Celebrating a decade and new ideas

IT IS traditional, when commemorating a 10th anniversary, to think of the metals tin and aluminium, but for the Dormehl Phalane Property Group (DPPG) one might as well go for gold, such is the property group's success and continuing growth in its first decade.

A one-time South African Army employee and longtime estate agent, Owen Dormehl opened his first Dormehl branch in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2009, with partner Kevin Delport and Dormehl's wife, Amanda, contributing to its success. 

Within a month, eight experienced estate agents had become part of the crack team.

Dormehl, a Port Natal High School alumnus, next opened his head office in Church Road in Westville, Durban - and within 18 months the Dormehl property group had seen 34 franchises spring up.

Since the company saw attorney Tau 'Daniel' Phalane sign up as a co-partner with Dormehl in March 2017 - when the company took the Dormehl Pahalne Property Group moniker - it has grown to 73 franchises.

Now, new branches are popping up all the time for a group that has "discover passion" and "going beyond" as mottos.

"The company is countrywide, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal, and with a notable expansion in Gauteng during 2018 and, more recently, branches in Polokwane and elsewhere in Limpopo," explains a proud Owen.

"Growth has been very, very nice... at a steady pace, and in a lot of cases via strong referrals. We have been very happy about converting many offices whose staff found our way of doing business better suited their needs."

He points out that a special celebration is being planned around mid-year to recognise and reward DPPG principals and mark the company's milestone.

Owen puts the DPPG success down to, among other things, the company embracing change, buckling down to make things work, and having caring and super-efficient staff that is like family.

The partnership with Tau Phalane and Owen Dormehl came about, Owen recalls, because both were, and remain, passionate about empowerment. They continue to ensure people of colour have opportunities in the property industry, and to build bridges between different cultures.

The company remains ever-optimistic about the property market's future in this country, and is not one to rest on its laurels, Owen is quick to emphasise.

"Success is driven by doing what you do well but also, importantly, recognising and embracing change. We at DPPG feel that all things have to evolve and that change is imminent. It becomes a choice of how to deal with these changes and to embrace them to best effect.

"We believe there is the need to not only keep up to speed with changes within the industry, but to master and learn from them - in particular, the artificial intelligence resources engulfing the world, which are here to stay.

"One has to get to grips with these new things, move with the changes, embrace them to the point that one gets ahead, becoming a leader of the pack.

"It is imperative to be hungry for new ideas. To be aware. Look sharp," Owen adds, pointing out that plans are afoot for DPPG to soon tap into artificial intelligence resources in a way that he believes will hugely benefit both his staff and clients alike.

Watch this space," he says.