In 2005, she was invited to establish the Seeff office in Tulbagh – the start of a property career built on intuition, trust and lasting relationships.

Her secret weapon? Instinct. “The moment I walk into a property, I can almost always picture who belongs there,” she says. Pair that gut feeling with an ability to read people and she’s become something of a matchmaker. By asking thoughtful questions and listening carefully, she quickly narrows the search, introducing clients to homes that genuinely fit their lives.

One sale she still talks about involved a spectacular mountain farm that couldn’t be reached by car. Horseback was the only way in, so she and her client saddled up and spent the day exploring the property together. He bought it. It’s a story that perfectly captures Nelia’s approach: she’ll happily go to extraordinary lengths to help clients discover somewhere exceptional.

After 21 years in the industry, many of her finest listings come through word of mouth – a testament to the relationships she’s built with local homeowners. Away from property, Nelia is a contemporary artist who finds balance at her easel. She also runs a guesthouse in Yzerfontein and loves nothing more than long afternoon walks on the beach with her two dogs.