Archive for Harcourts The Property People – Page 2

Tips for moving house with children

Moving house can be stressful and upsetting for everyone, but particularly for young children, especially if they’ve only known one home. But with a plan, a little foresight and creativity, moving to a new home need not be a traumatic experience.

BEFORE MOVING
Keep the children as involved as possible in the process of moving house. Before you start looking for a new place, talk to them about what they’d like a new place to have, or even draw pictures of what they want their new bedroom to look like.

Once you’ve chosen and/or purchased the new house, take the children for a walk-through so they can see their new bedrooms and play area like the back garden. Or have them look at the house online.

If possible, make a few visits to the new neighbourhood before moving so the children can see where their new school is, where the local playgrounds are. Take some time to walk around the area so everyone can get their bearings.

Have your children research the new neighbourhood or town themselves and make a list of places they want to visit.

DURING MOVING
Let each child pack a box of their favourite toys, then have them write their name on it, and decorate it if they want to. And make sure they help load it into the car or moving van so they know it’s going with them to the new house.

Keep calm! Children will pick up on your stress and anxiety about moving, so try and focus on making it a fun adventure. It may even ease your own state of mind!

Keep a picnic basket available and well-stocked with plenty of snacks and drinks to keep children happy and refuelled.

AFTER MOVING
Once you arrive in your new house, unpack and set up the children’s rooms as a priority so they feel more at home. Make sure the rooms are welcoming and recognisable as theirs with familiar duvet covers, furniture, toys and books.

If they are old enough, perhaps give each child a responsibility such as unpacking books or toys to keep them occupied and the day running smoothly.

Keep a few large moving boxes for having fun and making forts.

Plan a special celebration “first night” dinner, that’s easy to prepare and fun – perhaps a pizza picnic on the lounge floor?

Set up a treasure hunt in and out in the backyard of the new home so the kids become familiar and positive about the house.

After moving day, try and return to the normal routine of bed times and meal times, school and play as quickly as possible to help everybody settle.

If you are looking to sell or buy, contact your local real estate professionals on 4628 7444.

Property management sense

In our business, we often encounter investment property owners who are frustrated with their current Property Manager and real estate agency. They lack confidence in their service, and feel it is not being managed as well as it should be.

A poorly managed property makes for a difficult investment, and understandably many property owners feel like they have little option but to manage the property themselves.

But there is a better way…

There are some real estate agencies that focus on property management, and have highly experienced Property Managers who know how to quickly and easily resolve investment property issues. They only contact you for the larger decisions, and deal with the day-to- day items quickly and easily.

Your Property Manager should NOT be contacting you every week. A well-managed property should only be involving you via the mid month/end-of-month statements, property inspection times and results, when rent prices are reviewed, and any large issues involving your property or tenant. All other tasks should be efficiently dealt with by your Property Manager as part of their service.

Professional Property Management agencies have strict systems in place to ensure all details are attended to. These companies know their clients are looking for:

  • Maximum income from their investment property.
  • A well-maintained property.
  • Happy tenants that look after their property.

You may pay a little more for this service, but it is certainly worth it! You save money having a property that is cared for; you save time in not having to deal with detail; and having your property tenanted with the best tenants with the least amount of vacancy between tenancies are all huge savings that are often overlooked.

You should also remember that your property management fees are a tax deduction at the end of financial year.

It makes a whole lot of sense to employ a highly experienced and professional real estate agency with a proven track record to manage your investment property.

Our property management team is multi-award winning for its real estate service and results. We lead the way in delivering premium property management services throughout the Macarthur region.

Investing in a quality Property Management agency is money well- spent! A well-managed investment property will provide maximum income, no hassles, and the best long-term outcome.

For more information about our property management service, call our team of professionals today on 4628 7444.

Selling your home in 2018

If one of your new year’s resolutions is to sell your home and upgrade or move to a more desirable location, now is a good time to consider putting your property on the market.

The sun is shining, homes are often looking their best, and many buyers are out in force, looking to “make good” on their new year’s resolutions in securing their next home or investment property.

So what should you do to start making the sale of your property a reality?

PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE
There are bare minimums that need to be done to ensure a good sale. Cleaning, de-cluttering, de-personalising, and making needed repairs are all part of the preparation. The amount of time and effort in the right areas will certainly be worth your while!

Your chosen agent can guide you on what needs to be done, and many have the best local contacts to get the work done right!

CHOOSE THE BEST AGENT
Don’t just go with someone you know, or the agent who sold the neighbour’s house. Meet at least three agents, talk with them, attend some of their open homes and assess the way they do business.

Choose an agent who will work hard at following up buyers, has a good manner with people, as well as being a good and tough negotiator.

PRICE YOUR PROPERTY COMPETITIVELY FROM THE START
Pricing your property correctly, right from the start is a top priority. This does not mean “cheap”- it means at a price that meets the current market.

Statistics show that a new property will attract the most interest in the first couple of weeks, and then interest levels decrease. So you need to take advantage of this peak buyer traffic by advertising your property with a realistic price that will channel the greatest amount of ready buyers to your home.

MARKETING STRATEGICALLY
There is no doubt that the systems, expertise, and connections available to you through engaging a professional real estate agent will increase your chance of a successful sale.

Talk to your agent about using the marketing tools that gain maximum exposure for your property, and make sure these tactics will connect with the type of buyers most likely to purchase your home.

Open houses are very important, but you should also be ready for ad-hoc showings and second inspections.

STAGING AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Presentation is king! If needed, or if it suits your circumstances, you may wish to consider property staging or styling to assist in selling your home.

Next your agent should engage a professional photographer to capture images of your property in its best light. This is highly important, as many people’s first view of your home is from these photos online or in a publication.

METHOD OF SALE
An auction is a great method of sale for those with a tight timeframe, as it gives the seller a likely sale date, or even a possible sale before auction! In tougher markets, there is always the risk that the house will not sell. Despite this, the auction process still increases the visibility of a property over a short timeframe, and at Harcourts, properties that are passed-in at Auction are negotiated with buyers and sold on average the week after the auction.

For more information on selling your home, contact one of our highly experienced sales professionals on 4628 7444.

Successfully purchasing a property by auction

If you are looking to bid and buy a property that is being offered for sale by auction, it’s best to be fully prepared. The Contract of Sale for the property should be available from the selling agent. Buyers should read carefully through the contract, ask questions, and have their solicitor check the contract prior to the auction.

A seller may choose to sell the property prior to auction if a satisfactory offer to purchase is presented. To avoid this disappointment, you should make it clear to the selling agent your interest in the property, so that you can be informed if an offer is being considered, allowing you the opportunity to submit a competitive offer.

Here is some other information to help you purchase by auction:

ARRANGE YOUR FINANCE
A sale by auction is an unconditional sale, so it is vital that you have finance confirmed and know your limits before you bid.

UNCONDITIONAL BY NATURE
Auction is an unconditional sale, which means that there is no “cooling-off” period. If you purchase at auction, there is no provision for you to cancel the agreement. It is binding on both the buyer and seller. A deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) is payable upon the signing of the contract. Buyers may request a lesser deposit amount, but any such request is subject to the written approval by the seller, prior to the commencement of the auction.

BEFORE AND AT THE AUCTION
Any party who intends to bid must register prior to the commencement of the auction. The auctioneer will not accept bids from any parties that have not registered or do not display a ‘bidder identifier’. Usually your driver’s licence or passport is sufficient identification to register.

Position yourself so the auctioneer can see you clearly. Also, be sure to identify yourself to the selling agent. You might feel more comfortable having a family member or friend submit your bids for you. However, anyone bidding on your behalf must have supplied a written authority to the agent or auctioneer prior to the commencement of the auction.

It’s important that you bid on the property from the outset, rather than employing tactics such as waiting for the auctioneer to announce the property as ‘on the market’; a strategy that has been heavily promoted in some media circles, but one that often ends in disappointment. The auctioneer is not obliged to announce that the property is ‘on the market’ or that the reserve price has been met. We recommend you ensure the auctioneer is aware of your interest as early as possible.

