Success in Witbank

Boasting a market share increase of more than 50% and a 27,5% rise in turnover, the Chas Everitt International franchise in Witbank is experiencing a great trading year. And this is in spite of the economic challenges currently being faced by industrial and mining towns all over South Africa.
 
The success of the franchise can be attributed to purposeful marketing, hands-on admin and supportive management, as well as a positive attitude to doing business in difficult times, says co-franchisee Riaan Kasselman.
 
“After a recent discussion with one of the biggest transferring attorneys in town we realised that the overall amount of transfers in Witbank has not declined. The reason other agencies might be experiencing a decline in sales is that we have dramatically increased our footprint and market penetration.
 
“We are able to offer our buyers a wider variety of properties, and expose our sellers to more buyers,” he says, “as marketing strategy is an area of strong focus for us. We apply carefully conceived and targeted campaigns to achieve our overall goal, which is exceptional service to both buyers and sellers.”
 
He says the general uncertainty around employment has attracted many young, qualified job seekers to Witbank, and expects a fresh wave of buyers when the Kusile Power station is commissioned in a few years’ time.
      
“As for current buyers, they are mostly searching for homes priced at less than R1,3m. The top sellers are homes in new developments that are priced at less than R850 000 and we are also seeing areas that were unpopular 20 years ago suddenly expanding at a rapid pace.
 
“There has also been something of a revival at the upper end of our market, and in the past six months we have seen an increased demand for properties above R2,5m. The local golf and eco-estate, especially, is gaining favour among buyers, there are many upmarket homes and clusters being built there.”
 
At the other end of the spectrum, Kasselman says many residents in the informal settlements on the outskirts of Witbank will relocate to affordable homes in town as soon as their salaries permit them to qualify for home loan packages that include transfer costs.
 
Issued by Chas Everitt International
For more information, contact
Riaan Kasselman on 083 229 6764
Or riaan.kasselman@everitt.co.za
Or visit www.chaseveritt.co.za