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Jun 16, 2019
What makes a good real estate agent?
While every agent has their own way of doing things, good real estate agents will always have some common traits. Real estate agents tend to attract negative headlines, but often the hardworking, honest, and caring agents who strive to do the right thing by not only their clients, but communities as well, are overlooked. Many real estate agents are working to rewrite the ethics index and overturn the negativity that the industry seems to attract. If you are wondering what makes a good real estate agent, this video will outline three easy ways to help you to avoid choosing the wrong agent. [siteloft_youtube video_id="Ro38m9T9NHk" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Below are 7 qualities to be on the lookout for when looking for the ideal agent to sell your home: 1. A real estate agent that communicates well If the agent is not a great communicator, the stress levels of sellers and buyers can increase. The agent should be able to keep you updated at all times to ensure that you are not wasting time or opportunities. A good agent should be able to ascertain what your preferred method of communication is so that you don’t feel ignored, or pressured by too much communication. 2. A proactive agent A good agent should be proactive in calling potential buyers and communicating with existing sellers. 3. Be a good listener As a client, you should be the one that does most of the talking. Your agent should be listening to ensure that they understand your needs and requirements, and help to minimise any fear you make have about selling. 4. Client-motivated to get a good result A good agent will always have their clients’ needs as their top priority. With real estate transactions being stressful, it is important that the agent make sure that their client is feeling supported. A good real estate will recognise that no two sales are the same and will be able to adapt their approach to the specific needs of their client. A good agent should be able to showcase their outstanding negotiation skills, ensuring you receive the best price for your property. 5. Local real estate area knowledge Agents sell more than a home – they sell the lifestyle that comes with it. To do this effectively requires a deep understanding of the local area. Ask your prospective agent some questions about the area, such as train and bus routes, schools, etc to ascertain if they are a local real estate agent. 6. Selling time frame and motivation A good agent should know their client’s time frame, why their clients are selling, and what their future plans are. The agent should know if there is any sentiment attached to the property being sold, as those needs will be different to someone selling an investment property. A good agent will know the difference in these transactions and adapt accordingly. A good agent will assist you to price your home to sell in your desired time frame. 7. Can provide agent client reviews The easiest way to find a good agent is to look at their past clients for a reference. Ask your prospective agent for testimonials or statements from their last 20 clients, not their selected clients, but their last 20 clients. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home download our free checklist – Insider Secrets To Being Ready To Sell. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST I hope that has helped you today, but if you have any questions whatsoever about choosing a real estate agent, I’d love to talk to you. My number is 0426 264 771 and I look forward to talking to you soon. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
May 31, 2019
Innovation and technology when selling
With the current market being tough to sell in, choosing the right agent is imperative. Agents need to continually look for innovative practices that will add to any sales and marketing process to improve the positioning of a property in the market. They need to be across technology in real estate for selling. This will result in extra attention in a noisy marketplace, along with providing the benefit of complete transparency for all involved. With our philosophy of being the Uber, Air BnB, and Amazon of the real estate industry, we believe that being innovative can ensure you receive an ideal experience as a seller. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home download our free checklist – Insider Secrets To Being Ready To Sell. