Business / Companies
SA property group expands into Zimbabwe, sets up property franchise
15 Nov 2011 at 14:06hrs | Views
The Rawson Property Group's expansion programme has taken a quantum leap forward with the establishment of their first franchise beyond South Africa's borders.
Tony Clarke, managing director of Rawson Properties has signed an agreement with RM-Africa Property Consultants of Harare to set up a residential property franchise in Zimbabwe.
RM-Africa, which was founded in 2006, is a well-established property sales and marketing group that sells approximately 120 homes per annum, most of which are in or around Harare.
Richard Matengambiri, RM-Africa's Managing Director, said that it might surprise South Africans to learn that the Harare property market is very active and performing satisfactorily.
He says the very limited building of the last two decades has resulted in strong demand for existing stock.
He says currently, they are employing seven estate agents and expect to take on a further three next year.
Rawson Properties is not the only South African property company now represented in Zimbabwe.
Most of South Africa's big name national firms and at least one international property firm, Knight Frank, are already there and generally doing well, he says.
The RM-Africa directors came to Rawson Properties because they had read "Fast Forward Your Retirement Through Property", a book by Jason Lee, who is now in charge of Rawson's commercial franchising division operation.
They found Lee's details via LinkedIn, made contact and then took a plane to Cape Town with an open-ended return date.
Matengambiri says they were determined not to return home without a franchise.
Once in Cape Town, they dealt initially with Lee, who helped them to stitch together a deal.
Simon Bere, marketing strategist for RM-Africa, says they wanted the franchise because its 'brand power' would appeal to Zimbabweans and be of great benefit to them, ensuring them of a higher profile, increased customer confidence and more referrals.
We were also attracted by the Rawson administrative systems, many of them computerised, which would simplify and make efficient all aspects of our work, says Bere.
Matengambiri has been in property most of his working life, has a degree in town planning and a diploma in property valuation and marketing. He is fully qualified in terms of the Zimbabwe estate agency rulings for agents and principals.
Bere is a qualified agency principal and has been marketing and business consultant for close on 20 years with international training and experience explains Lee.
Clarke says that if things go to plan Rawson Properties will use this breakthrough into Zimbabwe to establish a network of franchises in other African countries, especially those now showing strong growth potential.
Rawsons is also looking to establish a commercial franchise division there, once the residential franchise has gained come traction.
Clarke reveals recently that the number of franchises established by the group has now risen to above 150. The goal is to have 300 up and running by the end of 2015.
Tony Clarke, managing director of Rawson Properties has signed an agreement with RM-Africa Property Consultants of Harare to set up a residential property franchise in Zimbabwe.
RM-Africa, which was founded in 2006, is a well-established property sales and marketing group that sells approximately 120 homes per annum, most of which are in or around Harare.
Richard Matengambiri, RM-Africa's Managing Director, said that it might surprise South Africans to learn that the Harare property market is very active and performing satisfactorily.
He says the very limited building of the last two decades has resulted in strong demand for existing stock.
He says currently, they are employing seven estate agents and expect to take on a further three next year.
Rawson Properties is not the only South African property company now represented in Zimbabwe.
Most of South Africa's big name national firms and at least one international property firm, Knight Frank, are already there and generally doing well, he says.
The RM-Africa directors came to Rawson Properties because they had read "Fast Forward Your Retirement Through Property", a book by Jason Lee, who is now in charge of Rawson's commercial franchising division operation.
Matengambiri says they were determined not to return home without a franchise.
Once in Cape Town, they dealt initially with Lee, who helped them to stitch together a deal.
Simon Bere, marketing strategist for RM-Africa, says they wanted the franchise because its 'brand power' would appeal to Zimbabweans and be of great benefit to them, ensuring them of a higher profile, increased customer confidence and more referrals.
We were also attracted by the Rawson administrative systems, many of them computerised, which would simplify and make efficient all aspects of our work, says Bere.
Matengambiri has been in property most of his working life, has a degree in town planning and a diploma in property valuation and marketing. He is fully qualified in terms of the Zimbabwe estate agency rulings for agents and principals.
Bere is a qualified agency principal and has been marketing and business consultant for close on 20 years with international training and experience explains Lee.
Clarke says that if things go to plan Rawson Properties will use this breakthrough into Zimbabwe to establish a network of franchises in other African countries, especially those now showing strong growth potential.
Rawsons is also looking to establish a commercial franchise division there, once the residential franchise has gained come traction.
Clarke reveals recently that the number of franchises established by the group has now risen to above 150. The goal is to have 300 up and running by the end of 2015.
Source - www.property24.com
