Rizzo on a Roll, Tracy at the Helm

TO SAY Maurizio (Rizzo) Dalle-Vedove, a popular sales agent at the Durban North branch of the ever-expanding real estate company, Dormehl Phalane Group (DPG), is on a roll is perhaps something of an understatement.

This 58-year-old former dental technician and Comrades Marathon runner has sold six residential properties and a commercial shopping centre since February, when he and his wife, Tracy, moved from DPG Umhlanga, after five months there, to join the DPG Durban North team.

The move came when Tracy was appointed sales portfolio manager at the Durban North branch, where the property group's founder, Owen Dormehl, is principal. Tracy co-manages the Durban North team alongside Lise Bodsworth, who has been at the branch for years and concentrates on the rentals portfolio.

Both Tracy and Rizzo are very happy about their new home within the Dormehl Phalane family - and Rizzo has reason to believe that the move to Durban North has brought him good luck.

What Rizzo has accomplished in sales so far this year is already more than what he achieved throughout 2021, points out Tracy, adding that another recent highlight for her husband was his being called up at April's DPG prize-giving in Pretoria to accept the DPG CEO Award.

This award from Owen Dormehl was "for special recognition from the public for professionalism, ethics and honesty" - and Rizzo is proud of that accolade.

"I was very surprised, as I didn't expect any award," he says, adding that "I'm extremely staunch on ethics and honesty, as buying a home is one of the biggest and most important purchases, and investments, in life. Knowing that my clients put their full trust and faith in me throughout the process is very rewarding."

Born in Carletonville in July 1963, Rizzo is not new to awards. He took the Chairman's Award for the highest units sold and highest turnover achieved in 2018 and 2019 for Sothebys. He also took the Esprit de Corps Award for most referrals concluded at that company and generated the highest gross commission, by way of global referrals, for the year ending 2018 (inbound).

Owners of the Sothebys franchise then rebranded and became Blueprint Realty, and Rizzo signed the most number of sole mandates for 2020 there, as well as recording the highest registered sales in 2020. Both he and Tracy left Blueprint to join Dormehl Phalane as they admired the brand's passion for people and property.

"My Chairman's Award from Sothebys, as runner-up for the highest commission earned nationally, was my most proud achievement. The event was held at Sun City," says Rizzo.

His awards go beyond the world of property: "I was Sportsman of the Year and Singles Champ at my local tennis club during my school career. I was also captain of my school's First Team Tennis for three years running," he recalls, when elbowed to reveal other past accomplishments.

Rizzo, who has a diploma in dental technology, worked in Gauteng as a dental technician from 1990 to 1994. Before he entered the world of property eight years ago, he owned a wholesale and distribution business in Durban, selling security products, from 1994 to 2014.

Away from property he says he enjoys singing opera "after a few glasses of wine". He is also very fond of running - not only has he completed two Comrades Marathons, but he has also run the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and completed 10 other full marathons and 15 half marathons.

Patience is an absolute must if you are in real estate, believes Rizzo. And as for absolute no-nos: "Never be late for, or not respond to, a client," he says.

Moving to Durban North has proved "an excellent decision", explains Tracy, who was profiled in an earlier article available on the DPG website. She says she is becoming more familiar with the pricing and areas within the Durban North community, and seems to naturally migrate towards working in the areas between Athlone and Glenashley.

"We have not increased the number of agents at the branch as yet, as we are still finding our feet, but that is the plan - and we are employing a new receptionist/admin person from July 1," she adds.

The branch has beefed up its Facebook presence of late and now has a social media company managing the page. Also, a plan is in action for a string of Sellers and Buyers campaigns, to attract more stock and increase the branch's followers, says Tracy.

One thing Tracy has come to realise is that real estate is not for sissies: "There is never a dull moment - you are either feeling like a champion, or you feel like you are running in with the 'meat wagon' in a marathon race."

At the moment, a branch priority is brand awareness, getting the public to know DPG Durban North is the go-to agency in the area.
Tracy plans more 'pop-up' promotional events in the area: "These have been a lot of fun and are good at encouraging interaction between agents and the public. My first sale was as a result of my first 'pop-up' outside the Spar in Umgeni Park:"

The branch has also started to put together an internship training manual with the idea that when interns join they will be trained on various aspects of real estate and the conveyancing process.

"They will not just be left to fend for themselves. I will train them on various aspects and then they can go out into the field, with a trained agent, with some preparation of the process."

She says sole mandate presentations have also been a big focus for the branch: "If it is pitched right, then you are halfway to earning your commission. We have a sole mandate presentation pack that we have put together and a marketing plan that seems to be working. "

The branch is also looking at arranging an open day to offer sellers advice on the selling process, costs involved in selling and the conveyancing process.

"My hope for next year is that our branch will be featured in the Top 10 at the DPG Awards and that we will have at least two dynamic, new, well-trained agents selling with us," says Tracy.