Selling a home is never a quick affair. There are many logistical issues to manage, and it’s a test of your patience in more ways than one.
However, you should do these nine tasks when staging your home. This is to ensure that you’ll be able to sell your house as quickly as you can.
Here are nine tips that you can do to stage your home for selling:
Make your house sparkling clean
No matter what, taking the time to clean the house to stage is crucial. You’ll find that your home will shine and look like it’s brand new.
If you are pressed for time, you can always hire a professional home cleaner. In line with this, it would be ideal to communicate that you’re going to show your home to buyers so that you can invest the time and money into getting a professional deep cleaning service.
Otherwise, make sure that you clean the parts of the house that your guests might check. An example would be the inside of closets and cabinets.
Contact local cleaning experts
Clear away the clutter
Aside from cleaning your house, you should also make sure that everything is organised and clutter-free. It will be difficult for everyone to notice how clean your home is if the clutter around the house covers everything up and being in the way. Thus, decluttering should be the first thing you do before you even start cleaning.
By decluttering, your home will look more spacious, something that buyers would want from home. Aside from that, there are fewer items in the way. Thus, buyers can move around when viewing the house without getting distracted by the clutter.
Depersonalise the house
While you’re decluttering, you have to make a specific arrangement to ensure that you’re also taking away any personal effects around the house.
Any item that would indicate in particular terms the type of person living there is unwelcome. That’s because you want the buyer to be able to picture themselves living in the house.
If you had your favourite sports team’s jersey hanging in a frame, it might make it difficult for buyers to believe that the home is theirs. Therefore, depersonalising the house should be included when you’re decluttering the house.
It might feel weird for a while when you’re living there to have anything personal in your home. But it’s the best course of action when you want to sell your house quickly.
Make any minor repairs necessary
In case you are unaware, home renovations can help increase the asking price for your house, but completing it may take a while.
However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t go around your home to find something to improve. Something as small as updating your mirrors can help attract buyers and increase the asking price.
When staging your home, the minor repairs may be unnoticed once you’re showing off your house, but when you don’t repair them, they’re noticeable. If buyers notice it, it can communicate to them that you don’t take the time to take care and properly maintain your home. Thus, it can deter them from wanting to buy your home, or they’ll lower the asking price.
Both of these are things you don’t want, so make sure that you do some minor repairs around the house.
Brighten up your home
If you want to attract potential homebuyers, you want to make a listing in all possible places for the house you’re selling. That means you need to get high-quality photos of your home.
If you have dark and gloomy pictures of your house, it would be understandable that few would be interested in the place.
With that said, if you have a dark house, people who come into the house will also notice that. A dark place feels gloomy and unwelcoming, which are two things that you don’t want your guests to feel.
So make an effort to brighten up any problem areas around the house.
Incorporate natural elements
No matter what the design theme is around your house, it will surely benefit from having some form of a natural element in it.
Freshen up your living room with some potted indoor plants / Source: EMMA JAMES & CO
It would be even better if you incorporate natural elements that are readily available in your area. Therefore, it will help create an impact as well as freshen up space.
You’ll be surprised just how much a room brightens up with just the presence of a vase filled with flowers. The addition will make the house soften up, and it also has that refreshing atmosphere attached to it afterwards.
Make your home smell nice
The first thing homebuyers notice when entering a house isn’t something as apparent as the place’s look. Even if you don’t see it, one of the things they would notice first is the house’s smell.
You do the same upon entering the abode of someone else. Therefore, it may be ideal for making your home smell nice.
When choosing a scent, please don’t go too vigorous with it. That’s because some people are sensitive to essential oils, which can affect the home viewing experience if they have sensitive noses. Thus, it’s best to go for subtler scents.
Rearrange your furniture
When you organised your furniture, you probably mostly did it for convenience and how you move around the house. However, it might be ideal to rearrange your furniture around the house to ensure that it’s easy to walk around the house.
It makes moving in more manageable for your potential buyers. At the same time, it helps make the house look more prominent, which is another plus.
Stage your outdoor space too
When staging your home, you might pay too much attention to what your interior looks like. However, it’s what in the space that counts. It’s still a good idea to work on your exterior. That way, you leave a positive first impression at first glance.
Tidy things up. Organise the outdoor area. Maybe pay more attention to the landscaping. These little things can help make the outdoor space look more inviting to potential buyers.
By following the home selling tips listed above, you won’t have to overwork to sell your home quickly. It also ensures that you are not selling your property at a loss.
If you’re thinking of selling your house at auction, you will need to consider the positives and negatives of choosing this selling method. When you sell at auction, you’ll have a set time to market your home and a set date for the sale of your property. An auction can also generate a great deal of excitement and competition if there are many people interested in your property. But there’s no guarantee that your home will sell for the amount you desire. So here are seven tips to help you increase your chances of success.
1. Find a good real estate agent
Look for an agent who has a proven track record for auctions in your local area. You can compare agents by asking for their results from recent auctions. Have a look at the number of properties that were sold successfully, ie the reserve amount was met. Or you could consider attending an agent’s auctions to get an idea of how your own auction would be handled. You might also want to consider things like the agent’s experience, reputation, negotiation skills, and strategic approach to marketing.