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Here is technology in real estate for selling Matterport Technology Matterport is an all-in-one reality capture system that provides a realistic, interactive 3D and Virtual Reality experience. It allows prospective buyers to feel like they’re walking through the property from the comfort of their computer. This enhances buyer interactions with properties for sale, making the buying process easier, more engaging and streamlining the decision-making process. Prospective buyers no longer have to wait for an open home to get the information they need, with the ability to engage with a property and understand early whether they will love it. As a real estate agency and seller, there is no hiding anything in the home, as everything is there for the potential buyer to see. Many agents avoid the technology in fear buyers won’t come, but we have the opposite view, with a desire for complete transparency. You can a recent example of a Matterport completed by our office for a property we acted for – Property Matterport. Where other agencies have resisted technologies like Mattaport in fear of no one showing up to open homes, we had some of our biggest open home numbers in 2018. For clients like Jose and Lynnaire, using Mattaport meant they were merely showing up to the open home to start the formalities of purchasing the property, having already made up their mind through the virtual tour to buy. This has cut our time at open homes down as potential buyers already know what they want to see when they arrive. Before You Bid Before You Bid is a low-cost way for an owner to organise a pest and building inspection, see how the house will be perceived by buyers, get quotes to rectify areas in the future for buyers and understand the value of their home based on any issues that may have arisen. The buyers love it because it’s a low-cost way to look at a report when they’re interested in a home without outlying $500 themselves if they are not successful with their purchase. The potential buyer pays $49 and only pays the balance ($450) if they proceed with the sale. If no buyers download the report and the home sells, the owner pays the balance of $250. It’s independent of the owner and agent and has the advantage of a new buyer having the report put into their name so it’s legally theirs. What makes us different? We have undertaken extensive market research and have heard some particularly disappointing stories about the real estate industry. Our passion and desire is to ensure this image is changed by leading the way with transparency and innovation. Whether that is adopting technology which ensures we’re fully transparent to all parties involved, as outlined above, or offering a more personalised, caring approach. We pride ourselves on understanding each individual, providing a highly personalised service, and offering them emotional support along the way. We want to delight our clients with positive experiences. We also offer detailed information throughout the entire sales process, so vendors can make the most educated decisions about their property. This is achieved by producing easy-to-read weekly reports and holding weekly meetings to discuss the progress of their sale. Innovations such as Before Your Bid and a Tenant and Owner Portal for property management create further transparency in an industry not known for transparency. All clients are treated equally as well. Not all real estate agents have embraced property videos and, those who have, are reserving the feature for more prestige properties. We’ve chosen to do a video for every single property we list, because buyers buy lifestyle – whether it’s a $400,000 apartment or a $4m property. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home download our free checklist – Insider Secrets To Being Ready To Sell. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST I hope that has helped you today, but if you have any questions whatsoever I’d love to talk to you. My number is 0426 264 771 and I look forward to talking to you soon. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Apr 24, 2019
Living in Fairy Meadow
If you are wondering where to buy property and looking for a suburb close to the city of Wollongong, that’s family-friendly and has everything you need to sustain great health and wellbeing, Fairy Meadow is really one of those Illawarra suburbs. Living in Fairy Meadow means you're only 4kms from the centre of the city and with a population of 7,400, it caters to a variety of different family makeups, living options and shopping needs. Here’s just a taste of what living in Fairy Meadow can be like for you: Fairy Meadow Attractions for Families It’s close proximity to the beach makes Fairy Meadow an appealing location for those who love the outdoors, water and staying healthy. The two beaches are Fairy Meadow Beach and Puckey’s Estate. The Fairy Meadow SLSC, started in 1950 and has become an integral part of the community Speaking of the beach, Park Run starts at Fairy Meadow Beach every Saturday and is a free community event that brings the area together. If ball sports are more your style, the suburb has its own Fairy Meadow Bowling Club, which features regular entertainment outside of its games roster, and a Tennis Club, which is popular with all ages. Other sporting and active living options for those who love to stay fit and healthy include United Divers, McKeon Swim Centre, Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club and Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort. Those with a creative streak may be drawn to the Fairy Meadow Community Centre. It has a full calendar of events for various ages and demographics, including music classes for little ones, dancing for older students, martial arts and church groups from different cultures meet at the centre. It’s also used as a function