SPREADING WINGS IN HARTBEESPOORT
Category News
EXCITING times are envisaged for the four family members heading the 10-member team of Dormehl Phalane Property Group’s latest franchise, situated in one of the most attractive spots in the country.
It’s Dormehl Phalane Property Group Hartbeespoort, introduced at the beginning of February this year and specialising in sales and rentals in a sprawling area around the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam, against the stunning backdrop of the Magaliesberg Mountains, which has its own aerial cableway.
Less than an hour’s drive from Pretoria and Johannesburg, and about a 20-minute drive from Lanseria Airport, the area has long been a magnet for weekend getaway and holiday breaks, but its dozen-plus estates are becoming increasingly attractive to people now wanting to live there and commute to work.
An added incentive for family’s seeking homes there is that excellent government schools are on the Northern Shores, and there are three private schools in the area, including Pecanwood College on the Southern Shores.
It’s an area very familiar to Zimbabwean-born couple Steve and Tessa Stevens, both now in their early 70s and long seasoned in the marketing and sales field, who, before joining the Dormehl Phalane Property Group family, owned a successful franchise in the area, with another property group, for 14 years.
The family is still using the same office at Shop 8, Mountain Lake Centre, near Pecanwood Golf Estate, where they established their first property franchise in 2004, deciding then that they required their own brand, as the property market was fast expanding in the Hartbeespoort area.
They have come a long way since coming to this country from Zimbabwe in 1979, Steve to work in national sales and marketing for a large pump and engineering business, and Tessa to work in sales and management for Braby's.
The Stevens’s earlier successes in property include having been very involved, from inception, with timeshare in the Mabula Game Reserve near Warmbaths.
Tessa then joined the marketing team for the then-newly established development of Lakeland Homes Shareblock Limited in the Hartbeespoort area. Lakeland sold out in two years and Tess was asked to stay on and market resales as they arose.
Steve went on to be instrumental in the launch of the Ille du Lac and Eagles Landing developments around Hartbeespoort Dam. He became a development facilitator, and also became involved with properties in Irene, Pretoria and the greater Hartbeespoort Dam area, including facilitating in the development and marketing of K’Shane Lake Lodge.
Steve and Tessa’s daughter, 46-year-old mother of three, Ashleigh Mitchley, manages the Dormehl Phalane Property Group Hartbeespoort team as acting principal, and Steve and Tessa’s daughter-in-law, Peta-Ann Stevens, handles sales.
“Dad is in ‘networking’ and is our ‘go-for’,” says Ashleigh, with a laugh, about her father, adding that both Steve and Tessa still have a hand in sales.
The move to embrace the Dormehl Phalane Property Group came about because the family admired the property group’s leadership, professionalism and commitment, says Ashleigh.
The group’s heads, Tau Phalane and Owen Dormehl, formed their partnership in March 2017, Dormehl having launched the company under his own moniker in 2009.
The first Dormehl branch opened in Pinetown. Within a month, eight experienced estate agents had become part of the crack team.
Dormehl, a Port Natal High School alumnus, next opened his head office in Durban’s Church Road, in Westville – and within 18 months Dormehl had seen 34 franchises spring up.
His partnership with Phalane came about, Dormehl says,
because both are passionate about empowerment.
“We are keen to ensure people of colour have opportunities in this industry, and to build bridges between different cultures. It is something we firmly believe in”.
Phalane points that he and Owen work well as a team because they understand each other and are both optimistic about the property market’s future in this country.
With 76 outlets currently operating successfully countrywide and a team of some 420 agents, the property group’s footprint was solid enough to impress Ashleigh and her family.
“In a short space of time, our decision was made, and it was an easy one! We are now the Hartbeespoort face of the Dormehl Phalane Property Group, the first South African real estate firm that has taken transformation seriously, with highly successful offices, based originally in KwaZulu-Natal but spreading like wildfire throughout the country.”
Ashleigh also singles out the company’s “personal touch”, pointing out that “the support from headquarters, backed by sheer hardcore experience and energy, is phenomenal”. She is enthused about the company having “good systems in place” and “good technical know-how”.
Ashleigh mentions the cherry on top as being industry partners including Phalane Klopper Conveyancing Attorneys, Ooba, Property 24, Fusion, Private Property, IOL and Prop Data, to name a few.
“This wonderful opportunity came our way at the beginning of this year, and is one that is fully aligned to our personal motto/ethos of creating a positive and prosperous South Africa for all, while giving back in opportunity and kind, so we had to sit up and take note,” explains Ashleigh.
“Our team remains intact and is growing, excited for the new adventure that lies ahead. We are here to offer our clients a fresh and enhanced service, offering to ensure that their greatest investment is marketed professionally and with passion.”
Asked if working with family was a help or a hindrance in the property business, Ashleigh laughs and replies: “We have our strengths as a family, and another advantage is that we have all seen the estates in this area go from ground to homes. We have built up strong relationships with key people.”
The company is hoping for big growth for the franchise in Hartbeespoort, and Ashleigh and her team are ready to strive for that.
Considering such strong area drawcards as diverse restaurants, the great outdoors and clean air, watersports, the Van Gaalens cycling trails and hiking, as well as the relative close proximity to big city life, it seems the franchise is certainly poised to go from strength to strength.
Author: Billy Suter
