Office profile - Langebaan

In December this year Langebaan will be 10 years old!

We spoke to Principal, Marius Koen to find out how these 10 years had fared and to take a little advantage of the wisdom he has gained during this experience.

He tells us that in 1996, he sold his Spar supermarket in Langebaan. Marius already had 10 years real estate experience under his belt, and it was common knowledge that his partner Annette Burger, was one of the most successful estate agents working for Pam Golding. Marius says that it made good business sense to start their own real estate company, and having lasted 10 years, we are inclined to agree with him!

Ina Loubser had the Huizemark franchise for the West Coast and at that time, there were three offices in the West Coast; Vredenburg, Saldanha, and Langebaan, as well as three offices in Cape Town; Bellville, Goodwood and Gordon's Bay. Ina had advertised for a manager for Langebaan as this office was not doing well. Marius went to see her and by the time he left, he had bought Huizemark Langebaan.

He and Annette started with one agent and Marius concentrated on marketing with Annette focusing on adminintration. Their first project was a development of 62 units which were all sold within one week! Call it beginners luck or just pure hard work, but this achievement paved the way for much bigger things. They subsequently received the sole mandate for a R10 Million development and sold within the first two weeks sending sales soaring above R30 Million and within one year, Huizemark Langebaan had achieved 33% of the marketshare and certainly stood out as a force to be reckoned with. Their staff compliment increased to 6 selling agents and a rental agent.

Sadly Annette passed away in 2001 at the tender age of 33 due to cancer and Marius became the only Principal.

They relocated to a bigger office with one of the best locations in town ,close to the beach. In 2004 Langebaan took all 8 Huizemark awards and even received from ABSA, their award for 'The agent with best service to public."

When asked what his secret to success is, Marius states emphatically that it takes hard work, always being available and knowing your market. "At all times be professional and ethical." His personal philosophy of appointing people based on their star signs, and the fact that he is the only male with female agents, is what makes his branch tick. As all our Principals have said before, training is paramout. Offering programs like 'Keep in Touch' and 'Unmatchable Customer Relationship Marketing,' has been most beneficial to the Langebaan office.

Marius believes that having a sound knowledge of your town and what is going on, affords the benefit of providing added value through knowledge. "The only way you can do this is to be involved in the community. Be present at all town meetings, all town socials and on every commitee. The ultimute is to become the town councillor like myself and you will control everything."

It has often been said that people do business with people and not companies, and Marius believes strongly that this is so. Competition has increased in Langebaan as it has everywhere. With a total of thirty estate agencies, major market share has been lost because of the market becoming fragmented and marketing has become Langebaan's biggest expense. "Today your strengh lies in your agents; get the best agents even if you have to headhunt them, otherwise you will not survive."

When focusing on the future, Marius aims to become one of the most respected names in real estate in Langebaan. "To be seen as a leader in every aspect. Within the group, to win all the awards from highest turnover, most units sold to even Mr Huizemark!" He would like to see representation in every town along the West Coast with speciality agents in argiculture, commercial and especially industrial which is the buzz at present.

Some words of wisdom "Believe in the better of all, see your function as a problem solver and treat every visitor to your office as a guest of honour." "Get the bigger picture, stop just focussing on your own little world and area, but talk to everyone you think will be a good operator and not only sell residential but sell Franchises! Everyone knows someone who could open a franchise and strenghten all of us to make SA orange! "