Property mogul Gail Gavrill returns to where it all began - Plettenberg Bay

Gail’s stellar international property career started at “Pick of Plett” with the late Timmy Hutcheson followed by the sale of investment properties along the Costa Del Sol in Spain.

On returning to South Africa (and Plettenberg Bay), she joined the Time-Sharing Division of Southern Sun where for seven years she was consistently among the top selling “Beacon Isle” agents. Many of these clients Gail says, have gone on to become “captains of industry” and seek her assistance on property matters still to this day.     

Cape Town beckoned and it was here that her exceptional property career really took off - first as head of Atlantic Coastline Projects sales with the Seeff Group and twelve years later in the same capacity with Pam Golding.

Projects successfully launched and sold during this time included some of the most expensive and prestigious developments in the suburbs of Clifton, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye.

Many of the purchasers of these luxurious apartments have re-sold (or bought additional units through her) – making considerable profit along the way. One example in particular stands out having been bought off-plan for R 3,5m and last year on-sold by her, this time for R 80 Million. 

Towards the end of 2005 Gail was offered the opportunity to relocate to the Seychelles to set up the sales function of the massively successful Eden Island Project where over a period of four years, she sold in excess of 220 properties. The experience gained during this period, dealing with clients from all over the world, was a learning experience not many agents have the privilege of experiencing, she says.     

Last year Gail received an offer for her Clifton apartment she “could not refuse” and having to quickly decide where to relocate to, Plettenberg Bay became the “obvious choice”.

After a lengthy build process, her brand-new Brackenridge home now stands proudly overlooking the Country Club - but “slowing down” for six months has proven not what it’s cracked up to be she says, so when Knight Frank (the largest independent property group in the world) suggested she represents them in Plett, all thoughts of an early retirement went out of the window! Over the past year she has been in close contact with Knight Frank introducing development projects to them to market along the Atlantic Coastline.   

Rather than aiming for “chart topping” market share and masses of listings, all that is envisaged with the new venture is providing a true one on one personal service to a handful of sellers of more expensive properties in Plett.

Knight Frank (founded in 1896) has a global network encompassing 418 offices in 60 countries with more than 16,000 employees. It handles in excess of US$817 billion (£498 billion) worth of commercial, agricultural and residential real estate annually.

Comments by Anne Porter (Chairman of Knight Frank South Africa), we are absolutely delighted to have Gail fully on board having worked with her on various projects over the last 12 months. The connection between Plett and Cape Town is an obvious fit and there is no better person to drive this synergy for Knight Frank, between the two locations.