SA home buyers take huge risks with voetstoots clause
Buyers of privately owned homes face massive potential risks and, despite the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), South African home buyers remain one of the least protected classes of consumers. Because the law does not provide practical protection for buyers of second hand homes from private sellers, the only option is for South African home buyers […]
Property industry needs to reinvent itself
It’s a tough time to be selling property and forward thinking estate agents are seeking ways to reinvent themselves as trusted transparent advisors, rather than mere marketers of property. Home inspections and compliance with the spirit of the Consumer Protection Act are two obvious strategies for future success in the property business. Not only is […]
Estate agency chiefs warn agents about the CPA
According to Bill Rawson, chairman of Rawson Properties, there is “much ignorance” among estate agents and consumers as to how the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) affects property transactions. Rawson adds that leaders in the property industry had mostlysupported the more stringent transparency concepts which were now enforceable under the CPA Rawson is quoted in the […]
Detecting and understanding roof leaks
Leaking roofs are a very common problem identified in home inspections. HouseCheck home inspections show that there are three main issues to consider when diagnosing and fixing leaking roofs: The condition of the roof covering. This includes cracked, broken or dislodged tiles or slates, damaged or corroded roof sheeting, weathered thatch. Incorrect installation can render […]
Understanding cracks in your house
Take 15 minutes to walk through any house and the chances are good that you will find several cracks in the inside and outside walls and possibly also some cracks through floor tiles or in the garage floor screed. Cracks are one of the most common problems found during home inspections of South African homes. […]
The Tsunami of Consumerism
By John Graham How did consumerism spread so quickly? In this age of instant information, the world is changing at an increasingly fast pace. There is a multiplication factor at work as more and more people communicate through the internet. A trend which once may have taken several decades to become obvious now occurs almost […]
Controlling the home inspection process
by John Graham With the growing wave of consumerism and the Google generation now starting to dominate the South African house market, the estate agent has to adapt to the changing profile of their buyers. Like the doctor facing a Google-informed patient, the estate agent is now no longer the “guru” – but rather only […]
How to generate trust with today’s home buyer
By John Graham It is perfectly true that in today’s fast moving world, change is the only constant. People no longer need photographic film – they use digital cameras Amazon now sells more E-books than hard covers and soft covers combined Newspapers are under pressure as people turn to the internet for their information Doctors […]
Defects expose estate agents to risk
Estate agents who market properties which have undisclosed defects are exposing themselves to considerable risk – both under common law and in terms of the Consumer Protection Act – says John Graham of HouseCheck. Graham points out that estate agents have a professional duty to disclose to potential buyers all material information regarding the properties […]
For agents ignorance is no excuse
Everyone knows the old cliché that buying a house is likely to be “the biggest financial decision most people will make in their lives”. However, many estate agents do not take seriously enough their pivotal role in assisting their clients with this huge financial decision, says John Graham CEO of HouseCheck. Graham says that while […]