Agent Q&A

Leapfrog Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal is an office to be proud of, with consistent performance and a culture that embodies the Leapfrog values. We chatted to franchisee Sharon Mattison to find out more. 

What drew you to the property industry?

I was a school teacher for many years, but in 2005 joined a start-up agency and fell in love with real estate. After being well established in the industry for 11 years, my husband Greg and I started the Leapfrog Zululand franchise from our home. A humble beginning has grown into a business that we're very proud of. 

Tell us about your team

Our vision has always been to create a family-first, friendly environment. In such a competitive industry, working together as a team is very important to us. We've always had a small team and that's the way we prefer it. There is no hierarchy here - we just all work together and support each other to achieve our goals. Everybody contributes and that's the backbone of the nurturing, supportive environment at Leapfrog Zululand. 

What makes a great agent?

Being an estate agent requires a love for people, an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to building one's own profile. My life motto has always been, "You have one reputation, don't lose it". It's the one way to gain the trust of your customers and to get repeat business. You also need to keep moving with the times. What it took to be a good agent in 2002 is not the same as it is in 2022. We all have to keep learning, adapting and thinking ahead. 

Looking to the future, how do you feel about 2023?

I have accepted that life is not simple anymore; people are more demanding, there are more demands on our time and tolerance levels are generally lower. Going into 2023, even if I can't change what is going on around me, at least I can control my attitude and response. Said differently, it's all about how one bounces back that matters in the end. 

At the core of this industry property is the product, but building relationships with people is the driving force. Yes, one needs the skill and knowledge of the property market, but when all is said and done, clients want to be able to trust that you have their best interests at heart, and that's why I love what I do.