The caliber of estate agents and franchise application has improved. This according to Tony Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties. “We are now witnessing the demise of the housewife/part time agent who comes into the industry to make a little spare cash. Today’s applicants quite often have tertiary education qualifications and among those applying for franchises the majority have had previous successful careers and business experience”. This is indeed good news for the real estate industry.

As an agent is it not time to set rules for buyers and sellers to adhere to? In our previous edition we asked you to send us your viewpoints and received numerous emails from agencies that would like to know more;

I try to sell Farms / game Farms in the Waterberg. I would like to charge a professional fee for taking clients to view Farms, in part to separate the " free game-drive " weekenders from serious Buyers as well as covering my costs (diesel , wear and tear ) and time ! People don’t walk into a Doctor or Lawyers Office for a Day not expecting a Bill . Would this be ethical?

Should you wish to get involved with other real estate agencies regarding this issue mail us at news@cyberprop.com.

CyberAgent’s commitment to the real estate office; to continually develop products or modules that will consistently ensure cutting-edge technology that caters to any changes within the market. When you use CyberAgent you don’t have to use any other application as it is the one-stop-shop that any real estate office needs. CyberAgent has a whole new module available, the Advert Generator. This module allows users to create their own adverts e.g. newspaper adds, single ads and various others. This has an easy to use interface with various pre-set templates available and allows for multiple selected properties to be used to generate a single advert. This module is available to all our desktop users (CyberAgent Professional and CyberAgent Lite) at NO extra cost. Read more in Programme Enhancements

Read More

What is a real estate agent?

• a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate
  
• an individual who is licensed to negotiate and arrange real estate sales; works for a real estate broker
  
• a person licensed to negotiate and transact the sale of real estate on behalf of the property owner
  
• a professional who helps buyers find a home they want, negotiate the offer for the price of the home, and finalize the details of the sale. For sellers they help with the same process, but the sellers of the home pay a commission for this service
  
• a person who is engaged in rendering any service in relation to sale, purchase, leasing or renting, of real estate and includes a real estate consultant
  
• a licensed person who is lawfully authorised to act on behalf of a principal to perform certain specific activities that affect the principal's rights and duties in relation to a third party

Indeed these descriptions are a mouth full and does sound good but does your buyer or seller know that;

• agents are not sparsely educated
  
• there are no salaries for real estate agents
  
• agents do not get paid unless there is a transaction
  
• agents could easily spend a full week, driving out tanks of petrol, helping a buyer or seller without getting paid a cent
  
• agents use the best technology

As an agent is it not time to set rules for buyers and sellers to adhere to? Send your viewpoint to news@cyberprop.com.

Matching the requirements of a serious buyer with the asset of a serious seller is almost like completing a challenging puzzle, says Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. “Aside from working hard, agents also need to work smart, and gleaning as much information as possible from both the buyer and seller is the only way to ensure the correct puzzle pieces fit together.” Read more in Serious about success

So how do you walk that fine line, outlining all the positives a property has to offer without stretching the truth, and promoting it to the right audience without leaving other buyers out? Top 10 Tips for Great Listing Copy by propertyadguru.com

100! We’ve done it! CyberAgent through our CyberProp.com website is now in affiliation with over 100 websites! We’ve just done a deal with the Talent Ocean group (54 websites). Each and every sites does between 175 000 and 200 000 page impressions and receives unique visitors of 15 000 – 25 000 individually per site. Together the sites achieve nearly 3,5 million page impressions with over 200 000 unique users. For a full list of Talent Ocean websites see From our webmaster.

You cannot afford to say NO to CyberAgent.

Read More

2010 is indeed the year of opportunities. This according to Adrian Goslett, CEO RE/MAX of Southern Africa. While it is anticipated that interest rates will increase in early 2011, the fact that the Reserve Bank announced a 50 basis point cut in the interest rate from 10,5% to 10% bodes well for the future of the real estate market. There has been a noticeable uptick in activity in the property market across the country as the effects of the recession slowly start to ease and appetite for property ownership returns.

“Let’s get ready for World Cup 2010. If you ever wanted to have your own Irish Restaurant and Pub, or if you want to expand your existing operation, don’t miss this exciting opportunity to get in early on South Africa’s fast growing Irish Restaurant and Pub Franchise. Set up requirements R1,897m own capital plus R790,000 financed equipment and items, totalling approximately R2,7m.” This “offer” was mailed to me and left me speechless. I could not help to draw a comparison between an opportunity in the real estate industry and that of the entertainment industry.

