What made you pursue a career in property valuations?
I started work in December of 1962 as a trainee accountant at the Durban (eThekwini) Treasury Department, studying part-time for a commerce degree at the then University of Natal.
In 1966, realising I was not cut out to be an accountant, I transferred to the Real Estate Department, and in 1969 I was appointed as a Valuer, under the guidance of Mr. Les Swan, a very pragmatic valuer.
In 1972 I joined the firm of Thorington-Smith Rosenberg and McCrystal, town and regional planners and development economists, as a development economist/valuer. Dr. McCrystal, a well-known economist with a BSc (Estate Management) degree, encouraged me to study further, and I enrolled in the 2 year Programme for Real Estate Practitioners at UNISA, under Professor Nic Maritz, which I followed up with a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership at the same institution. In 1980, my colleague Dave Bristow and I, together with John Small, started our own company, specialising in property valuations and research, with a property management arm in Johannesburg.
Who do you think has had the biggest influence on your career today, and why?
It is difficult to say who has had the most influence on my career, as there have simply been too many excellent, highly professional valuers I have worked with over the decades, but mention must be made of my long-time partner, Dave Bristow, a Chartered Surveyor, who unfortunately passed away in 1999.
Complete this sentence: Every property valuer needs….
…to have a thorough working knowledge of International Valuation Standards and a large dose of common sense.
What do you think is one of the worst, but perhaps most common, mistakes a property valuer can make?
Believing you know it all, and not seeking the advice/opinions of fellow valuers. The market is often complex/difficult to understand/interpret, and seeking the advice/opinions of fellow valuers, experienced in a particular field, (and estate agents) is usually helpful and often essential.
Looking back on your career, what has been the biggest change you have noticed in property valuations in South Africa?
Increasing professionalism, certainly aided by The Institute (2005), and later The Council, adopting the IVS as their standards. It is however disappointing that some valuers have little or no knowledge of these standards nearly two decades later.
What risks do you see facing the property valuation industry today?
The ageing of the profession and insufficient mentorship/practical work experience under the guidance of experienced valuers for those entering the ranks is a threat. I’m undecided if the positives of AI outweigh the negatives.
Any advice for young people looking to pursue a career in valuations?
If at all possible, find employment with a company/institution/local authority which has a mentorship programme led by experienced valuers.