What’s more, you can compare real estate agent fees and commissions to help you choose the right agent. Fees and commissions vary depending on which state or city you live in, but it generally includes negotiating and marketing fees, and the commission is usually between 1% and 5% of your property’s final sale price.
There are several steps to take before putting your home up for auction / Source: Pictures by Sean
2. Create an advertising budget
According to data obtained by LocalAgentFinder, most real estate agencies will charge between $1,000 to $5,000 on marketing costs for a typical individual property, with the majority trending towards a budget under $2,000. Many homes sold by auction are usually scheduled to sell after 30 days. By creating an advertising budget that’ll last for this time period or more, you’ll be able to advertise your home up until auction day. The point is to let buyers know that your home is on the market. And when you have the funds on hand, you can quickly generate interest in your upcoming auction from the start and continue to attract potential buyers until your home’s ready for sale.
3. Hold open house inspections
Another way to attract a lot of qualified and interested buyers to your auction is to conduct open house inspections. Since you only have a limited time to market your home, you need to showcase its best features. Most importantly, the house should be prepared for sale with styling and presentation and an have a strong deep clean before the openings. Here is a list of essentials to prepare your house for the inspections.
4. Pay attention to feedback
If your agent gives you buyer feedback from the open house inspections and inquiries, take these comments into consideration when presenting your property in the future and setting your reserve price. After all, when you cater to the needs and wants of buyers, you’ll have a higher chance of achieving a strong sale price.
5. Choose a realistic reserve price
You should set a reserve price that’s based on recent comparable property sales. You’ll need to compare the asking price of homes similar to yours and the price they sold for, and then decide on a reserve amount. Keep in mind that only you, your agent, and the auctioneer should know about your reserve price before auction day.
Contact local real estate agents
6. Be present on auction day
It’s best to be present on the day your property goes under the hammer. By directly observing the auction process and buyer interest in your property, you’ll be able to make better, more informed decisions in any negotiation after the auction.
7. Negotiate or run another auction when your home is passed in
If your reserve price is reached at auction, your property is considered to be on the market and is sold to the highest bidder. But if your reserve price isn’t met and your property is passed in, you can negotiate with the highest bidder or run an auction again on another day and get a great result.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can improve the likelihood of a successful auction.
The Australian government deliberately developed PEXA so that electronic settlements do not take place until the solicitors representing property buyers have filed their details with the (OSR) Office of State Revenue online system.
Electronic conveyancing defined
Electronic conveyancing is a national system that permits for an automatic completion of a property sale or purchase by uploading the entire documentation, and electronic funds transfer into the PEXA system.
Clients cannot automatically log in to the E-conveyancing system to obtain details of their particular conveyancing transaction progress. The Property Exchange of Australia (PEXA) developed the system to streamline and monitor all conveyancing transactions.
eConveyancing minimises the manual paperwork and processes associated with property transactions by allowing the legal parties to carry out the settlement online. The system enables clients to file documents and financial agreements electronically. eConveyancing reduces the risk of delays and errors giving customers greater successful, prompt settlements.
Electronic conveyancing legislation was amended in the 2015 Property Amendment Bill of the (SA) Real Property Act 1886. The revised act and the launch of E-Conveyancing in South Australia commenced on 4 July 2016.
ARNECC, the Australian Registrars’ National Electronic Conveyancing Council, is an organisation involved with the Registrars from all Australian States, developed the national regulatory law for electronic conveyancing.
Two sets of rules made include:
The (MPR) Model Participation Rules govern the connection linking the (ELNO) electronic lodgment network operator and participants, such as solicitors.
The (MOR) Model Operating Requirements manage the connection between ELNO and the land title registry.
The activities and tasks of lawyers opting to use e-conveyancing work under the ECNL and the MPR, governance. In South Australia, version 4 of the MPR and MOR already began operations in the SA Registrar-General office and commenced on 27 May 2017.
Once adopted by a particular authority, the MPR and the MOR essentially become the Operating Requirements and the Participation Rules, respectively.
What are the advantages of eConveyancing over hiring a lawyer?
If all the parties involved in a property transaction have subscribed to PEXA then e-conveyancing process involving stamp duty payment, lodgement of settlement records, transfer documents and funds takes place electronically.
This happens if all participating parties in the transaction agree. This e-process could potentially save you about $200 in transaction fees alone. The major setback faced by clients today is the few PEXA subscribers.
However, more companies have slowly begun migrating to the automated system. The advantages experienced by e-conveyancing include:
Decreased transaction costs – Solicitors and conveyancers will no longer have to pay extra fees passed on to their clients. This will bring a significant reduction in overall transaction costs.
Easier use – Excessive paperwork no longer applies for lodgment at different Forms will no longer need physical lodging at venues. All documents require digital signatures.
Regular updates – Clients receive conveyance-processing updates in real time through text messages or email.
Electronic transfers – This is from the solicitors provide printed e-receipts for all the transfers drawn in the settlement process.
Quick transactions – You can buy or sell your home faster than in a paper agreement.
Costs involved
With the new conveyancing system, one of the main concerns faced by the stakeholders was the time involved in the preparation of documents. This process alone cost clients huge transaction fees and expenses involved in real estate contracts.
It is crucial that you know all these costs and budget for them accordingly. It is disastrous if you do not plan for all possible property transaction expenditure.
