Dear CyberAgent user,

It is clear that the South African property market is recovering. The country has seen a 40 per cent increase in property sales in the last two months. This compared to the previous equivalent period. Furthermore the Quarterly property price rises have occurred in 16 out of the 27 countries that was included in the Global Property Guide of which South African was one. Indeed good news for home owners and estate agents.

Print is steadily losing ground as the Internet becomes the number one advertising medium for estate agents, a new survey shows. The results of the just-released poll show that local or community newspapers are now the only print options that command more support than the Internet, with 54% of agents regularly placing adverts in these papers while 47% make use of online property portals to showcase their stock. What is more, 74 percent of agents now also regard their company websites as important advertising channels. “To a large extent, this sharp shift towards online advertising is a result of the property market downturn,” says Dr Willie Marais, national president of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA). Read more in Print giving way to the Web in SA real estate

Here at CyberAgent we host over 1600 property websites and can truly say that we are the experts when it comes to the designing of property websites. We strive in giving our clients the Internet presence they deserve;

• Google unveils South African maps ahead of 2010 and CyberAgent raise to the occasion!
  
• Video clips on your website
  
• Top 10 Tips for Your Agency Website

As we nearer the end of 2009 we should all be tired and looking forward for that well deserved rest in December. Here at CyberAgent the developers caught a second breath and added some superb new enhancements to our CyberAgent application. Don’t miss What’s new

Good Luck!
The editor

1. "New Matching Buyers for a Property"

The Matching Buyers form in the Property Manager has been updated.

It is now possible to ignore/disregard certain buyer requirements to filter the list of available buyers.

Below the search criteria a list of matching buyers will be displayed. You will be able to click on the buyer link if you have access to view a specific buyer. If not, you will be able to email the agent/agents responsible for the buyer requesting the contact information.

Please report any errors that you may experience to support, support@cyberprop.com

2. “Matching Properties that are listed on www.cyberprop.com to your Buyer list”

I'm sure that a number of times you had a buyer but no properties to show this buyer.

Good agents will search all over for properties that match the criteria of the buyer, from property sections in newspapers to property websites. We've just made it easier for you the agent to match properties that are listed on CyberProp.com with you buyer list

The Matching Property form allows you to search your own database for any property matching a specific buyer's requirements. Even making it possible to ignore/disregard some search criteria. It's now also possible to search the www.Cyberprop.com website on the same criteria. This will return a list including pictures with all matching properties. The list also includes the agency and agent name with their contact details.

You are now in the position to negotiate a deal between the listing agency and yourself. That's if the listing agency is willing to do a split in commission. Good luck!

Below is an example of the Matching Property form:

All our newsletters are stored on the CyberAgent website - so you can view any previous newsletter by simply going to www.cyberagent.co.za/newsletters.shp and then simply click on the newsletter link on the right.

To the editor:

Hi,

I see that nearly all the web sites only give VERY BASIC info about the houses for sale. Is there no place to write and explain features or say anything about the property? Do you know of any other web sites where one can actually MARKET a property? Lloyd

From the editor:

Are you overlooking the simple things that can make a difference between sold and for sale when listing your property? Don’t! Be aggressive when listing your properties. Take some time to gather your ideas for your unique property descriptions before jumping in to add your property.

Also write some good keyword rich amenities and nearby attractions paragraphs. Mentioning nearby attractions will include keywords in your text which is great for website optimization on Search engines like Google.

Detailing your property’s amenities is also a great source of good keywords for your ad text. Like newly painted, superb braai area, hot tub for summer and winter times, family swimming pool etc.

Good luck!

Don’t miss out on a great article that we’ve place this month; Top 10 Tips for Your Agency Website

Last month we reported that Google launched their new Google Maps with detailed maps of many South African cities and towns, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and East London. These maps are accessible on Google Maps through any web browser or via Google Maps for Mobile on data enabled handsets. Although already available in South Africa, the map data has been improved dramatically and is now available with additional features. In addition to searching online Maps, Google Maps users will now be able to find businesses and check driving directions. Businesses will be able to add their own business listings for free via Google Maps Local Business Centre.

