FURTHER EXPANSION AT ALEXANDER SWART PROPERTY MAKES RECRUITMENT-AND TRAINING- OF STAFF ESSENTIAL

At a time when many Cape estate agencies are consolidating and reducing staff numbers, Alexander Swart Property have announced that they will be expanding their staff, especially in key operational areas such as Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Durbanville.

Discussing this with members of the property press, Rowan Alexander, Director of Alexander Swart, said that since breaking away from a major property group (where his team was the leading franchise) three years ago, he and Andre Swart have worked hard to establish their brand and image and to win the trust of the general public. They had set out to achieve maximum exposure for their company in all the relevant media and have striven to gain recognition as an agency committed to their clients' interests. This had called for intensive, ongoing training of all agents, which will continue in 2020. Alexander Swart are now looking to appoint a full-time training manager who will not only run regular courses for the staff but also mentor those new to estate agency work, looking to become fully qualified within two years (as is required by the Estate Agency Affairs Board).

Proof that Alexander Swart's training does bear fruit and is valuable, is the five current top performing agents in the company who all started their careers with Alexander Swart and were trained by them only. "I believe we have shown conclusively that we know how to educate, motivate and bring out the best in an agent and to make him or her successful. Furthermore, we have shown that no previous experience in property is required.  We actually like starting from scratch with a new recruit as there is then no need to eradicate bad habits and practices.

"The back-up of Alexander Swart management helps agents to perform to their full potential. The company has created a platform for agents by maintaining a high profile, marketing itself consistently and continually canvassing for new stock. This opens up opportunities which many other agencies do not provide. Management has also made a point of being available to all staff at almost all times, especially when they experience problems in their work or elsewhere.

"Alexander Swart's management have all been at the coalface themselves and have had to deal with most of the difficulties that agents encounter. Ours' is a hands on management style. We are involved day in and day out in the business and the agents recognise and appreciate this. Once we find a good trainer he or she will assist with this but management will always be there for staff."

Agents who feel that they are not reaching their potential or that their management is not sufficiently supportive, are encouraged to consider advantages of joining Alexander Swart, a group which increased its turnover by 50 to 60 % last year and is confident that it will have a similar success story to tell by the end of this year. "Our campaign to find new staff is not an advertising gimmick; we genuinely need more good people to enable us to meet our expansion targets," he said.

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