PASSED-IN
In the event that the property fails to reach the seller’s reserve price and is “passed-in”, the highest bidder gains the right to negotiate and buy the property.

If the highest bidder declines this opportunity, it is normal for other interested parties to be offered the opportunity to submit offers.

At Harcourts, we find that many buyers are unnecessarily worried about purchasing by the auction method. You should remember that under auction conditions all buyers are given equal opportunity to buy – plus auction has the benefit of being completely transparent, where all buyers can see each other while bidding. Another great thing about auction is that at the fall of the hammer the auction is final, and if you are successful the property is yours with no further negotiation. The contract is then signed straight away and the terms of settlement as illustrated in the Contract of Sale takes effect.

For more information or if you have any questions about the auction process, speak to one of our highly skilled Sales Consultants on 4628 7444.

New year insurance considerations

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed your holiday and had some quality time and fun over the past few weeks.

Over the holiday break, it is likely you acquired some new possessions such as jewellery and other Christmas presents that you should consider including under your insurance cover. While looking to update your insurance, it would also be an opportune time to look at other companies and see if you can get a better deal.

Why insure your home?
Your home represents years of work to build it up to what it is today. This includes the building/s and all the items inside your home. It is important to protect it all, as your home is one of your biggest assets, and it’s this asset you will need to sell if you wish to move into a larger home, or downsize if retiring.

It’s important to take precautions to protect your assets, should an unthinkable event occur such as fire or flood. Home and contents insurance can buy peace-of-mind and protect you from major disasters, however there are also smaller events your insurance can cover such as burglary, broken windows, kitchen accidents and bathroom/laundry overflows. Some insurance policies can also protect your outdoor furniture, the loss of valuable jewellery, or golf clubs taken from your car. There is plenty of choice amongst insurance companies and affordable insurance options to suit any requirements.

When deciding what insurance company to buy from, its important to first look at their credit rating. Ask the representative what their rating is and compare it with other companies. This is an important factor to consider because the rating will tell you whether the company is likely to be able to pay out readily if you have a claim.

The second step is to look at the company’s representation. Do they have representatives in your residential area, or close to it, so that you can have easy access if you want to make a claim? Is it possible to make a claim with the company over the phone or internet?

Price is a major factor when buying any product, and insurance is no different. The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ applies. Check the policies you are offered given the coverage you require. Sometimes, a cheap product offers less coverage, or the price could reflect a lack of access to representation or poor credit rating. When selecting cover, ensure you fully understand all the policy’s exclusions.

Affordability is also important. Often, insurance companies will offer flexible payment options such as monthly or quarterly payments. Another way to reduce premiums is to ask if the company gives a ‘multiple’ discount if you put all of your insurances, including motor vehicle and/or business insurance, with the one company.

Lastly, make sure you keep your insurances up-to-date, and in the case of contents insurance, it would be wise to detail your contents, their value and have photos safely stored with your own paperwork in the event you have to claim against stolen items.

Harcourts can help you with any of your real estate needs. If you are curious to find out the current value of your home, please do not hesitate to contact us on 4628 7444.

The Property People wins at quarterly awards

Our team at Harcourts The Property People attended the Harcourts Quarterly Awards at Le Montage, Sydney, to celebrate individual and office real estate achievements for the July to September 2017 quarter.

We competed against Harcourts offices throughout NSW, to win these highly sought-after awards:

QUARTERLY AWARDS JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2017

Individual Awards
Property Management Excellence
3rd place, Kerrie Galvin

Property Management Business Development
1st place, Laura Makowski
3rd place, Sarena Rowley

Bronze Sales Achievement
Derek Worthington
Tom Spiljar

Gold Sales Achievement
Garth Makowski
Shaun Moss
Steve Arentz

Harcourts Foundation Achievement
Nathalie Cerda
Kirsten Friedli

Top Auction Lister
3rd place, Steve Arentz

Top 10 Sales Consultants
8th place, Steve Arentz

Office Awards
Top Market Share – 1st place

Property Management Office Excellence – 1st place

Property Management Office – Business Development – 1st place

Top Auction Office – 3rd place

Top Office – Highest Revenue per Sales Consultant – 2nd place

Top Office – Highest Gross Revenue – 2nd place

Congratulations to the entire team for contributing to these great achievements, as well as the individuals who were awarded for their outstanding efforts.

