‘E-marketing becoming vital’

Among the older generation there was for some time a definite reluctance to get to grips with the internet and to maximise its potential – but this has almost entirely disappeared now that the power of this medium has made itself felt.

This was said recently by Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank (APKF).

“None of us, I suspect, realised just how effective websites and internet exposure would be, but there is now clear evidence that e-marketing will increasingly generate sales.”

At APKF, she said, the number of internet referrals has increased by some 55% since January 2009 – “a remarkable upswing”.

Steward said that the main internet enquirers are young people who have grown up in the electronic/digital era. It is, she said, a great help to her staff to be approached initially via the internet because the potential client will usually have set out his area, price and other preferences in writing at the outset, thereby giving the agents a chance to understand and prepare for their visit.

Steward said overseas referrals, particularly those from the UK, have been on the increase and these clients have often had substantial sums of money to invest.

“I find it heartening that in the wake of the credit crunch UK buyers are again more and more in evidence, often showing great faith in the future of South Africa.”

Readers' Comments Have a comment about this article? Email us now.

While it was a great place to start, it soon becomes apparent that the SOLD properties are not removed or posted as SOLD, and so you end up trying to see property that is no longer on the market.

The images placed are not always good.

The developers of the websites do not really understand how people want to search and navigating around is horrendous. – Ruth