Have you ever wondered why Century 21 South Africa practitioners consistently deliver standout service? The secret sauce is our investment in top-notch training, cutting-edge programmes, and innovative tools - the best in the industry. And to keep the momentum going, we've brought on board a dynamic leader in the field. Say hello to Jan-Louis Thomas, our new National Training Manager. With a hands-on approach to real estate education, he'll be making sure our practitioners continue to provide quality service to help all our clients reach their goals.
A true love for learning
As a career that combines passion and purpose, Thomas found his calling in real estate training. He believes education is crucial in any industry and sees the value it can bring. "Real estate is a complex and ever-changing field, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends, laws, and strategies is essential for professionals to thrive," he says.
Besides improving performance, Thomas also loves how personally rewarding effective training can be. "By sharing my knowledge and experience, I've helped real estate professionals carve out successful careers. Real estate training engages, motivates, and empowers practitioners, and I am humbled to play a role in this."
A real estate résumé that shines
Thomas's passion for real estate is matched only by his impressive qualifications. He has a legal education background and is a certified Property Practitioner in Real Estate. He currently holds a Fidelity Fund Certificate with the PPRA as a non-principal property practitioner. He has an exemption for the NQF Level 5 in real estate qualification, which gives him the expertise to assist principal practitioners. Over and above this, he is also registered as a Constituent Assessor with the Services SETA for the NQF Level 4 and 5 qualifications.
"I believe in lifelong learning. My aim is to continually add to my knowledge and skill set, enabling me to instruct others more effectively," says Thomas. "When it comes to keeping up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices, 'Professor Google' helps a lot as well as news and articles on respected property portals and AI applications."
An unmissable opportunity
With an award-winning Create 21 programme and Century 21 University giving practitioners an edge, it was an easy decision for Thomas to join the company and put his skills and passion into action. "The real estate agency has a strong reputation in the industry and shows a genuine commitment to providing training and support for their agents."
"I see this position as a chance to make a meaningful impact on the professional development of real estate practitioners and to contribute to the growth and success of Century 21 South Africa," he adds.
Facing hurdles head-on with training
As a real estate professional himself, Thomas is aware of the challenges practitioners face. He says apart from socio-economic and political impediments, property practitioners in all market conditions are always looking for enough saleable stock to attract buyers.
Thomas believes that by trusting the process and sticking to doing the basics regularly and doing it well, practitioners will thrive. And the way to ensure this is through real estate training. "Property professionals need to understand a wide range of subject matter and a lot of legal compliance is required," he highlights. "However, having trained successful real estate professionals, I always remind learners there are a few simple and practical daily tasks that form the basis of success. Practical application of what has been learned is important and repetition of the formula that works needs to be repeated."
From the classroom to closing deals
Thomas says he hopes to switch up Century 21 South Africa's training programmes in a way that the company's real estate practitioners will appreciate. "Besides sticking to the basics, we'll look at keeping things uncomplicated, taking action, and having fun."
This fuss-free approach to learning has served Thomas well in his journey as a trainer and is sure to help Century 21 South Africa practitioners across the company. "I've had many great success stories amongst my learners," smiles Thomas. "One that stands out is when a practitioner enjoyed great results after implementing an activity I discussed during an NQF Level 4 facilitation session. By applying a single strategy, he completely transformed his whole business so much that his principal gave him a much more lucrative farming area than he had before."