Cape Town — When a young real estate rookie, Sean Britt, was all but dragged into a training seminar back in 1989, he hardly expected it would shape the next three decades of his career or his life. But that’s exactly what happened when he first encountered Ed Hatch and Dell Bain, two powerhouse trainers with the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) program.
What began as a reluctant shuffle into the room became the start of a professional journey and a lifelong friendship. “I thought I had better things to do than listen to Americans tell us how to sell in South Africa,” he recalls with a laugh. “Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
From Reluctant Student to Lifelong Protégé
Over the years, Ed Hatch became far more than just a trainer. He became a mentor, a sounding board, and a close friend. From dozens of seminars across South Africa and the United States to breakfasts at the Westin in Cape Town, Hatch’s influence helped shape bold decisions, including the launch of Africa’s first cloud-based real estate company, Realtor of Excellence.
“I did the CRS course five times, not because I needed to, but because every time Ed taught, I left feeling ready to conquer the world,” he said.
An Unlikely Reunion
When Hatch announced in 2017 that he would no longer be visiting South Africa, many in the industry quietly assumed his chapter here had closed. But friendships and Zoom, had other plans. After the pandemic, Hatch reunited with the Realtor of Excellence team online, delivering 11 months of training that, while valuable, lacked what his long-time mentee calls “the Ed Factor.”
“Ed isn’t just a trainer; he’s a performer. He has this uncanny ability to make you laugh, reflect, and learn all at once. Zoom was great, but it’s not quite the same as a live Ed Hatch session.”
Against the Odds
Earlier this year, the pair explored the idea of a South African farewell tour. Despite reaching out to banks, attorneys, and industry bodies, not a single sponsor stepped forward to support the initiative. The dream seemed destined to fade.
Then came the twist.
“Out of nowhere, on one of our calls, Ed just said, ‘You know what, that’s it, I’m coming, even if it’s just to train your team,’” he recalled. “Before I knew it, he was on a plane to Cape Town.”
A Farewell Worth Remembering
What followed was a whirlwind four-day visit. The Realtor of Excellence team leaders and top agents welcomed Hatch back in true South African style, with a traditional braai. Soon after, the entire team had the privilege of attending a three-hour training session that left them inspired and, quite frankly, wishing it had been a full day.
True to form, Hatch joked mid-session that he could “say whatever he wanted” since he wasn’t planning on returning to South Africa. But the flood of messages afterward from the Realtor of Excellence Team, told a different story. Team members pleaded for another chance to learn from him in person, insisting this couldn’t be the final curtain call.
The following day, Hatch enjoyed a leisurely visit to Franschhoek with his old friends, including Azalea Enderli, the very principal who had dragged a young rookie into that life-changing seminar 35 years earlier. Over lunch, the idea of “just one more visit” was floated. While Hatch offered no promises, a telling grin and a sparkle in his eye suggested the door wasn’t entirely closed.
What Comes Next
Whether or not Hatch graces South Africa again in person remains uncertain. But one thing is already locked in: another year of monthly Zoom training sessions with the Realtor of Excellence team.
So, while this may have been billed as Ed Hatch’s South African swan song, the story is far from over. After all, if history has shown anything, it’s that Ed Hatch has a way of returning when you least expect it and always at just the right time.
