The Rawson Property Group’s recent participation in a franchise expo in Johannesburg coupled with their extensive planning for their exhibition at the upcoming Business Opportunities and Franchise Expo to be held at the Coca Cola Dome in Northgate from the 12th to the 15th of September has confirmed their belief that confidence in South Africa’s real estate sector is now very strong and that many of the leading individuals in this sector, as well as a host of small agencies, now want to migrate to one of the bigger brands.
This was said last week by Tony Clarke, Managing Director of the Rawson Property Group.
“I cannot talk for the other big brands,” said Clarke, “but in the Rawson Property Group the number of enquiries for franchises continues to rise exponentially, often by as much as 25% month-on-month.”
Many members of the public, he said, are becoming aware of the fact that the Rawson Property Group is one of the few big brand estate agencies that has really expanded its footprint over the last three years. During this time they have, in fact, added 90 new franchisees to their portfolio – and this growth is expected to continue at an equally fast rate.
“This rapid expansion, of course, makes it very attractive to those looking to be part of a winning team,” said Clarke. “The impression it gives is that we will make room for them and others, provided they are innovative and hard working.”
One of his group’s big advantages, added Clarke, is that it can offer franchises in a wide range of disciplines: auctions, rentals and commercial property as well as the better known residential sales sector.
It has been very encouraging, Clarke added, to find that many of the industry champions are approaching the Rawson Property Group for the purchase of a franchise. These, he said, are often high calibre people who already have impressive track records in property sales.
“What is becoming even more evident is that the big brands will inevitably increase their dominance of this sector and the future belongs very much to them. This is because big brands offer credibility and security as well as easy to understand systems, on-going support and, most important of all, continual training — the key to all success in property marketing.”
Small efficient estate agencies serving their neighbourhoods will, added Clarke, continue to have a valuable role to play in the market, but the overall trend is definitely towards the bigger brands.
