{"id":198618,"date":"2019-03-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/198618\/passion-and-dedication-steer-lifetime-career\/"},"modified":"2019-03-14T17:20:10","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T15:20:10","slug":"passion-and-dedication-steer-lifetime-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/03\/14\/passion-and-dedication-steer-lifetime-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Passion and dedication steer lifetime career"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jeanette de Vries\u2019 excitement and passion for selling properties is almost contagious and has carried her through a career spanning decades.<\/p>\n

The now 82-year-old Elsburg resident, who began selling properties in 1975, sat down with the GCN on Wednesday to share her story.<\/p>

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Elsburg resident Jeanette de Vries, who is a diamond sales partner at Rawson Property Group, started selling property in 1975 and has never looked back.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI began my career on July 1, 1975,\u201d Jeanette said.<\/p>\n

However, she admits she did not plan to become a realtor.<\/p>

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\u201cI used to fetch my children from school in Primrose and then travel through to Germiston South, where I used to stop a couple of times a week to draw money,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day John Gregg from United Building Society said to me, \u2018why don\u2019t you come and sell houses\u2019?<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked what is that all about and he replied, \u2018you are here two or three times a week why don\u2019t you come work here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

His suggestion peaked Jeanette\u2019s interest. After speaking to her husband Piet, who passed away in 2016, she began her career in real estate.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe had had our first fight within a week,\u201d she said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fought after John sold a property that I had buyers for.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the sale, he insisted that he would still give me a commission, but I explained that it wasn\u2019t about the money, it was about knowing whether I could or could not sell the property.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe assured me that I was fitting into my new role perfectly and had nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeanette has watched the industry change over the years but never let anything get in the way of her career, not even the theft of her vehicle on several occasions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never worried, I just kept selling property and knew I\u2019d get another car,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She continues to improve herself, making sure she is always up-to-date with the latest trends, development qualifications and requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo put things into perspective, when I started working in property there wasn\u2019t a regulatory board, that was only introduced in the \u201980s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe changes in the industry never stop, it is like a rollercoaster.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had to adapt to the changes as they\u2019ve come, and if you want to keep up you have to upgrade yourself all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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When asked what it is about selling real estate that has kept her in the industry all these years, she said with a laugh: \u201cIt is an addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThough it is a stressful and hard job with long hours all the ups and downs are part of the excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a wonderful feeling when you overcome all your hurdles and make the sale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeanette is a mother figure in the industry and loves to share her knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always shared my experience but make it clear that the youngsters need to share their knowledge with me too,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Jeanette\u2019s son Pieter, who followed in his mother\u2019s footsteps and got involved in real estate, believes the reason his mother has been so successful through her career is her attention to detail and caring approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe will see someone and remember that she sold them their house in this street, in this suburb, on this date,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLikewise her clients remember her, with some coming to her years later wanting her to help them sell their properties and find something new.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that speaks volumes about the person she is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeanette believes that hard work is the answer to a lot of life\u2019s problems and gave some sound advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot turn your back on a small problem because it gets bigger if you don\u2019t control it and work through it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

When asked when she\u2019ll retire Jeanette said, \u201cI will keep selling property until I can no longer walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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