Sands Home Search are Cape Town's leading property experts for assisting in securing property and guiding you through the property purchasing process.

So how can the buyer be sure they are getting the best possible advice and price?

Many countries now operate with estate agents and buyers/property consultants. This approach means professional representation for both the seller and the buyer.

More and more estate agents in Cape Town now work with buyers consultants as the buyers seek their own independent expertise.

What’s the main difference between a Cape Town estate agent and a buyer’s consultant?

The buyers consultant differs from the estate agent in a number of ways:

Buyers consultants do not market properties (as Estate Agents do) and therefore do not act for the seller’s interest at all.

As they are contracted by the buyer, they represent the buyer’s best interests and professionally negotiate the best terms and conditions for the buyer.

Estate agents will tend to only show you property that they have been mandated to sell; this can reduce a prospective buyer’s choice. A buyer’s agent may access all the properties on the marketplace including ‘off market’ properties.

Estate agents are obliged to get the best possible terms and price for their client – the seller of the property, consultants are to get the best possible price and terms for the buyers – often resulting in a reduction on the property price, meaning the buyer can save considerable amounts of money.

Buying a property in Cape Town represents a significant investment of time, money and emotion. Whether you are buying the property as your family home, a weekend retreat or purely for property speculation, you of course want to ensure you get the correct property for the correct price and in the correct location.

The below are useful hints and tips to help you achieve your goal.

Buying a property in Cape Town – The correct location
Location, location, location – often quoted as the 3 most important factors to consider when buying a property. Prices and saleability differ literally from street to street in Cape Town and getting the right address can mean significant differences in price, amenities and, importantly, safety.

Take your time to get to know the areas; viewing the area is as important as viewing the house. Estate agents obviously market property, not areas, so we recommend using a buyer’s consultant to assist you in your property search.

Buying a property in Cape Town – The right property
You have chosen the location and are all set to starting viewing properties for sale. Traditionally internet search, newspapers, estate agents and show days prove to be the more common methods used in buying the right property. We recommend your search is extended beyond this.

With estate agents charging very large selling fees of up to 7.5% + VAT of the sale price, more and more property owners look to see if they can achieve a private sale first, meaning property buyers not accessing private sales can miss out not just on quality property but often less expensive due to no agents fees being involved.
Estate agents by the nature of how they are rewarded will always market their own properties more aggressively. Again the result can be the buyer not getting to see the full selection or properties for sale in Cape Town.

Make sure you see as many properties as you need to; it helps ensure your knowledge levels and expands your choice. An independent buyer consultant will assist you with this.

Buying a property in Cape Town – How to formulate your offer to purchase.
Buying a property in many countries only becomes legally binding when transfer or exchange of contracts takes place. It is vitally important to understand that in South Africa buying your property becomes legally binding when an offer to purchase has been signed by both parties. In short, it constitutes the terms and conditions that the purchase will proceed under.

Make sure your solicitor and buyers agent assist you in putting together the offer to purchase. When spending millions of rands on a purchase it is best practise to always get a legal opinion.

Buying a property in Cape Town – What price to pay
With properties literally next door to each other differing greatly in price, how do you know what to offer, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area? Estate Agents are mandated to get the best price for the seller so asking them what price, would seem a somewhat misguided tactic in negotiations.

That often leaves the purchaser to guess work or flicking through the paper trying to work it out.

Buyer’s agents have extensive knowledge of the market and area allowing them to provide you with good knowledge when formulating a price, They also have access to information on previous houses sold in the area, what prices they were sold for and the building costs.

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OUR CLIENTS

50% of our clients are international buyers, whilst, 50% of them are already based in the country.

The common denominator is that our clients are busy, demanding and used to receiving exceptional service. They appreciate that we act exclusively for them, the property buyers and have an impressive track record of securing the finest properties on the most favourable terms to the buyer.

OUR SERVICE IS FREE TO PROPERTY BUYERS

Utilizing the services of an exclusive property consultant undoubtedly increases the chances of you finding the right property, at the right price and in the right location.

Many of us will feel that such a service is beyond our means and add substantially to the costs associated with purchasing a house in South Africa.

Sands Home Search realizes the importance of having your own representation when investing such large amounts of your money and emotions into the important decisions that go with purchasing a house.

As a well known buyers agent, Sands Home Search has forged strong links with many reputable Estate Agents. Estate Agents receive commission from sellers for effectively negotiating the sale of a property; this involves considerable marketing costs for the agent. In dealing with Sands Home Search they eliminate some of these costs and are therefore happy to ‘commission share’ – a common practice amongst Estate Agents in South Africa - especially so as Sands Home Search are seen as a volume source of high quality property buyers!

As long as the purchase is effected through us and we receive a commission share our service is free to our clients the property buyers.

To benefit from our free service to property buyers, we simply require buyers to instruct us to act for them on an exclusive buyer's agency mandate.

INSTRUCTING US IS EASY.

Step 1: We discuss your brief in detail either through email and telephone.

Step 2: Complete and fax a signed copy of our terms of business (an "Exclusive Buyers Agency Mandate")


We are confident that our service could be of great benefit with your planned property purchase and we look forward to discussing further.

If you require impartial advice on acquiring a prime property in Cape Town please contact:

Cape Town office on: +27 (0)76 222 7518
or
UK Head Office on: 01425 462 549 / +44 1425 462 549.

› click here to Register Your South Africa Property Search Requirements

Thank you for your interest in our company.