Page 6 - TYSON PROPERTIES: 20 YEARS AND COUNTING
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AGENT CENTRIC PROPERTY APPROACH


                                                                   MURRAY HAYWOOD


                                                                           ur business is built on   Achieving Double Diamond   which all managers in this
                                                                           people – not selling   and numerous top sales awards   industry need to learn. Working
                                                                    “Ohouses,” observes Tyson     stand out as personal highlights,   with him closely has helped me
                                                                    Properties director, Murray   he admits, but being part of   layer myself in all aspects of this
                                                                    Haywood.                      the company’s expansion in    business,” he says.
                                                                                                  Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal
                                                                    “I believe you must practice what   and nationally was the highlight.  Ethics and communication are
                                                                    you preach and that everyone                                central to the Tyson ethos as is the
                                                                    knows someone – you only have   “We knew we could compete with   company’s ability to move with the
                                                                    ONE reputation. People have   the bigger names in the market   times, Haywood believes.
                                                                    forgotten how to communicate   and do things better, making us an
                                                                    and we hide behind devices. It   equal player. It also helped you to   “Tyson Properties is not a tired
                                                                    is important in our industry to   tap into your network of people on   old corporate doing things
                                                                    bring back the human element   a bigger scale,” he observes.  one way only. It is a vibrant,
                                                                    – as people are our business,” he                           young and inclusive company
                                                                    continues.                    However, throughout, it has been   with many shareholders in
                                                                                                  CEO Chris Tyson dedication    the individual businesses who
                                                                    Haywood’s decision to join Tyson   to leading by example that has   share and thrive on each other’s
                                                                    was based on a design to align with   inspired him. Haywood believes   successes – and share and learn
                                                                    a company poised to grow and   this is grounded in Tyson’s   from mistakes too.”
                                                                    compete at a high level. He reflects   having worked as an agent
                                                                    on this decision, taken in March   which provided an intricate   When asked what will continue
                                                                    2018, with clarity and pride. “The   understanding of what an agent is   to define Tyson Properties in the
                                                                    timing was right for an upmarket   and what an agent requires.   future, Haywood does not hesitate:
                                                                    company looking to dominate                                 “A company built on agents with
                                                                    and disrupt. Tyson was keen on   “He has a really positive never-   strong principles, professionalism,
                                                                    embracing change and competing   give-up attitude, empathy,   transparency and credibility; a
                                                                    to be the best by doing things   supportiveness and an amazing   company is only as good as the
         Janine and Murray Haywood                                  differently and better,” he recalls.   ability to listen and hear – traits   staff that works for it.”  

        BUILDING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK



        REGIS USAIWEVHU AND LINAH MARIJENI


                e lead with humility   Diamond Agent status for five   surrounded by that kind of team,
                because that’s how    consecutive years and Usaiwevhu   you feel unstoppable.”
        “Wwe were led. We tell        received the prestigious
        our agents that we are like a   Chairman’s Award.          SO, WHAT MAKES A GREAT ESTATE
        chain. If one link is weak, the   “Our decision to join Tyson   AGENT?
        whole chain is compromised.                                 Resilience, Marijeni answers:
        We focus on building a strong,   wasn’t made lightly. We evaluated   “But also passion and attention to
        supportive structure where    different franchises and even   detail. Real estate is about people.
        teamwork is non-negotiable,”   spoke to other agencies,” recalls   You’re dealing with families during
        says Regis Usaiwevhu.         Usaiwevhu. Their decision to go
                                      with Tyson Properties was not   emotional transitions. You need
          When he and Linah Marijeni   about branding but about the   empathy, patience, and precision.”  Michael Bester
        opened their Tyson Properties   culture behind the company.   Usaiwevhu adds: “You also
        branch in Richards Bay in 2017, the   “Tyson Properties focuses   need strong ethics. We’re dealing   AGENTS THAT ARE ABOVE
        brand was unknown in the area.                             with people’s most valuable
                                      on growing people,” explains
          Fast-forward to today and   Marijeni. “It doesn’t matter   assets, their homes. You need to
        they’re proud to say that Tyson   which branch you’re in, you feel   act with integrity, understand   THE REST
        Properties is one of the leading   like part of one family. There’s a   the law, and comply with all
        real estate names on the KZN   shared energy, unity, and sense   regulations. Real estate today
        North Coast. They’ve been named   of belonging. Most agents are   is not a fly-by-night industry. It   MICHAEL BESTER
        ‘Top Office’ in KZN three times.   young, vibrant, and incredibly   demands professionalism and
        Marijeni has earned Double    supportive. When you’re      accountability.”                   oday, a good agent is far more   navigating the interests of both
                                                                    Marijeni agrees. With regulatory   than a name on a ‘For Sale’   buyer and seller with fairness.”
                                                                   compliance tightening and the   Tboard. Tyson Properties’
                                                                   Property Practitioners Regulatory   agents are not just property   When he first encountered
                                                                   Authority (PPRA) and Financial   practitioners, they are trusted   Tyson Properties in 2015, Bester
                                                                   Intelligence Centre Act (FIC Act)   advisors, problem-solvers, and   was struck by a quality that
                                                                   in full force, doing things right   community builders, believes   remains the company’s greatest
                                                                   matters more than ever.         agent and partner for the Atlantic   strength to this day: integrity. In
                                                                    Looking forward, their vision   Seaboard, Mike Bester.      an industry often characterised
                                                                                                                                by aggressive tactics and short-
                                                                   is bold. The two would like to   He points out that Tyson    term thinking, he says Tyson
                                                                   double their footprint nationwide.   Properties agents consistently put   Properties stood out as a brand
                                                                     “We want to grow, not         the interests of their clients ahead   that valued honesty, transparency,
                                                                   just within Richards Bay but    of their own. “That’s  not just a   and doing right by the client.
                                                                   across other provinces. The     marketing line, it’s the standard   That culture remains deeply
                                                                   brand’s success in places like   we live by. The difference this   entrenched in every director,
                                                                   Johannesburg and Pretoria shows   makes, especially in emotionally   franchisee and agent across the
                                                                   what is possible. We are ready   charged transactions like buying   country.
                                                                   to take Tyson Properties even   or selling a home, is profound.
         Regis Usaiwevhu and Linah Marijeni                        further,” says Marijeni.       Our agents are diplomats,               (... continued page 7)



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