What does it mean to be a woman in the real estate industry?

Hamilton's celebrates two new women team members in Johannesburg this Women's Day.

Hamilton's Property Portfolio offers the boutique experience - far beyond what one would expect from a typical real estate agency - to its clients and agents alike. Our estate agents work autonomously, running their businesses with our professional and administrative backup and support. 

We believe our agents perform at their best when they can be themselves. We don't expect them to fit a certain mold, nor do we use in-house sales targets or inter-agent competitions to drive performance. Hamilton's agents are defined by their ability to self-manage, to work together and collaborate in the best interests of their clients. The results follow.

We are fortunate to have attracted, and retained, a diverse team of agents across different ages and levels of experience. We have had more agents retire than resign over the years, which is a testament to our empowering work environment and ethos. Clients often comment on the "feel" of our workplace, which feels more like a home than an office. The unusual camaraderie we enjoy is a testament to our CEO's approach to leadership, which filters across all levels of our business.

Agent Q&A - Michelle & Nontando

As the industry moves towards a more diverse approach to hiring, Hamilton's agents have enjoyed a forward-thinking and self-sustaining business model for many years. Ahead, we speak to two of our newest estate agents, Michelle Molefe and Nontando Jiya, to gain insight on their personal experiences as estate agents, and why Hamilton's is the best fit for them.

Michelle Molefe

Question One - Tell us about how you first got to know about the real estate industry and why you chose Hamilton's.

My husband has always been interested in property investments. We would spend our Sundays combing through listings, ticking the ones we liked, and driving around looking at various properties that we just had to see first hand. It was here that I started developing a love for properties and for several years this would be "our thing".

One day we decided it was time to buy. While we were searching for various properties in the Northern Suburbs, we were introduced to Hamilton's as clients enjoying the boutique experience the agency is so well known for.

So we purchased the property, and it was at this point where I thought, "Wow, I really want to work for this agency!". So after a bit of research and finding out that Regan (our CEO) is also an attorney like me, I knew it was the perfect fit. I could understand him on a professional level.

Question Two - What sets Hamilton's apart?

We value what the client values. We see how much time and money they invest in their properties; they want to deal with someone who understands that. It's not always about the money. It's about understanding that we've worked hard to accomplish this and don't take it for granted. 

As a woman, I find that working for a company that sees me as not just a number - but also a mother, a wife, a human - is so empowering. It's that personal touch that sets Hamilton's apart.

When I first came into the offices to do my interview, I was prepped and ready for an extremely formal affair. However, the experience itself was quite the opposite. Rather than running down the humdrum of usual questions, Regan took particular interest in my background as an attorney and from there the conversation took a pleasant turn into our shared experiences in law.

I immediately felt at ease with Regan because of how welcoming he was, and how comfortable I felt talking to him. He shared personal ideas with me and even asked for my advice on legal matters. Before I knew it, we were exchanging and bouncing ideas off each other like we had been acquainted for years.

Question Three - Speak to your experiences as a woman in real estate, and how Hamilton's is different to what you'd expect.

Honestly? I feel like I can breathe at Hamilton's.

Most agencies out there have a specific culture and set of ideas you have to adhere to. An agent needs to look like x and needs to do y. It can feel stifling, especially considering how male-dominated the field is. You are accepted as long as you play the game by their rules.

For the first time in a commercial space, I feel like I can be who I am and embrace my femininity within an extremely supportive team. It's quite interesting because despite the fact that we sell luxury properties worth millions of rands, our team is welcoming and extremely down to earth. It feels almost as if the company was created and curated to feel like a family setting. We're always supportive and there for each other.

Question Four - As a woman, do you feel as though you bring unique negotiating skills to the table?

As a wife, and especially as a mom, you naturally pick up negotiating skills regardless of where you go in life. This particular trait is where women in the field excel. Women listen attentively and pay attention to detail which are skills that are needed when understanding the buyer's requirements. 

Having a legal background has no doubt granted me an edge in the field. Both industries require a refined approach to negotiating.

It's also about having a finger on the pulse. You have to be able to pick up on your client's verbal and non-verbal cues. You have to know when a place works for them. If they're not feeling it, then I'm not doing it. You know?

Nontando Jiya

Question One - Tell us a bit about your background

After studying marketing and business management for 2 years, I went into the advertising space, where I worked as an Account Executive for many, many years. It was an extremely demanding position - both above and below the line - but I was privileged enough to work alongside fantastic mentors within that space.

After feeling as though I'd peaked, I knew it was time for a change. So I made the transition into the mining sector. I could not have chosen a more contrary path. It was a difficult sector to work through, especially as a woman, but ultimately the sort of experiences and skills I learned were well worth the effort.

Question Two - What drew you to real estate?

Being within these two sectors I dealt with a lot of international clients coming into the country. They would visit and immediately fall in love with what we have to offer, which ultimately led them to buying property. I would just keep referring them to my friends until I eventually realised that I too could be capitalising on this opportunity.

After doing a bit of research about the industry, I became super intrigued by the amount of white old ladies knitting at showdays, having what looked like a wonderful time and I thought. "Goodness, don't these people retire?". And then I realised that real estate is quite simply a forever industry. You keep doing it until you don't want to anymore and clearly, no one wants to stop!

I knew I felt the same way. I wanted to work in the industry until I "kicked the bucket" so to speak. I decided there and then that if I wanted a foot in the door I would need to get qualified. Two years ago I completed my NQF4 qualification as well as my Sectional Title Management through CPM.

Then it became a choice of which agency to work for. I must have interviewed everywhere and all my friends kept asking me "when are you starting?". I couldn't say anything because I hadn't even received a contract yet. I felt like I just wasn't going anywhere so I picked up the phone and started calling. Regan could see how eager and passionate I was and here I am today.

Question Three - What to you is synonymous with the Hamilton's brand?

Luxury Properties! Yeah, what can I say, I am a lover of beautiful things!

I also feel as though Hamilton's Property Portfolio brand matches who I am as an individual. It speaks to my soul and the sort of people I know and socialise with. It's a brand that grants me access to the sort of spaces I love living in. You're amongst your closest clients and become part of the community.

I appreciate these aspects - Hamilton's is a perfect fit for me.

Question Four - As a woman and an agent, what role do you play in the transaction process?

Understanding and seeing property from the perspective of building a home, rather than just a structure that somebody is walking into. Everyone's energy is different, so you must pay close attention to your client or buyer to accurately get a picture of the person they are. Get that right, and finding the sort of property that matches them should be easy.

As a woman, I feel as though it's relational more than transactional. That's where the nurturing, caring, and mothering energy that we as women bring to the table comes in. This is because purchasing, selling and moving into a new home is one of the most stressful things you can do. If you can work through that process with someone you can trust and rely on, I think that's the hallmark of a dedicated agent.

Sell, buy, and rent property with Michelle and Nontando

Michelle and Nontando are working as a team, expanding Hamilton's into the Atholl, Inanda, and Melrose areas, with Nontando also doing rentals in Morningside. If you're interested in selling, buying, or renting a home through them, please click on the following links to view their listings. 

Listings:

Michelle Molefe Nontando Jiya, 

or contact them directly:

Michelle Molefe 071 604 3923 michelle@hamiltons.co.za

Nontando Joia 083 657 7270 nontando@hamiltons.co.za 

Read our previous article here: https://www.hamiltons.co.za/news/the-millennials-preference-tech-savvy-and-environmentally-conscious/ 

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