Celebrating 20 Years

Celebrating 20 Years

LIGHT TALES AND HEAVY-WEIGHT SALES

We've reserved special news for you: AGRISELL turned 20 in 2018!

The idea of selling farms for a living flared in Jannie Fourie's imagination in 1997. It was a time of national and personal change. Nationally, our country's borders opened for international trade, computers promised more efficiency and more connection, and South Africans started the slow, laborious process of learning to listen to one another and keep the faith that we could do better in the new millennium. 

It feels like just the other day that AGRISELL opened its doors in 1998. The modest beginnings were in the Old College Building situated in Church Street Stellenbosch.  After 15 years in that 'posh place', we expanded the head office to 32 Ryneveld Street where we still are today. 

Jannie, as principal and only agent, drove a lot through the spacious Western and Northern Cape listing farms.  He committed the lay of the farmlands to memory and could direct a prospective buyer to, and accurately describe, a farm over the telephone. In fact, he did this often. This proved a valuable and enduring ethical compass that has guided AGRISELL's growth these past two decades. "In those days, people couldn't view pictures, drone videos, or do a 3D walk-through on the web. Imagine you have a prospective buyer from Johannesburg, for example. If you misrepresented the farm he wanted to buy, you'd end up wasting his time and effort for making the trip - and you'd tarnish your reputation and character. That's not my style; that's not who I wanted us to be." 

After a decade's performance as a one-man band, it came time to enlarge the act. When Marisa Bosman and Andre Smit joined AGRISELL in 2007, the one-man band became a real band and a real brand. Having started out with a primary focus on agricultural property, we now offer our clients a comprehensive service that includes, inter alia, residential sales, short- and long-term rentals, immovable property auctions and various legal and insurance advice.   AGRISELL AUCTION, our new brainchild, is a dedicated auction company which adopted a culture of innovative thinking where the focus is on optimising and developing the auction industry to increase customer satisfaction. 

By 2016 the band had grown to an orchestra of about 60 and when Jannie's son, Jan-Hendrik, took the leap of faith to join, AGRISELL started making some real music, the music of heavy-weight sales. Sales at R20, R30 and even R50 million became more frequent. 

 "But you know, it's not just the heavy-weight sales that keep you going - it's the stories of hope that do that. I appreciate when our agents tell me stories of how working at AGRISELL helped them get on their feet again or how it is helping them to grow their dreams. One agent, for example, has a passion for cooking and business and used her commissions to establish a deli. Other paid their drought fodder debt. Some took their commission to improve their own or their family's health which was long due. Another agent has a passion for writing and is using his commissions to pursue his passion. Stories like that fill me with gratitude. I found what I can contribute, and this inspires me to jump into my work with vigor and verve." 

AGRISELL is grateful for marketing opportunities to offer something a little different. "We are proud of sponsoring Johann Lodewyks and Flippie Schoeman to the level where they got their National Protea colours under TEAM AGRISELL and for keeping the UIM P750 World Championship Trophy during 2017 on South African soil. To be involved in something like that is just thrilling. It is a blessing to assist others in living out their passion." Receiving the World Championship trophy in Monaco`s sport centrum was a moment never to forget!" 

TEAM AGRISELL also won the South African National champions for 2 consecutive years as well as the sought-after Trans Agulhas powerboat race - known as the toughest aqua sport competition in the Word. 

AGRISELL was also the first estate agency to be allowed to exhibit at NAMPO - the prime showcase of agriculture in South Africa. AGRISELL contributes to the Women's Programme by entertaining the ladies with enjoyable events featuring TV Personalities like Elma Postma, Liz Meiring, Herman Lensing and musicians like Rocco de Villiers and Pedro Kruger.

AGRISELL was also fortunate to contribute by supplying diesel for the transportation of fodder to drought-stricken areas. 

Our credo, unchanged since 1998, is to be available to our clients and deliver professional service in a professional environment. We are focused on delivering outstanding service. The unique interests of each client are our passion and it will continue to be so. Our commitment is our guarantee. 

Thank you to all our loyal clients who have brought us thus far and we look forward to the next 20 years!

We could not do it without our clients. That's why we want to say, "Thank you."