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Should you buy or sell your house first

When looking to change homes, one of the big questions is should you first SELL your current property, or BUY your next property first?

The answer to this question depends on your circumstances and the current property market. To help you make your decision, consider the following factors:

How easy will it be to sell your current home?
How quickly your home sells can vary for a number of reasons: – current market, type of home, amenities in the home, price, suburb and perhaps some outside influences like interest rate changes. A local and experienced Sales Consultant can answer most of the questions; show you recent comparable sales in your area and show you how long they took to sell, as well as give you a good idea of likely buyer demand for your home.

What is your current home worth?
Until you have an approximate value of your home, it will be difficult to establish what you can afford to spend on your next property. A Sales Consultant can show you a Comparative Market Analysis of what similar properties have recently sold for in your area, to help you get this approximate value.

What if you sell your property first?
If you choose to sell first, you will be in a far stronger position to purchase as soon as you see what you like. And if you have already done your homework and know the market that you are looking to buy in, you will be ready to confidently take the next step.

However, if there is a time difference between you settling on your home and finding the next one you want, you will need to arrange alternative accommodation in-between, and that means moving twice.

What if you haven’t sold and have found your dream home?
If you have found your dream home before you have sold your existing property, agreeing to purchase the new home obviously puts you under some pressure to sell. You want to avoid the position where you are under pressure to sell, and end-up having to drop your price for a quick sale.

To help alleviate some of the pressure, you can possibly negotiate the settlement date of the new property to be longer to give you more time to sell, and perhaps organise the final selling of your existing property and the purchasing of the new home on or around the same date so that you only have to move once.

If you find yourself in this position you should look at all your options and speak to the experts first. Speak to your Sales Consultant and finance professional to weigh up your options.

What if house prices are rising?
If you’re in a rising market, it could make sense to buy your new home first at its current market value, negotiate a longer settlement, and have your current property potentially rise in value at the same time – this way you could earn more from your existing property.

What if house prices are falling?
Falling house prices may work in your favour as well if you can attract an interested buyer before prices dip lower, leaving you free to purchase your new home at the lower end of the market. However, falling house prices is also an indication of a slower market, meaning it could take you longer to sell your existing home.

Your local real estate professional is equipped to help you make informed decisions. Speak to one of our sales professionals today on 4628 7444.

Good tenants are key to a successful investment property

Gaining good tenants is one of the key aspects of a successful investment. So how do you acquire “good tenants”?

Checking tenants’ references and doing the appropriate background checks are critical tasks to give you the best chance of a smooth running and successful investment.

Property Management professionals have access to specialised tenancy databases, and have the knowledge and experience to carefully look into applying tenants and thoroughly evaluate them. Property owners would be wise to choose an experienced Property Manager and agency team that focuses on gaining a quality tenant. A carefully selected tenant increases the likelihood of a steady and trouble-free investment.

Two of the most important background checks your Property Manager can do are previous rental history and employment record checks. This sounds fairly straight forward, but there are many traps for the inexperienced.

It comes down to finding out from the information gained if the applying tenants have an excellent track record from their past tenancies. That means paying their rent on time, looking a er the rental properties, and staying for a reasonable period of time. Also the current ability for the tenants to pay the rent is evaluated through information and proof from current employers.

Tenants who have a history of moving frequently are not ideal, as this will interrupt your cash flow while there is a changeover from one tenant to another. You’ll also want tenants with steady employment records and income, meaning they can comfortably pay the rent each week.

Owners who manage their property are o en not objective, and lack
the expertise and experience to look into applying tenants. One of the mistakes many property owners make is relying on personal references when investigating potential tenants. A bad personal reference rarely exists – friends and relatives won’t write or tell negative things about those close to them. Professional and background checks are absolutely essential.