Costs and operating expenses arise in different areas of the business deal. Some may not seem obvious or expected. Typically, you should set aside some cash when buying property for the following costs:
Any loan charges payable for obtaining a mortgage
Registration fees (Payable at the Lands Titles Office)
Stamp duty
Search costs
Property rates and taxes
Minor extra costs and conveyancing fees
Costs of moving
You may incur additional costs involved in your particular transactions. Ask your conveyance official for details of the entire purchase before proceeding into the contractual detail.
Individual conveyancing, is it possible?
Unless you have a thorough understanding of conveyancing and precisely know what to do; you can enter into a property transaction without representation. However, here is the downside of self-representation; you cannot expect any technical support from the other party.
If you make any errors, the settlement may delay until you fix it, or worse still, have the other party terminate the entire contract. If you considering representing yourself in the conveyancing deal, carefully examine the list of tasks and tick those that you can handle individually.
Interestingly, not all property agents carry out conveyancing on their own when performing personal transactions. Conveyancing is a professional skill. To be safe, it is best to engage an expert for a smooth, faster transfer of property.
Contact local conveyancing experts
Do you require a solicitor?
Registered conveyancers provide expert skills involving conveyancing work. You may not need to hire an attorney for your property deals. Some conveyancers have complete certified solicitors education. The majority of practicing lawyers have the primary, tertiary education in conveyancing.
In fact, local law firms employ registered professional conveyancers to carry out their conveyancing jobs. A conveyance expert must provide proof of Membership of the AIC as an assurance of professionalism.
Conveyancers or solicitors, who’s cheaper?
When these two professional services collide, both conveyancers and solicitors provide consultant, expert advice and charge for their services accordingly. Frequently, the fees charged reflect the bulk of the contract.
This is common whether you either procure the services of a registered solicitor or hire a conveyancer. The real distinction is that conveyancers provide expertise in this particular field whereas lawyers handle several areas of the law.
As with nearly all business costs, you will end up paying for the services required. Therefore, a professional conveyancer charges slightly higher fees for their swift expert assistance. A registered and certified conveyancer provides peace of mind, knowing all your transactions will go through smoothly.
Moving house can be stressful, especially if it’s a long-distance move. You need to take care of the practicalities and deal with the emotional impact of leaving your familiar surroundings for a new place. It’s important to plan the move carefully and keep track of all your possessions.
You need to make the arrangements well in advance to ensure the move happens smoothly and on schedule. A competent moving company can help you through the process and ensure your possessions reach your new home unharmed. In this article, we share our best moving house packing tips.
How to plan your move
Planning a move is relatively easy, but executing the plan is a little more complicated. The key to a successful move is to create a strategy and stick with it. You should also make sure your family is aware of the plan and understands their roles in the moving process. This is especially important if you have children.
Choose who carries out the move and how
People who move are often on a limited budget and have recently made a big financial commitment to a new property. They want to save as much money as possible and assume that a DIY move can help them do that. Unfortunately, that can prove to be very problematic and end up costing more money, especially if you have to make multiple trips in your own vehicle to carry out the move. Here’s what you can do instead of handling the entire move yourself:
Consider back-loading – In this option, your possessions will share space with other people’s belongings during the move. You only pay for the square metre area you use during the transport. This can help you save a significant amount of money.
Handle the packing – Most moving companies will pack your possessions for you at an additional cost. If you’re on a tight budget, you can skip this service and pack your belongings yourself. You can source free packing materials from several places like your local schools, local shops, friends who have recently moved, recycling centres, etc.
A full move – If you’re on a tight schedule and need to carry out the move as quickly as possible, you should consider hiring the complete service. The movers will handle everything – packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking. Some movers will also disassemble large furniture and reassemble it if required.
Removalists offer different levels of service depending on your needs / Source: Jake Fast Removals
Once you have made your choice regarding the moving service, you need to find a reliable mover with a good reputation, get quotes, and schedule the move at a convenient time. It’s important to book a mover at least three weeks before you intend to move, especially if you plan on moving during summer. Last minute moves are often expensive and cumbersome.
How to pack your possessions
The next step is to sort through your possessions and organise them into three different sections. Moving is an excellent excuse and motivation to get rid of things you don’t need.
The “keep” section – This section consists of all items that you need and value. These items should have a place in your new home and serve a purpose. For example, if you have a baby grand piano that no one plays, you should consider selling it or donating it instead of transporting it to your new home. On the other hand, if you have an antique clock that fits in perfectly with your new home’s decor and has sentimental value you should include it in your keep section.
The “donate or sell” section – This section is reserved for non-essential items that are in good condition. You can either donate these items to a local charity or sell them on online marketplaces like Gumtree and eBay. Selling the items will give you some extra money at a time when you have a large number of expenses.
The “discard” section – Some items are just too damaged or worn to sell or donate. You need to dispose of these items safely, especially household cleaners, medications, abrasives, and other such substances. Come up with a solid disposal plan for all of your possessions in this section and discard them thoroughly before you’re due to pack for your move.
