This month, the Institute of Estate Agents South Africa (IEASA) celebrates its 80th year. Since its formation in 1937, this is an important milestone in the Institute’s history, bringing as it does, a more interactive and supportive relationship with its members.
“We intend to roll out a whole range of new benefits for our members”, explained IEASA National President, Lanice Steward, “whilst at the same time positioning IEASA as distinctly separate, both in function and perception, from the Estate Agency Affairs Board”.
Central to this process is a new commemorative logo and the re-launching of a new, more user friendly website, which will feature a searchable database of IEASA members, plus a facility for consumers to check if an estate agent is currently operational and indeed, a member of the Institute.
Steward stresses that, “whilst IEASA will be celebrating this important moment in its history, it remains a voluntary organisation which represents, assists and supports its registered members, who are composed of principals and estate agents alike. We are gearing up to provide our members with new services and regular, up-to-date information that will be useful for the exercise of their profession”, said Steward.
“The Estate Agency Affairs Board is the regulatory body for the industry, to which all operating estate agents must be registered and obtain a mandatory Fidelity Fund Certificate”, explained Steward. “IEASA on the other hand, is a voluntary organisation providing a professional association that speaks on behalf of its members whilst providing a platform for involvement in the profession and its future role in the industry”, she said.
IEASA will kick off its 80th anniversary festivities next weekend, at the first-ever Property Buyer Show at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where it will be hosting the IEASA SMME Pavilion and presenting at the First-Time Home Buyers theatre.
IEASA also has various other events planned for this milestone year, highlighted by a gala dinner with representatives from the National Association of Realtors (USA), the largest real estate organisation in the world. IEASA is the longest standing bi-lateral, co-operation organisation attached to the NAR, and regularly attends the annual NAR Convention in the US.
“This year the event will be held in Chicago,” said Steward, “and IEASA hopes to include a large contingent of South African real estate professionals with the tour group in November.”
Another highlight in the second half of the year will be the annual IEASA/SA Homeloan Roadshow, which has become an important event to diarise for the entire real estate industry.
“For us, and all our members”, said Steward, “it will be a year to remember.”