A passion for people, a strong sense of discipline and a sound knowledge of the West Rand property market are proving a powerful combination for the FIRZT Property Group’s newest sales team.
Michelle Diamond and Chanita Pretorius joined the group just a few weeks ago, bringing with them considerable property experience and a shared commitment to building their business across an area stretching from Roodekrans and Helderkruin through Wilro Park, Kloofendal and Constantia Kloof to Florida and Horizon.
The partnership has already made an impressive start, with three sales concluded and a further 10 mandates secured.
For Michelle, becoming an estate agent was something of a career change, although her background in martial arts has given her many of the qualities needed to succeed in property. She has owned and run her own judo dojo since 2003, developing several athletes who have gone on to become international champions, Springboks and black belts.
When COVID disrupted normal life in 2020, Michelle decided to use the time to pursue another long-held interest. She completed her candidate agent logbook and then passed the PDE examination at NQF5 level.
“The discipline and time management I have learnt through judo has definitely helped me in property,” she says. “You have to be committed, you have to listen, and you have to stay calm and keep going even when things don't happen immediately.”
Chanita brings a complementary set of skills to the partnership, with a degree in marketing and an NQF4 exemption, and together, the two are focusing on developing strong relationships with home buyers and sellers throughout their territory.
One of the reasons they chose to join FIRZT was the exceptional level of support available to its agents. "We were particularly impressed by this," says Michelle, "and it was one of the main reasons we decided to make the move from the agency where we worked before."
Their territory encompasses a diverse residential market, with properties ranging from around R1,5m for an older family home in areas such as Horizon to approximately R3,2m at the upper end of the market in Helderkruin.
Michelle says around 30% of their buyers are first-time purchasers, while young families are also an important part of the market, with Kloofendal currently proving particularly popular with this demographic.
Another notable trend is the growing demand from extended families. In Helderkruin, for example, the team is seeing families looking for homes that can accommodate grandparents or sometimes aunts, uncles and cousins alongside the immediate family.
The main drawcards for buyers in this part of the West Rand, she says, are good schools and medical facilities, convenient retail centres, and a peaceful suburban atmosphere, as well as value-for-money homes.
However, it is a market where the team's local knowledge matters - and where the combination of Michelle’s people-centered approach, discipline and determination, and Chanita’s marketing expertise is already beginning to make an impact.
For FIRZT, the new team adds another strong presence on the West Rand, with early results suggesting that this particular partnership could have a very promising future.
