CEO Update - Message from Regan for the year

December is a time to reflect on what was and look ahead to what will be. Reflecting on 2020: what a year it has been for the world, for our country, for our economy, and for our industry. In January, we were looking forward to an uptick in business, given the past few difficult years, and just when we were getting stuck in, COVID-19 reared its head. What we initially thought would be a problem on the other side of the world, turned into a global pandemic - the likes of which have not been seen since the Spanish Flu in 1918.

With the advent of South Africa's Level 5 hard lockdown in March, life as we knew it changed overnight. Severe restrictions on movement and social interactions, as well as on our day-to-day behaviour (where and when we could shop for what), were hard at first. As "Saffers" we pride ourselves on not living in a nanny state and having a sense of urgency in our lives. There were some predictably angry reactions to the limitations imposed on us, albeit for our own safety and for those in vulnerable groups.

It always amazes me how we as humans become accustomed to new situations. What was previously unthinkable becomes the norm. Nowadays, leaving home without a mask is a rarity, and interacting with others minus the social cues of facial expressions is something to which we have had to adapt. I believe this has made us more aware of others, finding different cues to guide us during conversations and encounters.

Up until recently, when Level 1 became a reality, social and family visits had been severely curtailed, and there was more reliance on telephonic, social media and online connecting. We have been able to stay connected with work colleagues, friends, and family in new ways, and perhaps appreciate the opportunities for in-person visits even more now that they are once again a possibility.

So where does this leave our business? I have been pleasantly surprised at the resilience of our team members across the country as we all adjusted to the new normal, or "business unusual" as we now refer to it. Life and business go on albeit in different ways. Where previously we held regional meetings, we now meet weekly meetings with our entire National team using the Zoom platform. This has created opportunities for synergy and collaboration while we all get to know each other a little better. Where previously I made regular regional visits, these have been replaced by far more efficient group calls over Zoom or WhatsApp. We utilised the time during Level 4 and 5 to give our Hamilton's Property Portfolio brand a much-needed refresh. We have gone from being "a boutique experience" to being "the boutique experience", a subtle and important shift for us. Our website and social media platforms have been extremely busy this year, with us achieving record engagement figures on both local and international platforms.

The impact on our clients can be seen in how many new listings are for local relocation purposes. With the normalisation of "working from home", many families are relocating to their coastal holiday properties, with their executives looking for "boltholes" during the week before joining their families over the weekend. For those not relocating, there is a need for dedicated office space within the home. Where previously this would have been a "nice-to-have", this has quickly become an essential requirement for a new home, as has fast fibre internet connectivity. Despite Lockdown disruptions, we have seen healthy sales and rentals figures this year, a testament to our brand, our team, and our customers.

As 2020 winds down and we all prepare to take a much-needed break, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team members, and our clients, for their continuing support during an unprecedented year. We wish you a safe and healthy transition into the New Year and look forward to being of service to you in 2021.

Read our previous article here: https://www.hamiltons.co.za/news/classic-car-collecting-the-ultimate-ride/ 

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Contact Hamilton's Property Portfolio for all your buying or selling requirements:

Johannesburg (Head Office): 011 463 0155

Cape Town: 021 418-0328 

Garden Route:  044 050 3295

Eastern Cape:  076 927 7787

Or email to reception@hamiltons.co.za