Feed on
Posts
Comments

Our Plans For 2010

Jan 18th, 2010 by Johan


Nearly three years ago we decided to make Simon’s Town our home!

The beauty of Simon’s Town stole our hearts immediately. Within a short period of time we had more than 200 people reading our newsletter. Today we have more than 300. And I want to thank you for taking the time to read our stories. The grammar and spelling can be better. But I am sure you are getting the drift of what I am trying to say.

Here are a few of our 2010 plans

  • The Horak’s are staying in Simon’s Town. We wanted to explore and go on adventures. My idea. Friends of ours are going on a long sailing trip and we could join at regular intervals. Exciting. But as time got closer our resolve got weaker. (And I get sea-sick). The touring of Southern Africa was also my idea. But… Simon’s Town, 14 Harbour Heights is where we are now and where we will be for a long time to come. If we ever move it will be even closer to the Simon’s Town village. I saw such a lovely house today within walking distance of the coffee shops with a beautiful view over the yacht basin.
  • There are many great architects. I want to create a Face Book group; Demand All Architects to Inscribe Their Names on the Houses They Design. I believe that if architects are required to publish their names on the houses they designed there will be less eyesores and monstrosities.
  • We aim to give quality attention to those we deal with, to win the trust of all and only give our best.
  • Our real estate business is different. You can read everything about us. If you look at the websites of most other real estate agents, they focus on selling. We focus on relationships. We want to continue creating relationships; by being honest, by telling you who we are, the good and the bad. I know that some people don’t always like the truth. We hope to do business with people who can handle the truth. For example: If you want to sell your house and it is overpriced, we will tell you and rather walk away than give you incorrect information.
  • I have previously mentioned that civic bodies need to be public in all communication. Most of them are currently using email to keep discussions private. It’s my intention to publicly promote the public communication of civic issues. Yes.  I believe they should do it even if it’s risky. It’s my intention to show civic bodies that they have more to gain by publishing communication as it will make it easy to then involve the whole community. And the place to start is to publish all civic email communication.
  • I would suggest to Simon’s Town home owners making their homes available for 2010 world cup to do it at a fair rate. If you currently have a plus 75% occupancy then you are doing something right. You should keep your high season rates or up them by 10%. If your occupancy is currently less than 60% check what’s wrong with your marketing effort, before you start dreaming of bags of 2010 soccer money. It’s our intention to help more home owners market their self-catering homes and guest houses.
  • I have never tried to be politically correct. And it’s my aim to continue along the same route. I know that some Simon’s Town people don’t like that. I have made mistakes in the past and I will surely make more mistakes in the future. But during 2010, I will continue to ask questions.
  • We believe that selling real estate is a way to learn more about our current walk on this earth. We have learned lots while in Simon’s Town. We want to thank you for being a part of our growth. We are looking forward to the exciting evolution while sharing Simon’s Town with you. The next few years are going to be extremely interesting. It’s our plan to be actively involved.
  • In general Simon’s Town real estate sales are heading in the right direction. We are optimistic. There are more business dealings at the moment and that’s good news for all Simon’s Town real estate agents and home owners wanting to sell their properties. We want to —more— effectively market your home when it comes on the market.
  • [Don't Read This If You Are Sensitive] I have a problem with those who promote the preservation of Simon’s Town without considering how their ideas and methods, slow and hamper preservation. A few years ago we sold a lovely home to lovely people. They are also Simon’s Town property developers. They bought land in Simon’s Town but were delayed by red tape for years. Today they have lost all interest. The investment could have injected cash. Is it a coincidence? He was delayed by nine months before he could continue. Delayed by local bodies who try their best to preserve. I dare you to come and look at this home after this investor, who had the tenacity to push through the delays, and preserved this home with money. This is what we need. An environment where money is nurtured and welcomed. Where investors who mean well are assisted. This is what I will promote.

Have fun and we are looking forward to meeting you soon.

Johan and Elmarie Horak

086 026 3333

http://SimonstownRealty.Info

Posted via email from Simon’s Town @ Cape Town

It’s great to have you back. Thanks.

Posted in Simon's Town | Comments

Best Wishes For 2010

Jan 1st, 2010 by Johan


We would like to wish you one of the best years ever. May your 2010 resolution be to love yourself – get up every morning and wrap your arms around yourself. Because, if you do, you may just find it easier to love everyone else more. Even baboons and real estate agents. The other day I read that the Mayan greeted each other by saying " In Lac'Kech" , meaning that I am another you. If you take this as a truth, then when you wrap your arms around yourself and love the self you will also love others truly.

