Despite the Coronavirus its business as "(un)usual" at Alexander Swart Property.

Every major estate agency in South Africa has taken steps to ensure that business continues as smoothly and as easily as usual, despite the threat of the Coronavirus but Rowan Alexander, Director of Alexander Swart Property says history may show that his team acted more swiftly and across a broader scope than most others.

"Our business depends on interaction with buyers, sellers and tenants of residential property to a large degree. The challenge we had to face was how to maintain this when face-to-face contact would be irresponsible and possibly illegal. We are confident we can meet and overcome this challenge. As we see matters, there is no need for the gloom and pessimism that have overtaken some in our sector. Many people are as keen as ever to sell, buy or rent homes. The huge reduction in interest rates, with more to follow, make this an ideal time to act: we simply have to show clients how this can be done without putting themselves or anyone else at risk."

Alexander said that all staff-and most client meetings are now being done via a sophisticated online infrastructure. "It is now possible for us to make greater use of the online services we have been developing over the last few years. Potential clients can view professional photographs of both the interiors and exteriors of any home on our books online. In most cases they can also be given a virtual tour through the home. This enables them to get a comprehensive picture of the entire property and to sign an agreement of sale remotely, subject to confirmation or cancellation on viewing the home after the lockdown has run its course."

In the same way his agents, after viewing photos online and asking the potential seller some questions via an interactive online service, are able to give the potential seller a fairly accurate home valuation - again possibly subject to seeing the home once the lockdown has ended. "We do not anticipate having to make major reassessments once the home is seen in reality," said Alexander. "The great advantage of being genuine area specific experts is that we know, almost street by street, exactly the value of homes in our areas on the current market - which is not as yet too seriously affected by SA's economic problems."

Those currently approaching Alexander Swart are quite often looking at arranging refinancing of their bonds in one way or another; a sign of the times. As on conventional sales, Alexander Swart is also able to assist because they have their own in-house bond advisory and application service.

"What we have encountered in some quarters, is a feeling that things should be put on hold until the crisis is past. Now is however a good time to sell because today's buyers are serious and often in a hurry. The dilettante attitude of yesteryear, when people spent some of their leisure time "just  looking," is a thing of the past; today's buyers want to do business. Now is a particularly good time to buy because the recent drop in the repo rate makes interest rates the most lenient we have seen in a decade. Further good news is that, if you deal with an Alexander Swart agent, you will be in the hands of a person who has been fully informed on how to protect you and your family. As in every South African crisis, much unjustified negative news has been disseminated, especially through social media. We at this agency are not intimidated and fully confident that we are ahead of the curve and can overcome the challenges the industry faces."

For further information, please contact Rowan Alexander on 082 581 3116 or by email : rowan@asproperty.co.za