How to pack for a move
After you’ve sorted through your possessions, start the packing process. It’s a good idea to spread this out over a few weeks instead of rushing through it in the final week before you move. Here are some tips on how to handle the packing for your move:
Collect the material – The first step is to collect packing materials like cardboard boxes of different sizes, as well as specialised boxes for glassware, dishware, electronics like televisions, etc. You’ll also need packing tape, box cutters, plastic wrap, packing paper, bubble wrap, ropes and strings, permanent markers, and labels. You can find all of these items online or in your local stores. Some moving companies provide a certain amount of free packing materials to their customers once they have a confirmed booking
Pack one room at a time – You should keep the unpacking process in mind before you start packing your possessions. If you pack one room at a time and label all boxes properly, you’ll have an easier time unpacking at your new home. Packing one room at a time is also less stressful and ensures you don’t miss anything. You can maintain a list of all possessions in the room, so they’re easier to track during transportation.
Pack non-essential items first – Pack non-essential items that you won’t need during the weeks leading up to the move first. If you pack the essential items, you’ll be forced to look for those things in your packed boxes repeatedly which can cause undue stress. Make a list of items that you won’t need during the weeks leading up to the move and pack them well in advance.
Label everything and place a list of items on the box – After you’ve finished packing a box, label it carefully. The label should contain the name of the room, the name of the person those items belong to, whether the items are fragile, and a list of the items placed in the box. The latter will be useful if you need to retrieve something from the packed boxes as you won’t need to open all of them to look for something. You can refer to the list to see if the item you need is on it.
Keep track of essentials – Essential items can easily become lost during the packing and moving process, so it’s important to keep track of them. These items include medications, documents like medical reports, identification papers such as passports, school paperwork, insurance paperwork, etc. They should be stored where you can easily find them.
Pack essentials – Pack the most essential items a day or two before the move and make sure you have an overnight bag with your toiletries, change of clothes, medication, chargers and mobile devices, etc. This means you won’t have to deal with unpacking immediately after the move.
How to pack fragile items
There is absolutely a right and wrong way to pack fragile items. First things first ensure your cardboard boxes are still strong and sturdy. Reusing boxes from your last move might seem like an easy way to go, but cardboard boxes have a shelf life like anything else, so make sure they are still strong enough for your fragile items.
A good way of ensuring your fragile items arrive safely is to pack your bedding in with these items. Perhaps a doona in the bottom of the box, and a couple of pillows between pieces will ensure any knocks are absorbed in the bedding, and not in your breakables.
For glasses, mugs and cups ensure they are all wrapped separately. This can be a time-consuming task, but ensuring the glassware isn’t touching other glassware will significantly increase the chances of it arriving safely.
How to pack books
Depending on how many books you have to pack up, you may want to think about having several smaller boxes rather than one big box to pack your books. Packing smaller boxes means they will be easier to transport by yourself or your removalist.
When loading up the moving boxes, start with the largest and heaviest books first, then follow up with the smaller and lighter ones. Spread the big heavy books across your packing boxes to make loading and unloading easier.
Keep the books laying flat to avoid damaging or putting extra weight through the binds and don’t be afraid to leave some space in the top of the box, and you don’t need to pack it to the brim.
Sometimes the easiest way to move something is not to pack it into boxes at all. If you have a dresser or chest of drawers that are filled with your clothes, don’t empty it. Let your movers take it as it is and you won’t need to worry about unpacking at the other end either.
Before you start packing make sure your clothes are clean and throw away anything you’ve meant to ditch for a while now. The last thing you want to do it pack a bunch of clothes you’re never going to wear again.
If you have the time beforehand, pack away any seasonal clothing that you know you won’t need before the move starts.
Also, pack yourself an overnight bag of things you’ll likely wear on the couple of days around moving day. This will prevent you from having to sift through boxes to find something to wear once you’re in your new place.
If you have clothes already hanging, invest in garment bags or enclosed boxes to move these items. A few different sizes of vacuum seal bags will be a great space-saving way to get your clothes safely from A to B.
If you have suitcases or luggage handy, use these to fill with clothing and shoes. If you do need to pack clothing into boxes (folded and wrapped in tissue paper or sheets) be sure to use smaller boxes as clothing can be very heavy.
How to pack the kitchen
Packing a kitchen is often one of the most time-consuming jobs during a move. You need to take the time to pack fragile items properly and organise everything in a way that is easy to unpack at the other end.
If you still have the boxes from when you bought your appliances then repack them into these to move. If not, ensure all small parts are secured (a ziplock bag is a great way to keep small parts altogether, and they are easy to label) and that they are stored with the appliance. Bubble wrap and newspaper are both greats ways to keep appliances safe during a move.
See above for packing fragile items.
Keep all your silverware together to prevent them from getting loose and potentially damaging other items in your boxes. Wrapping them all together within a towel or big jumper is a great way to keep them all together.
Pots and pans are best in a large moving box as they can be awkward shapes and sizes. If each pan has a lid, store them together, and if you have small items that can be wrapped and added inside the pans, this can be an excellent way to save on extra packing boxes.
Any other small or miscellaneous items can be wrapped in newspaper and tucked into the boxes with the larger items in them. Save this til last.
Contact local removalists
How to organise utilities for the new home
The last thing you want is to live without gas, electricity, and water when you reach your new home. Arrange for these utilities in advance to ensure everything is in place when you move in. You should also arrange for telephone, internet, and television lines if needed.
