The young team at Seeff Richards Bay takes major awards at Seeff’s KZN Regional Awards for 2015.
Seeff Richards Bay with Licensee Elaine Chetty at the helm scooped a bevy of awards at the Annual Seeff KZN Regional Awards for 2015 held on Tuesday 8 March in Umhlanga. Having opened in the middle of a recession in March 2009, this branch has gone from strength to strength year after year since then.
Elijah Chetty took two of the top awards for the province, including Seeff KZN’s Top Sales Agent for Number of Units and Seeff KZN’s Top Achiever for Total Sales in Rands. He was also Branch Agent of the Year.
Says Elaine: “Competing against the might of Seeff Umhlanga, Seeff Ballito, Seeff Hillcrest and the like, our team Seeff Richards Bay fared extremely well. This list of achievements is a testament to our focus and determination to be the best that we can be in a challenging but rewarding industry.”
Other awards garnered by Seeff Richards Bay on the night highlighted the team’s success in both rentals and sales. Shelly Olivier was Seeff KZN’s Rental Agent of the Year (Units) as well as the second best Rental Agent in KZN (Rands), while Newcomer of the Year in Rentals, Desire Raubenheimer, also took third spot as Rental Agent in KZN (Units). Catherine Chetty was Branch Administrator of the Year, while Sebe Mthethwa took Rookie Agent of the Year.
Turning to sales, apart from Elijah Chetty taking the two top awards for KZN for both units sold and rand value, Linah Marijeni came in as Sales Agent 2nd in KZN (Units), with Gugu Motha taking Sales Agent 7th in KZN (Units) and Reanne Govender Sales Agent 9th in KZN (Units).
Adds Elaine: “We have an energetic and driven team who have chosen Real Estate as a career earlier than most, as they see this industry as a rewarding one. Our average age within the team is 32 years – which is far below the industry average age of 55 years. Millennials are generally entrepreneurial so our industry offers them an opportunity to dip their toes in an industry that allows them to flex their entrepreneurial muscles without too much of a capital outlay. “We are also a learning company, and with the Seeff KZN team constantly looking at ways to collaborate with each other, we implement strategies to grow knowing that we cannot stand still in our fast-paced industry.
“Property prices in Richards Bay have seen an average growth of 16% year-on-year. This is promising for our industrial town. The Port continues to mention growth with a container terminal as well as a dry dock facility touted. This will certainly boost our local economy if plans are approved by government.
“Due to our city being an industrial one, we have numerous people coming in to work for periods less than 24 months. They therefore choose to rent rather than buy, for obvious reasons. Investors see the potential of the buy-to-let market and flock in.
“Young families are also a large sector of our buyers, as they find permanent work in our city and want space to grow their family. “The all year round summer weather, sublime coastal living and Big 5 game reserves within an hour’s drive make it truly a beautiful part of the world to settle in.”
She reports that the average freehold property price is R1.2m with R768 000 for sectional title. The average rental in Richards Bay is around R6500 per month, and Elaine says that 80% of Seeff Richards Bay’s sales fall within the under R1.2m price range.