A CLASSIC CASE OF PULLING TOGETHER

THE DORMEHL Phalane Property Group (DPPG) has always been proud of its staff being considered as one big, happy family, pulling together to make things work - and proof of that was shown recently in Durban.

Two DPPG staffers, Jean Liversedge of the Gillitts branch and Brendon Bosch of the Pinetown branch - together with a former staff member, Liesl Schirmer who is now a referral agent for the group – put their heads together and their talents to good use to swiftly negotiate deals for the fast-growing property group.

Jean, who has been with DPPG for just over six years, picks up the story.

"Two years ago, Liesel did drops at a 19-unit complex at Murrayfield Estate in central Hillcrest. At that time she was a qualified agent with us. She is no longer an agent but is still registered with us, as she gives us referrals.

"Three weeks ago one of the owners at Murrayfield Estate contacted Liesel to say they needed to sell their three-bedroom home and requested she do a valuation for them and list the property.

"Liesel had a long chat with Jenny, the seller, who is elderly, moving to a retirement home and needed careful handling. Liesel then called to ask me to give Jenny my undivided support and help."

Jean explains that her team then went off to do the valuation, signed the mandate and started the marketing.

"We put up a 'For Sale' board and soon got a call from someone that wanted to view the unit, as they have family that lived in the complex and were keen to buy and live there."

When Jean took the potential buyers to view the home on a Saturday afternoon, they indicated to her that they had to first sell in Pinetown, so Jean referred them to DPPG's top national agent, Pinetown's Brendon Bosch.

Brendon duly evaluated the Pinetown property at 5pm on the Monday and a dual mandate was signed that evening.

"We then went, first thing in the morning on the Tuesday, to get the 'virtual tour' footage done and take pictures. Brendan went to his office, loaded the pictures to the web - and by lunch-time had had two viewings.

"By the evening, two offers had been presented to the seller. One was accepted and we now wait for the bond," says Jean.
Team work and referrals, that's what counts in this line of work, she adds.

"My sellers are delighted and I pray for a positive bond on Brendon's deal to make everything work!"

Jean, who has been working in the world of property for 18 years, started out in real estate in 2000, when she was an intern with Wakefields in Pietermaritzburg. Prior to that, she and her late husband managed a resort in Pennington.

Born in Scotland, she came to South Africa at the age of nine and most of her schooling was in Vereeniging.

"I joined the Dormehl family six years ago to allow me to grow and am based in the Upper Highway office at Gillits," she explains, adding that she manages the office.

Jean is proud of the branch: "We achieved the 'referrals sold' and 'referrals sent' awards for the third year running at the DPPG Awards this year, and our office also received the Online Excellence Award from Private Property three years running. Additionally, our office was third in Sales in Dormehl group."

Asked to mention her most memorable sale or rental, or other property deal, Jean replies: "Two years ago I had a client call me off a mandate, arranged a viewing and it was not for them. But they contacted me off the web again on an open mandate I took them to view... and they loved that property.

"They bought it for R4.35million and it had been a mandate to another company for nine months.

"We had had it for only one week as an open mandate. The buyer had been looking for seven months. Happy seller and a happy buyer!

Away from the world of property, Jean likes nothing more than to take camping holidays and spend time with her grandchildren: "I have been the best mother to two most amazing daughters and now have four beautiful grandchildren."

What are some challenges she sees facing the property business in months to come?

"Unemployment in South Africa and overpriced properties in our area. Some expect more than the market-related price," she replies.