Late last month the Absa Home Loans team surprised an elated Gary and Odette Browne, at their newly purchased home in Southfield, Cape Town, with a giant cheque for a whopping R500 000. This came shortly after the couple had been informed that they were the lucky winners of the Guiding You Home competition, an initiative linked to the Guiding You Home show, proudly sponsored by Absa and aired on DSTV’s channel 176. The show follows the journeys of different families in search of their dream home, from their first viewing to making an offer. “This means everything for us,” said Gary Browne on receipt of the cheque, “it’s a life changer of note!”
The Brownes were entered into the competition via their bond application to Absa. At this point, the couple were in the process of buying a home through Simon Weston, a sales agent with the Rawson Property Group’s Bergvliet franchise. The bond application was then facilitated by Rawson Finance, Rawson’s bond origination division, accepted by Absa and finally, chosen via lucky draw as the winner of the outstanding prize.
“The Guiding You Home competition is the biggest amount of cash ever allocated in a competition in this industry,” explained Hein van Greunen, Regional Manager at Absa Home Loans, speaking at the celebration held for the Brownes at the Rawson Property Group’s Bergvliet office last week. “We know there have been instances in the past where a home in a complex was made available but we wanted to do it with cash, giving the winners a chance to spend the money where see fit.”
The Brownes, who had applied for a R400 000 bond on the R1, 375, 000 Southfield home, chose to use their prize very wisely - and settled their entire bond amount.
“This whole experience has been a lovely journey for us – it’s unreal,” said Gary Browne at the celebration. “We were very thankful that we got the bond in the first place and then to have it registered at exactly the right time, it was unbelievable.”
“We are now bond-free and we would like to thank Absa not only for this incredible prize but for all the bonds we have had with them over the years – which is seven in total. We can’t go wrong!”
“This whole experience has been a lovely journey for us – it’s unreal,” said Gary Browne at the celebration. “We were very thankful that we got the bond in the first place and then to have it registered at exactly the right time, it was unbelievable.”
“We are now bond-free and we would like to thank Absa not only for this incredible prize but for all the bonds we have had with them over the years – which is seven in total. We can’t go wrong!”
Also in attendance at the celebration last week was Tony Clarke, Managing Director of the Rawson Property Group. Thrilled to be involved in such a success story, Clarke spoke about the importance of home ownership and applauded the Guiding You Home competition, which has helped to bring a family’s dream to life.
“Thanks to our fantastic teams at both Rawson Finance and our Bergvliet franchise, we were able to help Gary and Odette find and secure their dream home, which is the greatest prize for us,” said Clarke, “and then to hear of their win – well, that was just the cherry on the top!”
“Thanks to our fantastic teams at both Rawson Finance and our Bergvliet franchise, we were able to help Gary and Odette find and secure their dream home, which is the greatest prize for us,” said Clarke, “and then to hear of their win – well, that was just the cherry on the top!”
“We couldn’t have wished for the cheque to go to a better couple and what great timing, just before Christmas.”