centre for different events. Another place to meet with friends is the Fraternity Club, which includes different restaurants, play space for the kids, regular giveaways and promotions, and more. Or maybe the Illawarra Woodworkers Group in Fairy Meadow might be more your scene if you have a passion for woodcraft. There are also many churches, including Fairy Meadow Anglican Church, St John Vianney Catholic Cathedral, Citylife Church, Towradgi Congregational Church, Wollongong Christian Reformed Church and Fairy Meadow Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses all in the area. Whether you’re thinking about your own eventual transition into aged care or wanting to be close to a loved one in aged care, Fairy Meadow is close to the Tarrawanna Aged Care facility. If you love spending time in parks, you have a full selection, including Guest Park, Bassett Park, North Dalton Park, Puckeys Estate, Thomas Dalton Park, and Fairy Meadow Beach Park. Eating out and socialising Want to find nightlife close to home? Then Fairy Meadow has two great spots – The Charles Hotel and Cabbage Tree Motel Fairy Meadow. However, if you’re simply after a good meal with friends or family, then there’s an array of cuisines – from Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Lebanese, Aussie barbecue and steaks – and even drive through takeaways. Or pick up some fish from the local seafood shop and cook up a feast at home and don’t forget to grab a cheesecake for dessert too. On weekends, there’s always somewhere to go for a coffee and cake to relax. Living in Fairy Meadow One of the advantages of living in Fairy Meadow is the diversity of housing. From apartment living to older affordable homes on the Princes Highway, newly renovated properties and large, modern homes in Daisy Street. Units are aplenty in Fairy Meadow and ideal for investors and first home buyers. Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort offers affordable, full-time housing in relocatable and manufactured homes. and is located close to the beach and includes tennis courts, putt-putt golf and more. All bases are covered when living in the Wollongong suburb making it true lifestyle living. Fairy Meadow was the first settlement, before housing moved out to Balgownie and Tarrawanna where bigger homes are now positioned. The houses increase again in size in Mount Pleasant and Mount Ousley, where there are larger, grander style homes. Cabbage Tree Lane, Fairy Meadow local resident, Tony Roder, fell in love with Fairy Meadow and says it has the best coffee shop in town, and has brought his family back together again. If you’d like to talk about finding your next home in Fairy Meadow, give Joanne a call on 0426 264 771 or reach out. Find out what property is currently for sale in the area and feel free to call into one of the open for inspections. Wollongong’s Best Shopping Love a bit of retail therapy? Fairy Meadow has it all, often avoiding the need to go into the Wollongong City Centre. With free, easy to access parking and three supermarkets – Aldi, Woolworths and Coles – it makes grocery shopping a joy again. For those who love finding grocery bargains, Fairy Meadow is home to the Leisure Coast Fruit Market, a popular fruit market with its fresh fruit and vegetables. The large business is also home to a garden centre, which is only one of two in the entire Illawarra region. Cake shops in Fairy Meadow include Zweefers, and Pasticceria Massimo Papa. Your banking needs are covered at IMB Bank and Bendigo Bank within the main shopping precinct, as your insurance requirements with GIO being located on the Princes Highway. Fairy Meadow also has one of the oldest butcher’s shops – Paul’s Butchery – a continental butcher that attracts people from across the entire region. More into beauty and general retail? There are hair salons, lingerie shops, music stores, bookshops, sports stores, bridal stores, activewear, Salvos Stores, Vinnies and Officeworks. If you’re after a bigger purchase like a car, Gateway Holden is located on the Princes Highway. If you’re looking for things to improve the home, try the hardware stores, pool centre and let’s not forget a family pet, with a local pet store in the area. Transportation If you don’t have your own vehicle to navigate through the flat suburb and easy access streets, there are other options for transport in Fairy Meadow. A train runs from Fairy Meadow Station in Elliots Rd that will take you from Sydney to Bomaderry. A bus moves throughout Fairy Meadow 7 days a week, with stops at: ● Fairy Meadow Station, Elliotts Rd ● Fairy Meadow Demonstration School, Balgownie Rd ● Princes Hwy opp Fairy Meadow Demonstration School ● Princes Hwy opp Collaery Ave ● Innovation Campus, Squires Way ● Vereker St at Cabbage Tree Lane ● Elliotts Rd before Carters Lane ● St John Vianney’s Catholic Church, Princes Hwy ● Princes Hwy opp Guest Park ● Cabbage Tree Lane opp McLean Ave ● Princes Hwy after McGrath St ● Meadow St before Balgownie Rd ● Princes Hwy at Elliotts Rd Schools in Fairy Meadow One of the greatest advantages of living in Fairy Meadow when you have a young family is the schooling options. Whether it’s academic schooling, dance, drama, singing