From Pizza To Property
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From Pizza to Property
Being able to celebrate 20 years in Real Estate is no mean feat in an industry that has seen many come and go, but for Lucas van Vuuren it was a passion and a dream that did not come with overnight success.
Moving from Gauteng to Protea Heights, a relatively undeveloped area, in the nineties, to start up a small pizza place, Lucas had no idea that the move would see him setting about starting his own real estate company, that has become an internationally recognized brand, having garnered a number of international awards over the last 6 years.
"It still makes me smile when an old acquaintance or customer from my pizza restaurant days call me to list their home, having saved my number as 'Lucas Pizza' from all those years ago."
He remembers fondly having just started out in the real estate business how a particular client gave him his first break in the industry, as they were so impressed with his passion, drive, and willingness to do what was needed despite the fact that he had very little experience. This drive, passion, and willingness to go that extra mile is still very evident in everything he does to this day.
"Property is a natural fit for me because it's a people business and a networking business, both of which I love doing every day," says van Vuuren. He says looking back over the years fills him with gratitude for each of the people that assisted, shaped, and gave him opportunities. "I learned a lot from some of the very best in the industry, and for that, I will always be very grateful," he continued.
Lucas started achieving success relatively early in his real estate career constantly outperforming his peers being a top producer and performer at various National brands, reaching Gold Club Status within 8 months, being awarded the National Agent of the Year out of a field of close to 2000 agents, and running one of the most successful franchises within a national group as a franchisee but to name a few.
March 2015 saw the launch of Lucas Real Estate Group. "I still treat the company like it's a start-up," Lucas explains. "We're very innovative and have spent a great deal over the past five years on our property platforms, our website, and our marketing efforts. We were the first to introduce contracts in different languages easing the process for many starting their real estate journey, and our social media marketing efforts bring the client and agent closer together. However, we have not forgotten that ours is a people business and that the client agent personal touchpoints are imperative to our continued success.
Following winning several International Property awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, it was a South African first to win a further two International Property awards in 2020/2021, namely Most Innovative Real Estate Brand Of The Year South Africa and, Real Estate Specialists Of The Year South Africa, at a time when the industry was under a lot of strain due to the effects of Covid 19 and the national lockdown in South Africa and the rest of the world.
"Being recognized internationally for the quality of our service as well as the innovation that we bring to the industry in South Africa, are very important - everyone says they're continuously evolving, but we really are."
As Lucas Real Estate Group expands and develops, the need for raising the bar is more critical than ever. While the business already has 7 offices around the Cape Peninsular, Lucas also recognizes the importance of adding new key areas and personal to stay at the vanguard.
"We have agents and staff who have been with me from the start, they are a vital part of the business, so we nurture these collaborative relationships and make sure that both parties are getting the best outcomes," he shares.
After more than twenty hugely successful years in the industry, there's no denying that Lucas knows the real estate business. So, take heed, because as with pizza, his recipe for success is deliciously simple, "Love what you do, stay humble and true to your values, believe in yourself, and remind yourself constantly that if you can dream it you can have it."
Congratulations Lucas on all that you have achieved over the past 20 years and we look forward to seeing what the next 20 years may bring.
Author: LRE Media