1. "We're all family" - launching our mentoring programme. 2. Draft Property Rates Bill - the latest



"We're all family" - launching our mentoring programme "WE'RE all family," IEA Western Cape regional chairman Anne Porter told twenty-five estate agents at the launch of the IEA's Mentoring Programme No 1 on 2 April. The programme is aimed at helping estate agents to raise professional standards and acquire the skills and knowledge which they need to stay ahead in this fast-changing and increasingly complex industry. It is IEA Western Cape's brainchild and, if successful, it will be extended throughout South Africa via the IEA's other regional centres. The programme is a combination of mentorship, training sessions, and research projects, spread over a four-month period from April to July (both inclusive). To enter the programme, an estate agent must have been in the industry for at least one year, have a written business plan, be registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board, and be a member of the IEA. In line with the IEA's commitment to helping industry transformation, preference is being given to historically disadvantaged estate agents. Twenty-five estate agents - fifteen men and ten women - have enrolled for the pilot programme. Some have been in the industry for longer than ten years, while others are relative newcomers. Most are principals with their own firms, but a few are non-principals working for other people's firms. Each participant has been assigned an IEA regional director as a mentor. During the four-month programme period, the agent can call upon his/her mentor for support and advice. "It's very much a case of transferring skills and knowledge," says IEA Western Cape manager Vivien Marks, "of providing moral support, and of building confidence. This can be a very lonely business, especially for solo operators." During the four-month period, each participant must attend at least fourteen of the sixteen training sessions (see box for a list of topics covered) and carry out a research project which he/she will hand in at the end of the programme. There will be a final assessment, followed by certification. The training sessions will be presented by the IEA's panel of experienced trainers. The programme is offered free of charge. "As our chairman said, we're all family," says Vivien Marks, "and this programme is built on the principle of sharing and giving and taking. We hope that some of the participants will also participate in later programmes, as mentors or trainers themselves. "We see this programme as one of the most constructive steps that has been taken by our industry in recent years, and it has the support of both the Board and the Services SETA." Enquiries: phone Vivien Marks at 021 531 3180. LIST OF TOPICS (Alphabetical) Administration - - Computer (Database) Course - Financial Administration - Office Administration Legal - - Contracts and Documents - EAAB Code of Conduct and IEA Ethical Obligations - Mock Ethical Hearing - Legal Update Management - - Business Plans Property - - Commercial and Industrial Property - Introduction to Auctioneering - Property Development and Investment - Rentals and Management - Valuations - Sectional Title Management Sales and Marketing - - Cost-effective Marketing - Negotiation Skills - Sales/marketing plus a visit to the Deeds Office Draft Property Rates Bill - the latest You may recall the uproar three years ago, when details of proposed new property rates legislation were published in a consumer periodical. Well, the draft bill is still being worked on, and the Institute was invited by the Department of Local Government to take part in a 2-day Workshop on 7 and 8 April. Western Cape regional chairman Anne Porter represented the Institute. The purpose of the proposed bill is to consolidate the separate existing provincial and homeland rates laws into a single national law which will apply a uniform system throughout the country. IEA members may be interested to know that one of the proposals is to rate sectional title units directly, instead of the present system of rating schemes as a whole and charging rates to the bodies corporate. If this proposal ever becomes law, levies would be substantially reduced as they would not longer include rates, and unit owners would be responsible for paying rates directly to the municipalities. The draft Property Rates Bill is now before the Portfolio Committee of Parliament and the Institute has been invited to give further input before the Portfolio Committee in May.