You will also need to change your address with the post office, insurance companies, banking institutions, car licenses, and other such important aspects of your life. It’s a good idea to make these changes early because you need some time to settle into your new home after your move.
How to handle the day of the move
The day of the move can be stressful and chaotic, mainly because you need to ensure your entire family is coordinated. Here’s what you need to do:
Go to sleep early the night before and wake up early.
Make sure that you, your partner, and your children have a healthy breakfast.
Keep games, iPads, toys, and other such items at hand. They will ensure your children are engaged during the move.
Call the moving company and confirm the pickup time.
Supervise the loading of all items and make sure the movers handle boxes with fragile possessions carefully.
Do a final walkthrough of your home to ensure you haven’t missed anything.
Say goodbye to any neighbours and friends before you move.
Moving home can be a stressful and time-consuming process so it’s a good idea to get all the help you can find. Hiring a moving company may be the best option for you, especially if you want to move across state lines or over long distances. You’ll save a lot of time and effort in lieu of some added expense.
Renting a home or apartment can be difficult in the current market, with so much competition when a place becomes available. Making sure your application gives you the best possible chance to get the property you want takes a little advance planning. You need to ensure that you’re in pole position by following these tips.
Doing market research of rental properties
The first thing to do is to check what properties are available or may become available in the near future. Visit your real estate agents and surf the Internet for what’s in your area of choice and within your budget. You can then target specific properties or areas, saving time by avoiding unsuitable places. Real estate agents can be invaluable in your search. They have detailed property listings, and they may be able to get you a viewing sooner than if you wait until it’s advertised. The sooner you view, the sooner you can get your application in, beating others to the punch.
Once you’ve spotted some properties that interest you, there are some steps you can take in advance that will save you time later. When you’ve found the place you want to rent, you’ll want to get in there straight away, so get some things ready beforehand.
Money
The first and most obvious step is to have the money ready. You’ll need to have bond money on hand. as well as advance rent – usually a month, but sometimes less. If you have the money already, you can pay the landlord immediately, speeding up the moving in process. Landlords can’t afford to have their properties sitting empty while potential tenants gather up the cash, so if you can prove you’ve got it, you’re putting yourself in a great position.
Application form
You can fill in the application form in advance too so that you’re ready to go. Most real estate agents will have general application forms containing details such as references, contact information, proof of funds, etc. You can enter most of these details in advance, leaving the specifics such as the rental address until you’re ready to go. This will save some time, giving you an important head start on other applicants.
References
All landlords will check your references before they rent you their property. The best way to ensure this goes smoothly is to inform the people you use as references that they should expect a call or email. This will give them a heads up, and they’ll have time to think about what they want to say to give you the best chance of getting the rental.
Contact local real estate agents
What to do once your application has been approved
Read the lease first
Do not just sign the lease! A lease is a legal document, and it is important that you read it, from start to finish, prior to signing. A lease is a legally binding document, and failure to understand it can mean serious financial and legal repercussions on your part. If you have any questions about the lease, ask before signing, and make sure that every agreed upon term is included in the body of the lease. For example, your landlord says that the apartment is pet-friendly, but it is not stated in the lease. Be sure to get his permission in writing to back yourself up in the future. And lastly, you will need to be sure that the rent amount indicated in the lease is what you agreed to when you toured your property.
Fill out a property condition report
A property condition report highlights the condition of the property you are renting when you first move in. The purpose of this is so that you cannot be held liable for any damages to the property that existed prior to you moving into your apartment or rental house. Always make sure to fill out the property condition report thoroughly and honestly, and keep a copy for your own records. Feel free to mention the slightest flaw that you see.
Leases come in a variety of durations, so it is vital that you check how long the lease is before signing on the dotted line. Rental leases typically span from 6-24 months, so it is important that you understand the terms of the agreement before signing. It is important to note that if you leave the rental property before the end of your lease, your landlord can hold you liable for rent until the end of your lease agreement. Once your lease expires, you will have the option to renew, as long as it is still beneficial for both you and your landlord.
Beware of agency fees when signing a residential lease
Rental fees charged by real estate agents, more commonly known as agency fees, should not be overlooked at the time of signing the lease.
Do you want to be in the hustle and bustle of the inner city or chill out by the beach? Are parks for your pooch important or is proximity to lively nightspots your priority?
Sydney is chock-a-block with varied and hip neighbourhoods. We’ve helped to hone your new home search down by picking five popular Sydney hotspots.
If you’re considering a change of address, these read on to determine which trendy Sydney suburb could be your next port of call.
When you live in Surry Hills you can leave your car at home, with cycleways streaking through the leafy suburb, it’s not only eco-friendly but quick and easy to get from A to B. You’ll be happy to be cycling from place to place to work off all the extra calories you’ll be ingesting, with foodie delights waiting around every corner. Residents revel in craft beer, being home to ‘Sydney’s best breakfasts’, their coffee culture, wine bars and fashionable restaurants. The nightlife, galleries and posh boutique shops are not half bad either.
Surry Hills is filled with cycle-friendly leafy streets / Source: Shuttestock
Every day feels like a relaxing beach holiday when you call Manly home. Frolic in the shallows or grab a board and head for the surf break for exhilarating fun in the sun. For a chilled night out check out one of Manly’s plethora of pubs, bars, restaurants or the open-air food market. Manly has a beachy, sleepy and friendly small town feel, but if you do miss the big smoke remember it’s only a picturesque 30-minute ferry ride away.
