TERRA FIRMA REALTY is a new brand in real estate. The new
kid on the block is here to stir our imaginations.
JONATHAN STYLES, the founder, has been in real estate for
some 15 years and has successfully started and grown various agencies.
Combined with his strong business acumen and his visionary
ways, he also has a burning passion to be part of ushering in just conditions
in South African Society. I head up Terra Firma’s Legal Division and over the
past number of years Jonathan has been a stalwart supporter of my work in the
pursuit of Access to Justice for all. I am the founder and current head of
Access to Justice an NPO which exists to mobilize legal and dispute resolution
resources for vulnerable individuals and communities. I also run ADR Network SA
which has trained and developed mediators and arbitrators over the past decade.
So as Jonathan was establishing a new brand in Realty, he
felt the time was right to integrate his passion for justice and vision of a
more beautiful world and so part of the vision of Terra Firma will be to
establish the Terra Firma Access to Justice Foundation.
Some of what we will be doing is:
1.
Every Terra Firma agent will undergo advanced
negotiation skills training and will train as certified mediators through ADR
Network SA. Underpinned by the philosophy of restorative justice and
restorative practice, each agent will be expertly trained in non-adversarial
problem-solving methods.
2.
Resources will specifically be allocated to
assist marginalized individuals in training to become estate agents.
3.
Terra Firma will concentrate on ongoing
education and training.
4.
As a service to the community in which it
operates, each office will be obliged to operate a Terra Firma Access to Justice
Foundation Desk which will offer Pro Bono legal and dispute resolution advice
on at least one day per week to those who may not be able to pay for those
expertise.
5.
In time, TFR also aims to become specifically
involved with developers who have a vision and appetite for inclusive housing
developments. Our next blog will unpack what this may look like.
We are excited for what lies ahead and whom we may meet
along this journey. In week’s to come we will be unpacking interesting and
informative topics in Real Estate, Property Law, Negotiation and Access to
Justice.
Please email me on sheena.j@terrafirmarealty.co.za
and let me know of any topics you would specifically like to see addressed.
Until next week, peace.
Sheena Jonker