Being a previous restaurant owner I can say that there are three approaches to the value of the business, the cost, the sales comparison and the income. Is this not the same in your real estate office?

Estate agents operates in a high-profile sector where the delivering of services is huge with fierce competition. Just like in a restaurant an estate agent must work faster, smarter and more profitably with the best set of tools.

Technology has become an integral part of Real Estate over the past few years. Tools like CyberAgent have played and will play even a more important role in the future of Real Estate. Real estate agencies using a tool like CyberAgent, gain the advantages of using the latest technology to benefit their businesses.

BUT, the big difference, it is not going to cost you R2,7m to set up your little business! In fact as an estate agent we are so lucky that we can start our own “business” within the agency that we’ve joined.

NOW! SA’s hottest Province and top 10 cities as well as top 5 cities per Province for the first quarter 2010! These statistics were obtained from over 1000 websites hosted and maintained by CyberAgent.

Read More

Dear CyberAgent user,

World Soccer Cup 2010. Are you ready?

It was made clear in resent articles that was placed on the web that online marketing is going to be bigger this year. With the World Soccer Cup 2010 being hosted in South Africa real estate agencies and agents don’t have to debate on whether they should or should not advertise their properties on the web. The question now is “How much should I spend on Internet marketing?” You should also ask the question on how you can make sure that the money that you are going to spend on online advertising doesn’t go to waste.

• Where did you spend your money in 2009 on Internet marketing?
  
• Did it work for you and if not why?
  
• Which Internet marketing resulted in your strongest leads?
  
• Did you spend enough on Internet marketing?

One of the biggest expense for real estate agencies and agents advertising online is usually the property portals on which they submit their properties. It should also be like this as US National Association of Realtors reported that an estimated 90% of potential buyers looked for properties online. Even in South Africa we at CyberAgent saw a dramatic increase in Internet traffic. Read what one of our CyberAgent users, Anne Porter Knight Frank, have to say about Internet Marketing. To the editor

Year-on-year we had an increase of more than 600,000 page impressions on www.cyberprop.com alone. We received a whooping 12,000 “first time” Internet enquiries for January 2010 and we now update and advertise the properties of our clients on more than 60+ websites at less than R 6.00 per website per month compare to the 40 websites of January 2009. Here at CybeAgent we are committed to give you the most for what you spend on your Internet marketing.

As a CyberAgent user take this tip today; if your competitors is not big on Internet marketing capitalize from their mistakes!

And that is what we will be focusing on this month; Internet marketing.

Read More

Dear CyberAgent user,

Dear CyberAgent user,

“South Africa property prices rising trend for 2010. According to Joina Properties, a leading Property Group focusing on South Africa and Zimbabwe in their report, South Africa 2010 – A property market perspective. Increased buyer confidence in the market will remain unchanged for about 8 to 14 months after the World Cup. The expected level of activity will however not reach the boom years of 2003 and 2007, mainly due to the current stringent lending policies by banks. Technology and the Internet will help the South Africa property market to see a significant movement towards an efficient property market with better marketing campaigns said Chipo Madusise, CEO of Sabi Digital, a leading Digital Marketing Agency in the report.”

Through our CyberAgent application for the real estate office and real estate agent we believe that we can give you the technology and Internet marketing that you need to put you one step ahead.

Technology – Our flagship product is CyberAgent. CyberAgent is an office management application for the Real Estate industry. Our CyberAgent application is a total office management system comprising of all aspects involving a real estate office, operating in the selling of property. It currently consists of 12 different modules from canvass management to property management and is available to the real estate agencies for as little as R 350 per month.

Internet marketing – CyberProp.com has become a property portal with more than 140,000 properties listed both for rental and for sale. CyberProp.com and our CyberProp.com newsletter is our community channel with the man in the street, providing them with “real time property” and industry related news. Currently we have 35,000+ subscribers for our CyberProp.com weekly newsletter. We also formed a relationship with other property websites and currently update the properties of our real estate agencies to 50+ affiliated websites.

2010! Make sure that you have the best of the best!

