Passion and dedication steer lifetime career
Jeanette de Vries has seen the world of property change around her in her over four decade-long career.
Jeanette de Vries’ excitement and passion for selling properties is almost contagious and has carried her through a career spanning decades.
The now 82-year-old Elsburg resident, who began selling properties in 1975, sat down with the GCN on Wednesday to share her story.
“I began my career on July 1, 1975,” Jeanette said.
However, she admits she did not plan to become a realtor.
“I used to fetch my children from school in Primrose and then travel through to Germiston South, where I used to stop a couple of times a week to draw money,” she explained.
“One day John Gregg from United Building Society said to me, ‘why don’t you come and sell houses’?
“I asked what is that all about and he replied, ‘you are here two or three times a week why don’t you come work here.’”
His suggestion peaked Jeanette’s interest. After speaking to her husband Piet, who passed away in 2016, she began her career in real estate.
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“We had had our first fight within a week,” she said with a laugh.
“We fought after John sold a property that I had buyers for.
“After the sale, he insisted that he would still give me a commission, but I explained that it wasn’t about the money, it was about knowing whether I could or could not sell the property.
“He assured me that I was fitting into my new role perfectly and had nothing to worry about.”
Jeanette has watched the industry change over the years but never let anything get in the way of her career, not even the theft of her vehicle on several occasions.
“I never worried, I just kept selling property and knew I’d get another car,” she said.
She continues to improve herself, making sure she is always up-to-date with the latest trends, development qualifications and requirements.
“To put things into perspective, when I started working in property there wasn’t a regulatory board, that was only introduced in the ’80s,” she said.
“The changes in the industry never stop, it is like a rollercoaster.
“I have had to adapt to the changes as they’ve come, and if you want to keep up you have to upgrade yourself all the time.”
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When asked what it is about selling real estate that has kept her in the industry all these years, she said with a laugh: “It is an addiction.”
“Though it is a stressful and hard job with long hours all the ups and downs are part of the excitement.”
“It is a wonderful feeling when you overcome all your hurdles and make the sale.”
Jeanette is a mother figure in the industry and loves to share her knowledge and experience.
“I have always shared my experience but make it clear that the youngsters need to share their knowledge with me too,” she said.
Jeanette’s son Pieter, who followed in his mother’s footsteps and got involved in real estate, believes the reason his mother has been so successful through her career is her attention to detail and caring approach.
“She will see someone and remember that she sold them their house in this street, in this suburb, on this date,” he said.
“Likewise her clients remember her, with some coming to her years later wanting her to help them sell their properties and find something new.
“I think that speaks volumes about the person she is.”
Jeanette believes that hard work is the answer to a lot of life’s problems and gave some sound advice.
“You cannot turn your back on a small problem because it gets bigger if you don’t control it and work through it,” she said.
When asked when she’ll retire Jeanette said, “I will keep selling property until I can no longer walk.”
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