Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa June 2016 | Page 24

SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP ESTATE AGENTS

Top House Selling Tips

From SA’s best estate agents
Ellmarie Spencer
UMHLANGA/ DURBAN COAST

Career Overview

I spent many years in the Timeshare industry and
was a director for Monteith Fairchild and Ass. We
had offices all over SA and my portfolio was sales
and marketing. At this stage I changed direction
and became a developer, which included a number of
individual houses that I purchased and upgraded to
flip.
I built 2 complexes in Sunningdale - Palms Royale
(35 units) and Villa Royale (14 units)
My next 2 developments were on the beach in Ballito
- Dolphin Bay and Dolphin Cove ( both 8 units). Pam
Golding Umhlanga then approached me to work with
developers and I started March 2003.

Briefly describe your first property
investment

When we moved to Umhlanga, some 30 years ago,
we bought our first home in Glen Anil for R96 000
and sold it 3 years later for R145 000. We carried
out some upgrading, but the return on our initial
investment was great and it allowed us to invest in
prime uMhlanga.
This time we decided to buy the right location and
a sea view.

What has been your most significant
property deal and what insights can you
share from the experience?

We bought Mendoza Drive for R265 000 in about
1987/8 and lived there for 26 years.
We changed the property from a basic 2 lounges, 3
bedrooms, 2 bathroom double garage with the pool
at the back of the house, to a home with 4 lounges,
dining room, open plan kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 4
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JUNE 2016 SA Real Estate Investor

bathrooms, study, 5 garages and a bar area leading
onto a new pool with a sea view! We sold this property
for R5.4 million in 2012. I now reside in a penthouse
at The Grand Floridian and love my home.

Always buy in the best area
that you can afford…it is easy
to change and upgrade a new
kitchen, bathroom and pool.
You can however never change
the position of a property!
What opportunities do you foresee in your
sector/industry in the coming year

My perception of the property industry in Durban
for the next year is moderate growth in the lower end
of the market, higher demand for sectional title and
gated estates.
The move to the North will continue and there will
be more shopping centre and schools coming into the
uMhlanga, Sibaya precinct.

TOP FIVE TIPS FOR THOSE
SELLING THEIR HOUSE
1 Ensure that your property is in tiptop condition.
2 Paint if needed to achieve a better price.
3 Clean your garden, driveway and plant annuals for some
colour.
4 De-clutter and place nice new scatter cushions everywhere.
5 Price your property correctly.
www.reimag.co.za