There are various reasons more and more South Africans are choosing to live in gated communities and, no, these are not just related to security concerns.
While South Africa’s crime levels are a major driver of the trend, these properties offer advantages even upmarket suburbs can no longer promise.
Estate agent Alan Moore, who has sold plots and homes at Sardinia Bay Golf & Wildlife Estate from the outset, believes the way gated communities are being run brings peace of mind to homeowners.
The Gqeberha property expert, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Remax as he entered his third decade in the sector, said people had become fed-up with the poor service being dished out by the often-unreliable public sector.
“If you live in the suburbs all you can expect are municipal services. The gated estate, on the other hand, presents an opportunity for owners to take responsibility and create possibilities for themselves.
“You will see absolute order. The roadways are beautifully maintained, everything is clean and verges and public spaces are meticulously looked after.”
It’s because everyone who lives on the estate is responsible for it, he explained, a fact that rings particularly true at the Sards lifestyle estate.
And, unlike “regular” security complexes, these high-end estates offered features that gave people a sense of contentment, Moore said.
“The golf course [at Sards] is beautifully presented and extremely well run. It also creates additional income for the homeowners’ association.”
He believes people are “called” to estates like the 100-hectare Nelson Mandela Bay one.
“Even though not everyone who lives here plays golf, they love the feeling of having wide open spaces. It’s the breathability of it.”
Houses were not on top of each other and everyone could interact with the course and forest spaces, he said. In addition, having free-roaming wildlife nibbling on one’s lawn gives lifestyle-seekers a unique add-on.
Residents have established a genuine relationship with these animals; to the point that they are photographed as one would a relative for a family album.
Moore also extolls the virtues of the clubhouse, which serves a variety of functions while also boasting a swimming pool, tennis court, children’s play area and dog park.
“I think when residents go through those gates they leave the potholes and other poor infrastructure behind them. There is a sense of calm.”
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Reflecting on his Sards journey, he said there were few projects of this magnitude in the area.
“In the beginning I was presenting something untested but which promised a certain lifestyle. To have met the kind of people who were prepared to be the first adopters was fabulous.
“They were so confident and excited. They saw the future and were willing to take a risk.”
It was especially satisfying to witness the partnership that had been forged between the residents and developers.
The latter always had a long-term vision and the residents who had put up their hands to serve as trustees on the HOA to help drive it through were to be commended, Moore said.
It was never an easy process as expectations had been high on both sides – yet it worked.
“I am incredibly blessed to have been part of this. I believe Sards stands head and shoulders above anything else now that we can see what it has become.”