Click here to read more

Dear CyberAgent user,

It is clear that the South African property market is recovering. The country has seen a 40 per cent increase in property sales in the last two months. This compared to the previous equivalent period. Furthermore the Quarterly property price rises have occurred in 16 out of the 27 countries that was included in the Global Property Guide of which South African was one. Indeed good news for home owners and estate agents.

Print is steadily losing ground as the Internet becomes the number one advertising medium for estate agents, a new survey shows. The results of the just-released poll show that local or community newspapers are now the only print options that command more support than the Internet, with 54% of agents regularly placing adverts in these papers while 47% make use of online property portals to showcase their stock. What is more, 74 percent of agents now also regard their company websites as important advertising channels. “To a large extent, this sharp shift towards online advertising is a result of the property market downturn,” says Dr Willie Marais, national president of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA). Read more in Print giving way to the Web in SA real estate

Here at CyberAgent we host over 1600 property websites and can truly say that we are the experts when it comes to the designing of property websites. We strive in giving our clients the Internet presence they deserve;

• Google unveils South African maps ahead of 2010 and CyberAgent raise to the occasion!
  
• Video clips on your website
  
• Top 10 Tips for Your Agency Website

As we nearer the end of 2009 we should all be tired and looking forward for that well deserved rest in December. Here at CyberAgent the developers caught a second breath and added some superb new enhancements to our CyberAgent application. Don’t miss What’s new

Click here to read more

Dear CyberAgent user,

2009 is rapidly coming to an end, and the good news it that 2010 looks very promising for the real estate market. With banks now giving 100% bonds and the property prices ever on the rise, we have a positive market to look forward to, and you could already be seeing it!

New Support Member

We at USP would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest support member, Marius Schiferli. He has joined us last week Monday and is getting into the swing of things nicely.

So long Fanie

It is with great sadness in our hearts that we have to inform you that after 6 years of service Fanie Jordaan is leaving the service of CyberAgent. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Message from Fanie:

Dear All

I'd like to let you all know that I am leaving my position at USP Designs.

I have enjoyed my 6 years at USP Designs and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for the support and encouragement you have provided me during my time at USP Designs.

To all our (my) clients, I wish you all the best and have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. I had a great 6 years period working with you guys. Thanks for all the chats, jokes and shouting, I will miss you guys and hopefully our paths will meet again.

Even though I will miss my colleagues, clients, and the company, I am looking forward to starting a new phase of my career.

Thank you
Fanie Jordaan

Reminder

As most of you already know CyberAgent gives you a vital tool: exposure. The exposure however does not mean very much unless you put in the effort to capture the viewers attention. Here are a few vital tips to keep your listings doing just that (See the article Good Internet presentation essential to secure follow-ups when selling):

• Make sure your listing has a picture, and even then if at all possible load more than one. We do not restrict the amount of pictures, use them to their full potential.
• Make sure your notes are filled in. Do not use the notes as a one line heading for your property. Make sure you capture why any prospective buyers would want to buy the property.
• Do a complete listing. Find out all you can about the property, and capture all information possible (and if it's not possible, there is more than one way to accomodate "unusual" information. The website users are looking for an investment, give them he information they are looking for
• The main idea of the websites is to get the client interested and then in contact with you! Always bear this in mind when entering the data.

Good Luck!
The editor

Dear CyberAgent user,

Good news! Overall the real estate market is showing clear signs of improving. Hang in there! That is the advice from the experts.

The real estate industry all over the world becomes more and more competitive as the years ticks passed. Even in difficult times we will still find numerous listed agencies in operating in a specific area this making the industry not only very competitive but also challenging.

Herewith some marketing tips for our CybeAgent users;

1. Grow your web presence

The most important factor for selling homes online is getting a real estate website that will convert traffic into leads. BUT having a website is one thing, to make it work is another thing. Web presence is a combination of factors supporting each other. Here I’m referring to your website, a blog, press releases, articles and area information. When using these factors to your advantage you will reinforce your brand and be able to position yourself as an authority. We feel so strongly about your website that we don’t charge our CyberAgent users for any text information that you want us to place on your website. For more information send your email to webmaster@cyberprop.com

2. “Tune up” your direct marketing

Find out what is working for you and what not and then do more of the good and less of the bad. Add value to your message, strengthen your offer, give people something to respond to and lastly make people talk about your offering.