Talking about the Mayan, I hope all me friends will make the time to watch and study the 18 (1-18) videos. I have CD copies and will make them, freely, available to you. 

I believe that the individual is busy taking back his/her power. Slowly but surely humans are dismantling every system of the use of false power, in other words abuse of power. Just think how the ego world of powerful-bank-executives crumbled while their money making systems imploded around them. This will continue. Just think how embarrassed Obama must have been when the USA had to borrow money from China. 
    
Last night we discussed all the opportunities in and around Simon's Town with new Simon's Town neighbours; we agreed that the place to initiate creative growth, in Simon's Town,  is through the local school. Without going into the detail; one of the consequences of a vibrant school would be a correction in Simon's Town's age distribution. This is nothing personal. It's just a fact that Simon's Town does not cater for young people. They don't don't buy homes here and they don't send their kids to the local school.  

Talking about creative ideas. I again ended up on the wrong side of authority when I went public with a local story on the creative ice cream parlour. The drama is irrelevant. What is relevant is that Simon's Towners want to be part of the decision making process. They want to add their voice and new online collaborative communication tools make this very easy. It is my wish that we all get up and ask questions of all organisations and also get involve in the discussions. Do not wait for the AGM. No. Make all civic matters public with everyday-communication tools.

Start hugging yourself today

In Lac'Kech
     
Johan
P.S. My last wish: May they invite dyslectic people to the ama Krokko Krokko Games. With Oscar given the okay to attend the "normal" games anything is possible.   

Posted via email from Your Stories, Your Tales -> Our Far South Pot Pourri

Posted in Simon's Town | Comments

Can Civic Associations Remain Faceless?

Dec 31st, 2009 by Johan


Organizations thrive on their ability to allow individuals to remain faceless. It permits them to act badly, not in the interest of their customers [constituency]. Seth Godin

I cannot agree more with Seth. Although Seth aimed this at business the same is true for any organization that represent the public or community like civic associations.
More than two years ago I joined the local civic association’s exec to see if I can add some value. My aim was to observe and then introduce new and open ways to communicate. Nothing more than that. I was excited, started training sessions, created a blog and a friendfeed group.
For example during a heated debate around baboons harassing the community I decided to, again promote open communication. I said that:
  • Email is underground
  • Email is exclusive
  • Email discriminates
If I read what Seth said, above, then I can add:
  • Email permits civic associations and representatives to act badly. Therefore…
  • Email permits them to not act in the interest of their constituency.
Note: I am saying email permits. I am not saying it does.
To make a long story short; My attempts to introduce open communication at the Civic Association failed. And email communication prevails. As my naive and optimistic attempts failed I decided to call it a day.
When I left, I was kept on the Civic Exec’s e-mailing list. Well until ……..
A few days ago an exec member decided to email the Civic association group about an issue. I read the email, decided to comment on it and add more business people to the email for their comment. I should have expected an attack. I got support as well. At the time this exec member did not respond. He emailed the public group with relevant comments, but he also exposed his true colours, and directed the following at me:

Your unwarranted disclosure of an email to numerous other addressees is uncalled for and indicates that emails to you are not treated as within the [Civic Association]. I will thus refrain from including you in any further correspondence [Civic Exec Member]

Let me use a cliché: I arrest my case!
This is a public representative hiding behind emails.
Now, I am asking you;
  • Can you continue to allow Civic Associations to remain faceless?
  • Can you allow civic associations to not act in your the best interest (while they discuss your issues underground)?
  • Can you allow your civic associations to not use the latest public tools to communicate in public?
When you read this and you agree then thank you. If you read this and you feel the pain then that’s good. The fact that civic exec members intent to only do good is not the issues here. They are doing it voluntary. And they are try their best. But nothing gives them the excuse to resist change. They need to never send  any email under the Civic Association’s name if they not also publish the content…… making it available for the community.
When will this happen?
Soon enough
Hope all civic exec members have the courage to communicate in public.
Have fun
Johan Horak
P.S. If you want to know how to setup a public communication platform for your civic association and your community then just ask.

Posted via email from The Fisherman’s Secret

Posted in Simon's Town | Comments

Older Posts »