Superior Property Management agencies have strict systems in place to ensure all applying tenants are closely scrutinised before accepted, and are intimately across the day-to-day management of their clients’ properties. They are focussed on:

  • Happy tenants that look after the property.
  • Maximum income from the investment property.
  • A well-maintained property.

This is one of the many reasons why is smart to employ a professional property management service to manage your property. Their service will save you a lot of time, money and stress in managing your investment.

This service may cost you a little more in the short-term, but this “forward-thinking” will potentially save you thousands. Plus your property management fees are tax deductible.

For more information about our property management service, call 4628 7444 and speak to our management team.

A garden good enough to eat

These days few people have the time or space for a separate vegetable garden or orchard, yet there is no reason why you can’t incorporate food-bearing plants into your garden, creating an easy, edible landscape.

There are hundreds of different plants that can fulfil any landscape need, and at the same time add something that can be eaten. You can enjoy berries and sun-ripened tomatoes as well as exotic vegetables with many species nowadays just as abundant grown in pots as in the garden.

Some of the easiest and most valued homegrown edibles are herbs. Start with one or two of your favourites, then build up your collection as they need very little space and most can be found in very hardy varieties. Fresh herbs are always handy to have on hand for adding a little bit of “something extra” to meals.

Most modern fruit and vegetable species are also ornamental. Their stalks, leaves, blossoms and fruit can work well in many situations, either set apart or mixed amongst borders and beds, or on a deck if you live in an apartment with no garden.

Edible planting is not only practical and functional but can add colour, texture and form to your landscape design. Besides supplying you with fresh produce at a reasonable cost, it makes your property more attractive and if you decide to sell your property in the future, buyers love the ability for home grown edibles.

There are attractive edibles to suit all landscape levels, starting with tall trees, then smaller trees, followed by a shrub layer, and finally the low shrubs.

Some tall trees with edible fruits or nuts, such as walnut or mulberry, will provide welcome shade. Smaller trees and larger shrubs act well as a single specimen or as focal points. Fruit bushes such as blueberry, raspberry, currants and gooseberries look fantastic in colour-coordinated pots.

As an alternative to wisteria, jasmine or clematis, you can train grapes to clamber along walls or fences, or over a pergola. Strawberries can be planted at ground level or as a substitute for annuals.

Edible planting should reflect the needs of the space and what you want and love to eat! For example, a tree that drops fruit would be inappropriate planted near a parking space or front entrance.

One of the great things about vegetables and herbs is that you can also experiment all year round with a range of varieties until you find your favourites. Exotic vegetables are great to have a go at growing, and it can become a well-enjoyed hobby for the whole family at very little cost.

For their immediate bounty as well as long-term enjoyment of form and beauty, it’s well worth growing edibles in your garden or whatever corner of outdoors you can find.

Walk A Mile In Their Shoes 2017

On Friday 1st of September, hundreds of Harcourts staff across Australia will once again join forces with White Ribbon Australia to take a stand against domestic violence.

Last year at this event, Harcourts The Property People in conjunction with our clients, tradespeople and local community, raised the largest national donation at a whopping $14,500! This year we are raising the bar with a goal of $20,000.

Please assist us in achieving this goal that will go towards improving attitudes and raising awareness that violence against women is unacceptable in our community.

2017’s Walk a Mile in Their Shoes will be held across various locations Australia-wide on Friday 1st September. All participants are encouraged to wear a pair of heels, and together “walk a mile” along a designated public route, to raise Harcourts’ national goal of $100,000 for White Ribbon Australia.

The proceeds from this national event will be donated to White Ribbon’s “Breaking the Silence” program in primary and secondary schools across Australia, aimed at creating generational change in attitudes toward violence.

Join Harcourts The Property People on September 1st with other Harcourts offices throughout NSW, their family, friends and the greater Macarthur community. We will gather at the steps across from our office at Mawson Park, Queen Street, Campbelltown, and then start our walk in high-heels down Queen Street and finish at Koshigaya Park.

It’s $25 to enter the walk, or feel free to donate what you can to this highly important cause.

