Property360 - National Digital Magazine - 11 August 2023

OWN IT

WHY WOMEN ARE LEADING THE HOME-OWNERSHIP RACE PAGE 3

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The rise of pink

Thousands of homeowners are feeling the need to inject a Barbie vibe into their homes, whether with a splash or a sprinkle. Here’s how to do it

ON TIKTOK, Barbicore has been one of the biggest trends and in their new book, “Barbie Dreamhouse: An Architectural Survey”, authors Felix Burrichter and Whitney Mallett describe Barbie’s first dream house as being a statement of independence.

Designed in 1962, three years after Barbie made her debut, the cardboard house was a portable, foldable bachelorette pad filled with books and modernist furniture.

Interestingly, the home featured no pink and no kitchen, implying that Barbie was not just a housewife, but an independent woman with her own property at a time when women weren’t even legally permitted to obtain a bond without a male co-signer.

Barbie’s iconic dream house is known for its extravagant Palm Springs aesthetic, crazy architecture and bright, bold furniture, which may seem a tad too much for the real world.

But with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie dominating cinemas across the globe, thousands of homeowners are feeling the need to inject a little of Barbie’s vibe into their homes.

Cape Town interior designer, Will Engelbrecht, of WillDesign, says he recently redid a beautiful wall unit in Barbie Pink and added a bar with a pink marble top to an iconic home on the Atlantic Seaboard.

“While I like neutral shades I could envision my client’s need to play and take ownership of her space.

“Women are really enjoying owning their own homes and are being quite daring in putting their imprint on it, especially where they don’t have a partner who will mess with the aesthetic.

“Another penthouse I worked on came with the strict instructions by the woman owner: a home in pure white.

“She told me she spent all her life in a bedroom made for her ex-husband and herself and in a home made for kids. She now wanted something that told her daily: this is yours, you are free.

“From head to toe the house is ice white, and filled with crystal chandeliers. It looks magnificent, and is an ideal home for her.

“Women are definitely more willing to push the boundaries, and I am seeing more requests for pinks and softer hues in the home, no doubt helped by Barbie.”

Relocation expert Harrison Gough, of Moving Feedback, offers advice on how to Barbie-fy your home:

THINK PINK

Understandably, not everyone will want to paint every wall in the house pink, attach a pink slide to the exterior and put a statement fuchsia piano in the entranceway, so if you just want to get creative with splashes of pink, then here’s how:

✦ Look for handy and practical pink décor. Shelves are a great place to start. They are perfect for decluttering spaces, showcasing special items and adding a lived-in feel to any room. You can also decorate the shelves with your favourite pink decorations, books and candles to Barbie-up any room.

✦ Bedding is everything. Selecting the right bedding for your wanted aesthetic is key to having a gorgeouslooking bedroom. To add a slight Barbie twang, decorate regular white bedding with a few different pink pillows in various shades and

accompany it with a gorgeous pink throw to tie it together.

✦ Take it to the bathroom. A great way to decorate a bathroom is with small accessories like washbags and baskets that look practical and cute. If you want to keep your minimalist style bathroom but also play with colour, go for colourful towels and shower loofahs, which can work wonders in brightening a bathroom while keeping it accessible to switch up the colours whenever you feel to change.

✦ Simple but effective. An easy way to add in a simple pink addition is by dotting pink candles around your home; they add instant brightness and look beautiful when lit.

UPCYCLE YOUR OLD FURNITURE

✦ While redecorating can be fun and work wonders for your mental state, it can also be expensive, especially if you tend to switch up your aesthetic often. This is why getting involved in some upcycling is cost-effective and fun.

✦ Whether it be upholstering an old chair with some funky and bright new fabric or taking an old worn-out dresser and turning it into a bright work-from-home station, there is no limit on what you can produce.

✦ When looking for items to upcycle, it’s worth hunting Facebook marketplace for local furniture that people may not want for one-of-akind pieces.

✦ To Barbie-fy your furniture, a great place to start is by applying a lick of fresh paint on any dull or worn-out pieces that need a new lease of life. The Barbie Dreamhouse is covered in pink décor, but that doesn’t mean that there are no other colours that make the house pop.

