BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL ESTATE AGENT
Category General News
A new career in property is possible for most anybody with drive and determination. At Wakefields, the superb training at the Wakefields Academy combined with the support of experienced and approachable branch managers make the journey that much easier.
There are so many different reasons why our newly recruited property consultants choose to get involved in property. The wonderful thing is that it's all about attitude and aptitude, nothing to do with age or life stage!
Whether it's about choosing a career that rewards smart, hard work, essentially allows you to run your own business (under the Wakefields umbrella), allows some flexibility of hours, or offers a job opportunity when others aren't available...the world of property can be very rewarding - financially and otherwise. And it's satisfying (and often, great fun) being part of a team which operates together, and independently.
Kerushka Arjune is a sales consultant at Wakefields in Durban North. She joined in October 2020 after 10 years in management - fire detection and security, government related. She studied business and supply chain management for her Bachelor of Commerce, but when it came to sitting at a desk all day, every day, she knew she had to make a change: "I just couldn't do it anymore - I needed to restore a balance in my life. I'd always fancied property, all kinds of property...I'm as crazy about modern as I am about vintage. So I thought I'd like the flexibility - escape the relentless 8 to 5 - and do something I thought I'd enjoy." Kerushka says she's good at personal management, so she knew that she'd have the discipline and drive to function independently.
She went to the Berea office, and chatted to the manager there about a future in property. Living in Umhlanga, Durban North was the ideal branch for her. Because she had her Fidelity Fund Certificate, she was able to work and trade as an intern while she was studying.
Durban North Manager Kevin Mullins says, "Kerushka's excellent sales resulted in her achieving Gold Certificate status last quarter, despite only being in the job for four months. She's equally adept at listing and selling. Quick to learn, she's grasped the opportunity for training and coaching with gusto, resulting in her impressive performance." Kerushka's currently studying towards her NQF4 at the Wakefields Academy.
From Kerushka's perspective, "My manager, Kevin, provides such good management support, which is a great help to all the interns.
Kerushka is passionate about animals, and has a certificate in animal rescue. She has four dogs - including the two abandoned by her previous neighbours - and is caring for a rescue dog. And when she's not managing her property portfolio and clients or caring for her pets, she's caring for her parents. She visits them every day, cooking and cleaning for them. That's what she loves about working with property - she has the flexibility and balance to satisfy a number of different aspects of her life, while still earning a satisfying living.
Meet Belinda Lentz of Wakefields in the Midlands. Belinda wasn't entirely new to the role of property consultant, but decided to move to Wakefields: "I just like Wakefields' family approach, rather than all-business concept." She joined in July last year.
Belinda comes from a managerial and marketing background, and was a marketing manager at Sanlam. Ten years ago, she and her husband moved from Pretoria to the Midlands, and opened a guesthouse. They've been running well-known Hawklee ever since, but Belinda says it's largely her husband who manages all the front-of-house: "He picks up a lot of the flack - he's brilliant at it and he loves it," she laughs. Then it was to time to sell Hawklee, but sadly the sale fell through and Covid hit. Belinda decided to call Wakefields' Nottingham Road's branch manager Annesta Vermeulen: "I love house sales, have always bought and sold properties. I love taking a rundown house, and renovating and doing up the décor."
Annesta grins, "Belinda's a really dynamic busy bee, constantly on the move, committed to making a success of this career. Ever since she began with Wakefields, she's flown. I predict great things for her!" Belinda says Annesta's been a tremendous help: "There's always so much to learn. I have a certified financial planning degree, so although it does help in some areas, in others, not at all." Belinda's also highly trained in management, all attributes which contribute to a success in property sales.
Belinda believes her success in sales and listings lies in being a good marketer and networker: "I'm good at that, at posting on social media, and that helps enormously." She also attributes her success to Wakefields' excellent training: "Nicole's head of the Academy, and she's an excellent trainer, and very thorough. Wakefields makes sure you're equipped to do the job well."
Thirty-four year old Sanele Mahlongo joined Wakefields in Scottburgh, after a two-year internship at eThekwini Municipality. He'd done a National Diploma in Cost Management Accounting, but he had a yearning to be involved in property. He laughs, "Even when I was still at school, I used to collect those property magazines outside the estate agents' offices, and read them cover to cover. I've always loved everything to do with property." He adds, "I never ever regret having chosen property as a career, I love it. I used to look at real estate agents For Sale boards and note the names on them...and dreamt that one day that would be me. That's when I decided to join Wakefields and make that dream a reality!"
Sanele studied for his NQF4 qualification through the Wakefields Academy, and qualified. He's currently in the top 20 in the company on earnings this financial year...no small feat!
He works very hard, and says, "If you have a passion for something - and I do have a passion for property - hard work isn't that hard. I love dealing with different people, working out what it is they're looking for, and then finding that for them. It's very satisfying." He also enjoys the fact that every day in the property industry is different - the people as much as the properties.
Branch manager Simon Lee says, "It's a pleasure to work with Sanele. Social media savvy, customer service oriented, extremely insightful, it is no surprise to me that each and every obstacle he encounters he overcomes with verve and sensitivity, all with the aim of concluding sales that reflect the Wakefields Real Estate ethos. This is not only an investment in the now, it's a purposeful and intelligent business strategy that will bring success. "
For Sanele, the enormous support from his branch manager, together with the training he received at Wakefields Academy, means he's been provided with all the tools to do exceptionally well. And that's just what he's doing.
Author: Anne Schauffer
