In this, its 50th birthday year, Seeff is steadily growing its brand in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), evidenced by 3 years of consecutive sales growth in the province averaging close to 30 percent per annum. This growth pattern is set to continue, with business owners of the current 9 Seeff KZN outlets collectively projecting a 50 percent growth in 2014.
Michelle Harris, Samuel Seeff and Sean Smit, at the recent Seeff KZN Awards held at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga in March 2014.
Another aspect to this growth is the expansion of Seeff branches in KZN, Seeff Amanzimtoti, which is a partnership between established Seeff owner, Michelle Harris, who has branches in Scottburgh and Pennington, together with sectional title expert Sean Smit.
Before becoming Principal and MD of Seeff Mid-South Coast, Michelle Harris worked in banking. “I was a bank manager with the Nedbank Group from 1989 to 2007 (receiving ten annual awards as best Bank Manager), and bought the Seeff Mid-South Coast licence in May 2007 since I wanted to work for myself.”
Harris won Seeff’s national Most improved Licensee of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, as well as the Licensee of the Year Award for her division in 2012.
Her partnership with Sean came about in a unique way: “I met Sean through our sons both surfing for KZN, they have both represented and surfed for KZN since they were 9 years old. Sean worked with his father in property management and it was something I was considering going into, but it is very involved and needs an expert in the field, which Sean is.
“Sean has extensive experience in sectional title and heads up the Sectional Title Centre which is an advisory service to Unlimited Townhouses and will give free advice to all of our sectional title owners, which complements our business perfectly,” says Harris.
Sean Smit’s property career spans 28 years and includes all aspects of sectional title administration, sales and management, including the development and management of section title schemes from scratch. His most recent experience saw him as Joint CEO of Unlimited Townhouses CC KZN, where he looked after a portfolio of over 145 schemes. He is adept in all related aspects, including IT, community scheme advice, and dispute resolution through mediation. He is a certified Online Mediator through Juripax in The Netherlands.
Harris is looking forward to entering this challenging new market in KZN: “Scottburgh and Pennington are a predominately retired and holiday market. Seeff Scottburgh and Pennington grew 66 percent last year compared to the previous year, and we have good, experienced agents that work well together and love the Seeff brand and family values.
“Amanzimtoti, although also having a retired and holiday market, in addition has a large working class with a lot more demand for properties. The area is five times bigger than my current area and is set for growth, with the dug-out harbour plans coming to fruition in the future,” she says.
“Although there is a lot more competition in Amanzimtoti, with many established brand names, I am comfortable that it won’t take Seeff Amanzimtoti long before it will be one of the top players, as our brand is strong with a good referral network throughout Seeff.”
“My vision of great expansion in KZN is coming to fruition. I am always delighted when excellent existing Seeff licensees are able to expand their businesses with us, and I know that Michelle and Sean are set to make a great impact in Amanzimtoti,” says Seeff Chairperson Samuel Seeff.
Seeff Amanzimtoti opened its doors on 1 April 2014 at 331 Andrew Zondo Road (previously known as Kingsway Road), Amanzimtoti.
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