3. Use your software application to the fullest!

Not so many years ago estate agents was conducting business on the back of their cigarette boxes. Then came along the telephone and fax machine and now we have computers and software applications like CyberAgent which offers a strong presence on the web through websites marketing and email facilities and also offering a complete real estate office solution to the real estate agent and agencies. Our CyberAgent application consists of 12 modules that allow you to manage your agents, your clients, your properties and new developments. By using these various modules you can get maximum marketing for your listings. We feel so strongly about you using your CyberAgent application to its fullest that we don’t charge for any training at our offices. For more information send your email to support@cyberprop.com

Feedback: Rudi Visagie, the man behind the controversial Rudco home loan scheme and also the man that one of our CyberAgent users warned our CyberAgent Newsletter subscribers against, is languishing behind bars at Pollsmoor Prison. He was arrested while travelling as a passenger in the Montague area. His vehicle was found by police, abandoned on a farm road near Worcester. To read more

Click here to read more

Dear CyberAgent user,

It’s by now old news that Services Seta and the Estate Agency Affairs Board has settled their differences. However the fact that SSETA has decided to suspend its bursary programme for real estate agents working towards their RPL, NQF4 and NQF5 qualifications still remains a problem and many real estate agents are still angry.

“In short, there is currently no financial help available for existing agents who need training to obtain the new qualifications – which they are required by law to have before the end of 2011 - and many of the agents who are ready to undertake this training are now in limbo.” IEASA national president Dr Willie Marais.

Earlier this month the Reserve Bank surprises us all by cutting lending rates to its lowest in more than three years. One of the factors that was taken in consideration was the “suffering” of the real estate market. Property experts now believe that the residential market has bottomed out and busy mending. Do you agree?

It doesn’t matter if your answer is yes or no. What does matter is that it is vital that you use the right software solution for your real estate agents in your real estate office. We believe that our CyberAgent application not only combines the best technologies but also offers you a superior software package for selling your properties easily and effectively. Furthermore you are adding an edge to your real estate office that will makes it more competitive and allows you to attract the buyers that you need in today’s property market. CyberAgent consists of 11 modules and updates your properties to 50+ affiliated websites. If you are not sure how to use your application or need to know more about any of the modules email our support desk right away, support@cyberprop.com.

It’s with sadness in our hearts that we have to inform you that after 6 years of service Nolan Roets is leaving the service of CyberAgent. Our best wishes to him and his family!

Good Luck!
The editor

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dear CyberAgent user,

The following article was placed in the CyberAgent Newsletter of June 2009;

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. THE CUSTOMER'S EMAIL IS LISTED BELOW

All property information requests are sent from our Cyberagent server, if you simply reply to this email, the email will not be sent to the person who has made the request. Make sure to use the customer's correct address provided in the information request as indicated below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: CyberAgent Web Server [mailto:Server@cyberprop.com]
Sent: 04 June 2009 09:27 AM
To: xxxxxxxx
Subject: Farm (vacant land) 1200hectars and Holiday Home to sell in the Western Cape - L Properties t/a Pearl Corel 1375 CC

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. THE CUSTOMER'S EMAIL IS LISTED BELOW

Customer Message Request
Customer: Francois
Regarding your message , Raymond Rabie, I would please like to know if you would like to market my properties

This was only an example of an email and I for sure did not expect the kind of feedback that was received.

I have been working with a client (Raymond Rabie) for the last 10 months who is a scam artist. I have all the proof (Rapport). He had various dealings with Estate Agencies from the Cape to Mpumalanga. Recently he has been charged with fraud and appeared in the Wynburg Gauteng court.

Can CyberAgent or the CyberAgent users not warn all other estate agencies so they do not fall in the same trap with other scam artists? Thanks for the email Lorraine and also for the warning. I found another article that I want to share with our users. Read more in Real Estate scam - USA

Good news! The residential property market in South Africa appears to be coping with the global downturn although concerns about a rising number of foreclosures are increasing. The average price of a property in South Africa increased by 1.2% year-on-year in June, according to the latest property price index. Residential property prices in South Africa show year on year rise

Our flagship product is CyberAgent. It is an office management application for the Real Estate industry. Currently we have more than 1200 estate agencies using CyberAgent and this figure is increasing on a monthly basis. Our CyberAgent application is a total office management system comprising of all aspects involving a real estate office, operating in the selling of property. It currently consists of 11 different modules from canvass management to property management. Included into CyberAgent is a powerful website interface whereby agencies can update active properties to their own customisable websites by the click of one button as well as 50 other websites. Make sure that you are using the right software!

Good Luck!
The editor

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dear CyberAgent user,

“Bafana Bafana steals hearts”, “More than 200 doctors are fired”, but what about news for real estate agents and real estate agencies on the property front?

Hopes for an easier home loan climate - Market indications are that the banks are adopting a more accommodating approach to approving home loans. And such a change is long overdue in that the tight restrictions and unofficial moratoriums applied by banks to home loan applications have undoubtedly impacted on the property market, says Gerhard Kotzé, CEO of the ERA South Africa property group.

FNB LOAN TO VALUE CRITERIA CHANGE - FNB have notified us that with immediate effect they will consider approving loans up to a maximum ltv of 95% in cases where the purchase price of the property is R1.5m. Their previous maximum ltv in this category of purchase price was 90%. Our Loan to Value Bank Guide-lines matrix will be amended accordingly. ooba

Municipal rates to drop? - We are coming up to that time of the year when administered costs once again start stretching the rand in one’s pocket. Electricity charges will shock and, no doubt, household rates will increase once again. Municipalities around the country will be sharpening their pencils as they seek more and more income with which to cover the current boom in infrastructural spending. The race to finish developments in time for the Soccer World Cup next year will no doubt produce a rash of over-runs, budget deficits and cash flow calamities. Pam Golding Intellectual Property

THE PRECARIOUS FUTURE OF OUR SIGNBOARDS -The Institute of Estate Agents is presently engaging Nationally with the various Municipalities to save our signage. Please realize outdoor advertising has become a big “clean up Issue” in time for 2010 Soccer. If your local Institute asks you for comment on the proposed new rules, please take the trouble to answer and get involved. It is in your own interest. Our apathy about our own industry is why we have these educational unit standards that we have today. So few people bothered to comment so we are stuck with them [at least until they expire]. The Trainer by JILL CORFIELD

All Real Estate Tools are Equal.. And Pigs Can Fly! Technology has become an integral part of Real Estate over the past few years. Tools like CyberAgent have played - and will an increasing important role in the future of Real Estate. Real Estate agencies and real estate agents using a tool like CyberAgent, gain the advantages of using the latest technology to benefit their business. The real challenge is to find a software application (programme) that supports all facets of the property industry, cutting out the need to duplicate day-to-day work. CyberAgent provides answers to all the estate agent's and estate agency’s needs

"Thanks! It looks great! Went to training today, I feel the whole package is great value and very professional. Regards, Dianne"

Good Luck!
The editor

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Agent Manager - Agent Teams:

Sms function:

Property Manager:

Record order Toolbar:

The record order toolbar in the Property manager now also contains an internet no option to sort your data. This can be very useful if you print out lists of properties for your agents, so if they get an enquiry, it is easy for them to locate. To activate this feature simply open the Property Manager (It will NOT show if no module is open).

Validation errors – Warnings:

With validation errors in the Property Manager a red Warning will now be displayed just above the erf no. If all is fine it will display 0 Warnings. Should you want to know more about the warning click on the Warning button, this will then explain exactly what the validation error is e.g. no agent selected or price is invalid. You can now fix the error and save the property. The warning should then display 0 Warnings. This property will now update to the web.

View Stats:

A new button has been added on the property edit form on CyberAgent Desktop, “View Stats”. This will open up a webpage displaying all the web stats. Web stats include “Property Views” and also “Internet enquiries” received. These stats will also display the relevant website on which the property has been listed and viewed by the prospective client. Each individual property will display its own stats.

New Development Manager:

You can add in unit information as follows:

Click on the units button, click on the new button (icon of a page with a folded corner). The next two buttons and drop down list work as described above.

The new, save and delete buttons at the top will allow for the maintenance of the “Heading”.

The last section is to display a “Progress Report”. This allows for a report per date, so you can see all the progress from the first one listed. To use this, click on the new button, select a date for the report, and tick the “Display On Web” check box to show this information (this is optional). You can then type a progress note, and add in up to three pictures for the particular report. The pictures are loaded as all others in this module.