or music, there are different schools to suit different styles and abilities. Here are the schools you can access without leaving the suburb: ● Little Peoples – 478 Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow ● Willy Wagtails Garden – 43 Florence St, Fairy Meadow ● Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School – 48 McGrath St, Fairy Meadow ● Mount Ousley Public School – 31 McGrath St, Fairy Meadow ● Towradgi Public School – Carters Ln, Fairy Meadow ● Fairy Meadow Demonstration School – Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow ● Joanne Grace School of Dance – 88-92 Jardine St, Fairy Meadow ● Cons Music Drama School – 25 Balgownie Rd, Fairy Meadow ● G4 Guitar School Wollongong – 52-56 Princes Hwy, Fairy Meadow ● SINGsational – Norman Street, Fairy Meadow ● Rhythmic Moves School of Dance & Performing Arts – 43 Daisy St, Fairy Meadow ● Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts – Lysaght St, Fairy Meadow Service Providers Fairy Meadow has attracted a lot of professional, service-based businesses to help locals. If you’re looking to move, there are self-storage services, while if you’re moving in, there is insurance options and Australia Post. When it comes to your car, there’s in-car installation or towing services (let’s hope you don’t need those though). If you are moving into aged care or have a loved one you’re moving into aged care, there are services to help you with the transition. Joanne has helped many families transition loved ones into aged care and out of long-standing family homes. If you would like to know what houses are for sale in Fairy Meadow, or if you are considering options to sell your home in Fairy Meadow, call Joanne on 0426 264 771 for assistance. Considering how you can Right Size your Home and perhaps move into Aged Care? Register for this short course and learn how to best right size your home when moving into aged care. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Mar 26, 2019
What are your options if you need aged care?
With an ageing population, we are always finding that people are constantly looking for aged care options in Fairy Meadow. If you are wondering what may be available for either yourself or loved one when it comes to aged care options Wollongong, Joanne Danckwardt talk with Dianne Chalk from Chalk Financial Planning (formerly Hillross Fairy Meadow) to provide information on what is on offer along with transitioning into aged care. [siteloft_youtube video_id="AgVz6C5InQc" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Aged Care Government Funding The Government has various funding packages that will assist people to stay at home rather than going into aged care, with home care packages being available to assist. The Aged Care Assessment Team will need to conduct an assessment to ascertain what level of care is required. There are four levels available, with level one being the lowest level of care, for example, assistance with showering or shopping, to level four, which might mean full-time care is required. These care packages can take the burden off families with their assistance – not only the financial burden, but the time required to provide the care. Having assistance with the care of a loved one means that families may have an opportunity to have more time and a better relationship with the loved one in their care. Retirement Living Retirement living in retirement villages is another option available. This type of living falls under state legislation, and the buyer should be aware of exactly what they are buying into, by reading the fine print. Always check the cost required to buy into the village, along with any associated ongoing costs, and any exit costs. Always review how the fees and costs fit in with your cash flow. There can be extensive waiting lists for these types of living packages. Do some research on the area that you like, to ascertain the time it may take for you to gain access. Be aware of how exactly you will be taking ownership of premises. Some places are actually leasing or renting the land, others you may be buying the house on the land. Do your research, and also review the treatment of Centrelink and how they assess some places for any rent assistance packages. Make an aged care plan Ideally, you should make a plan for aged care, rather than making emotional decisions under pressure if something goes wrong. Talking opening with your family and friends will provide clarity and support, allow everyone to proactive rather than reactive. If you feel concern for a loved one, arrange for an assessment from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This can be done through your doctor. Having this assessment done is like having a passport. Just because you have one does not necessarily mean you are going to travel overseas. This assessment is also an assessment for home care respite along with permanent care. Have a look around at not only what options are available for aged care options in Fairy Meadow or nearby, but what places may be around. Create a shortlist based on the area and type of needs. Ensure that you incorporate costs associated with these care facilities so