✦ Opt for sage greens, aqua blues and soft lilacs as a starting point if pink is too risky. These colours work beautifully together and are a great way of brightening up a boring white or muted space.

MIX MATERIALS

✦ Don’t be afraid to mix materials. One of the best ways to aid your house in becoming a home is to make it feel comfortable and inviting, and nothing says that more than mixing materials such as wood, metal, wicker, and glass together in a space.

✦ To sprinkle some Barbie into your home, try pairing your wooden bed frame with metal or industrialstyle bedside tables or place your beautiful glass coffee table on top of a gorgeous colourful wool rug, styling both areas with bright and cheerful ornaments or stylish books to add some dimension.

PRINTS AND PATTERNS

✦ If you want to maintain a minimalistic feel and incorporate just a splash of Barbie into your home, this can be done easily with prints and pictures, adding life and a sense of homeliness to any room.

✦ A great benefit of adding prints and photos throughout your home is that you can switch them up whenever you feel tired of the look or want to experiment with different colours. For an impressive statement wall, get your favourite pictures or prints framed in various shapes and sizes and put them together on a large wall that needs jazzing up. This makes it exciting for guests to look at when they visit, and it is so easy to switch out the photos as the years go on.

Additional reporting by Vivian Warby

Think out of the box – a Barbie-type approach can help push boundaries when it comes to designing your home’s interior.

PICTURE: PEXELS

Women homeownership growing despite challenges

BY VIVIAN WARBY

in wages between men and women for the same type of work or work of equal value –remains a stumbling block in achieving gender equality in South Africa.

Despite various pieces of legislation aimed at preventing gender discrimination in the workplace, it persists, says the UASA, and the Covid-19 pandemic also increased the projected time to close the pay gap from 99.5 years to 135.6 years.

“HI, BARBIE.” And so starts a new day in Barbie Land where, unperturbed by the real-world patriarchy bias, Barbies rule in their pink mansions with a mantra of ‘houses before spouses”.

In the hit movie by the same name, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) live in a world where both genders accept that women determine their own lives, choosing a career, becoming president, chief justice or construction worker while maintaining the appearance of full makeup and attractive clothes.

While the movie is in part a study of patriarchy’s effects in the real world, in South Africa we are seeing a taste of the fantasy Barbie Land with about 60% of South Africa’s residential housing stock now being owned or co-owned by women. Women now also outnumber men as first-time home buyers.

Corroborating this, Carl Coetzee, chief executive of BetterBond, says more women bought property on their own between 2015 and 2020 than men or married couples.

Reports indicate that single women in the 31- to 35-year-old age bracket represent a large percentage of the total home buyers in the South African market. However, while single women have certainly made great strides in narrowing the homeownership gap, they are not immune to the after effects of the pandemic, rising interest rates, affordability issues and an economic crisis, all of which have highlighted how the road to affordable

homeownership remains uphill.

Despite the post-covid aftershocks, South African women’s increasing presence in the housing market shows that the homeownership rate of households led by women is rising while the homeownership rate of households led by men is falling.

It appears part of the reason leading to higher homeownership is that women are delaying having children and getting married in favour of building their careers. According to Stats SA’s marriages and divorces report from a decade ago, the median age of brides in 2011 was 29 while the average age in 2001 peaked at about 25 – 29. Today that stands at age 33.

Also, the slew of apartheid and antiwomen laws in the past made it difficult before for women to get a foothold in property.

Unlike Barbie Land, where it goes without saying that Barbie owns her own dream house, in South Africa in the past those laws and customs hindered women from making strides in the property world and prevented them from owning or inheriting land giving women the status of children and keeping them dependent on their fathers, brothers and husbands.

In 1962 when Barbie became a homeowner (the first bachelorette dollhouse pad went to market) living as a young, single woman in a house she owned, in real-life South Africa this was unheard of as patriarchal and racist laws persisted and women could not even inherit property from their fathers.

In fact, it was only a mere three years ago in 2020 when a landmark ruling in the Durban High Court saw 72-year-old Agnes Sithole score a legal victory that not only provided her a share of her husband’s estate but was heralded to protect an estimated 400 000 black elderly women in South Africa.