A lively and hip paradise, Newtown has everything a modern-day hipster could ever want and need. With no shortage of affordable vegetarian and vegan restaurants, vintage clothing stores, tattoo parlours, pubs, clubs and live music, Newtown is the place to be. The stellar expansive street art is also worthy of an afternoon walking tour. The neighbouring up-and-coming suburb of Camperdown is worth a look too.
Home to Sydney’s most famous stretch of coastline, Bondi Beach is the place to be for beach lovers. With a glamorous Venice Beach LA vibe, do as the locals do and dine al fresco street side, browse stores along Campbell Parade, pick up some organic produce at Bondi’s Farmers Market and take a sunset stroll along the spectacular Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk.
The super stylish Paddington aka ‘Paddo’ is home to Sydney’s fashionistas and ‘it girls’. Oxford Street is lined with high-end eateries as well as every designer boutique a shopaholic could wish for. Check out some local design talent at the Paddington market every Saturday which showcases locally made clothing, accessories and homewares. Stretch your fashionable legs by having a wander around neighbouring Centennial Park, the perfect spot for a lazy Sunday picnic, an evening jog or even horse riding. Best of all this is all only 3km from the CBD!
In the current real estate market, high demand and limited land supply gives homeowners an advantage. Ray White agent Thomas Merriman and Service First Property Group specialists, Andre Pang and Oliver Quach share their responses to common questions asked by Australian homeowners.
When is the right time to sell?
Thomas: “I would advise people thinking about selling to regularly keep up to date with the Auction Clearance rates as they typically act as a ‘canary in the mine’ for property market conditions. If the canary dies, leave, if the rates drop dramatically, pause your campaign.”
Andre: “The right time to sell depends on the vendor’s financial or personal situation. Try to avoid public holidays or long weekends during your marketing campaign, but if you can’t avoid it then add another week to your marketing campaign. My clients ask whether or not they should be selling in the winter as there are typically less properties to compete with. Serious buyers never stop looking and as long as you have the correct marketing campaign in place, they will turn up to your inspection year round.”
What kind of properties are in high demand in the market?
Thomas: “Properties where people can add value, either by knocking down and rebuilding or simply renovating – especially a cosmetic reno or a quick ‘flip’ – are the properties that are in highest demand. The Melbourne trend is toward ‘terrace’ style homes and premium apartments. The idea of city living with the feel of a newly built house is a pretty desirable one, providing you have the budget. Attend the first open-home for a property and you will get an idea.”
What are some things to look for in an agent?
Andre: “There are a few ways to discern between an honest agent and a dishonest one. A genuine agent will give you a realistic appraisal with evidence and research. Lots of agents will inflate sales appraisals so you can hear your dream selling price but when an agent gives you an appraisal, check that it’s backed with comparable sales and recent data. A good agent will also design a marketing campaign tailored to your property’s needs. As everything comes through the Internet these days you don’t need to limit your search to a local agent.”
What are some tips you would give to a homeowner planning to sell?
Thomas: “Buyers aren’t visionaries- they don’t have the creative flair to see past bad curtains and unmown grass, but coming to market can be delayed by weeks if vendors are busy fixing a leak because they’ve replaced the benchtop, cupboards, stools and tapware. All this can be done over a weekend or two and you can hire a professional to get it done with no budget blowouts – but make a list and stick to it.”
Andre: “Prepare your home so buyers can imagine it as their own. Aim to create an emotional attachment with the buyer. It might be a good idea to have a stylist for your property to achieve the desired results. ”
Contact local real estate agents
Here are Andre’s tips to get your property to sell:
Kerb appeal: Make sure there are no weeds and the lawn and plants are trimmed. Attractive pot plants can also add to the appeal.
Lighting: Clean the inside and outside of your windows, turn on all the lights and draw up the blinds and curtains.
Less is more: Less clutter will help the room look bigger so the potential purchaser can imagine their things fitting into your property.
Pleasant scents: Get rid of any smoke or pet odours. Open up your windows, brew coffee or use diffusers to add some homeliness to your property.
Acclimatisation: This is largely weather dependent but if it’s cold turn on the heater and if it’s hot, turn on the air conditioning to create an enjoyable experience.
What’s next for the Sydney and Melbourne property market?
Thomas: “The RBA has lowered interest rates further and have increased the restrictions on loans for investment properties but the thing is, investors don’t set rental prices just as vendors don’t set sale prices. The market will take care of that, demand will always win out and people can only afford what they can afford. Once again, this may be the beginning of the end of the boom market, if this happens.”
Andre Pang: “The market is expected to plateau and move sideways for a number of years. Investors should seek high yields instead of growth at this moment. I also see an increase in studio developments like the ‘Melbourne Quarter’ project in Docklands which offers micro studios ranging between 25-33 sqm. While there is still an undersupply of property, affordability is still a major issue and studio apartments are very normal in other parts of the world, it’s only a matter of time that Sydney and Melbourne will adopt a similar mentality.”
