Beaut of an Asset for DPG

VICKY-LEE Coffen, who excels as co-owner of the Midrand branch of the ever-growing Dormehl Phalane Property Group (DPG), alongside her branch principal husband Dylan, might never had made it into the world of real estate had she followed her original plan to become a professional fashion photographer.

Instead, this bubbly beauty is more in front of the cameras these days - and not only via Dylan's remarkable social media videos for the branch, which helped DPG Midrand scoop the prize for innovative marketing at April's DPG Awards ceremony in Pretoria.

When Vicky-Lee is not marketing real estate or negotiating property sales and rentals, the vivacious Vanderbijlpark-born mother of two is a model.

She recalls being "headhunted" to model years ago, but has been modelling for only two years, having been persuaded to do so by the head of a Johannesburg agency where she had signed up her and Dylan's children - Cameron, now 13, and Coco-Lee, now 11.

Another reason Vicky-Lee is in front of the camera a lot these days is because she is among contestants in this year's Mrs South Africa contest, the final 25 of which will be announced on July 1. The crowning will be in November and the title-holder will compete in Mrs World in Las Vegas.

Vicky-Lee Rook-Van Rensburg, as she was known when she was a teenager attending Alberton's Hoerskool Dinamika, ditched her plan to study fashion photography because, as she puts it, "I had too much fun in matric and did not get an exemption".

She says she was "a bit of a rebel" in high school, "so sports and academia were not on my priority list". However, she does point out that, while in primary school, she acquired 'Transvaal colours' in korfball.

When she completed matric, Vicky-Lee took the advice of her mother and studied for a higher diploma, then an international diploma, in somatology.

"That's the fancy word for beauty school," says a smiling Vicky-Lee, adding that she fell in love with the profession as she loves working with people: "It suited me well and gave me the opportunity to travel the world, as well as step out in the business and sales industry".

Her path to property practitioning came nine years ago, when she and Dylan moved to Kyalami and their real estate agent at the time was looking for fresh faces to join his team. Vicky-Lee signed up and worked for that property franchise for a year-and-a-half.

She then joined an international property brand, where she and her business partner at the time closed each year as top performing agents at their branch. At that time, Dylan was in large-format printing but he soon joined the same Midrand-based property team in the rentals division.

One thing led to another and on October 31, 2018, some 10 years after they fell in love and moved in together, Dylan and Vicky-Lee signed up with DPG founder member Owen Dormehl and led the DPG Midrand branch, with Dylan as principal and Vicky-Lee as co-owner.

The Coffens were delighted to be embraced by the Dormehl Phalane family: "To us, the DPG brand has always represented a passion for the industry as well as the clients. It's a South African brand that knows the South African market."

The DPG Midrand team was quick to make an impression. Today it is 14-strong, with three admin staff members and 10 agents, including Vicky-Lee and Dylan. The team focuses on property in Midrand, Waterfall, Sunninghill, Lonehill and some areas of Sandton.

Explains Vicky-Lee: "I handle sales and rentals. Dylan trains the agents in sales and rental, and works with them quite closely. He also does rentals on his old stock and is slowly finding his way in the commercial property game and developments. Watch this space!"

In DPG Midrand's first year, Vicky-Lee took the DPG award for National Agent of the Year (Farms and Smallholdings), while Dylan was ranked first for Rental Agent of the Year and third for National Agent of the Year. The branch was ranked fourth for DPG nationally.

This year's awards included Vicky-Lee being placed second for farms and smallholdings, second for Gauteng Agent of the Year and sixth for National Agent of the Year. The branch took top position for national rental procurement of the year and seventh place for Franchise of the Year.

Among other accolades was Dylan taking ninth slot for National Letting Agent of the Year.

"We were probably most proud of our award this year for National Marketing Initiative Franchisee of the Year, as that was the one we really wanted," says Vicky-Lee.

Returning to chat about the Mrs South Africa campaign, Vicky-Lee says she was introduced to the platform 18 months ago, when she attended a woman's lunch and "was in awe of the energy, confidence and beauty of each woman competing".

"The Mrs South Africa programme was created for married women to be ambassadors for South Africa, on a global scale. The Mrs South Africa journey is based on pillars of self-development, community work, networking and business.

"It has gained a reputation of connecting like-minded women - the sisterhood, as I like to call it - and to equip them for success in all areas of their lives. At its core is a platform celebrating authentic, relatable and modern, married women."

Vicky-Lee says she connects on a deeper level with the programme: "Throughout the journey, women rediscover themselves and learn that one is never too old to follow dreams and become the voice of change".

She adds: "I entered with a purpose. I created awareness of dyslexia and ADHD as I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 22, and with AHDH when I was in my 30s. I have seen a lack of understanding of what dyslexia and ADHD are within my community in South Africa, and I'm on a mission to debunk the stigma attached to learning difficulties.

"I'm also in the process of registering my NPO that focuses on placing remedial teachers in a farm school in Mpumalanga, as well as sponsoring children to attend private remedial schooling in cities."

She says being part of Mrs South Africa has led to good networking opportunities, with even greater ones to come, which can only bode well for DPG Midrand.

What does she think makes a good agent?

"People skills, a positive attitude, good problem-solving and seeing the bigger picture. It must not be only about the money. Yes, money is great and we don't do this for free, but focus on service and rewards will follow."

Away from property, the Coffens enjoy hiking and Netflix binge-watching. Vicky-Lee also enjoys collecting fridge magnets from different places they visit, and adding to a large spoon collection she inherited at a young age from her "Ouma Sarie".

Vicky-Lee describes herself as "passionate, loyal, determined and having no filter". Her motto in property: "At the end of the day, it's about matching the right buyer with the right seller. We are matchmakers of real estate."