Sentiments are predominantly pessimistic in SA at the moment as the country battles with recessionary conditions exacerbated by Covid-19 lockdown. In the face of this, the property sector has been experiencing a marked upswing in the last few months.
This is according to Denise Dogon, founder of Dogon Group Properties who says that notwithstanding the economic woes being experienced in South Africa, DG is still seeing success in the market – with the company’s recent sales for winter 2020 being their best ever for what is traditionally a quiet time of the year.
According to Alexa Horne, MD of Dogon Group Properties, crucial to these successful sales figures is well priced properties. “The key is for sellers to price their properties correctly and to not have unrealistic expectations. A well-priced property will have a buyer waiting.”
Dogon Group Properties offers the below price counselling tips:
1) You don’t have to be offering the cheapest property on the market to achieve a quick sale, rather it needs to be well priced in comparison with similar properties.
2) Do your research with regards to what else is out there and at what price.
3) Ask your estate agent to guide you as they have an in-depth knowledge of the area and the market.
A few additional tips from DG for sellers looking to make a speedy sale:
1. Differentiate your property
In order to attract attention and to make your home more memorable and desirable, consider additions like installing sustainable solutions such as solar energy, grey-water systems and bio-digesters. This will help improve your home’s footprint, whilst also adding value to the property. Just remember that any improvements should be practical and appeal to a wide audience.
2. Clean the Clutter
It is essential to remove all clutter from a home before showing it to potential buyers because buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space.
3. Improve the façade of your property
Sellers often overlook the importance of their home’s street appearance and appeal. The first thing a buyer sees is a home’s external appearance and the way it fits into the surrounding neighbourhood. Try to make sure that the exterior of your property is attractive at first glance.
4. Get Your Home in “Move In” Condition
It is important to give potential buyers the impression that they will be able to move right in and start enjoying their new home, rather than having to spend time and money fixing it up.
Horne says that Dogon also continue to experience robust sales of properties within residential developments for under R2 million – such as Foreshore Place, where four apartments were sold to buyers from Gauteng in July alone.
Situated on the corner of Adderley Street, Riebeek Street and St Georges Mall and previously known as the ABSA building, Foreshore Place has 15 floors of commercial space with the ground floor offering banking facilities, coffee shops, food and other shops. Above this rises 11 floors of residential units, which runs from the 6th floor to 16th floor, made up of 99 one-bedroom apartments, nine two-bedroom apartments and 63 studio apartments. The fourth floor of Foreshore Place features a business and resident’s lounge and entertainment terrace.
“Another new development that we are being inundated with queries about is Steenberg Green, a luxury security estate nestled beneath the Steenberg Mountains next to the Tokai Forest. The site on which Steenberg Green is being developed (opposite the Steenberg Golf Estate) enjoys panoramic views looking North over the Tokai Conservation Corridor towards Devil’s Peak and West towards the Constantiaberg.”
Why new developments are drawing so much attention
Paul Upton, Head of Developments for Dogon Group Properties, explains that some of the reasons that new developments currently being marketed by Dogon Group, such as Foreshore Place, The Rubik, 1 On Albert, and 169 On Main (amongst others) are so popular is that:
1) They incorporate the latest in design, features and trends.
2) The development industry is a barometer on the value of property per square metre as it is well regulated and banks only finance property based on very stringent costs to the developers – so developments provide a benchmark on the value of property and the cost of building.
3) Prices include VAT and therefore there is no added transfer duty. 4) Developments in urban areas are a good investment as they allow buyers to own property in central areas that have limited space left for developments – such as the Cape Town City Bowl or the Atlantic Seaboard – making these developments all that much more desirable.
For more information on properties available through Dogon Group Properties visit: www.dogongroup.com.
