IEASA National - News

New Institute President   Article Date :6 Oct 2006 Dr Willie Marais new leader for IEASA Pretoria businessman Dr Willie Marais has been elected as national president of the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA) for 2006-08. He succeeds Capetonian Bill Rawson, who was the industry body's president for the past four years. Ken Ralph of Port Elizabeth is the new vice-president. The new leaders take office at a significant time for the industry and its professional body. "The estate agency industry and its Institute are heading for a significant shake-up," says Marais. "Through the Property Charter and the new system of compulsory qualifications, industry membership, leadership, and professional standards are set to change over the next few years. Naturally, the Institute will change with the industry, as it has done in the past, and help its members to adapt." The Property Charter, signed earlier this year, aims to increase Black involvement in the industry by 2010. New educational standards, due to be introduced next year, will restrict entry into the industry, and require existing agents to obtain higher qualifications by 2010 in order to remain in the industry. "The Institute is gearing up for the new educational dispensation," says Marais, "and, although we are delighted at the elevation of the professional status of Estate Agents by the statutory body, The Estate Agency Affairs Board, we would like to caution the Board not to move too fast if they are not sure that their logistical capacity can deal with it.” Dr Marais, who has been an estate agent for twenty-six years, is one of the industry's most highly qualified and experienced leaders. A marketing and business management specialist, he obtained his MBA in 1986 with a thesis on personal selling in real estate, and his doctorate in 1997 with a thesis on a service quality strategy for the estate agency industry. He has also written articles and training manuals on real estate marketing, lectured on the subject, and is the moderator and external examiner of the subject “Property Marketing” at UNISA. He serves currently on the Boards of a large national real estate company, the largest local multi-listing group, as well as the listed Omnia Holdings, and is chairman of the South West Nokeng Land Owners Association. The IEASA, founded in 1937 by the merger of four provincial estate agency associations, currently comprises eight regional offices, with a new one opening soon, and more likely to follow. IEASA is representing the interests of the industry on the whole at all levels of Government, and is the largest training facilitator in the estate agency industry. Membership is voluntary, and is open to all registered estate agents. Marais expects the new qualification system to reduce the number of estate agents over the next few years, and bring the industry down from its present inflated number of registered estate agents (more than 70 000 at last count) to a more realistic level by raising the stakes for entry, and easing out those who can't or won't obtain the required further qualifications. Enquiries: IEASA National: 021 531 2074 CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE MAIN NEWS PAGE