It’s been a busy start to the year for the new national Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA) management team and in keeping with the current improvement in consumer confidence on the back of economic growth, decreasing inflation and stable interest rates, there is a significant improvement in estate agency activity which is impacting positively on the activities of the IEASA.

The newly appointed IEASA Chief Operating Officer, Pam Snyman, was recently invited to deliver an important address on ‘Transformation in the Property Sector’ at the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) Conference in Sandton, Johannesburg. ARELLO comprises official governmental agencies and other organisations around the world responsible for the issuing of real estate licences in addition to regulating real estate practices and enforcing real estate law. South Africa forms part of the ARELLO District 6 which consists of non-American countries.

The Institute was also represented by Pam at a recent workshop that was organised by the Services Seta in order to develop a strategic plan for the SSETA skills plan for the next five years.

Of significance is that the IEASA is representing the real estate industry in respect of   aspects of new legislation, the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB), Services Seta and other authorities. For example, IEASA is currently supporting the National Association of Managing Agents’ application to government to exempt estate agents from compliance with the Debt Collections Act and is represented on the Property Sector Charter Council, and is signatory to the Charter.

The IEASA (National) itself is currently undergoing a large scale reformation and the primary aim of the new operational plan is to be instrumental in reshaping the landscape in which estate agents operate. Contingent to this is to assist the industry through transformation with respect to professionalism and representation by eg creating an Academy for Excellence and Professionalism.

This Academy is set to amongst others, offer training modules to its members on Professionalism, the Estate Agents Code of Conduct as well as the IEASA’s Code of Ethics. The members will be assessed at the end of such a course and will have to sign an accompanying oath or pledge.

With the new training qualifications of major importance to anyone involved in real estate, the Institute is represented on no less than seven boards and committees that deal with qualifications, education and training. The Institute has, for example been involved in the development of an NQF level 7 designation for estate agents who are well experienced and have significantly contributed to real estate. This will be known as the CPRE – Chartered Practitioner in Real Estate – and is to be launched in the final quarter of 2010 with the first graduation ceremony. The initial group of 25 potential recipients has been identified, and is now to be approved by the Services Seta.