Jo’burg home marketing duo joins Ennik Estates

Prime residential property broker Ennik Estates has reinforced its position in the long-standing, mostly century-old, areas of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.
“I am pleased to announce that John and Merle Thompson, a husband-and-wife team with an enviable record in marketing homes in Melrose, Dunkeld, Birdhaven, and Rosebank have joined Ennik Estates,” says CEO Ronald Ennik.
“Given their reputation in this old-established end of the market, John and Merle will now also focus their knowledge, skills and expertise on Saxonwold and Westcliff.”
Their move to Ennik Estates was so seamless, says Ronald, that they closed sales of two homes – for a total of R15-million – within the first two weeks.
Their appointment, he adds, is a key element of a new phase of expansion that is doubling the Ennik Estates infrastructure and operating footprint in areas north of Johannesburg city.
Between them, the Thompsons – both long standing ‘Joburgers’ – have more than 15 years of experience in selling prime real estate in the northern suburbs.
They are so well entrenched in Melrose, Dunkeld and Birdhaven that they personally know most of the 800-odd homeowners across the three suburbs, as well as the specs and features of their houses.
“I can remember living in Melrose as a small child before Venus Street was tarred,” says Merle, who was schooled at the nearby Kingsmead College.
“There have been many changes in the three suburbs since we first began selling in the area,” says John.
Foremost among them, he adds, have been an escalation in sub-division; a notable swing towards cluster development; an increased tempo of rezoning for commercial development along Oxford Road; and a dramatic shift in demographics.
“Melrose, Dunkeld, Birdhaven and Rosebank are today home to a truly cosmopolitan society that, like Houghton, reflects virtually every dimension of South Africa’s diverse population,” John concludes.
The Thompsons’ focus on residential real estate is not exclusively at the marketing end. They also have a passion for renovating and decorating, says Merle.
So much so that, between them, they have bought, renovated, redecorated and resold many homes in the area, as well as in Atholl, Parkview, Rivonia… and Cape Town.
“It is a bug that we couldn’t even let go during our travels abroad,” says Merle.
While on an extended trip to visit family in the USA, they furnished and redecorated two homes in Georgia!