Chuanelle Britz

My career in commercial property started in Johannesburg in 2012, and over the years I have had the opportunity to work across several different sides of the industry.

That experience has given me a good understanding of something that I think is sometimes overlooked in property: a successful transaction is not only about finding the right building. It is about everything that happens between the first conversation and the day a client takes occupation.

My Journey in Commercial Property

I entered the commercial property industry with Ash Brook Commercial Properties in Bryanston in 2012. My role involved working with vacancy schedules, property databases, landlords, brokers, client enquiries and the day-to-day administration that keeps a commercial property business moving. It was a very hands-on introduction to the industry and gave me an early understanding of how important accurate property information and good communication are when helping a client find space.

In 2013, I joined JHI Properties in Hyde Park as a Lease Administrator, where my experience moved much deeper into the leasing and transactional side of commercial property. I worked with lease agreements, offers to lease, lease renewals, FICA documentation, securities, addendums and the administration required to move transactions through to completion.

I also worked closely with commercial property brokers, preparing property shortlists, arranging viewings, drawing up offers and lease agreements, preparing commission calculations and assisting with property research through platforms such as Windeed and Lightstone. It gave me a much broader view of a transaction because I could see both what happened in front of the client and what needed to happen behind the scenes for the deal to work.

During this period, I completed industry-specific training through SAPOA, including Introduction to Broking in 2013 and the SAPOA Lease Agreement Workshop in 2015. My earlier training also included lease administration and an EAAB certificate in 2013.

In 2019, I joined ANVIL Property Smith, where I remained until 2026. Those seven years gave me further exposure to the commercial property industry and allowed me to work closely with brokers, landlords, property owners and businesses looking for commercial space.

The Detail Behind a Transaction

I like knowing that the information we give a client is correct, that the right questions have been asked and that somebody is keeping track of the small things that can very quickly become big things if they are ignored.

Commercial property can also be confusing for someone who does not work with leases and buildings every day. There are rentals, operating costs, parking charges, escalations, deposits, beneficial occupation periods, lease terms, fit-out requirements and a long list of other considerations that need to be understood before a decision is made. Part of what I enjoy is helping make that process easier to understand.

I have always enjoyed the detail behind property transactions.

Why Brightwave

Today, I am part of Brightwave Commercial Property, a Cape Town commercial property brokerage built around a very simple idea: give clients the information they need, communicate properly and provide the level of service we would expect if we were sitting on the other side of the table.

At Brightwave, I work closely with our team across the leasing and sales process and I am involved in the systems and processes behind how we manage commercial property information, client requirements and transactions. Having spent years working both behind the scenes and directly within the property process, I know how important it is that the information presented to a client is current, useful and, most importantly, accurate.

Technology and the Human Side

I also believe that technology can improve the way commercial property is marketed and how quickly clients can get access to information, but it should never replace the human side of the business. A database can tell us that a property is available. It cannot properly understand why one building may work for a particular company while another seemingly similar option will not.

That still comes down to knowing the properties, understanding the requirement and actually listening to the client.

How I Work

For me, good commercial property service is not complicated. Respond when people contact you. Know what you are talking about. Be transparent when you do not know something. Find the answer. And then do what you said you were going to do.

That is the standard I want our clients to experience when they deal with me and with Brightwave.