Mass Exodus?

It was reported (on page 9 of Cape Argus on May 10, 2008) that Bill Rawson, chairperson of Rawson Properties, has taken issue with at least four estate agency leaders regarding their public statements on the so-called mass exodus of agents from the industry.

He says almost all the statements he has seen have been irresponsible and have been based on unreliable figures or, in some cases, on pure speculation.

"It may be that the drastic loss of agents from the industry quoted by some reflects the situation in their own companies, but that scenario is not supported by the only reliable source of statistics on this matter, the Estate Agency Affairs Board," he said.

It was reported that Rawson says the EAAB's "commendable and highly factual" advertisement in the Sunday Times that set out the problems the board is encountering and the mistakes agents make in their efforts to register, reveals that 42 868 agents are registered with the EAAB.

To this figure, he says, could be added anything up to 20 000 other agents who in many cases have paid their deposits to the board (R9-million received payments have still to be allocated) but who have not yet received their certificates.

"There are a host of reasons for the delays in registration," says Rawson. "In some instances the postal services have let the board down badly. In others the board itself has accepted that it has fallen behind. Then again it has to be realised that the application or renewal systems are complicated."

Rawson says the EAAB will have to catch up with the latest technologies and introduce web-based initial applications and renewal debit payments, and he has no doubt the vast majority of estate agents will welcome this.

"The temporary difficulties outlined so pertinently by the EAAB should not, however, obscure the fact that the board is working hard to remedy the registration crisis and has employed extra staff for this purpose.

I (the author of this site) believe that these problems will be vastly eclipsed by the new qulification requirements being itroduced. If they (EAAB) do dot improve their systems December 2011 will leave the industry in a shambles

Rawson furthersr said "The difficulties should also not make us forget that the industry has held on to 60 000 agents, most of whom are perfectly capable of riding out the current slowdown and have no intention of leaving. I estimate that right now for every three agents leaving the profession a further two are joining it. The 'exodus' is, in my view, a massive exaggeration. It is not taking place.

"The new franchise model adopted by many big agencies is attracting a more qualified and competent type of applicant to the industry than has ever been seen before. Property marketing is now regarded by many as a challenging, worthwhile career suited to those with an entrepreneurial spirit."

SHARE YOUR VIEWS - Is there an exodus? Have the numbers of practicing agents been reduced by the tightening of the market?

This article was originally published on page 9 of Cape Argus on May 10, 2008