Two South African law firms collaborate: “It’s lockdown, not shutdown”

Two South African legal firms have combined forces to bring free training and professional advice into the homes of more than 4000 estate agents during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated and Greyvensteins Incorporated entered into a collaboration ahead of the countrywide lockdown with the key focus being for estate agents to emerge from the health crisis stronger and more knowledgeable. 

Headed up by directors Cor Van Deventer and Liesl Greyvenstein respectively, the legal firms have built their powerful reputations on empowering the real estate sector with high-level training programmes, motivational events, and up-to-the-minute legal advice – all of which are now continuing daily via an online platform.

Called the ‘Lockdown Webinars’, they are in line with South Africa’s positive #StrongerTogether initiative, says Van Deventer.  “Lockdown does not mean shutdown at either Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated or Greyvensteins Incorporated.  Our staff are all working remotely and available to ensure that the workflow continues smoothly.”

Adds Greyvenstein: “Our intention is to empower property professionals beyond tomorrow by giving them the tools to get their businesses off to a flying start when lockdown ends.  Accordingly, our webinar sessions are tailored to give them step-by-step strategies that will benefit them as well as their clients going forward.”

From Monday to Friday

Using Zoom, a free, award-winning video conferencing and messaging platform, the weekly webinars start with a “Motivational Monday”.  The most recent session saw more than 1000 agents register for the presentation by internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and mind power coach Robin Banks.  Says Van Deventer.  “One of the world’s leading authorities on personal mastery, he has addressed CEOs and senior management in Fortune 500 companies around the globe, combining solid content with humour and his trademark high intensity energy. His takeaway message last Monday – “I will emerge even greater as a result of this crisis” – was exactly the fix for the week that everyone needed!”

Trevor’s Tuesday centres on training by South Africa’s ‘real estate guru’ Trevor Gaw.  Widely regarded as one of the country’s top trainers, sales and business performance coaches, facilitators and strategists, Gaw created the sought-after Trevor Gaw Real Estate Sales Mastery Programme in conjunction with Van Deventer and Van Deventer Inc. and Greyvensteins Inc.

Midweek is the ‘Be Wright on Wednesday’ webinar, in which veteran real estate trainer and three times cancer survivor Richard Wright combines his indomitable spirit with practical advice.  “Richard is a radical optimist and an expert on the mind and cognitive thought control as a means to effect change and overcome challenges and obstacles,” says Greyvenstein.

Legal training is the theme for Thursdays, each session presented jointly by both Van Deventer and Greyvenstein.  Covering subjects such as the legal implications of the COVID-19 lockdown on property transactions, offers to purchase, mandates, suspensive conditions and the various legal acts relevant to the real estate industry, the duo’s 90-minute sessions are designed to give property professionals a better understanding of all the legal implications that arise from property transactions.  “What’s truly inspiring is that properties are still being listed and sold during the lockdown, thanks in part to the grit and determination shown by those who are taking themselves out of their comfort zones to learn new skills such as video conferencing and doing business online,” says Van Deventer.

And there’s Fun Friday, a relaxed networking opportunity where agents can chat in the online meeting room.  “It’s a fun way of ending the work week with great prizes to be won,” says Greyvenstein.

What the industry is saying

Says Harry Nicolaides, CEO of Century 21 South Africa: “Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated as well as Greyvensteins Incorporated has shown that business is not only about profits and cash flow when times are good, but also about solidarity, friendships and assistance during a time of crisis.  For Century 21 South Africa, it is so refreshing to experience such a wonderful and caring gesture of support from these law firms through their very own initiative of arranging online training and motivational sessions for our agents and principals.  Not only are we being kept abreast of the latest legal implications and issues created as a result of the lockdown, but the online sessions go further to include general training and motivational broadcasts with guest appearances.  Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated and Greyvensteins Incorporated have to be acknowledged for their efforts and selfless contribution to the real estate sales industry during a time of crisis and Century 21 South Africa will forever be grateful to and appreciative of them.” 

CEO of Just Property Port Elizabeth Paul Stevens adds: “Our entire team at Just Property would like to express our gratitude for the webinars hosted by Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated and Greyventsteins Incorporated attorneys in conjunction with Richard Wright, Robin Banks and Trevor Gaw. We would like to thank you for providing our property professionals with excellent training, motivation and inspiration, not just to survive, but to thrive during lockdown and beyond. Thank you for showing us the way forward!” 

Both Van Deventer & Van Deventer Incorporated and Greyvensteins Incorporated are dynamic, family-orientated boutique law firms that specialise in conveyancing, litigation, wills and estates. 

With practices in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, the companies work closely with estate agents, building personal relationships with them and consumers on the back of their reputations for swift processing and problem-solving.