The Rawson Property Group’s Constantia franchise is excited to welcome industry veteran, Jill Lloyd, to the team. Lloyd’s presence is the latest in a series of expansions that has seen the franchise become one of the most active in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, and will enhance their ability to serve clients in the increasingly popular suburb of Claremont Lynfrae.
“Jill Lloyd has been working in real estate for the last forty years,” says Nancy Todd, the Rawson Property Group’s Constantia franchisee. “Thirty of those years have been focussed almost exclusively on Lynfrae, and there are very few people who know more about the area than she does.”
This experience, says Todd, will be invaluable in helping the franchise extend their services in what has become one of the most active property markets in the central Southern Suburbs.
“Lynfrae is having a real Cinderella moment,” says Jill Lloyd, “and has become one of the most sought-after family areas in Cape Town. It’s really ideally placed for that market, being in all the top school catchment areas, with great sports facilities and shopping centres, and easy access to Claremont’s CBD and the highway for hassle-free commutes.”
It’s not just location that has made Lynfrae so popular, however; the properties are also spacious, beautifully designed and built to last.
“Most of the houses were built in the early 1930s by two master builders from Ireland,” Lloyd reveals. “It took them a couple of tries to get out of the habit of prioritising south-facing aspects, but once they caught on to our sunshine and weather patterns, they really put together some beautiful homes.”
Lynfrae architecture tends towards classic styling, and most homes feature large rooms, high ceilings and solid wood floors. This has lent itself to elegant renovations, and many of the properties have been fully refurbished to embrace modern trends without losing their original charm. Prices range from around R2.5 million up to a recent, record-breaking high of R6 million on a property sold by Lloyd.
“Having been active in Lynfrae for so many years, Jill has sold some of the houses as many as four times over,” says Nancy Todd. “She knows all the ins and outs of the properties in the area, and has built a wonderful network of relationships within the community, which is such an important part of what we try to do at the Rawson Property Group.”
Lloyd admits that the Rawson Property Group’s Your Neighbourhood Expert initiative was an instrumental factor in her decision to join the Constantia franchise.
“I think it’s so important to be more than just a salesperson to our clients, and the Rawson brand really supports agents in that endeavour,” she says. “My job doesn’t end when the sale is concluded – I want my clients to feel comfortable coming to me for advice on anything from property trends to renovation ideas and potential.”
Both Nancy Todd and her co-franchisee, Eugene Pienaar, have expressed their delight to have Lloyd joining their team, which has expanded from nine staff members in 2014 to a total of 55, today.
“We started off small, but our franchise has blossomed with the combination of hard work, a service-driven ethic, world-class tools and systems, and a ‘roll-up-your-sleeves’ management style,” says Todd. “Our growth has been organic, with agents like Jill bringing great experience and knowledge to the table, and allowing us to fulfil our role as neighbourhood experts and cater to the exceptional demand and market activity that we’re seeing in neighbourhoods like Lynfrae.”