EVENT DETAIL:
Date: Friday 1st of September, 2017.
Route: Mawson Park, Queen Street to Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown.
Time: Meet at 11:00am for the walk to commence at 11:30am sharp.

Please visit our website www.propertypeople.net.au and click on the Walk A Mile In Their Shoes tab to join us, donate, or for more information.

June’s Auction Results

On Wednesday 28th of June, we held our in-room auction event at the Catholic Club in Campbelltown.

Three outstanding properties were auctioned, with one property selling prior to auction, one property SOLD under the hammer, and one was passed-in.

Here’s the summary:
APPIN, 10 Kennedy Street – SOLD prior to auction!
CAMPBELLTOWN, 22 High Street – SOLD!
EDMONDSON PARK, 1 Pom Pom Place – Passed-in

JUNE AUCTION EVENT STATISTICS:

  • Two of the three properties SOLD at or prior to the Auction event – a 66% clearance rate!
  • Our team achieved an average of 18 buyer inspections per property leading up to the auction.

Over the last 4 years of running these monthly auction events, we have found that the auction method is a great way of getting buyers and sellers together for optimum results.

Many of our buyers and sellers like the auction method due to its transparency, and the fact that negotiations are done in front of all parties at the auction event. Other methods of sale are obviously not as transparent, where negotiations are done done behind closed doors. This often leaves buyers and sellers wondering what is happening that they cannot see or hear.

Many sellers still think that auction is the domain of expensive properties, or for unusual properties that are hard to price. This is partly true, however, we also know that auction is broader than this… Properties in low to medium price ranges appeal to a wider audience and attract more competition – and it is these properties that also do well at auction!

If you are considering selling, auction may be a viable opportunity for the following reasons:

  1. Auction is a method where there is no defined price, allowing competition and negotiation to get you the best price for your home.
  2. Negotiations are done live, allowing all buyers to see their competition and participate by “bidding”. As a seller, you will also see this process as it unfolds.
  3. All buyers are given fair and equal opportunity to bid against each other.
  4. When bids go over your “reserve price” (the lowest price you will accept) and you are “on the market”, at the fall of the hammer the person with the highest bid will own your property and sign the contract.
  5. There is no cooling-off period with an auction sale – the sale is final.

A big “thank you” to all our sellers from our June event for working with us through the auction campaign. Congratulations to all our buyers on their successful outcomes. Thanks also to our Auctioneer, Paul Casarotto.

OUR NEXT AUCTION EVENT WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 26TH OF JULY. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

March Auction Results

Last Wednesday we held our March in-room auction event at the Rydges Hotel in Campbelltown.

Eight outstanding properties were marketed towards this event, with one property selling prior to auction.

Seven properties were presented at the auction event, with two selling on the night. Five properties were passed-in, however they all have interested buyers, and we expect to sell these under negotiation in the next week or two.

Here’s the summary:
BARDIA, 12 Callinan Crescent – SOLD prior to auction!
EAGLE VALE, 1 Malachite Road – SOLD!
LEUMEAH, 1 Wyatt Place – SOLD!
BRADBURY, 27 Alliott Street – Passed-in
CAMPBELLTOWN, 59/31-35 Chamberlain Street – Passed-in
GLEDSWOOD HILLS, 9 Walseley Crescent – Passed-in
BLAIR ATHOL, 1 Pittman Steps Place – Passed-in
BRADBURY, 3 Tallowwood Crescent – Passed-in

8TH MARCH AUCTION EVENT STATISTICS:

  • Three of the eight properties SOLD at or prior to the Auction event.
  • Our team achieved an average of 19.5 buyer inspections per property leading up to the auction.

It was great to see another packed room of interested parties for March’s Auction Event. Good results were achieved, showing the continued strength in our local market place. Thanks to all our sellers and purchasers as well as our Auctioneer, Paul Casarotto, and the wonderful support from Domain, The Macarthur Advertiser and Harcourts NSW.

OUR NEXT IN-ROOM AUCTION EVENT WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 29TH OF MARCH. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

If you want to know more about the process and the benefits of selling your property by auction, speak to one of our highly experienced Sales Consultants on 4628 7444.