Why use The Penthouse

Many years of Real Estate sales and negotiation have taught us that buying property is not an exact science, and circumstances will vary from one transaction to the next - so we would like you to feel comfortable and secure when doing business with us. Keeping this in mind, we would like to share our three basic principles with you:

We Believe ... that each buyer is an Individual and therefore different:
You have your own needs and circumstances and we are there to assist in finding the perfect property just for you.

We Understand ... that investing your money in property is an important decision-making process:
Therefore we will carefully assess your needs and requirements, making it easy for you to have a clear picture of the property best suited to your lifestyle.

We Recommend ... that you take the time to decide what kind of home would suit your needs:

• Think about security, the size of your furniture, suitability for medical conditions, and so on.
• You should also consider the location in terms of travelling distance to work, schools and shops.
• Find out about affordability of the neighborhood, schools, rates and taxes, levies and other hidden expenses.
• Remember that buying property is a commercial transaction and therefore you need to be involved with the whole process, from beginning to the end.
  

Buying a New Property - Be clued up

• If you need to sell your current property, in order to buy another, it may be a good idea to put your property on the market first. Contact us for advice on a suitable market related selling price - we will do a professional property valuation for your area.
• Do a comprehensive budgeting exercise to see how much you can afford for monthly repayments.
• It wouldn’t hurt to get a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus - just to check in case there are errors or matters that need to be adjusted. It is advisable to sort out problems in this department before you apply for a new home loan.
• Make sure all your tax-affairs are in order. If not, your new property will not register in your name if you have any outstanding SARS matters. It would be a good idea to make a pit-stop at one of the SARS offices and ask for a Tax Clearance Certificate - that way you know for certain that your new property registration will run smoothly.

The task of an Estate Agent

Many people are uninformed or unsure about the role of the Estate Agent. Below are the most critical points to consider:

• The estate agent is the link between a buyer and a seller, who will negotiate an Agreement of Terms acceptable to both parties.
• An Offer to Purchase is drafted by the estate agent, which must be signed by the buyer, seller and estate agent.
• For his service, the estate agent charges a fee or commission, which is paid by the seller.
• The commission is usually calculated as a percentage of the selling price.
  

Generally, an Estate Agent’s client is the seller of a property.

The Estate Agent’s function is to introduce a willing and able buyer to the client’s property and to guide the prospective buyer through the process by:

• Qualifying the buyer - i.e. obtaining information about the buyer in order to introduce them to the correct property
• Show the buyer selected properties most suitable to their buying needs
• Maintaining contact with the prospective buyer
• Assist the buyer to make an offer to purchase
• Assist the buyer to obtain finance
• Continued after-sales service and follow ups
• Complying at all times with the legal and ethical obligations owed to a buyer, regulated by the Estate Agency Affairs Board
  

Benefits of using an Estate Agent

• An estate agent will know how to deal with the legal, financial and marketing issues in the appropriate manner.
• The estate agent will also have knowledge of different sales techniques, financing alternatives, valuation methods, construction practices and relevant property laws and regulations.
• They will be familiar with the local property market, understand consumer behavior and be able to communicate with people at different levels.
• The estate agent will protect the interest of his client to the best of his ability with due regard to the interest of all other parties concerned.
• Estate Agents are registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board and governed by a Code of Conduct; Common Law, as well as certain provisions of the Estate Agency Affairs Act, which are enforceable by means of disciplinary action by the Estate Agency Affairs Board.

For Us - It’s all About Results!