IEASA - National Conference

You should have been there.

Even if it was only to hear Dr. Willie Marais, current Chairman if the Institute, give the 250 odd delegates a run down on the state of the profession.

He gave a broad brush of the activities as it relates to the S.A. Real Estate Proffession's relationships, alliances and bonds - Regionally, Nationally and Internationally.

A prticular highlight was in the area of corporate governance where Kate Colsell's persistence resulted in an updated Board Charter and Regional Operations Manual. This together with a strengthened regional structure should ensure good governance and play the vital role on municipal and local level protecting the rights of agents.

On an International Level Dr Marais praised the work of his predecessor Bill Rawson that laid the groundwerk to an improved relationship and Liason with the NAR.

Nancy Macaluso and Tony Macaluso (together with a video message Norman Flynn of the IRPF) interspersed the talk to outline some of the commercial and educational benefits of an international bond between the organisations.

On a little discordant note Dr Marais alluded to the impact that the OFO (Organising Framework of Occupations) is going to have on the implementation of the newly promulgated regulations - he believes that it was somewhat premature to have done it now when the systems to deal with them have not been put in place in the right sequence and forethought. In the same vein he regretted the less than optimal relationship that exist btween the EAAB and the profession.

Many other points were eloquently touched upon - the relationship with SAPOA, SAFRE and other professional bodies; the positive relationships with financial institutions (ABSA, Bond Choice); the relationship with the Services SETA; the Property Charter Council and so on.

My view is that while Unity is Strength, we still have too few members to really be the force to be reckoned with to keep the burocrats at bay and have a thriving profession (and a resultant vibrant propertry industry).

Let us get together.

Charl Heydenrych
2 September 2008

Who's to blame?

The Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) has denied accusations from the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa that the board is incompetent. The issue is that estate agents are operating without certificates and they reckon that the board has failed to issue them.

It is law that agents must have a fidelity fund certificate to be able to practice legally. CEO of the EAAB, Nomonde Mapetla, said (according to an article on the SABC website) that the fault lies squarely at the door of the estate agents. “It is their duty in terms of the law to ensure that they get these certificates...that they make the necessary submissions even at the end of their financial year to ensure that they don't get blocked...those that are blocked have not submitted their audited trust accounts. Last year we did inspections for the first time in 30 years and were able to discover this and therefore started blocking people...”

The SABC site also mentions that the President of the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa, Willie Marais, said the board was inefficient.

My focus is on the new Qualification requirements - Let us all work in a way that will ensure that we do not have a similar crisis when the deadline arrives!

Take action now and avoid the inevitable crunch that I predict will happen - thousands of agents not having the fidelity certificates because of ... Who will be to blame?!