Private property sales company opens office on West Coast

Coastal News recently met with Andre du Toit, the CEO of an innovative property marketing service called SellingPrivately.co.za, which helps people sell their properties privately for a fixed, once-off fee instead of the normal agent commission. Andre was in Langebaan to support the launch of their business on the West Coast, which is involved in private property sales. We quizzed him on the state of the residential property market, and the wisdom of selling privately.

CN: “Andre, how did you get involved in SellingPrivately.co.za?” AdT: “A while back I was sitting on the board of a major estate agency group, and owned a number of their franchises. With that bird’s eye perspective, I realised that the market was fundamentally shifting, and became persuaded that a private sale really is simpler than people think. Naturally, it’s convenient to have an estate agent involved, but it’s wise to carefully calculate what an agent will cost you, and then weigh up your options.”

CN: “Why do think selling your property privately is a better option today than ten years ago?” AdT: “Firstly, charging commissions is outdated. House for sale prices have skyrocketed over the past few years. Why should an agent reap the benefit of your asset’s growth? Imagine what you could do with the money you’d save selling privately! Second, the internet has changed the way buyers search for property. Today, more and more buyers are using the internet and other media to find properties. Finally, we give you everything you need to sell privately, hassle free. We’ve thought through every aspect of selling, and give you a complete package, from boards and web listings, to newspaper ads and attorney services, with no hidden costs. Our Guide to Selling Privately gives you insider secrets to selling property fast. It couldn’t be simpler.”

CN: “Do you believe your concept will work in the West Coast property market?”
AdT: “Absolutely. The problem here is that many sellers, and buyers, do not live on the West Coast. So, sticking a board up and having a picture in a local office is not going to achieve much. In contrast, we list clients’ properties on 20 top property websites, with a combined traffic of over 3 million unique visitors per month. That is huge, huge awareness – far more than any estate agency can offer. We get a lot of interest from foreigners via the web, and there is particular interest in coastal property in the overseas enquiries. If our success on the East Coast is anything to go by, I believe sellingprivately.co.za will achieve great things in your region.”

To find out more either go to http://www.sellingprivately.co.za/, call their helpline on 0763868431, or email Andre directly at andre@sellingprivately.co.za.