Rawson Properties’ newly established Development Sales franchise in Gauteng is set to kick off with a bang. The new franchise, run by Chic Berkhout, will enter the market under the Rawson banner with three developments already on the table. These comprise 241 new units, all in the entry-level price range.

Berkhout has gone into partnership with the Counter Act Holding Group, and will run Counter Act Realty cc, trading as Rawson Properties Development Sales. Counter Act is already a significant developer of new housing developments, and has acquired a further nine sites, all to be developed in the next three years.

“Rawson Properties,” said Berkhout, “had been aware for some time of the potential for an independent marketing/sales company to service property developers marketing their units off-plan. In such operations, however, the problem facing such a company is that, although the turnovers are ultimately high, the period between conception of a new development and receipt of commission can be as long as three years.”

As a partner in the Rawson Kensington franchise (now sold to his partner) Berkhout was able to make significant contacts in the development industry in the past year. It is these that have now made it possible for him to focus fulltime on development work.

The first three developments are being built by Counter Act Developers. Together with a small sales and admin team, they will be marketing:
· thirty apartments in a single block in Kempton Park. These are priced between R499,000 and R580,000.
· one hundred and twenty four units in Rembrandt Park, Johannesburg. These are in three storey blocks with twelve units per block. They are provisionally priced from R499,000 to R699,000. The development will take place in five phases.
· eight seven single storey retirement homes in Rietfontein, Germiston. This will be an entry-level retirement village with basic frail care, private gardens, good security and community centre. Ownership will be in the form of life right, and these will sell for R480,000 each.

Berkhout said that almost all the developers with whom he had been in contact recognised the value of being associated with a nationally branded company like Rawson Properties.

“The Rawson brand,” he said, “gives buyers confidence that the project will not only be completed but will be built to acceptable standards and that they will get a fair deal.”

His team, he said, will focus only on entry-level developments – “which is where there is a great demand” – and will advertise aggressively over long periods. They will also, he said, use all the recognised promotional tools to achieve their goals.

His company, he said, has access to Rawson Developers and Homebuilders’ client base and referrals from the 150 Rawson franchises spread across the face of South Africa.

His division is aiming, he said, to turn over more than R400 million annually in sales by 2010.

“Our aim is to become one of the leading companies in this field in Gauteng, in the process matching the very significant goals achieved in the Gauteng residential franchise network where in two years some 50 new franchises have been established.”

For further information contact Chic Berkhout on 083 250 9216.