Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa July/August 2019 | Page 49

TECHNOLOGY New global free listing property portal to launch Enabling agencies to target international buyers and reduce their overheads with free property listings R eal Estate agents across the country will be provided Residential People are both free to list global property portal aid with the implementation of two up-and-coming helps to eliminate some of the expenses agencies face.” property portals, Commercial People & Residential Since their launch, Residential People has found that a People as it will provide free listings and international growing number of searches on its United Kingdom site coverage. originate from prospective overseas buyers looking to relocate Residential People and its commercial property equivalent, to South Africa or investors eager to enter the market. This Commercial people are currently operating operates across figure has been replicated across the South African market as South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates well, with a particular interest in Johannesburg and Cape Town. and Nigeria. Each property portal is uniquely positioned to May points out the biggest strength of the company. “One attract both local and overseas buyers of our key selling points is that we along with investors interested in international. It is a fact that One of our key selling points are purchasing property across SA. thousands of properties in certain is that we are international. areas – especially commercial As an emerging prop-tech company it operates two property portals focusing It is a fact that thousands of and newly built apartments are on commercial & residential property. not being bought by locals but properties in certain areas international buyers. It the UAE, for It is the world’s first global free to list property portal for both commercial and – especially commercial and example, after only a few months, residential agents. we have a 75% market share of all newly built apartments are properties.” The ‘free to list portals’ will also launch across France, Germany, China and not being bought by locals but Commercial People offers a other key markets in 2019. The concept global reach, allowing local estate international buyers. It the UAE, of online free list portals is threatening agents to tap into the growing for example, after only a few foreign investment sector across to disrupt the Property24 and Private Property duopoly as it offers supports for months, we have a 75% market the country. This will also increase agents across the country struggling to exposure on their listings for free share of all properties. pay the high costs of membership with a to potential customers in the UK, radical ‘free to list’ solution. expats across the UAE and soon Since their launch, both Commercial China. & Residential People have attracted some of the biggest “We want to make it abundantly clear that our aim is to work names across the property sector including, Broll, Cape Coastal with agents and build an alternative to some of the portals that Homes, Chas Everitt and more. exist today. While we understand that international attention Commercial & Residential People Co-Director, Christopher doesn’t appeal to every South African agent, our nationwide May explains that the company is targeting both emerging coverage can ensure increased exposure for the local market and established markets. as well,” said May “Alongside South Africa, we are currently operating across May is hopeful that the new platform will provide a space for the UK, UAE and India, and despite our brand infancy, we are estate agents to make revenue and reach a range of potential well on the way to being one of the biggest portals in the UAE buyers. “With agents’ support, we are hoping to disrupt the and on the way to becoming one of the largest in India as well,” status quo and give agents an alternative to the current he said. duopoly.” May adds that it will provide some relief to estate agents. For more information, contact: [email protected] “Our USP is simple. Every agent we’ve spoken to is concerned RESOURCES Commercial People about the rising costs of property portals; Commercial & SA Real Estate Investor Magazine JULY/AUGUST 2019 47