Let's Talk About Realty

 We’ve all been there. The late nights, the endless spreadsheets, the "one more thing" before we call it a day. You spend weeks, months, or even years crafting something. You refine the architectural lines, you obsess over the finishings, or you cultivate a product until it’s "perfect." Then you stand back, look at your creation, and the silence hits you. Whom did you build this for? The Onion Dilemma I recently spoke with a friend who poured his heart into growing onions. He grew a magnificent crop, but as he looked at his harvest, he realised the hardest part wasn't the soil or the water; it was the realisation that he now had to go out and find a market. He had the product, but he hadn't identified the person. In real estate, we see this constantly. We see developers break ground on luxury high-rises in a market screaming for affordable middle-class housing. We see homeowners over-capitalise on renovations that suit their specific, niche tastes but alien...

How does the big miss happen? Two people can watch the exact same thing and walk away with two completely different conclusions. One sees a golden opportunity, while the other just sees another news story. Often, the difference is as simple as having boots on the ground. In a world where information is rampant, we can easily find ourselves woefully misinformed. It’s not that we are ignorant; rather, the information is so varied that we become confused, wondering which source is actually true. Real estate can feel exactly like that. Not every conversation with an agent is about making a sale—and it shouldn’t be. But a good conversation can help you get accurate, localized information and develop a working relationship with someone who knows the market. Property isn’t always about finding the ‘best’ deal or the ‘cheapest’ option; it’s about identifying what works for your specific needs. So, before throwing around percentages or projecting future returns on investment, sit down for a fr...

I was speaking to a colleague recently about the importance of challenging ourselves and tackling the difficult things at work. But as we talked, another thought came to mind: When do we actually decide to post or write? Usually, we wait until we have something we deem "important" to say. We wait for the big milestones, the heavy industry insights, or the life-changing topics. But what happens to the rest of it? Think about everyday human conversation. The vast majority of what we talk about isn’t life-altering. It’s the "fluff"—the meaningless yet profoundly meaningful chats that only seem to matter when we reflect on them later. That "fluff" is the actual human experience, and we are better for it. So why do we lose that the second we sit down to write? In the professional world, we often strip away the human element to sound polished or efficient. But what is our work without it? What is a team meeting without those small moments of connection? In real ...

How many times has a colleague or friend mentioned a “difficult to imagine” opportunity, an industry to invest in, a project to back, and you hesitated? Someone talks about putting money into a particular sector for future gains; you nod, you stall… then the moment passes. Does that sound familiar? Life is full of these moments. You reassure yourself that next time you will jump in. But then again, you blink. Reassurances are comforting, but they do not move money, and they do not build wealth. You have heard the phrase, “You need to spend money to make money.” It is true, however, no future investment is risk-free, even property. So, when is the best time to buy? When is the best time to sell? That is the real question. Right now, in Zimbabwe, we are seeing a surge in cluster and townhouse developments. But it is crucial to understand not all developments are equal. That is a thought borrowed from  Animal Farm  by George Orwell: “All animals are equal, but some animals are mo...

When someone asks, “What do you do?” most people think of a job title or whatever brings in money. But the real question is deeper: What do you do consistently? Because doing something once is easy. Doing it well, every day, is where greatness is built. You already know I love my sports, so let’s talk LeBron James. You may have heard of him. One of his most underrated records is his streak of scoring 10+ points in 1,297 consecutive games . That’s nearly 18 years of showing up, performing, refining, and refusing to drop below his standard. That’s not just talent. That’s discipline. That’s consistency. And that’s exactly what real estate demands. Real estate often feels like stepping into the unknown. There are no shortcuts, no cheat codes, no overnight success stories. Everyone who has made it will tell you the same thing: consistency beats intensity . LeBron didn’t skip steps. He managed his body, studied the game, and competed against the best in the world every single nig...

In chess, there is a concept called Zugzwang. It describes a situation where a player is put at a disadvantage because they must make a move, but every available move makes their position worse. Many sellers feel this way after their property has sat on the market for three, four, or five months. They feel stuck. If they lower the price, they feel they are "losing" money. If they keep the price the same, the property continues to gather dust, becoming what I call a "stale listing." But here is the truth: You are not in Zugzwang. You are just afraid to pivot. In my last article, we discussed how overpricing causes you to lose the market. Today, let’s talk about how to get it back. The Sunk Cost Fallacy The biggest enemy of a stale listing is not the market conditions; it is the seller’s ego. We tell ourselves, "But I’ve already waited this long, surely the right buyer is just around the corner." This is the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It’s a refusal to change course...