Within six weeks of acquiring the franchise rights to Pretoria's Weavind Park suburb, RealNet Watermeyer has concluded nine home sales, six of which were registered by mid- February.
Consequently, franchisee Dr Willie van der Merwe expects the incorporation of Weavind Park, as well as sections of Val de Grace and Brummeria, to significantly boost turnover for the current financial year.
"We have made an enormous and immediate impact in Weavind Park, which may on the one hand be attributed to our policy of appointing estate agents resident in the suburbs they serve and on the other hand to the professional offering of the brand."
A third factor contributing to quick sales, he says, is the excellent value to be had in the suburb. Prices start at around R360 000 for spacious one-bedroom flats with enclosed balconies, while large homes with four bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms and up to three garages on stands of around 1700sqm sell at around R1,6m.
Older buyers, who prefer living in a quiet residential area that is still close to Pretoria's city centre and offers easy access to the highway network, are particularly active in this market, and there is a growing trend towards subdivision of the typically large stands, with owners either selling off a portion or building a second dwelling to sell or to rent out.
Van der Merwe says the franchise has also recently sold an upmarket unit in the Villa de Palma mini estate in the recently acquired section of Brummeria. The unit, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, three living areas and two garages sold for R1,4m.
"It is very satisfying," he notes, "to be able to serve the whole of Val de Grace and Brummeria now that we have acquired the sections south of the N1 highway in addition to our original franchise rights in the sections north of the highway."
Van der Merwe, who has lived in his franchise area for 26 years and is very active in community affairs, says the consolidation of franchise rights in these areas will enable his franchise to up the ante not only in property matters but also in its community involvement, such as neighbourhood watches.
The franchise also covers Silverton, Meyerspark, Lydiana and Murrayfield.