Zen and the art of real estate: Why agent well-being matters

Real estate is a highly competitive industry, where agents commonly put in long, irregular hours to provide an exceptional service to clients. The job can be intense, with high-energy personalities driven to achieve their goals. So, it's no surprise that agents can often feel overwhelmed by the daily pressures of their job. 

"Ours is a demanding industry, where agents have a huge degree of responsibility and transactions are often stressful and emotionally charged," says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group. "We care about our people as much when they're working as we do when they're relaxing at home, which is why we place a huge emphasis on mental health and well-being. Cultivating a respectful atmosphere and providing access to resources and support structures is critical for job satisfaction and success in industries that are people-driven.

"Chas Everitt agents are the driving force behind our success, which is why we focus on nurturing a positive, family culture and a supportive, respectful work environment." Here are four ways that the company supports mental well-being:

1. Inspiring purpose beyond the transaction
Data from a 10-country survey reveals that for almost 70% of people, their manager has a greater impact on their mental health than a therapist or doctor, and it's on par with the impact of a partner. Leaders must recognise their crucial role in helping to create a positive mental health environment. 

As a company that cares, Chas Everitt is committed to well-being, and it starts from the very top. Our senior leadership team is trusted, accessible and responsive, and provides clear direction for the company. With a well-defined vision, mission and purpose, together with support and mentorship programmes, people feel connected to the brand; it gives them a reason to care and a sense of purpose that fuels their motivation to excel. 

2. Supportive culture for peak performance
Fostering a culture of open communication, trust, confidence and loyalty is invaluable in creating a positive environment that forms the foundation of a successful real estate career. A supportive atmosphere also plays a major role in encouraging productivity and increasing job satisfaction.

As a family-run business, our company culture is built on support and collaboration. Acknowledging the demands of the industry, we prioritise creating an environment where agents feel empowered to share challenges, celebrate successes and lean on each other for support. We believe that each agent should know that they matter and that what they do has a significant impact on the company's success.

3. Embracing technology and innovation 
While technology can mean you're always online and available, it can also be used to your advantage to save time, effort and stress. With the latest tech and tools, you can automate tasks and cut down on admin responsibilities, making life easier while not sacrificing on the quality of the output.

At Chas Everitt, we equip our agents with cutting-edge tech including the innovative Chas Connect app and the Chas Connect Centre (C3), to improve and streamline processes. Agents can, for example, get easy access to documents like pre-rentals, get clients to fill out FICA forms on their mobile phones and automatically update buyer and seller lists. We believe that technology can be a game-changer for agents as it frees up their time to rather focus on what they love most: listing and selling homes. 

4. Recognise and reward 
Acknowledging achievements and contributions can be done in many different ways, but it has the same outcome: boosting morale and self-esteem, making agents feel valued and motivating them to continue doing their best work. 

Master Agent Programmes, Quarterly Regional Awards, Annual National Awards Gala, Circle of Champions Awards and more - at Chas Everitt we strive to put the spotlight on our people and believe in acknowledging excellence. We also hold an exclusive, international convention for top-performing agents that's a calendar highlight and is affectionately known as "Funvention". With past destinations including Mauritius, Bali and Buenos Aires, we believe in acknowledging and rewarding agents in a tangible manner.

Real estate is a fast-paced industry and it's easy to focus on the properties and sales numbers. But our agents are more than just deal-makers, they are trusted advisors guiding clients through a significant life moment. We recognise the pivotal role that mental well-being plays in achieving extraordinary results, which is why mental health is central to our purpose of making a positive, lasting impact on the lives of our people. 

Join the family that truly cares about their people. Find out more about becoming a Chas Everitt agent here: https://www.chaseveritt.co.za/chas-everitt-agents/