If you don’t have Google mapping on your website contact Johan and his team to get it installed; webmaster@cyberprop.com Don’t be OUT, be IN!

CyberAgent has recently added mapping to its web sites.

Having looked at various mapping options, CyberAgent eventually decided to use Google maps. The Google map application is a great tool for adding a visual aspect to your web site listing. To show your listing, you will have to add the co-ordinates to the listing. This can now be done via the CyberAgent Offline application, using Property Manager or you can use CyberAgent Anywhere, Property Manager -> Map to add the co-ordinates to your listing. You also have a choice wither to allow the web site to display exactly where your listing is located i.e. for show days or you can choose not to show, and then the map will display general suburb information.

We are adding an “Agency Map Search” where a client will select an area on the map then click on show agencies. This will then show where the agency is situated as well as general contact information. We are busy updating our database with your coordinates based on your address submitted on your contract. This process should be completed shortly. We will be looking at how we can improve the client experience using mapping. As and when we have developed anything new, it will be made available for you to use on your web site.

• All you need to do is to go to YouTube, create a free account and upload your video.
  
• Once the video is uploaded successfully, YouTube will return a string to use on your own web site.
  
• There is a link that you must put it in your picture description, exactly the same way as you would do with virtual tours. For more information contact our support desk

Win a FREE video!

Viewr.com is giving away 20 Animated Videos to CyberAgent users.

Furthermore for CyberAgent users, all the others get as many videos as they wish at Half Price. The Half Price Offer would be for one week after the deadline for the Free Videos.

From www.viewr.com, The Agent would own the videos and can embed them anywhere, we'll send them the full size mp4 file. We'll put the videos on YouTube for them. http://www.youtube.com/user/viewrcorp

Don’t wait! Send those emails and make sure that yours are under the first 20 that is received.

Karl Lingenfelder
President/CEO
www.viewr.com
The Global Position on Real Estate
People, Places, Property
www.Viewr.TV

Click Here for printable .pdf file

We 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 October 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 October 2009:

Although the Study Guide is primarily aimed at non-principal estate agents seeking to attain the Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate, whether by way of study or through the undergoing of a Recognition of Prior Learning assessment, it will also be found to be of great value to all practicing estate agents. This comprehensive and authoritative reference work has been affordably priced, especially having regard to the fact that it will be a condition of Board accreditation of both Recognition of Prior Learning Centres and Training Providers alike, that the work prescribed for all learners and/or Recognition of Prior Learning Candidates.

To obtain a copy of the Study Guide please contact Ms Molly Musi on Tel: 011 731 5663 or email her at molly.musi@eaab.org.za. The Two Volume set can also be purchased at the offices of the Board situated in Hyde Park.

The Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA) has announced a preferential travel package for South African estate agents wishing to attend the prestigious National Association of Realtors (NAR) Convention to be held in San Diego later this year.

The convention is the world’s biggest real estate gathering ...

Forget about interest rates. Insist on slashing fees. It'll be good for SA economy & your bank balance.

High time South Africa's estate agencies slash their commissions. Cutting hefty property commissions will help inject fuel into the real estate market

Do you agree that it is time for estate agents to cut commission? Send your viewpoints to news@cyberprop.com

As I look back over the past year and view the devastation caused by what has been dubbed the worst global economic melt down since 1929. I feel most grateful that our team has weathered the storm and that we have emerged from it stronger, leaner and fitter. The strong character together with the skills and knowledge of the Chas Everitt Management together with our agents who are the lifeblood of our organisation, have delivered immense value to our sellers and our purchasers of property during these trying times...

Property sellers admit to fibs; SA's rip-off property sales commssions in spotlight

JOHANNESBURG - This week in Tabloid Tuesday, a snapshot of property news: Britain's estate agents have got property owners in a tizz after admitting lying to homebuyers...