RealNet Polokwane tops in Battle of the Estate Agents

The dining area of Tenpin on Grimm was a hive of activity last Wednesday evening with the team of RealNet Polokwane emerging as the overall winners of the Battle of the Estate Agents competition that was successfully hosted for the second year.
RealNet Polokwane team members Katryn and Estévan Dorfling, Justin van Heerden and Hugo van der Merwe overshadowed the other fifteen teams, which included last year’s winner, the team of Noordelike Eiendomme as well as the teams of Stipec Property Consultants, Eli Ströh Property Services, two teams of Aïda Polokwane and the five teams of RE/MAX Northland Realty. The teams competed in seven categories and the overall winner was determined by the total score in all the categories.
A number of prizes, which included a free quarter page advertisement in Polokwane Observer, were up for grabs.
Organiser of the event, Gerhard Franken explained the rules of the competition and said that, in line with everyday practices, bribery and corruption will be allowed, but at a cost. “All proceeds will, as with last year’s competition, go to local charities. This year the beneficiaries are Heart Drive and STOP and we have credit card facilities available if you did not bring your bank manager along,” he jokingly said.
All the contestants tested their skills at a round of ten pin bowling of which the individual scores were added to every team’s total and at least one member out of each team had to take part in the vocal challenge in karaoke style.
The teams were dressed up to the brands that they represented, allowing for a twist in the tail like one of the teams of RE/MAX Northland Realty, Anike van Eeden, Olivia Tete, Gerhard Groenewald and Johann du Plessis who dressed up as doctors, bringing their mascot, Doctor RE Max along.
Details of a selection of properties were projected on a big screen and agents were challenged to calculate a fair asking price and take part in a knowledge test of the Code of Conduct for Estate Agents.
Agents’ creativity and skills were tested when they had to design and produce advertisements with scissors and glue within a tight deadline. Each team also had to upload a short advertising video on their Facebook pages and share it with the organisers of the competition.
Franken said that the event was a great success and that similar events involving other disciplines are already planned for next year.
The amount raised at the event was not finally calculated at time of going to print.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com