Putting your home on the market isn’t just as simple as packing up your things and letting the real estate agents take over. You also don’t have to go to extremes and spend tens of thousands in renovations either.
There’s a lot of little to-dos around the home and garden that can be ticked off, so you not only attract potential buyers but have them pay the best price for your property as well.
1. Professional cleaning
We don’t mean a good once-over with a dusting cloth, we mean getting in there and cleaning it from top to toe. Oven cleaners will remove all the grime that you’d never be able to remove yourself, while house cleaners will have all other areas of the property sparkling clean.
Get professional carpet cleaning, and let a grout cleaner take care of the tiled areas. Don’t forget the window cleaner for glass and sills. If you’ve got a pool, that’ll need cleaning too. It sounds like a lot, but if there’s ever a time to get the professionals in, it’s now. The return on investment could be well worth your while.
2. Gardens and outdoor areas
Start at the bottom and work your way up. Get a pressure cleaner for the tiles and pavers to clear off any mould or discolouration that’s built up on them. Polish and waterproof any wooden areas like decks or pergolas. Next, remove weeds and dead plants. Add more mulch to the garden beds and trim the hedges and bushes.
If you have overhanging branches or dead trees, now is the time to have a tree lopper come in. We’ve got all the gardening help you need, and if you have the budget to really do up your outdoor area, we’ve got landscapers and decking specialists as well.
3. Address maintenance issues
Address any small issues that you’ve been ignoring, such as having a painter come in to cover chipped paint and marks on the walls. Stained carpets and cracked tiles will need addressing as well. If you have loose or rusty fences, have them replaced by a fencing expert. If your gutters are in a state of disrepair, get a guttering professional to clean and repaint them.
Contact local real estate experts
4. Banish pet smells
We know you love your pets but potential buyers might not love the smell of them that lingers in the carpets and curtains. Even more smells will come from your furniture like couches if you choose to leave it inside the property. It’s a good idea to air the house well before inspections and to use smell-absorbing products like room sprays. If you decide to remove your furniture and leave the property empty for inspections, we’ve got removalists near you to help.
5. Furnishings
When selling, your home should feel cosy, but neutral / Source: Mo Mo Concepts
Furnish your home in an appealing way, but make sure it isn’t cluttered or overly personal. Neutral décor with the basic furnishings will work best. Potential buyers want to see as much of the floors as possible and they want to be able to image how their furniture will look in the room, so keep things simple but stylish. It’s worthwhile getting home staging to come in with props and expert interiors knowledge to have your home looking its best during showings.
There are a lot of photographers who specialise in taking professional photos of your property. Usually, the real estate agent you work with will organise this for you or will at least recommend someone to you. Agent In A Box recommends getting professional photos taken to maximise your chances of getting attention from potential buyers.
Wrap up
Once you’ve completed all of these, you’ll be ready to put your property on the market. We’ve got top real estate agents to help you throughout the whole selling process.
Property investment can be a very lucrative business. You chosen a dream investment property, got an approval for a loan or opted for a contract for deed, but is it the right decision? There are numerous examples of people making significant gains and profits through a real estate portfolio. But it can also be a highly risky use of your money. And regardless of the size or type of property, your plan to invest in it will almost certainly require a substantial initial and ongoing spend. That’s why it’s essential to take additional care when investing in property to ensure you minimise your risks as much as possible, protecting your hard-earned cash.
Here are a few things you should know and consider before investing your money in the real estate market.
1. The price is right
Any real estate investment aims to grow your capital through the increase in the value of your property. Central to this is selecting the right property at the right price. But it’s not always clear cut. A cheap property may have tremendous growth potential, but it may also be in an area when the market is merely affordable. Likewise, a high-end property may hold its value, but it also may not offer much growth.
2. Ensure you have the money to support the investment
Property investment can be very lucrative, but the gains are usually measured over the long-term. You don’t want to be forced to sell a valuable property early because you don’t have the capital to support it. Before making any investment carefully consider the short and long-term running expenses to ensure your budget can handle it. When reviewing your financial status and capability to fund any expenses for your future investment property, be mindful of any remaining personal loans you may have, as they may affect the amount the bank will allow you to borrow.
Turning a profit from an investment property can, at times, be a full-time job. A property manager can help ease the burden doing everything from managing the day-to-day issues to helping you select new tenants and reviewing rental costs. The best thing is they are usually paid as a percentage of rent collected, so if you’re not making any money, they won’t cost you any.
4. Study the market
Real estate markets are often operating in a microcosm with prices on one side of a street being slightly higher than the other, for instance. When looking to maximise returns, every little edge, you can get matters, so it’s important to study your rental market carefully before you buy. You can start researching online, but local knowledge is hard to beat.
5. Select the right mortgage
There are a variety of different mortgage and financing options available when it comes to buying properties. Finding the right model is not always as simple as selecting the cheapest one as the way the financing is structured can affect tax deductions. Consider all the options and your circumstances to find the best financing deal in the long run for your investment.
6. Leverage equity
If you already have existing properties, then leveraging the value tied up in them can be an excellent way to fund further investments. If you have a $500,000 property with only $100,000 left on the mortgage, then you have $400,000 equity you can leverage. Leveraging an existing property also opens up the possibility to leverage against the investment property further down the line and has potential tax benefits.
