Real Estate industry in Kenya has turned out to be a gold mine. Identifying the gap in the market and seeing the hustle Kenyans had to go through to acquire property, Brian Gacari saw it fit to dive into space and bridge the gap.

Nine years into the property business, he attests to market forces of demand and supplying playing a major role in his business. Property Reality Company towers in the real estate niche, and Brian Gacari expounds more on what the journey has been like.

Tell us about yourself and your company. 

I am the founder and CEO of Property Reality Company (PRC). I began the company in 2010 after having worked in Ghana and Subaru Kenya, I saw an opportunity to venture into real estate and never looked back. The products and services we offer to our clients are affordable lands and we have recently ventured into housing developments

Basically, we identify parcels of land that are strategically located in various part of the country. We purchase, subdivide into eighths and quarters, do value addition and then sell the land mostly on a retail basis.

Most of our clients are based in Nairobi and its environs. We also have Kenyans from the diaspora who buy land and houses from us and corporate clients too. Property Reality Company is located in Westlands- David Osieli Road.

How did you start Property Reality Company?

I noticed a gap, whereby the ordinary Kenyan would find it difficult to acquire property due to the high prices of land in urban areas and those who did would be conned or sold to fake land by conmen posing as brokers. I then decided to fill this gap by offering genuine land within a price that was affordable for the middle-class Kenyan.

I started with a project In Katani- developing an estate then moved to Kajiado where I was able to acquire land and sell a parcel from as low as Ksh60,000 for an eighth. From there the business picked up.

Where did you source your finance from?

I had a little capital when starting out. I thought it wise to bring other people on board so we can contribute and bring the business to life. So I created partnerships and leveraged on the same in order to start and ran the company.

What challenges have you faced running the business and how did you overcome them?

We have had a myriad of challenges but let me highlight a few: delay in delivery has been a major challenge for my business. We work closely with the government to ensure that title deeds are produced and sometimes we face challenges that are out of our control.

We also in the past failed to prioritize some project titles and this led to a lot of backlash from clients. We have however identified the loopholes that were causing these delays and have sealed most of them and continue to improve on the same to ensure clients get their title deed within a reasonable time span.

What Key Elements is Property Reality Company founded on?

Great customer experience is top of the list, we strive to build that confidence and trust in our customers. Creativity and innovation around how we package our products and services.

We highly value customer experience. Being aggressive and taking calculated risks have helped us remain relevant and on top of the game.

What are the major highlights in terms of achievements for your brand?

We have been able to sell over 40 projects within the last 8 years and delivering over 8000 title deeds which are really big for our brand. For two years in a row, we have been hosting one of the biggest events in Kenya – THE PLOT.

The Kilimo Biashara concept that has changed the way idle land is utilized in Kenya is our brainchild. We have enabled over 5000 clients to own land in strategic parts of the country.

What do you love about being your own boss and a young entrepreneur?

It’s an interesting experience. I love the challenges that come with it. Being young also helps because I am able to connect with young minds that are rich with ideas and energy. At the same time, it’s also challenging as it takes a lot of discipline to ensure that you stay on course and can be quite unpredictable but I have learned to be resilient and tougher than I was while in employment.

What strategies do you use to keep your customers coming back for more in this competitive digital space?

We have a 360-degree approach to marketing and have always invested in building the brand and creating awareness around our products. This includes radio, TV, activations, and events and most recently the internet with a bias towards social media.

We have invested a lot in the digital space and have been created around creating campaigns that drive traffic to our website. Our website is actually the first land e-commerce website in Africa where clients can view, book and pay for property online.

Where do you see yourself and your business in the next five years?

In the next 5 years, I see PRC selling land within East Africa to East Africans. We also plan to scale up on our housing arm and be able to develop and sell more affordable and quality homes and commercial buildings.

Your word to entrepreneurs who are at the bottom of the pyramid determined to make it to the top?

I encourage them to hang in there, keep pushing and they will reap the benefits. I would also encourage them to get mentors and work closely with like-minded people who will help them build a solid foundation to propel their business to the next level.

I also advise them to work hard and more importantly to work smart. Entrepreneurship is not easy but it is very rewarding. Every journey is unique. Embrace your reality and utilize your talents and skills to grow yourself and your business.

Make mistakes. Take risks. Challenge the status quo. Be open to change. Listen more than you speak and always remember that every customer is important.