The New Development Module module has been developed to assist estate agencies to market and sell New Development properties. Up until now agencies had to contact us whereby we had to develop web pages to accommodate these new developments at a cost. These developments were also only available on the agencies website only and not on all linked websites (www.cyberprop.com, www.real-estate-south-africa.com, www.cellproperty.com to name but a few).

• Location information (Province, City and Suburb)
  
• Main note / write-up on the development
  
• Status of the development
  
• Meta keywords for search engine optimization
  
• Main picture
  
• A picture of the site plan
  
• Building specifications
  
• Progress reports including pictures
  
• Units
  
• Unit Description
  
• Selling price
  
• Square meter
  
• Bedrooms
  
• Bathrooms
  
• Garages
  
• Private Garden
  
• Other 1 and 2
  
• Estimate Levi
  
• Panoramic field to insert third party reference
  
• Unit status (e.g. Now selling)
  
• Unit notes
  
• Notes on extras
  
• Picture of the unit
  
• Floor plan of the unit
  
• Linked properties to this unit
  
• Unit number
  
• Status of unit (e.g. Sold)
  
• Link reference to the property in the Property Manager

Dear CyberAgent user,

As the first quarter GDP drops by 6.4% it was announced today that SA is now officially in recession for the 1st time in 17 years. No good news for South Africans.

I’m sure you all remember last months’ newsletter and the following questions;

Will property prices keep falling?

Feedback we received from our CyberAgent users and other property experts was that it appears that the prices of properties are indeed busy stabilising.

“We keep a close watch on the UK property market because SA selling price trends tend to be in line with theirs’, with this difference, that we have traditionally been less spendthrift and less inclined to over-borrow. The “Sunday Times” optimism ties in with what we have been saying locally for some time and it is encouraging to find that they see the end of price falls as not far off.” says Mike Greeff of Greeff Properties

Will interest rates come down this week?

Yes it did! This month we have to ask the same question as fingers are held crossed for the Reserve Bank’s Governor, Tito Mobweni to announce a further rate cut on Thursday.

Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni needs to take the proverbial bull by the horns and cut interest rates by a further 3% or more to kick start the residential property market. So says Gerhard Kotzé, CEO of the ERA South Africa property group, who believes nothing less than a courageous move in this respect will do the job of correcting the damage brought to the property market by the global credit crisis and some patent over-reaction in the banking sector. Call for Mboweni to ‘make a brave move’

How much longer will the bank remain impervious to the ongoing criticism from estate agents, homebuyers and sellers that they are wrecking the residential property industry?

Unfortunately we had no positive feedback on this question. In fact it seems that it is only going to get tougher. There has been an outcry over Standard Bank's home loan administration fee hike but it is not alone in jolting prices. An investigation by Realestateweb.co.za has found that the other big three have either increased or plan to hike their fees. It is not just Standard Bank

Am I using the right real estate software solution?

Only you can answer this question. Our CyberAgent application is a total office management system comprising of all aspects involving a real estate office and real estate agents, operating in the selling of property. It currently consists of 11 different modules from canvass management to property management. Our CyberAgent applications consists of offline and online software and can be used in conjunction with each other. In addition to our on- and offline management software we also provide website marketing of property for sale and to rent in two ways. Firstly we provide users the ability to complete on an International basis by providing them with their own state of art website and secondly by marketing their property on our list of property portals/sites (40+).

This month we take a closer look at the slide show functions that are available; slide show module in CyberAgent and our online slide show function. By using slide shows you can tell a story and stories are what most people can relate to. Read more in CyberAgent and Slide show technology

Good Luck!
The editor

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dear CyberAgent user,

“It’s all very well giving an interest cut of 1% and I realize that there are lots of unemployed people at the moment due to the recession but the property market is suffering due to the fact that the banks are not giving bonds that easily. It has made the buying or selling of property very difficult. The people to be caught in the middle are all the conveyance secretaries who have lost their jobs, and the ones who go in to work every day hoping that today is not the day they will be retrenched. There must be hundreds of us conveyance staff out of work because of these problems. I was retrenched at the end of August and jobs are certainly not easy to find. I’m now doing rentals as I was not able to obtain anything else.”

It’s not an easy time for estate agents and agencies and I don’t think I actually realised how difficult is until I received this letter from one of our readers.

