Andrew Smith has since joined the company as their newest licence partner. He's recognised the potential that that the market has, and especially the benefits that residential and commercial property could have on each other.
After his studies as a draughtsman and space planning architect, through Stauch Vorster Architects. Later in 1991 he joined Mv3 Architects as a partner and headed up the UK office. Smith entered the property industry in 1988, thanks to his grandfather and mentor, who spent all his adult life in property in the UK and locally. He was the founder member of the Russel Mason Stride/Syfrets brand founded in early '50s, causing Smith to follow in his footsteps.
Smith is also not new to the brand as he has joined us as an agent at the Bryanston shop. Having experience in the commercial market he saw the gap in the market and started covering both commercial and residential. His philosophy in life is to live life in harmony with those around you with his famous quote being by Nelson Mandela: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear."
He has high business ethics and believes customer service is the key to success. He has already had successful sales in the short period he has been in the commercial division and we believe that this an only continue on the success path.
"When our customers are ready to build or diversify an investment portfolio, we show them the value of investing in commercial property as the foundation for a profitable series of investments," says Craig Hutchison, CEO of Engel & Völkers Southern Africa. "Commercial property offers low volatility and low risk, acting as a stabiliser against riskier elements of an investment portfolio.
Commercial and residential property market cycles peak and drop at different times, reaffirming the benefit of having both types of investment in your portfolio. When one side of the market is a little slower, chances are (based on historical cycles), the other is stronger. Again, this spreads your risk, creating a stronger and more secure portfolio.
"We wish Andrew all the best and believe that he will only grow our brand and client offerings even further," Hutchison concluded.
