1. A wonderful vibrant year 2. Vivien Marks honoured 3. IEA Western Cape Diary



"A WONDERFUL, VIBRANT, ASSOCIATION" The Institute of Estate Agents' Western Cape Region is a wonderful, vibrant, association, said its chairman, Anne Porter, in her annual report to the regional annual general meeting on 14 September. Highlights of the year included the new premises, increased membership, and the mentorship project. Transformation - The mentorship programme, which was initiated last year for the benefit of previously disadvantaged estate agents, has continued. Graduates of the 2003 programme are acting as mentors for the 2004 intake, and will shortly be embarking on an advanced programme. IEA Western Cape is in the process of devising a community-driven project for 2005. Its objective will be to help create an environment in which a fledgling property market will emerge. Through training and education, the IEA hopes to establish a "maintenance culture", create employment, and ultimately create assets for the property owners. The project will involve banks, the private sector, and provincial and national authorities. Area Committees - The importance of the IEA area committees, and their contribution to the success of the Institute, cannot be stressed enough. They have done a sterling job, and their efforts have been rewarded by substantial increases in membership, especially in the Helderberg and Northern Areas. IEA Western Cape's membership now stands at 2500 - its highest level ever. Training - The new training centre has been named the "Cape Property Training Centre" in recognition of the Cape Property newspaper's generous sponsorship of the Institute over the years. The larger training facilities have enabled the Institute to increase the number of courses. During the year, there were 41 training courses (attended by a total of 1557 people), 12 workshops (966 attendees), four networking/social functions (516 attendees), and 16 area events (950 attendees). Several new courses are being planned, including an advanced course to be written by an eminent authority. Now that the unit standards for real estate qualifications have at last been registered, courses can be aligned to them. Finances - IEA Western Cape's finances are in a satisfactory position. The increased revenue from training and Cape Property sponsorship has enabled the Institute to make substantial mortgage bond repayments on its premises, and to finance projects and membership facilities. Advertising - The Institute has negotiated with Independent Newspapers to obtain discounted advertising rates for its previously disadvantaged members in community newspapers. From next year, members of the Mentor Group will qualify for further discounts. External - In view of the Competition Commission crackdown on tariffs, IEA Western Cape no longer recommends a tariff of fees and commissions. There is still no clarity on whether or not property managers and letting agents must register as debt collectors in addition to registering as estate agents. The Estate Agency Affairs Board has taken up the matter, but it remains unresolved. The EAAB has also done very little to address its own problems of missing fidelity fund certificates, exam numbers, and the general chaos surrounding exam venues. Thanks - "In closing," said Anne Porter, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the Institute, and our wonderful staff, for making this Institute into the wonderful, vibrant, association which we enjoy today." VIVIEN MARKS HONOURED Vivien Marks, general manager of IEA Western Cape, was honoured at the annual general meeting on 14 September. The regional borad presented her with the Geoffrey Seeff Memorial Award, which is IEA Western Cape's highest honour for services to the Institute and the industry. Vivien received the award in recognition of her lifetime devotion to the property industry, and her many achievements as general manager over the past seven years. And the 2003 Mentor Group made their own presentation to Vivien, in appreciation of her enthusiasm and support for the mentorship programme. By coincidence, too, three days before the AGM, Vivien was featured as the Cape Argus's Business Personality of the Week. "It was a truly wonderful evening," she said, "and words cannot express my appreciation." IEA WESTERN CAPE DIARY Forthcoming courses: Property Development Course 9, 16, 23 and 30 October 6 and 13 November Basic Training Workshop 13 October EAAB Exam Course (Afrikaans) 18-22 October (daytime) EAAB Exam Course (English) 19 October - 15 November (evenings) _______________________ Enquiries and bookings: phone 021 531 3180