Cannes PL72: PROPERTY LETTER 28TH May 2008

PL72: PROPERTY LETTER 28TH May 2008

Dear All,

Word gets around and many of you have heard that I had a medical problem while back in South Africa recently. We have had many kind letters and phone calls and we appreciate them all very much. Thank you. I had a laminectomy and an angiogram (big words I didn’t know before) and the good news is that although there was a bleed into my spinal column there was no tumour, and no further treatment is required once the wound (from the laminectomy) has healed. Vicky and I and the family are mightily relieved and feel very lucky – it was a worrying few weeks.

PROPERTY LETTER 4TH March 2008

PL70

PROPERTY LETTER 4TH March 2008

Dear All,

It’s been a very busy winter (winter’s a joke down here – it’s the best kept secret) and it’s nearing time for us to get back to Cape Town for a spell with the African branch of our family. We still have Dads, our younger son, my sister and her family and numerous cousins, mostly in the Cape.

And then of course there’s the Two Oceans on Easter Saturday as usual!

Just a bit of fun, Thank God for humour!

Here is an MP3 sent to me by a friend. Only really worth listening to if you know about things South African and the personalities there …  but if you do … ENJOY!

PROPERTY LETTER 14th DECEMBER 2007

Dear All,

Vicky and I have arrived back in Cape Town to celebrate Christmas, the New Year and a family wedding but will be back in Cannes on 10^th January. It is beautiful here, and lovely to get a “whiff of Africa”, even if the Cape isn’t “real Africa”.

We would both like to wish all of you a very happy Christmas and festive season, and we wish you a happy and successful 2008.

 

The Market:

Last week Sylvana (who so many of you have met in the Agency Azur Eden) had an Italian client with €3 million to spend on an apartment, and they wanted it right on the Croisette. For that price it had to be spectacular of course, spacious, with big views and terraces and very well appointed. She couldn’t find one. Needless to say she was very highly motivated, and phoned or visited every agency she could think of, but nobody could help her. Can you believe that?

Why Property Owners should engage in a Management Program

• » Wide Marketing Reach
• » Central Calendar Control
• » Sophisticated Reporting
• » Realtime Notifications

In terms of running their rentals, Property Owners can play it one of 2 ways.

1. They can take a direct and hands on interest in their rentals

Using an assorted mix of agencies, personal contacts and their own marketing to get their apartment rented as much as possible.This approach necessitates getting operationally involved in the rentals since sometimes you will be dealing with the Guests directly (From contract/ finance through to servicing & support through check in/ checkout etc) and where there is an agency, you are responsible for the state of the apartment anyway, and liaising re. keys/ calendars/ double bookings etc.

2. They can engage in a Management program,

designed to keep the benefits of the above, and take out the negatives. Added to that, there is the benefit derived from the program in its purest sense (apart from rentals) which are significant.

• Regular Property Inspections,
• Preventative Maintainence Plan,
• Use of network of suppliers/ tradesmen at better than normal rates,
• Project management of any improvements/ renovations/ redecorations

PROPERTY LETTER 17th OCTOBER 2007

Dear All,

Usually I include photos, and convert this to a PDF file which is more professional. However we are preparing to go to Amsterdam for the marathon this weekend and we have people visiting so I’m going to send the Property Letter as it is this time. I’d prefer it gets out sooner rather than later.

Looking for an argument?

I’ve enjoyed the controversial statements that Sky News has been putting out in the last few months, followed in each case by the question « Looking for an argument? » Then they invite you to go to their website to express your own views on:

Politics is a waste of time.

Size zero is beautiful.

Alcohol is worse than cannabis.

Global warming is a lie.

Abortion is murder.

Football is corrupt.

….and other outrageous statements!

PROPERTY LETTER 28th August 2007

Dear All,

Oops, Here we go again.

We were all a bit stunned by reversals in world financial markets (once again). Headlines announced the biggest 1-day fall (16^th August) since March 2003, and the FTSE hit its lowest level since September 2006. To my simple brain that meant that anything I may have made on my funds and investments in the last year just disappeared, and we don’t know what it will look like tomorrow. It could get worse again - we hope not, but it actually could! On the other hand, it might continue to drag itself back up again, but if past experience is anything to go by, then “slowly” might be the operative word.

They say that we (novices like me) should diversify our investments, and that the stock exchange has made money for those who have invested for the long term. I don’t have a hundred years, or even 50, or 25!

PROPERTY LETTER 12th July 2007

Dear All,

There are some excellent properties at the bottom of this letter. Please have a good look at them. This is a very interesting market, and an exciting part of the world to be involved, at whatever level.

I have in front of me the Knight Frank annual report for 2006 - For anyone interested in property anywhere it makes interesting reading and I will quote parts of it:

Their opening statement reads:

“Demand for overseas property is increasing by as much as 20% per annum - a significant figure.”

PROPERTY LETTER 25th May 2007

Dear All,

 

The 60^th Cannes Film Festival.

(And what a show!)

 

It runs from the 16^th to 27^th May and town is pulsating. We are a little town really and during this two week period our numbers swell by about 70 000 people, counting only those who stay here! The people of Cannes pull out all the stops, the police do their best to maintain a semblance of order, but allow weird parking and driving habits, and “look the other way” while people engage in “relatively harmless” excesses. The town is kept spotless, and although the parties don’t stop until after the sun comes up, by 08.30 the streets and pavements have not only been cleaned, but washed too, and the beaches are swept pristine. I find it quite incredible.

Property Letter – 3rd April 2007

Dear All,

 

This letter comes to you from a very sunny Cape Town.

Vicky and I arrived last weekend and will be here for the month of April, enjoying time with our younger children, both of whom are university students, my sister and her family, and our respective fathers - not to mention many good friends. Of course we continue to work daily with our French partners, but embrace the opportunity to meet investors and potential investors while we are here. It is an extremely valuable time.