TECHNOLOGY
Top 3 Takeaways
TECHNOLOGY
Top 3 Takeaways
• Most buyers overpay by 7- 12 % due to emotional decision-making.
• Deal Score shows if a property is overpriced, instantly, for only R89.
• Back your offer with data, not just gut feel or agent talk.
Why every SA property decision deserves a Deal Score and how R89 could save you R150,000.
The Problem: Buying Blind
You wouldn’ t buy a car without checking its service history. Yet many South Africans still guess when buying a R2 million home, relying on gut feel or estate agent persuasion.
The Result: Overspending
The average buyer overspends by 7- 12 %, often paying R150,000 or more above the property’ s true market value.
The Hidden Cost of Emotion
Buying a home is emotional purchase, and sellers( and their agents) know it. Homes are staged to create urgency and FOMO, nudging buyers to act fast and overcommit. That urgency leads to overpaying.
A Real Story
• Thabo, a first-time buyer in Joburg, fell for a R1.9 million show house.
• The agent whispered,“ Another buyer’ s interested,” so Thabo made a full offer on the spot.
• Later, he discovered similar homes sold for R1.7 million.
• Thabo overpaid by R200,000, plus added years of unnecessary interest and fees to his bond.
48 REI MAGAZINE JULY 2025