Shelley Residential Named Among Durban’s Best
This year’s Best of Durban Readers’ Choice Awards brought a meaningful moment of recognition for the Shelley Residential team. We placed 2nd in the Best Estate Agency category, and our very own Josh Buitendach also took 2nd place in the Best Estate Agent category.
For a team that set out not to follow the traditional real estate model, but to quietly replace it, this acknowledgement feels deeply affirming.
“We never set out to win awards,” says Scott Allnatt, Co-Founder of Shelley Residential. “We set out to build something different, something more boutique, more human. Being recognised by the community we serve is an honour and a clear signal that we're on the right path.”
From the beginning, we’ve believed that real estate should feel less like a transaction and more like a meaningful journey. That belief has shaped our approach. Instead of a single-agent model, we’ve built a team of specialists - strategists, marketers, designers, and advisors - working together to create a seamless and refined experience for our clients across Durban West.
Our model is designed to elevate every step of the buying and selling journey, combining high-touch service with smart strategy, deep local knowledge, and genuine care. Whether we’re preparing a property for market, welcoming someone into a new home, or launching a new development, our process is always thoughtful, collaborative, and personal.
“We’re here to challenge the norms,” adds Josh Buitendach. “To offer something more curated, more intentional, where every detail matters and every client feels seen. This recognition tells us that the work we’re doing matters to the people we serve.”
What sets us apart is not just what we achieve, but how we do it. Our philosophy is grounded in teamwork, community connection, and an unwavering commitment to raising the standard of service in our market. For us, it’s less about volume and more about value. Less about competition and more about collaboration.
This year’s award feels like more than a public nod. It’s a quiet moment of validation for choosing the smarter, more considered path.
“We are incredibly thankful to every client, friend, and supporter who took the time to vote for us,” says Scott. “We see this as your way of saying, ‘Keep going.’ And we will.”
To us, being seen as among “the best” is not a finish line. It’s an invitation to keep growing, to keep refining, and to keep showing up with the same heart and passion that brought us here.
In the months ahead, we’ll continue our mission to redefine real estate in Durban West. That means more intentional storytelling, stronger community connections, and delivering signature experiences that truly honour the trust placed in us.
This recognition belongs to everyone who has been part of our journey; clients who opened their homes, partners who supported our vision, and the broader Durban community who believed in what we’re building.
It’s proof that real estate can be something more.
And we’re here to lead that change.