Facing impoverishment when her marriage ended, Sithole challenged a discriminatory law dating back to the apartheid era under which black women married before 1988 were denied ownership of family property, as all matrimonial assets belonged to the husband.

The new ruling stipulated that all such marriages were to be declared in community of property, where the property of either spouse is seen as joint property regardless of who paid for it.

And while things look better today and rulings like that in Sithole’s case help, black people “continue to be significantly underrepresented in the ownership of property, whilst administrative and financial constraints restrict the ability of black people to participate in the property market”, says the SA Institute of Black Property Professionals at their recent Transformation In Property event.

Added to these hurdles, the United Association of SA (UASA) also says the closing of gender pay gaps in the country still has a way to go.

South Africa, it reports, has a stagnant median gender pay gap of between 23% and 35%. So, the gender pay gap – or the difference

According to the World Economic Forum, while the global parity score of 2023 has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the overall rate of change has slowed down significantly. Even reverting back to the time horizon of 100 years to parity projected in the 2020 edition would require a significant acceleration of progress.

Why this is particularly important in homeownership, is that with greater economic freedom women can choose more expensive properties and also participate more in the property world, even using their property to become landlords and make money from homeownership. In other words, they can gain financial freedom.

Homeownership and having access to land secures women’s financial freedom and gives them individual agency and autonomy, says the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), which has in the past brought three cases to court to secure the property rights of disadvantaged women.

“The potential of women to own and control land fosters their power of selfdetermination; eliminates dependence; and enables them to participate meaningfully in decision-making structures,” says the LRC.

In the movie Barbie, the patriarchy is seen in full action in the real-world. South Africa could in its own way be the blurring of Barbie Land with the real world as women make strides in the property world and young black women make strides in creating generational wealth by owning property.

Despite the successes – when one thinks that it will take a predicted 100 years to close gender pay gaps… one is left asking, is change happening fast enough?

SA’s females are prioritising their careers and making strides in the realm of property, but pay-cheque parity is still a world away

Statistics show that women are outnumbering men as first-time home buyers.

PICTURE

JAKOB OWENS / UNSPLASH

New property portal to meet modern buying, selling needs

BY BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za

THE ONGOING RISE of proptech has changed the way people buy and sell properties, and so a fresh South African property portal has been launched to meet the new demands.

IOL Property users will now be greeted by a brand-new website that has been designed and equipped to keep pace with the demands of the modern digital landscape.

Finding the right technology stack to invest in for compatibility with rapidly evolving proptech has been a journey spanning several years, says IOL Property chief executive Carolyn Savage.

“It was imperative to leverage a more contemporary and compatible tech stack. The dynamic nature of the proptech industry necessitated careful consideration and exploration of various technological options.”

Throughout the process, the developers sought to identify a tech stack that would meet the website’s needs and provide a solid foundation for future growth and adaptation. The ultimate highlight of the new portal is its ability to meet the needs of buyers and sellers.

“Our commitment to providing real-time updates and same-day import stems from our understanding of the competitive nature of the real estate market.

Agents must be agile and responsive in presenting their properties to potential clients, and any delay can result in missed opportunities.

“We recognise that agents rely on our platform to reach their target audience efficiently, and we strive to provide them with the necessary tools to succeed.”

In addition, IOL Property is the only portal to offer a press office. Real estate agents and agencies, as well as public relations companies, can subscribe to the press office for R225 a month. This will allow them to upload six articles each month.

Another feature that sets the portal apart from others in South Africa is its pricing, Savage says.

“We strive to provide competitive pricing and ensure that advertisers receive excellent value for their advertising investment. We firmly believe in delivering value for every advertising rand spent on our portal.”

But the website goes beyond merely offering advertising space. It provides a comprehensive suite of features and tools that enhance the effectiveness of advertisements. This includes advanced targeting options to a highly engaged and relevant audience, such as IOL readers, in order to keep them up to date with news and insights.

Furthermore, IOL Property’s enhanced lead generation capabilities will provide agents with a robust platform to attract and capture high-quality leads, she says.

“We aim to maximise lead conversion rates and facilitate meaningful connections between agents and potential clients through advanced targeting options, improved lead capture forms, and seamless integration with customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

“We also recognise the importance of comprehensive site statistics and performance reports. Our upgraded analytics platform

will offer detailed insights into website traffic, user behaviour, and engagement metrics.”

