8197 / (021) 557-1124
gina@erasteer.co.za

View Property