that there is no shock. When the time comes, you will have a good place to start with this list. Ensure that wills are up to date, estate planning is carried out, and it is important to have powers of attorney and ensuring guardianship is established, otherwise most facilities will not accept your application. See you solicitor to have these items established. By not having estate planning in place, then potentially the government can step in and end up managing the financial affairs. We also recommend seeing a financial planner who specialises in Aged Care Advice. This will provide comfort knowing that you are receiving the latest advice and consideration for your needs and aspirations for your situation. Listing and Pricing your Fairy Meadow home to sell After completing all this research, you will have your own knowledge on if you should need to sell your property. If this a requirement of yours, pricing your home to sell is of utmost importance along with the timeframes for listing the property for sale. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home download our free checklist – Insider Secrets To Being Ready To Sell. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST I hope that has helped you today. If you have any questions whatsoever I’d love to talk to you. My number is 0426 264 771. I look forward to talking to you soon. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Feb 13, 2019
Services a real estate agent can offer to help sell your home
With so much competition in the real estate market, it is important you fully utilise the skills of an agent and all the real estate agent services offered. This video will show you the services of a real estate agent that will help you sell your home quickly and for the maximum price possible. Learn about the three phases of selling and what your agent should be able to do for it. [siteloft_youtube video_id="4yQZkOBrD-E" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Preparing your home for sale There are a number of things that a real estate agent can do for you prior to putting your home on the market for sale. Make full use of your real estate agent and their services right from the very beginning. They should be able to not only give an idea on what your home is worth, but also advise you where you should concentrate your efforts when preparing your home for sale, and help you with people who can assist you in those particular services. They might point out different areas of importance to you. This is because a real estate agent will know what is important to a buyer and what they will be looking for. Preparing the home for sale is very important. Real Estate Agents have access to services to recommend that will help you with getting your home ready for sale. For example, if you have a lock that does work, we can access a reliable locksmith or handyman that will be able to come and repair it. Or if the home could benefit from painting, we can recommend and organise for painters to attend on your behalf. Pricing your property in the current market Real Estate Agents will also provide you with an estimate on the value of your home, as well as provide you with an idea on what is happening in the marketplace at the time. This is important as you will be selling with competition so you need to price your home to sell. You will need to know what is happening in the marketplace. Knowing if we are in a seller’s market or in a buyer’s market will allow you to understand your position in the current marketplace. Marketing and Selling your Home When it comes to actually selling your home, your real estate agent should be able to provide you with experts that help with marketing items such as professional photos and videos, virtual tours and styling. There is a lot of information and services that you can take advantage of to make sure that you maximize the exposure of your home. Innovation and technology when selling your home has seen the growth and expansion of many platforms that give more exposure to your property in a noisy marketplace. Your agent should be able to ensure that your property is shown to the maximum number of potential buyers, and be successful in negotiating a premium sale price on your behalf, ensuring that your outcome is maximised. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home download our free checklist – Insider Secrets To Being Ready To Sell. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST There is so much more involved than putting up a for sale sign out the front and opening the front door. With so much involved, you need to make sure that you have someone who has thorough experience and knowledge in this area. Use all the real estate agent services offered to you - look for a full concierge service. You should ensure that you understand the process, and what is available to you, so that you can maximise the biggest asset you’ve got. I hope that has helped you today. If you have any questions whatsoever I’d love to talk to you. My number is 0426 264 771. I look forward to talking to you soon. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Jan 15, 2019
Is selling your house in January or February a good idea?
