Buying a sectional title property?

Buying a home in an estate or mixed-use development is an exciting prospect for many, but it is also a long-term commitment. It is therefore key to consider your investment’s potential for growth, not only that of the unit itself, but also the development as a whole.

This can easily be done by determining the relationship between the community living in the development, the Home Owners’ Association (HOA), the developers themselves, and the corporates and suppliers they trust to build and maintain the property. These are important aspects that all play a part in establishing the long-term sustainability of your investment and should be considered before signing on the dotted line.

For instance, look at the developer’s choice of partner; the corporate they trust to build, protect and maintain the property. And take it at face value, literally, and ask yourself – who did they pick to paint their building? It seems arbitrary, but it is perhaps the quickest way to know how much the developers are investing in the property themselves. In other words, are they, just like you, committed to the proper care and maintenance of the property in the long-term?

Enter Plascon. We all know the brand. Many of us grew up with it – it is synonymous with the beautifully painted walls of thousands of homes, inside and outside. However, Plascon’s products and services also extend to professionals in architecture, construction, and property development. And, if you’ve not heard of Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge, read on – it affects your investment.

Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge is for the big guns in property development. Think top league builds like Tsogo Sun, City Lodge, Wakefields Property Management, Virgin Active and Umhlanga Arch. But what does it mean to you?

Simply put – Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge is a promise that their professional team will be hands-on during every step of a building’s paint project; from start to finish, and thereafter.

It works like this: long before their preferred paint applicators take out their paint brushes, the Plascon team assesses the condition of the building substrates and the environmental impact to ensure that the correct coating system is recommended. Their seasoned colour specialists also assist in colour selection for the building. The quality workmanship of Plascon’s specially trained preferred paint applicators is guaranteed as the application is monitored to ensure that the workmanship is of the highest calibre.

Plascon is also very strict in terms of their choice of contractor. To qualify as a Plascon Preferred Applicator, a contractor must have at least three supervised projects under his or her belt. Contractors are monitored during site inspections as part of a joint supervision programme where the coating application is assessed with findings documented in detailed reports compiled for the client.

During the final site evaluation, both the client and the contractor sign off the project and a Plascon professional compiles a snag list and carries out a final site inspection. Once this joint supervision by the client and Plascon is complete, a Kansai Plascon quality assurance guarantee is issued which covers both product and application. An optional annual maintenance programme for the specified coatings’ life cycle is also available.

Preparing a reference area and considering environmental variables are also key says Plascon Professional Market Manager, Carol Ras. “A reference area is the benchmark for coating of the building,” she says. “It is identified as the most exposed façade or area on a building and is monitored and documented by a Plascon representative, taking into account wet film thickness of primer, intermediate and topcoats. Should there be failure or concerns later on, this area will be the first point of reference.” Long-term maintenance costs are reduced by opting for Plascon products which come with extensive product guarantees.

Now, how would you feel knowing your property purchase is enjoying the premium benefits of Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge? That’s why it is important to know who the corporate is your developer is partnering with to ensure your investment enjoys top care and maintenance, and the best opportunity for growth. And should you wish to capitlise on your property investment? A big selling point for a potential buyer is the knowledge that they won’t need to repaint for many years to come…