Dear CyberAgent user,

The following article was placed in the CyberAgent Newsletter of June 2009;

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. THE CUSTOMER'S EMAIL IS LISTED BELOW

All property information requests are sent from our Cyberagent server, if you simply reply to this email, the email will not be sent to the person who has made the request. Make sure to use the customer's correct address provided in the information request as indicated below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: CyberAgent Web Server [mailto:Server@cyberprop.com]
Sent: 04 June 2009 09:27 AM
To: xxxxxxxx
Subject: Farm (vacant land) 1200hectars and Holiday Home to sell in the Western Cape - L Properties t/a Pearl Corel 1375 CC

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. THE CUSTOMER'S EMAIL IS LISTED BELOW

Customer Message Request
Customer: Francois
Regarding your message , Raymond Rabie, I would please like to know if you would like to market my properties

This was only an example of an email and I for sure did not expect the kind of feedback that was received.

I have been working with a client (Raymond Rabie) for the last 10 months who is a scam artist. I have all the proof (Rapport). He had various dealings with Estate Agencies from the Cape to Mpumalanga. Recently he has been charged with fraud and appeared in the Wynburg Gauteng court.

Can CyberAgent or the CyberAgent users not warn all other estate agencies so they do not fall in the same trap with other scam artists? Thanks for the email Lorraine and also for the warning. I found another article that I want to share with our users. Read more in Real Estate scam - USA

Good news! The residential property market in South Africa appears to be coping with the global downturn although concerns about a rising number of foreclosures are increasing. The average price of a property in South Africa increased by 1.2% year-on-year in June, according to the latest property price index. Residential property prices in South Africa show year on year rise

Our flagship product is CyberAgent. It is an office management application for the Real Estate industry. Currently we have more than 1200 estate agencies using CyberAgent and this figure is increasing on a monthly basis. Our CyberAgent application is a total office management system comprising of all aspects involving a real estate office, operating in the selling of property. It currently consists of 11 different modules from canvass management to property management. Included into CyberAgent is a powerful website interface whereby agencies can update active properties to their own customisable websites by the click of one button as well as 50 other websites. Make sure that you are using the right software!

Good Luck!
The editor

Please take note that we have released a new Build of CyberAgent. The latest CyberAgent Build Number is 1385. We advise everybody to upgrade your CyberAgent build and if you require any assistance to contact our support team at support@cyberprop.com.

We are currently updating our Locations Database and adding maps to all our locations. It has come to our attention that there are certain not “registered” locations in our database and we have removed them as these locations will not correspond with the affiliated sites that we update to. This could lead to locations currently selected for properties being invalid and these properties will not update to the Internet.

All CyberAgent CAP and CAL users need to update their Location List to ensure that it is up to date.

To Update your CyberAgent Suburb list simply follow the following steps:

1. Go to CyberAgent / Utilities and click on the Option “Database Clean Up”
   
2. This will open the “Location and Property Type Download and Request Form”
   
3. Select the “Download” tag in the middle of the screen and make sure the “Download option” is selected on “All".
   
4. Click on the “download” button in the right bottom corner.
   
5. This will now “Download” and “Import” the Update CyberAgent Suburb List and all correct location will be available to use.
   
6. Go back to the Properties that gave you the “Invalid Location – Updating Error” message and select the correct location for those properties.
   
7. Correct all properties and do a Website Update.
   
8. All properties will now update to the Internet.

New to all CyberAgent users!!

You can now view online stats on all your properties at http://www.cyberagent.co.za/main.gp.
Please note that you will require you CyberAgent Username and Password to view the stats.

Contact our supprt team at support@cyberprop.com if you need any help using this new feature.

Click Here for printable .pdf file

Real Estate scam - USA

If this is happening in the USA we can be next!

Real Estate Scam Uses Craigslist To Lure Victims

The FBI is warning homeowners and/or prospective renters to be cautious of a new scheme being perpetrated by fraudsters utilizing Craigslist. The scheme involves taking listings from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or other listing sites, and then posting the information onto Craigslist under available housing rentals, without the consent or knowledge of the owner or Realtor...

We now provide you with FREE training session in the following areas;

• Gauteng
• Kwazulu Natal
• Western Cape
• and the Garden Route

During these training sessions more information will also be provided on:

• CyberAgent Anywhere
  
• Keep me Informed Function
  
• New developments in CyberAgent
  
• New Update Manager
  
• REEP (Real Estate Evaluation Portal)

A warm welcome to all new Agencies June 2009:

We trust that by now you are well aware of what CyberAgent can do for you. If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@cyberprop.com or phone us at: +27 (0)11 955-9100 or 086 112- 9237

Most Internet enquiries June 2009:

What constitutes going the extra mile in property marketing?

Every good agent will tell you that he regularly does this, over and above the call of duty. A report from one agency indicates that their agents have recently been cajoled into acting as babysitters, tour guides and, on one occasion, even as a hiking tour leader – all as part of the service.

Anton du Plessis, Chief Executive of Vineyard Estates, recently found himself volunteering to act, free of charge, as a construction project manager...

Greenhorns in the real estate industry may add more value than is immediately apparent.

This is the view of Tjaart van der Walt, CEO of the RealNet property group, who says the relative inexperience of young agents should be seen as an asset, rather than a drawback.

“As newcomers, they were obviously not around during the previous boom period. As a result, we find that they are more prepared than experienced agents to do what is necessary to achieve success during more difficult market conditions, such as the current cycle,” he says...

Office bearers of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA) made a strong showing in the line-up of industry winners at the Nedbank Property Association Awards at the weekend.

Three national directors were named Movers & Shakers in the industry, while a national director and a regional director were among the finalists for the Property Professional of the Year award...

The board achieves regulation through:

• Preventing unsuitable persons from entering the industry.
  
• Adminstering a qualifying examination for new applicants.
  
• Investigating complaints concerning improper estate agency conduct and activity.
  
• Imposing disciplinary on estate agents found to have violated the licensing Act or Code of Conduct, and
  
• Reimbursing consumers who have suffered financial loss through the theft by estate agents of trust monies, from its Fidelity Fund.

The role of the Board is neither to protect the regulated industry nor to protect consumers at all cost. Instead, the role of the Board is to protect the public interest. Protecting the public interest means assuring every individual's right to justice and equal treatment whether that individual is a consumer or estate agent practitioner. The Board must, therefore, use its best efforts to achieve fair and impartial enforcement of the law.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Be advised that your Agency's Audit Report is due for submission to the EAAB Four (4) months after your financial year end. Failure to submit will result in the disqualification of your Agency and all the agents. You will become liable to be charged and a fine of R500 will be levied.

Please find a blank audit report form on www.eaab.org.za under Estate Agents Services then Registrations or contact the Board on (011) 731 5600