2016 - A Year of Great Real Estate Milestones in Hermanus

The year 2016 saw exciting plans set in motion, from the approval of plans for the revitalisation of the Hermanus CBD to the beginnings of construction of the Whale Coast Mall. Hermanus also became a finalist in the Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar (Town of the Year). A year of recognition and progress met the vision of a gentleman by the name of Paul Kruger, who saw an excellent opportunity to invest here in August 2016.

Early in the year, the Overstrand Municipality approved plans to revitalise the CBD, forming the first step towards realising the local dream of keeping the town alive after building the mall. Though many of these plans did not exactly come to fruition, some are still in motion and the plans paved the way for exciting new changes. The proposal to pedestrianise High Street has been realised into a café culture gem today - with a paved street that offers ample outside seating. Lemm's Corner progressed into a market but is now a wonderful park with sculptures and a lot of charm - which saw the recent addition of more plants, trees and a water feature. The owners of Fishermans Cottage Restaurant set up a pergola to create extra outdoor space overlooking the park and planted a new garden from which they will be harvesting produce.

Perhaps initially not as welcomed, the building of the Whale Coast Mall received mixed reviews from the locals. Some feared it would create a loss of income for the CBD's businesses, others welcomed the opportunity to have shops closer to home with ample parking. While it created many uncertainties, it also prompted improvements in the CBD and created value for homes on the outskirts of town. This Kyknet's Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar Finalist has won many hearts, and expansion and investments are inevitable for such a wonder-filled town.

With an eye for investment and a keen mind for business, Paul Kruger purchased the Seeff Licence for Hermanus in 2016. With hard work, dedication and a committed, loyal and well-trained team, they took the license to new heights as a flagship branch in the Seeff Group. Irma Herbst has won Top National Agent, and Elmar van Tonder Top National Development Agent, both on a number of occasions. The branch has many agents consistently in the top ten achieving agents nationally. In 2021, 50% of the Hermanus license agents managed to achieve the prestigious Top Achiever Agent Award, awarded to those select consultants who consistently distinguish themselves in sales performance, service and ethical standards. Under his leadership, they won the Highest Market Share Award in the Seeff Group for the past 5 years running. This is only one of numerous awards he has been honoured with over the past few years, including National Marketer of the Year, Licensee of the Year, Brand Ambassador as well the coveted Chairman's Award, the latter of which is chosen by Samuel Seeff himself.

A thriving real estate business within a magnificent town may be partly due to the incredible coastline, whales, fynbos, wines, excellent slower-paced lifestyle, and a top-performing municipality; but is primarily due to a strong work ethic and a zeal for success.