Lizette Joubert wins chairman’s award
2008-01-24
LISTENING to the family history of Rawson Properties’ 2007 Chairman’s Award winner, Lizette Joubert (Rawson’s franchisee for Paarl), it becomes clear that most of her clan have a strong entrepreneurial streak. This is exemplified by her sister, now running her own business in the UK, her father who, after a lifetime’s work for the Cradock municipality, has become a very successful Rawson agent in Durbanville and, more particularly, by her brother Gerhardt Jooste, who as a young man was appointed by the Academy of Science and Arts as the winner of the Christo Wiese award for upcoming entrepreneurs. He also won the Sanlam Money Game with his inspired “SA Moments” photographic publication (which was used to fund the Callie and Monique Strydom Trust for abused children) and went on to found the Western Cape division of Atterbury Properties. He is now building his own brand named “Prosperito”. Lizette herself was destined for a business career early on because she attended the famous Commercial Girls’ High at Cradock and did well in such subjects as maths, accounting, bookkeeping and business administration. Her first job was running a pre-school facility for 30 to 40 children at her own home in Cradock. This had the big advantage that she could look after her three daughters while working and leave her husband, Arno, another instinctive entrepreneur, to grow his business. He was the Cradock Mica Hardware owner, but before long he had expanded to take on a steelworks, a plant nursery, a pet shop and a courier service – all under one roof. He persuaded Lizette eventually to give up her pre-school and join him in managing these. By 2004 they had moved into property, restoring existing homes and developing townhouse complexes. Intrigued by this new activity, Lizette wrote the Estate Agency Affairs Board exams. In 2005 the family decided that a new challenge was needed and they moved to Paarl – to which they soon became devoted. Here Arno convinced Lizette that with his help she had the ability to take on a Rawson franchise. She bought the Paarl area in October 2005, finding in Bill Rawson himself the ideal mentor. “He told me that what counted more than intelligence or qualifications – important though these are – is a passion for property and a strong desire to give good service. This I have never forgotten.” Lizette then also bought the Rawson Wellington franchise and in 2006/2007 won a whole range of franchise awards – culminating in the Chairman’s Award for 2007. In the Rawson group this is particularly prestigious because it reflects not just the success of the franchise, but how closely it conforms to what Bill Rawson himself regards as the ideal franchise, one that gives good service, has good manners and promotes good staff and client relationships. Lizette found in Paarl that no property agency had become seriously involved in local school affairs. She took on the sponsorship of the primary inter-schools rugby competition (the annual inter-schools competition is regarded as one of the most important events on the town’s calendar and is attended by thousands of ex-pupils every year). Later she became involved in school netball and hockey. In 2006 Lizette sold her Wellington franchise so as to be able to focus on Paarl. Here she now has seven full-time agents and sells two to three homes per month. “Now,” she says, “is a good time to buy in Paarl because after the 25% to 30% value rises of 2007 we are into a reversed buyers’ market with prices very competitive. Those with resources can now buy more.” Paarl is known as one of the most attractive of the Cape’s towns and has a wonderful range of Victorian and Cape Dutch homes – not just in the main street, but also halfway up Paarlberg. Right now, says Lizette, the action is taking place mainly in the R850 000 to R1,3 million bracket. Above this level there is very little under R2 million and some of her properties (she handles properties up to eight hectares in size) are priced R10 to R20 million. Her team has recently sold two attractive Victorian homes in Alexander Street, both priced at over R2 million. It is possible that the best Paarl buy available right now is in Rawson Developers and Homebuilders’ own project, Villa de Candia, where 85 units are available at prices from R449 000 – 47 have already been sold. Lizette is also very fit and energetic – she and her husband walk five or six kilometres a day. “I am lucky,” she says, “that I have been able to keep a balance between my working and family life and that, in all I have attempted, I have had the enthusiastic support of my husband who always has even greater faith in me than I have myself.”
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