Harcourts celebrates 40 years
Over the last four decades Colin Rodrigues has seen the South grow from its working-class roots to become one of the most vibrant and diverse parts of Johannesburg today.
CESAR Rodrigues and Colin Rodrigues opened Delta Estates on Turf Club Street in Turffontein in 1976 just six months after the Soweto uprising. This was not the time to be in property as many people were leaving the country. But the pair persevered and today Harcourts Delta is one of only two agencies that are still in business in the South since the 1970s.
The main area of operation was the ‘old South’. At the time it was a working-class area that experienced a huge influx of Portuguese immigrants from Mozambique. Many of these people were skilled artisans such as carpenters, builders, roofers and tilers, and suddenly there were renovations taking place on every street. Suburbs like La Rochelle, Rosettenville and Turffontein were transformed overnight. Properties in the areas sold for between R14 000 and R18 000.
In the late 1970s the most sought-after suburb in the South was Mondeor. Surrounded by the hills of the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve it was known for its lovely homes with their prized gardens. The neighbouring areas of Glenanda, Glenvista, Bassonia and Mulbarton, which up until the ’60s were farmland, were just starting to be developed.
“In 1973 the Glenvista Country Club opened and property surrounding this beautiful course became sought after with houses selling for between R23 000 and R28 000 at the time. Today you need a couple of million to even consider buying a property in these areas,” said Colin.
A highlight for Delta was being part of the Star Homes Show in 1985. Through its sister company, Delta Construction, they built one of a dozen modern homes in the newly established suburb of Bassonia, which really put Delta on the map. To grow the business in the ‘New South’ a second office was opened in the Glenvista Shopping Centre in 1989.
“The benefits of networks and national referrals became more apparent, and Delta saw the value in being part of a nationwide group and joined Homenet in 1995, and thereafter moved to its current premises in Mondeor,” confirmed Colin.
In 2008 Homenet entered into association with Harcourts International, one of the leading real estate companies of the world, hence the change of name to Harcourts Delta. Marc Rodrigues and Michael Sears joined the company in 2012 and took over the management and ownership in 2013. Cesar and Colin have remained on in an advisory capacity.
“Marc and Mike’s arrival has seen some exciting changes for Harcourts Delta including a move to the North, with the opening of another office in Parkhurst in 2016. We now look forward to an exciting future that will see us take what we have learnt over the last four decades in the South to other parts of Johannesburg as well,” concluded Colin.
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