“The banks’ attitude has gone from one of prudence to one of extreme reluctance. This has to change if the residential sector is to recover.” says Ivan Neethling, Chairman of the Western Cape branch of the Institute of Estate Agents.

Make sure that you use the best software, get the most value and get maximum exposure for your properties in tough times like this. As one of our users said to us last week, “I cannot see how estate agencies cannot be using CyberAgent”

CyberAgent is 10 years old! The growth of the company has been exponential in these years with over 1300 users. We now not only have one of the cheapest real estate office solutions in the market but offer by far the best real estate marketing solution you can get for your property. Development and enhancement of our software solution happens on a daily basis. Read more in What’s new

It’s with sadness in our hearts that we have to inform you that after 10 years of service Jan Vorster is leaving the service of CyberAgent. Our best wishes to him and his family!

So long and thanks for all the fish!!!

Not sure what the writer’s exact emotion was when he wrote this – but I can tell you mine: I truly am thankful for the years I spent on the support desk – it taught me so much – most of all : patience! The human element and interaction is what I’ll miss most – those dear soles who actually spoke to the person behind their solutions. I’m off to the next challenge – I wish you all well! May the Lord be with us all!
Jan Vorster

Good Luck!
The editor

CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

Dear CyberAgent user,

Still not sure how important the Internet is in real estate sales?

The California Association Of Realtors recently released their “2008 Survey of California Home Buyers”. It underscores how many real estate agents are out of touch with reality in regards to what today’s consumer wants and expects.

I can hear it now. “It doesn’t apply to me”. “Real estate is local”. “My market is different.”

You know them, they are the ones who still probably have AOL email addresses and may in fact still think that AOL is the Internet.

It’s time you as a real estate agent who wants to run a “business” wakes up and takes notice of what is REALLY going on in the industry.

Here is what the survey found:

1. 1. Home buyers expect and want real estate agents to answer the telephone or respond by email! 96 percent of Internet buyers expected a response within four hours or less…31 percent of the Internet group expected an IMMEDIATE response! You see what the consumer wants. Deliver it! Real simple. You don’t need a business coach to learn how to be accessible and answer the phone or an email!

2. The survey showed that “Traditional” buyers take as much as 10.3 weeks searching for a home and wanted to see almost twice as many homes with their agent (23.3 homes) as Internet buyers (12.7 homes). 200% more, twice the amount of work…Hello McFly!! , I ask again. Buyers are too much work? Maybe you are working with the wrong buyers!

3. 71% of the Internet buyers would use the same real estate agent again

4. Homebuyers who used the Internet in the home-buying process reported that the first Web site they visited was Google (40 percent), Hmmm, when 40% of the market is using Google to find homes just what do you think they were searching for? If you have to think too hard for the answer you may already be lost!

5. The survey found that 90 percent of buyers in the Internet group found their real estate agent using the Internet, while just 9 percent found their agent through a for-sale sign and 1 percent through an agent’s marketing materials

Ok, so what are you going to do with this information? We already know that most will discount it as it not being relevant to their endeavors. Some won’t believe it and others won’t even know how to respond. That’s fine. It’s the others out there that this is written for, that small percentage of maverick real estate agents who use contemporary data and means to actually run a real estate business. Take this data and run with it. You are and will continue to distance yourself from the pack and this survey confirms you are on the right track.

We at CyberAgent believe that currently and to the best of our knowledge, no other office management software in South Africa compares closely to the functionality and benefits within CyberAgent.

www.cyberprop.com has become a property portal with hundreds of thousands listed properties, both for rental and for sale. CyberProp and our CyberProp newsletter is our community channel with the man in the street, providing them with “real time property” and industry related news. We have tens of thousands subscribers for our CyberProp weekly newsletter.

We also formed relationships with other property websites and currently update the properties of our users to these as well as the numerous in-house websites (40+ websites) giving you the client maximum exposure!

By using CyberAgent you do not have to be ignorant anymore. Best of all, we will do the running for you!

Now if you are still not sure of the importance of the Internet do not miss the following article; Move over Obama - SA is alive with e-campaigning possibilities

Good Luck!
The editor

Dear CyberAgent user,

Still not sure how important the Internet is in real estate sales?

The California Association Of Realtors recently released their “2008 Survey of California Home Buyers”. It underscores how many real estate agents are out of touch with reality in regards to what today’s consumer wants and expects.

