Real Estate Owner Plans Expansion To Meet Demand

A couple who manages a Nadi-based Professionals Fiji Real Estate, are planning to expand their operations into Savusavu, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, the Coral Coast and Suva.

Agency Owner and Co-Director, Baron Bruno, said the huge increase in local client referrals allowed them the opportunity to explore and expand their real estate business.

“We will be advertising salesperson roles very soon for these areas as we aggressively expand our operations, and look for potential acquisition targets who share our values and also focus on providing the best and most reliable customer service and market expertise available,” he said.

Professional Fiji is working collectively with other real estate agencies in Fiji, especially in the Western Division, to put together a Real Estate Institute.

“This would help educate real estate agencies and their salespersons with all members adhering to a common code of ethics,” he said.

Mr Bruno said they were also observing a significant number of resort-hotels offered for sale especially in Taveuni and Savusavu, in addition to residential homes, commercial buildings and blocks of land all over Fiji with eager sellers looking for offers from qualified buyers.

“We are seeing some domestic buyers keen to buy, but many are unable to qualify for bank loans, so properties continue to sit idle.”

COVID-19

The business saw significant opportunities for future growth in Fiji, despite COVID-19 impact on their business.

Mr Bruno said the business came up with strategic plans to tackle the drop in their property sales due to COVID-19.

“We have kept our staff on full wages even though our sales are currently slow and we will continue to push forward as catalysts for positive and productive changes here in Fiji,” he said.

“Real estate is not about “bricks & sticks” or “dollars and cents”. It’s about changing lives for people and allowing them to accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams,” Mr Bruno said.

He also said the pandemic and its challenges in the real estate industry could be tackled as they all were only temporary.

For social restriction purposes, the business uses technology, social media, video technology, search engine optimisation, to allow their clients listings to have the marketing exposure they’ve longed for.

About the business

Professionals Fiji Real Estate, which is Fiji’s only global real estate agency, is promoting and marketing their clients’ property listings on over 105 websites in over 60 countries.

In Fiji, they have over 250 listings “for rent” and “for sale” that are actively on the market.

Mr Bruno said they had another 50 plus properties that was available off the market, as pocket listings.

“During these sensitive times, some owners and landlords have chosen not to advertise their properties “for rent” and/or “for sale” because they don’t want others to know their current financial situation, and they are under the impression that the few local buyers will try and offer way below value for their properties.”

“Since there is little opportunity for foreign buyers/investors to get to Fiji at the moment, we have had to shift our focus more to accommodate local buyers/investors, since they can physically visit the properties we have available,” he said.

Written by Shreeya Verma for the Fiji Sun