7. Negative gearing
Negative gearing allows you to claim tax relief if the investment amount is larger than its income returns. This can enable you to make a technical loss on the investment property while creating an overall profit by offsetting other taxable income. Negative gearing isn’t a good reason on its own to buy an investment property, but it can help with structuring your finances and budgets.
8. Limit unexpected surprises
Unexpected surprises can be catastrophic for an investment property. A sudden large spend on maintenance work can make a massive dent into your finances. Limit your risk of being surprised by having the property professionally inspected before making any commitments.
An investment property is a business, not a home. It’s important to keep this in mind when renovating and decorating. Everybody has unique tastes and styles, but an investment property has to be able to appeal to anybody. Simple and neutral tones are perfect as they are inoffensive and have wide appeal.
10. Long-term thinking
Property investment is not a short-term cash generator. Your property can often take years or decades to show the type of large profits you seek. The investment will usually require further spending and time commitments along the way. Keep this in mind when making your financial and life plans.
Moving house can be a highly stressful experience, and it’s not easy to keep track of who to notify of your move. You need to arrange the packing of your possessions, find a removalist, manage your expenses, and many other things.
Changing your address is probably low on your list of priorities, but it’s an essential aspect of moving house and will help you settle into your new home. You need to contact several people and organisations about the change in address. To help, we’ve done the heavy lifting. Here’s our checklist of who to notify and when.
It’s a good idea to inform your personal connections well before the move. You can simply send out an email or text message with your new address and the date of the move to all your contacts including:
Parents
Siblings
Aunties, uncles and cousins
Distant relatives
Neighbours (they can forward mail if needed)
Friends
Friends of your children
Any business associates and connections
A time effective way of doing this is to create a list of names, add the email addresses to the list and send a bulk email to all your personal connections.
Subscriptions
The next step is to either cancel or change the address on any subscriptions you may have. They can include:
Magazines
Store memberships
Airline loyalty programs
Newspapers
Catalogues
Any postal subscription services like DVDs, health boxes, beauty boxes, etc.
Vehicle
If you intend to take your car with you to your new location or even new state, all changes to vehicle-related documentation should occur a few weeks before you’re moving house. You’ll need to update your driver’s license, even if you don’t intend to take your vehicle with you.
Driver’s license
Car insurance
Car registration
Maintenance service contracts
Car companies if your vehicle is still under warranty
E-tag or toll membership
Healthcare
Your doctors and related medical practitioners will need to update your personal information and possibly transfer your medical records, so you’ll need to give them a head’s up about your move. Ensure you inform the following medical practitioners, where applicable, about your change of address:
Dentist
General practitioner
Paediatrician
Optometrist
Specialist healthcare providers
Vet
Utilities
You will need to cancel subscriptions to utilities, change your address, and transfer the services to the new owner. Make sure you settle all bills before you change the address.
Subscription television, e.g. Foxtel
Gas
Electricity
Phone (both landline and mobile)
Internet
Water
Australia Post office (so they can redirect post if needed)
Finance
The next step is to contact all financial institutions and inform them about the change of address. Different institutions will have different requirements.
Banks
Bonds, stocks, and shares
Pension
Loan organisations and lenders
Credit card companies
Brokerage firms
Superannuation funds
Accountants, and anyone who helps you manage your finances
Education
If you or anyone in your family attends an educational institution, you need to inform the school/college/university about the change of address as well.
Your child’s school so they can forward any paperwork or communication as needed
College and universities
Afterschool programs or early learning programs
Extracurricular classes like art, music, dance, drama, etc.
Employment
Even if you resign from your job, it’s a good idea to give your previous employer a way to communicate with you. You should also think about informing these people about your change of address:
You need to inform the government about your change of address as well. You will need to download forms from relevant government websites and make the changes.
Australian Taxation Office
Australian Electoral Commission
Concession cards
Department of Human Services, including Child Support, Medicare, Centrelink, etc.
Seniors cards
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Local councils
DonateLife
Local library
Insurance
Most people have several insurance policies in their name, including the vehicle insurance policy previously mentioned. You need to update your address on all of them, including:
Health insurance
Life insurance
Home and contents insurance
Social
If you are a part of different institutions and organisations in a social capacity, you need to contact them and either cancel your membership, transfer it to a different branch, or change your address. These organisations include:
Gyms or health clubs
Charities
Churches
State Volunteer organisations
Local clubs
Sports club
Unions and professional organisations
Legal service providers
Your legal representatives should be able to contact you, even if you are no longer using their services.
Personal lawyer
Business or corporate lawyer related to work
Property lawyer or conveyancer, who handled the sale and purchase of your homes
Miscellaneous
There are several other people and organisations that might need to contact you based on your lifestyle and responsibilities. They can include:
Tenants or property managers of any rental properties
Home maintenance services like lawn or garden maintenance
Store loyalty cards from Coles, Woolworths, Qantas, David Jones, etc.
Security systems like home alarms
It’s a good idea to start ticking items off the list a few weeks before you start moving house, as it can be stressful to change the address in so many places at once. Start with who to notify first, such as friends and family before you move on to organisations, government departments, schools, and other such institutions. You can add items to the list and print it out to make the process easier. Most private and state government institutions have the change of address instructions on their websites and provide appropriate forms for you to complete.