Many people ask what is the best time to put a house on the market to sell your house. In Australia, with school holidays extending until the end of January, some question whether selling your house in January or February is a good time. However, it’s a time when real estate agents will receive many home appraisal requests. Why list your home in January or February? You see, for many of us, we catch up with family over the Christmas and New Year period. Often, we see family we may not have seen in a while or we spend more time with them than we normally would. Among those we catch up with are our parents. And it’s through this time we realise our elderly parents aren’t what they were. We notice they’re not quite coping on their own. They leave a stove on or struggle to fully turn off a tap. It’s those little things that signal they need more help now. It’s during this extended time with our family that we realise something has to be done. But, as I’ve witnessed many times, we’re often unprepared for it. Transitioning a loved one into aged care Transitioning a loved one into care isn’t an easy process but is something many of us will eventually face. Often, as children, our lives are already full with our own families. Then we’re given the task of trying to: get one or both parents into aged care facilities that are booked up YEARS in advance, access finances quickly to cover aged care costs, yet the house your parents have lived in for 40+ years need some work before it goes up for sale, face red tape when you contact Centrelink and so it goes on. Dianne Chalk, who outlines transitioning into aged care in Wollongong in this video, is often booked out months in advance with cases. As she advises, it’s worth being on aged care waiting lists as early as possible. [siteloft_youtube video_id="05ZK_y_u5HE" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] Preparing a home for sale Organising and selling your parents home in a timely manner can also go a long way to helping with much of the process. So you may be wondering what to do to put your house on the market? I’ve worked with many families through transitioning their loved ones into aged care and there are steps you can take to make the process smoother. Register for this short course and learn how to best right size your home when moving into aged care. We have also put together an Insiders Secrets To Selling checklist that will guide you through what needs to be done and provide some smart tips to ensure you only focus on what’s important. DOWNLOAD YOUR CHECKLIST For example, getting expert advice is a great first step. Choose a real estate agent who has a deep understanding of your area. For example, in Fairy Meadow there are a number of agents who specialise in this area – One Agency JD Property Agents is one of those (just in case you didn’t know!). This agent will also provide some clarity on what you should consider doing before putting your house on the market. For example, that pink wall you had in your childhood bedroom needs to be repainted a neutral colour. And that’s just one simple design tip when selling a home. A good real estate agent has a database of quality tradespeople whose work is at a more affordable price point and who can help you in this area. The tradespeople should be able to provide you with a timeframe on when work can be completed to allow you to better prepare your timeframe for selling. Behind the Scenes of moving a parent into aged care One of our clients, Irene, talked about the emotional journey she took with her mother’s home, but the outcome for her still brings her to tears – one that exceeded her expectations. [siteloft_youtube video_id="Cscwis9gwVk" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] One of the important factors for Irene, as she outlines in this video, was choosing an agent who understood what she was going through, as it’s an emotionally challenging period. Next steps for selling a house in January or February Selling a house in January can be a great thing for your family if it leads to joy, peace of mind and a better lifestyle for those involved. When it comes to family situations likes this, there is no best time to put a house on the market other than now. Because, unfortunately, not even the best agents can predict the real estate market. If you’re unsure what sort of price you might receive for your parents home when selling a house in January or February, please reach out. I’d love to help. I’ve been through this process many times, so I understand what you’re going through and can completely empathise with the task you have ahead of you. But know it’s possible, you will get through this and to ensure you surround yourself with good people as you move through it. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Dec 21, 2018
Questions you should ask an agent when looking to sell
