TECHNOLOGY
NATALIE VAN ZYL
Founder and CEO of On- ShowThisWeek . com . A property portal and mobile app that allows users to search for Show Days from around the country , 7 days a week . Natalie has always had a passion for real estate , buying her first property at 23 , and a further 2 properties by the time she was 28 . She comes from a finance and admin background and , has never been an estate agent herself , but is now on a mission to make the buying , selling , investing and renting of property in SA , a much simpler process
IN SHORT
Q How do you think the technological revolution worldwide will impact your company over the next five years ?
A Being a digital company , we strive to stay as innovative as possible at all times . We believe we are leading the way in providing people with new technology to help them find properties , anywhere in the country , in a faster and more simplified way . As technology improves and becomes more frequently used , this can only positively impact our company as well as our service offerings , so we are excited for the future and what it will bring .
Q What are some of the things you look for when buying a property ?
A Bring in a professional and ask them to check for roof leaks , damp and structural cracks before putting in an offer – this doesn ’ t cost much , but can save you thousands in the long run .
I have had instances where the COC certificates I was given weren ’ t valid , so make sure the seller uses a reputable company for their electrical COC , etc .
Ask the seller or estate agent to get you a copy of the plans from the municipal deeds office . Often , the plans need to be updated and if not done , this cost could fall on you when you decide to sell .
Make sure that you know your numbers , have done all the calculations and that the investment makes financial sense .
navigate straight to the show days using our new navigation function .” Van Zyl ’ s own frustrations regarding show houses - and the clumsy system that accompanies it - is what prompted her to start the company in the first place : “ I was a buyer on the South African property market in 2016 and found it almost impossible to find accurate and up-to-date information on which properties would be on show each week . We looked in newspapers , magazines , searched on different portals and spent hours driving around following pointer boards .”
The advantages of technology
It ’ s become clear , over the past few years , that the real estate industry can only improve through technology . When asked about the speculation regarding estate agents ’ futility in the near future , Van Zyl is clear : “ Selling a property is complicated and the paperwork and legal understanding required can be overwhelming . The selling process also takes time , effort and sales know-how - things the estate agents are trained in . Estate agents also know the market and the behaviours of the current buyers .” Furthermore , she explains that in an unhealthy , sluggish market , an estate agent who makes use of technology can help to secure a sale at a faster rate - and at a better price .
But , she explains , “ If estate agents don ' t adapt and embrace the latest property technology trends , they face being replaced by technology or losing potential business to agents who do . Digital reports from tech companies can be used to pull valuable information on a property , and can bring the property to a larger audience .”
Van Zyl explains that her mission is to simplify the process of buying and selling property to all role-players . Investors are given access to a dedicated Investment Properties Tab , where they only need to input selected areas and a price range . The system then displays those properties that are of interest , such as vacant land , apartments , and homes with additional rental income .
Those selling a property gain much-needed exposure through the platform . Not only is the property listed on the portal itself , but also marketed through social media . By targeting advertising to relevant viewers , Van Zyl explains that they “ are able to make sure that the property is seen by hundreds of the right buyers , helping them get better exposure .”
After a show day , visitors are able to rate and review both the property and the service from the agent . This is placed in a detailed report that indicates important data such as the amount of visitors on a show day , comments regarding the property ’ s state or price , and other information that can assist in a quick sell .
Knowing how important time is in the process of selling , the platform also allows you to indicate whether or not you ’ ll be attending a show house , giving the seller an idea of initial interest in the property . Users are also notified of any last-minute changes or cancellations to showings . The platform is updated in real time , explains Van Zyl : “ Our platform and marketing strategies allow us to list a show day anywhere in South Africa within minutes . We have no cutoff times to submit or cancel a show day , meaning our information is always up to date . We also double check every show day we list , as an extra step to ensure our info is always accurate .”