Click On Properties
Property Investments in George

Click On Properties - The D.I.Y Property Specialists for the past 15 years.

By making wrong decisions, this could also be the most stressful or dreadful investment. The modern trend is by advertising on the internet and having world wide exposure. With such a drastic trend it is surprising that real estate agents and home owners still use newspapers to advertise their property. Why would anybody spend so much on a form of advertising that is so short lived? Do people really think newspaper advertising is such an effective advertising medium and worth the money spent? The majority of residential properties in South Africa are sold under a sole agency agreement. In fact, the reverse is true, as no agent likes to spend time and money on a property they might not sell. A competent, self respecting agent would rather list a few properties exclusively than taking a hundred open listings. With a Sole Mandate, the agent and the agency are contractually bound to spend all their efforts to market the home within a set period of time laid out in the Sole Mandate agreement. Sole Agents spend more time working exclusively on the said property, putting in more energy into the marketing of a home where they know the responsibility of getting the home sold lies with them. The Act makes South African consumers some of the most protected in the world. The intention of the legislature is to define and enforce a set of fundamental consumer rights, as well as to regulate business names and industry codes of conduct. Gilmour notes that in terms of Section 55 of the CPA, every consumer has a right to receive goods that are suitable for the purpose for which they are bought and free of defects. He explains that the exception to the aforesaid is if a consumer has been expressly informed that the goods were offered in a specific condition and has accepted goods in that condition. The CPA is limited to transactions that are concluded as part of the regular business of sellers, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers. However, pertaining to the real estate industry, if the supplier of the home is a developer or builder, and defects become evident after the sale, they will be held responsible. Gilmour recommends that agents ensure that, before the sale, any clients (sellers) compile a list of all the defects with their property that they are aware of, and that they make sure that prospective buyers are aware of these. Gilmour believes that the Act is still very new, and expects that, as with the implementation of anything new, it will take some getting used to and some adjustments will need to occur to iron out any issues as they rise. Buying property privately has never been easier than now! The area where you live will be at least as important as the property itself. It is therefore advisable to purchase a smaller property in a better area. By researching the real estate market in a particular area you will be much better informed on property values. Large tracts of vacant adjoining land can attract vagrants and squatters. If a property has been renovated recently you might wish to see the approved plans, or ask the seller if there are any illegal structures that have not been approved. Ask if there are any defects in the property that are not visible, as the seller is obliged to tell you. Look carefully for damp spots or moisture as this may indicate a leak or rising damp. New carpets, bathrooms and kitchens can be signs of a superficial renovation that is hiding more serious work to be done. If you have young children or elderly people living with you, you might wish to avoid stairs.