Choosing a real estate agent to sell your home can be confusing and overwhelming. You want an agent that will be right for you and your circumstances to guide you through your selling journey and help you achieve the best price possible. If you are considering selling your home, and are wondering where to start when engaging the services of a real estate agent to assist you, this video will provide you with six questions to ask your agent when selling, and what they should be able to tell you. [siteloft_youtube video_id="-wrcIdL7WW8" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Question 1 – How long will it take to sell my home? A great real estate agent should be able to give you a rough estimate on how long it will take for you to sell your home. This information should be based on what other sales have occurred in your area as well as what the agent has been able to achieve in the past. Question 2 – How much will my home sell for? The agent should be able to give you a rough idea of what your home is worth. Make sure that amount is justified by other sales that have occurred in your area of similar homes. Do some of your own research to find out what the state of the current market, and the value of property in your area that are comparable to yours. Pricing your home to sell correctly will ensure that your property does sit on the market too long. Question 3 – How can I maximise the value of my home? With many properties currently on the market for sale, ensuring that your property stands out and looks its best will help you to achieve the asking price of your property when selling your home. The agent should provide you with tips on how to maximize the value of your home. That feature wall that you did 15 years ago might not be appealing to current buyers today. Some simple design tips when selling a home can really help to maximize your sale price. Question 4 – What is involved in the real estate selling process? The agent should be able to sit down with you and take the time to explain what is involved in the real estate selling process, so that you are fully aware, and there are no surprises along the way. The agent should be able to answer all your questions, allowing you to trust them to guide along this selling journey. Question 5 – What marketing will you do for my property? Over the years, there have been many changes when marketing your home for sale. Advanced innovation and technology when selling has seen the emergence of online platforms which allows for easy access to video promotions allowing your property to be advertised in a sophisticated and detailed manner. The agent should love real estate marketing and know what avenues you should use to maximize your exposure to the market. This is the only way you are going to get the right buyers to your home which can help maximize your price. Question 6 – What costs are involved when selling my property? An agent needs to be able to clearly articulate the costs associated with selling. Some of these costs will include the agent’s commission including GST, likely marketing costs, solicitors or conveyancing fees and removalists. So there you have it - six questions to ask your estate agent when selling. If you’re ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST I hope that this has helped you today. If you have any questions whatsoever, I’d love to talk to you. My number is 0426 264 771. I look forward to talking with you soon. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.
Dec 11, 2018
What happens when your pest and building report is not perfect?
So you’ve found your dream home, and gone through the process to secure it. Congratulations! But what happens if along the way you find out that the pest and building report is not great? If you are wondering what you should do if you do have building and pest inspection report concerns, this video will outline what you should know and what you should do. [siteloft_youtube video_id="hZHV1pkJcFs" autoplay="0" suggestions="1"] If you are looking for a property to buy, request to be added to our open home alert YES, ADD ME TO YOUR OPEN HOME ALERT What is the purpose of a Pest and Building Inspection Report? A pest and building inspection and report is carried out to make sure that the house is structurally sound, and that there are no active termites. Pest and building inspectors have to point out absolutely everything that could be wrong with the home, or possibly wrong with the home. A lot of the time the homes could be older, so they may not meet the Building Code of Australia now, as the codes have been updated since the property was built. For example, the balcony levels might be a little bit lower. These are things that you will find in every home. There will always be a myriad of things that aren’t right about an older home. What if the report shows something structurally wrong or termites? Occasionally there will be something structurally wrong with a property or there are live termites. Your first instinct could be the throw your hands in the air and walk away from the purchase. You don’t have to lose out on your dream property. There are options for you to consider. What can be done if I have an issue with my pest and building report? Look at how you can work your way through the problem. The issues are going to be with the home forever and they are generally not something that has just happened, and my not be rectified easily. The agent will be trying to make sure that you feel comfortable as a purchaser to still proceed. Look at getting some quotes on what works to be done, to understand the costs associated with the concerns. You could then look to negotiate through that issue. Your agent should be there to try and help you through that negotiation process. The owners will have the same issue with the next buyer, so they should be looking to assist in any way they can. The goal would be come to an agreement with the owners on an adjustment in the already agreed sale price. Just remember that all is not lost if you do experience a hiccup in your pest and building report. Aim to work towards achieving a resolution for all parties involved. If you are looking for a property to buy, request to be added to our open home alert YES, ADD ME TO YOUR OPEN HOME ALERT For more information, contact Joanne Danckwardt of One Agency JD Property Agents on 0426 264 771. If you have any family or friends that might benefit from real estate guidance, please feel free to pass on my details or share this link. I’d love to be able to help.