South Africa’s Consumer Protection Act hampers Estate Agents

In the real estate world it is an accepted fact that no residential property marketing company will ever flourish if it neglects its stock canvassing.

But, as Lucas van Vuuren, one of Rawson Properties’ two franchisees at Brackenfell has pointed out, the new Consumer Protection Act’s “direct marketing” stipulations make this more difficult now than ever before.

“The Act,” he says, “goes a long way to protecting the privacy of the individual.  Among other things, this means that no telephonic or walk-up canvassing can take place after 7pm on weekdays, after 12 noon on Saturdays.”

Van Vuuren said that his staff had countered the problem by canvassing more during the work day which has kept stock levels reasonably high and by having more show days on Sundays  when before some agents would be out canvassing.