South Africa
Is it Time to Renovate or Relocate
March 9th, 2010Lower interest rates don’t always mean that homeowners should upgrade to bigger and better properties. If they have built up substantial equity in their homes, it may be time to access some of it and make alternations or improvements instead.
That way, many believe, they can have a bigger and better home without having to go to the trouble and expense of moving.
However, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, homeowners should seek expert advice about home values and growth prospects in their area before making a final “renovate or relocate” decision.
“You need to be very careful not to overcapitalise. Prices in many areas are still at a low ebb following the recession, which might make it difficult to recoup your renovation expenditure if you suddenly had to change your plans and sell.
“And in any case most neighbourhoods will only support prices up to a certain level. After that, potential buyers…
Tags: Harcourts Africa, relocation, renovating
How to Banish Damp
March 4th, 2010The high level of rainfall in many areas this summer has brought to the fore the home maintenance problems that can be caused by the presence of damp.
Outdoors, the worst effect of damp is to cause walls to become waterlogged and collapse, but before that it usually also causes plaster and paint to bubble, burst and flake off. Indoors, it will cause a musty smell to pervade cupboards, rooms or even the whole house, and in severe cases cause unsightly mold and falling tiles in showers, bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.
Indeed, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, damp needs to be taken seriously and treated properly, otherwise it will be a continuing source of discomfort and even illness to the homeowner – and a severe deterrent to potential tenants or buyers of the property.
“Serious rising damp from the foundations will of course require the services of damp proofing specialists, but…
Harcourts Continues To Grow
November 6th, 2009Despite the troubled economy over the past year and a half, high profile real estate organisation, Harcourts International, is continuing to grow throughout Australia and New Zealand, according to Managing Director of Harcourts International, Mike Green.
“On a local, national and international level, Harcourts has been keeping ahead of the challenges and maximising the opportunities presented by the 2008/2009 market by building on the strength of its people through the tools, support and training we provide them,” Mr Green said.
According to Mr Green, one of the main focuses for Harcourts International this year has been growing the strength, reach and size of its teams, together with the professional resources available to its people, and the organisation has succeeded in all three goals.
“The organisation has definitely grown in size, adding five new offices in Victoria, five in New Zealand, five in Queensland and six new offices in New South Wales over the…
Harcourts comes to Kimberley
October 14th, 2009The international Harcourts real estate group is now represented in Kimberley, following the conversion of leading local agency Homenet Kimberley to the powerful new brand.
And agency principal Marina Smith, who is well-known in the diamond city’s real estate market and heads up a dynamic team of seven agents, expects the conversion to attract quite a lot of attention.
“Kimberley is a relatively small place and any changes to its business make-up are picked up quickly. Such a significant shift from one brand to another will definitely not go unnoticed and that will of course mean good publicity.”
But even more important, she says, is what the changeover will mean to the city’s real estate consumers. “With 600 offices internationally, Harcourts has the experience and know-how to equip its people with the training, systems and technology that makes it possible to deliver stellar service at a completely different level than SA consumers have…
Tags: harcourts, harcourts real estate
Harcourts’ international expansion gaining momentum
October 2nd, 2009Harcourts’ global expansion is gathering momentum, with growth in existing markets and considerable interest from other countries too, according to the Head of International Development for Harcourts International Aaron Hodson.
Aaron Hodson, International Franchise Development Manager, Harcourts International
Mr Hodson says Harcourts, which is the largest real estate group in New Zealand and the fastest growing in Australia, is rapidly expanding in other existing markets, in discussion with potential franchise owners in both India and Brazil and continually receiving genuine enquiry from many other countries.
“In South Africa for example, where last year we entered into a joint venture with the high-profile Homenet group, Harcourts South Africa is now the fourth largest and fastest growing real estate group in Africa
“As well as progressively rebranding their existing offices they have also opened more than 20 new franchises since April and also just acquired a substantial stake in a new property management company, enabling Harcourts South Africa…
Harcourts South Africa comes to the West Rand
September 18th, 2009The international Harcourts real estate group now has two offices open on the West Rand, thanks to the rebranding of leading local agencies Homenet Jon Rosenberg and Homenet Rhino.
This follows last year’s partnership deal between Harcourts International and South Africa’s Homenet group, which has now been renamed Harcourts Africa and is in the process of re-branding all its offices around the country.
The newly-named Harcourts Rhino is continuing to serve homebuyers and sellers in Roodepoort and Krugersdorp, where it has operated for the past 19 years. Principals Louis Barbosa and Mauro Mosca are however excited about the transition to Harcourts which, they say, will place their real estate group in a much better position than other SA groups in that it won’t have to play “catch-up” after the recession.
“Harcourts Africa is effectively being boosted to a whole new level through the international group’s branding, marketing, training and IT systems. These tools…
