Top Honours for Stellenbosch Estate Agent

Stellenbosch’s very own Elmarie van Huyssteen – who is one of the best-known estate agents working in the town – has just been named by the Chas Everitt International property group as its Top Non-Metro Agent, not only in the Western Cape but in the whole of South Africa.
 
Her awards were presented by group MD Berry Everitt during a recent ceremony held at Asara wine estate, and were made in recognition of Elmarie’s outstanding performance for 2013. What makes this achievement even more special is the fact that she has won these same awards for three out of the past four years.
 
Raised in Stellenbosch, Elmarie matriculated at Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town. She studied at Stellenbosch and Pretoria universities, and lectured at UNISA in International Politics before exchanging her academic career for a very rewarding 18 years in the real estate business.
 
After starting the Chas Everitt International franchise in Stellenbosch and operating it for 10 years, she recently opted for the new Chas Everitt Notebook© License model and currently enjoys owning and managing one of the four Notebook outlets in Stellenbosch.
 
The love of property and people are the passions that drive her in this extremely competitive industry. “Respect for our clients and the skill to focus on their needs and wants are what this business is all about,” she says.
 
This is reflected in the fact that some of her investor buyers have repeatedly bought and sold properties through Elmarie over the years. Although the investor market is lively in Stellenbosch, Elmarie says the most rewarding clients to work with are the local homeowners with whom not only business is conducted but with whom solid friendships have formed over the years. “We have the most wonderful people around, and it is my privilege to meet so many of them!”
 
However, she says that she could not have done it without the support of the team and the encouraging ethos that pervades the whole Chas Everitt group. The high quality of support in both systems and people are a vital part of her success.
 
Elmarie says she is also extremely fortunate to have a very supportive family to provide her with good work/ life balance. She is married to Johan, a civil engineer, and has a daughter Bernice and son-in-law Martin.