Savage says agents will have access to real-time data that enables them to assess their listings’ performance, evaluate their marketing strategies’ effectiveness, and make informed decisions to optimise their online presence. The analytics tools will empower agents with actionable intelligence, allowing them to adapt and refine their approaches based on measurable results.

In yet another offering, agents’ visibility and credibility will be enhanced through upgraded profiles that showcase their expertise, achievements and listings in a visually appealing and informative manner. Agents can personalise their profiles, highlight their unique selling points, and differentiate themselves in the competitive real estate market.

“By elevating agent profiles, we aim to strengthen their brand presence, instill confidence in potential clients, and drive more leads and business opportunities.”

For buyers, the new IOL Property portal allows them to access the latest available listings as soon as agents upload them. The immediacy enables them to remain on top of the market, be among the first to explore new properties, and make informed

decisions based on the most current information.

“By eliminating the 24-hour delay to updates, we empower buyers to act swiftly, increasing their chances of securing the properties they desire in a highly competitive market,” Savage says.

As a surge in visitor traffic is anticipated on launch, the IOL Property servers will undergo a scaling process to accommodate the increased demand. The scaling procedure, Savage says, is essential to maintain a smooth user experience and prevent any potential issues caused by overwhelming traffic.

“During this scaling and balancing phase, a waiting room may be implemented, depending on the number of visitors accessing the website simultaneously. The waiting room serves as a means to manage the flow of traffic and prevent server overload. It allows us to prioritise user experience by ensuring that each visitor can access the website in an orderly and efficient manner.”

She says the waiting room is a temporary measure to maintain the stability and performance of the website during peak periods.

It has been designed and equipped to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape

Carolyn Savage, the CEO of the freshly launched IOL Property Portal

FOR SALE

R 1 295 000

2 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS

SPACIOUS APARTMENT IN DIEP RIVER.

2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment in Clarewood, Diep River, a short walk to the station, Martins Bakery and other local amenities, above the railway line.

• Fitted kitchen with electric oven, hob and extractor and plumbing for washing machine.

• Open-plan lounge with parquet flooring

•Two double bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath and shower. • Covered Parking bay. • Prepaid electricity

ERF: 1471m2 | HOME: 70m2 | RATES: R 450 p/m | LEVIES: R 1500 p/m

PLEASE CONTACT: Collin Mbiriri on 071 879 8564 or email cmbiriri@gmail.com or mmnyandoro@gmail.com

AGENTS’ DIRECTORY

DOGON GROUP PROPERTIES

Atlantic Seaboard Office 021 433 2580

thekings@dogongroup.com

www.dogongroup.com

RHONDA RAAD PROPERTIES

Cape Town Office 082 448 7795

Email: rrpsales@mweb.co.za

www.rhondaraadproperties.co.za

ASKA PROPERTY GROUP

Sandown, Milnerton Estates

Office 071 604 8493

Email: corlia@aska.co.za

www.askaproperty.co.za

DOGON GROUP RENTALS

Sea Point Office 021 433 2580

enquiries@dogongroup.com

www.dogongroup.com

DE PLATTEKLOOF

Cape Town 060 960 0100

Email: live@deplattekloof.co.za

www.deplattekloof.co.za

IRENE PORTER PROPERTIES

Simon’s Town Office 021 786 3947

Debbie 073 140 2543

www.ireneporterproperties.co.za

DOGON GROUP PROPERTIES

Southern Suburbs, Claremont Office 021 671 0258

southernsuburbs@dogongroup.com

www.dogongroup.com

PETER MASKELL AUCTIONEERS

KZN

Office: 033 397 1190

Email: info@maskell.co.za

www.bidlive.maskell.co.za

MURAMBI HOUSE

Wynberg Office

murambihouse@telkomsa.net

www.murambi.co.za

DOGON GROUP PROPERTIES

Western Seaboard

Office: 021 556 5600 or 021 433 2580

enquiries@dogongroup.com

www.dogongroup.com

VAN’S AUCTIONEERS

Gauteng Office 086 111 8267

www.vansauctions.co.za

www.iolproperty.co.za