Broader horizons

For 22 years Dhalia have been negotiating property sales in Malta and Gozo, and few would dispute their position as one of the leaders in the Maltese real estate market. Dhalia's focuses have always been on local growth, as well as local sales to foreigners.

Till late 2001 Dhalia consistently increased their share in the local market, but there was considerable scope for marketing and promoting the Maltese Islands and their property market abroad.

Selling Maltese property to overseas nationals has always been part of Dhalia's strategy. However, the tactics adopted, including exhibitions and advertising on foreign media, always brought interesting but short-term results. Two years ago, upon having evaluated various alternative scenarios, a key decision was taken to embark on a strategic partnership model.

Within two years Dhalia achieved a hidden presence in the overseas property market. The first major move was directed towards the United Kingdom, followed by Germany and Dubai in 2003. Further strategic partnerships in Austria, France, Italy and the Netherlands are to be concluded by the first quarter of 2004.

The concept of strategic partnerships offers overseas nationals interested in purchasing property in the Maltese Islands the comfort of dealing with a highly reputed and credible real estate company in their town or village who would be sensitive to their requirements. It is at this point that the interested buyer would be introduced to Dhalia.

The prospective buyer would have the opportunity to browse through Dhalia's extensive property database prior to the first visit to Malta, thereby familiarising themselves with the islands and the various property types available. Dhalia would then assume responsibility for servicing the overseas client.

The first strategic partnership was struck in England in June 2002, Bedfords of East Anglia being the first partner. The network today incorporates ten companies covering England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with a distribution of 70 offices. These other companies include Webbers Property Services, Hudson Moody, Fisher Wrathall, Matthews Benjamin, the Wright Estate Agency and Sharman Quinney, as well as CB Hamilton Osborne King from Ireland, PM International from Wales and Anderson Strathern from Scotland.

Last January directors from these companies visited Malta and Gozo during Dhalia's annual conference. This event offered them also the opportunity to meet up for the first time.

This year, Dhalia signed a Germany-wide agreement with a leading real estate company, Jochen Blumenauer Unternehmensberatung, having offices in Munich, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, with two more in the pipeline for Berlin and Stuttgart.

Dubai, while not part of Dhalia's immediate plans, became an attractive destination following their co-operation partnership with METCO earlier this year.

Dhalia is proud to associate with Dubai's leading real estate company by the name of Asteco, who have a presence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE.