Team 1 Waterfront

Since 2005 a fresh image have attracted the public of Centurion. The new image have been promoted by a well known and experienced team who, over the past twelve years have stamped their authority on the real estate market in Centurion.

Some time ago the well respected estate agency, Waterfront Properties have redesigned their corporate image to address the needs of a new and exciting challenge. The exciting new venture was Waterfront Properties' decision to franchise their well-proven business concept. Trademark registration requirements made it necessary to redesign the corporate ID. The name Team1 Waterfront (Team 1 for short) and the up-market logo and boards have become a well known image all over Centurion and further afield as the franchises began operating.

Audrey Jansen van Vuuren, CEO of Team1 has been a beacon of stable growth in the fast changing real estate industry. She has guided her business prudently over the years and when she made changes they were well considered and the timing perfect. At the moment she has 37 agents focusing on the sale of houses, townhouses and new developments. She has grown turnover sevenfold since taking over the franchise in 1995 when it still operated under the TopNet name. During this time she has grown market share from 12% to 37% in Centurion. The secret of her success is meticulous planning, controlling detail and managing processes and systems optimally. It is this focus on smoothly running systems that takes the pain out of real estate transaction for all parties involved: the agent, the seller and the buyer.

"After all these years I am convinced that a smoothly running operation is not a question of hit and run, but it is the result of a recipe that can be reproduced and copied for other business owners. This is why I decided to franchise", says Audrey.

She continues: "I have intimate knowledge of franchising. Before I entered the real estate industry, I was franchisee of the year for Drain Surgeon (1991/1992). I was three times franchisee of the year for TopNet. I know what to avoid in franchising. I really understand what makes franchising work."

Audrey believes that franchising can only work if everybody, franchisor and franchisees "put heads together" and make things work in a mutual interactive partnership that leads to mutual business prosperity. She understands perfectly well that running a franchising operation is different from running an estate agency and that the business drivers are different.

It is quite clear that Audrey has approached the new venture in the same clear-headed and orderly way that has characterized her whole career in business.