REAL estate franchise groups ERA Europe and ERA South Africa have committed themselves to forging stronger links in a concerted effort to open business channels between 15 countries in Europe and South Africa.
ERA South Africa chief executive Neville McIntyre said discussions on how best this could be achieved had dominated his agenda on a recent trip to the annual ERA international business convention held in San Diego in the United States.
"We are looking at an alliance agreement that will make it easier for our ERA franchise offices to do business with their European counterparts," he said. There are more than 1 000 ERA franchises in Europe. Already many ERA offices in South Africa, especially those on the coast, had strong links with individual countries in Europe.
"This agreement will open new markets for everyone," McIntyre said. Once an agreement was settled, McIntyre said, SA properties would go on display in European offices, relationships between individual brokers and agents would be encouraged and ERA would participate in more European property "expos".
"It will also become far easier for South Africans to buy real estate in Europe," McIntyre said. The recent US conference has been hailed as a major success despite taking place against a backdrop of war.
"There is a feeling among real estate people across the globe that we cannot allow fear and uncertainty to continue affecting our business," he said. More than 3 000 delegates from Europe, Africa, Malaysia, Japan and the US as well as representatives from ERA's sister companies RCI and Cendant Mortgages took part in the event.
Top of the agenda were discussions on how to "make customers for life" how to tackle tough listings and, for the agent, the pros and cons of employing an assistant. McIntyre said the conference was an opportunity for ERA affiliates to participate in educational programmes and idea sharing sessions.
Publisher: Weekend Argus
Source: Weekend Argus