I can hear it now. “It doesn’t apply to me”. “Real estate is local”. “My market is different.”

You know them, they are the ones who still probably have AOL email addresses and may in fact still think that AOL is the Internet.

It’s time you as a real estate agent who wants to run a “business” wakes up and takes notice of what is REALLY going on in the industry.

Here is what the survey found:

1. 1. Home buyers expect and want real estate agents to answer the telephone or respond by email! 96 percent of Internet buyers expected a response within four hours or less…31 percent of the Internet group expected an IMMEDIATE response! You see what the consumer wants. Deliver it! Real simple. You don’t need a business coach to learn how to be accessible and answer the phone or an email!

2. The survey showed that “Traditional” buyers take as much as 10.3 weeks searching for a home and wanted to see almost twice as many homes with their agent (23.3 homes) as Internet buyers (12.7 homes). 200% more, twice the amount of work…Hello McFly!! , I ask again. Buyers are too much work? Maybe you are working with the wrong buyers!

3. 71% of the Internet buyers would use the same real estate agent again

4. Homebuyers who used the Internet in the home-buying process reported that the first Web site they visited was Google (40 percent), Hmmm, when 40% of the market is using Google to find homes just what do you think they were searching for? If you have to think too hard for the answer you may already be lost!

5. The survey found that 90 percent of buyers in the Internet group found their real estate agent using the Internet, while just 9 percent found their agent through a for-sale sign and 1 percent through an agent’s marketing materials

Ok, so what are you going to do with this information? We already know that most will discount it as it not being relevant to their endeavors. Some won’t believe it and others won’t even know how to respond. That’s fine. It’s the others out there that this is written for, that small percentage of maverick real estate agents who use contemporary data and means to actually run a real estate business. Take this data and run with it. You are and will continue to distance yourself from the pack and this survey confirms you are on the right track.

We at CyberAgent believe that currently and to the best of our knowledge, no other office management software in South Africa compares closely to the functionality and benefits within CyberAgent.

www.cyberprop.com has become a property portal with hundreds of thousands listed properties, both for rental and for sale. CyberProp and our CyberProp newsletter is our community channel with the man in the street, providing them with “real time property” and industry related news. We have tens of thousands subscribers for our CyberProp weekly newsletter.

We also formed relationships with other property websites and currently update the properties of our users to these as well as the numerous in-house websites (40+ websites) giving you the client maximum exposure!

By using CyberAgent you do not have to be ignorant anymore. Best of all, we will do the running for you!

Now if you are still not sure of the importance of the Internet do not miss the following article; Move over Obama - SA is alive with e-campaigning possibilities

Good Luck!
The editor

Dear CyberAgent user,

2008! A warm welcome back to all our CyberAgent users and readers! We trust that you all had a wonderful festive season.

They say that Christmas comes only once a year. Not here at USP Designs. While most of you were on holiday we kept on going making sure that we offer the best service and opportunities to all our clients through our CyberAgent application.

My new year gift to you; 5 tips that you can take with you in 2008.

Tip 1 - Tell a story with words
What you say about the property is the most importing factor. Capture the buyers imagination first time. Think “Perfect outside space for a sunset braai with your friends” rather than “South facing terrace”

Tip 2 - Tell a story with pictures
What you photograph must enhance the story told by your words. Picture a photograph of a dining room with the dining room table set for a meal ready to eat. Do you like this? Now compare this with an empty table with a dog in the back ground. Do not laugh! We see this on a daily basis

Tip 3 - Talk their language
60% of Internet browsers visiting our websites are International visitors. Speak their language. You cannot communicate with them in Afrikaans

Tip 4 - Inform them
What is nearby is important. A map is excellent but it does not tell you everything. Location.. location.. Location! Many decisions and choices made by a buyer are about the location of the property and not about the property itself

Tip 5 -Keep up to date!
The Internet plays a vital tool. It has turned property advertising on it’s head. Print and magazine advertising no longer work as well as what it worked years ago. Online techniques and applications also change. Make sure that you keep up to date and have a good understanding of what your service provider offers.

And the best gift al all; your properties are now updating to 20 websites! Is there Estate Agencies and Estate Agents that can afford not to say YES to CyberAgent.

Greetings!
The editor

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