Carmen Gamieldien

What does your company do?

The Meraki Property Solutions company offers a comprehensive range of property-related services to individuals, businesses, and the general public. As an accredited real estate training provider, we provide affordable online and in-person training and consulting services nationwide. As a registered estate agency firm, the company serves as a host employer for property practitioners and provides residential sales and leasing services to the general public. We have a heart for people, a passion for property and a desire to see transformation in the real estate industry.

What is your biggest success?

Meraki Property Solutions is proud to announce our achievement as a finalist in the 2022 City of Cape Town Smart Supplier Readiness Program. Additionally, we have recently secured accreditation for the new Real Estate Agent occupational qualifications at NQF level 4, which will be released on July 1, 2024. This accreditation places Meraki among an exclusive group of only 10 training providers in the Western Cape and 29 nationally qualified to offer this program. We are equipped to deliver training both online and in-person, ensuring flexible learning options for all our students. Since launching our residential sales and leasing department on May 1, 2022, we have successfully grown our rental portfolio to include 60 managed leases and 10 procurement leases. This expansion reflects our commitment to excellence and our ability to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Our biggest hurdle has been managing cash flow and team productivity. As commission-only earners, our agents are only paid when transactions are successful, either upon registration at the deeds office for sales or when leases are signed and monies received for rentals. This results in inconsistent income, leading to low motivation among the team, with only 20% performing well. Current market conditions, such as high interest rates, high cost of living, and low household affordability, have also significantly affected property sales. When agents are not earning, they are less likely to invest in further training, creating a knock-on effect. Additionally, we have not been able to expand our product offerings with more training programs due to the costs of training materials. Transitioning from a start-up to the next phase with limited resources remains a significant challenge.