February 25, 2015

High Tide

So much rain!  Mother Nature was kind to us, but Yeppoon and its surrounds didn’t fare as well with so many homes damaged.  It’s times like this that you have to admire the SES, volunteers and other organisations that give unconditional assistance to others.  A big THANK YOU to all for your help!

With the high tide and cyclonic conditions over the weekend, it was amazing to see so many people from our local community venturing out to see water over the Avenues, Flinders Parade and the overflow of Einbunpin Lagoon.  Our Saturday open home inspections and appointments were cancelled due to the road closures, and even though this was not ideal, we did have to think of everyone’s safety – the sellers, buyers as well as ourselves - after all, we are human!


Emotions - there is so much information available on this subject but when it comes to dealing with human emotions, some of us just don’t know how to react when strong emotions are involved.  As agents, we are faced with many emotional situations - divorces, deaths, family breakdowns, court orders and illnesses to name a few.  We become confidantes to the elderly whose family don’t understand, spouses who are lost, and families who can’t cope.  Sometimes it’s an emotional roller coaster and we have to stay impartial, mindful of our roles and respectful of those we are working with.  Computers and books can tell us some things, but if you need a genuine listening ear or someone who will understand, we are here to help.  Just call...

February 18, 2015

Look at Me Now!



Which one would you view?  These before and after photos show how important it is to present your home to buyers.  For a minimum cost this mini garden makeover proves that looks do count!  The changes also reflect in the price attained for the sellers.

Consumers have always had a choice, or right to negotiate, with agents on services they provide.  Did you know that commission that was previously capped for the sale of property has now been deregulated under new legislation?  Consumers can now negotiate any service a real estate agency provides.  All you have to do is ask?

In regards to marketing, the number one source for real estate advertising is the internet; the main websites  being www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au.  Both are equally important with different search engines capturing both local and interstate buyers.  The costs associated with these websites have increased dramatically over the years, leading to increased advertising costs.  Regardless, when advertising a property for sale, remember to check out the suburb market.  For example, there are currently 20 homes for sale in   Shorncliffe (realestate.com.au).  Of these, 5 are under contract, 10 over $1m and 5 under $1m.  Each website page contains 20 properties per page.  Therefore a Shorncliffe home would appear on the first page as there are so few homes for sale.  So, why would you pay for higher advertising costs?  Obviously this would not be the same for every suburb but its well worth checking out where your property sits.  Don’t pay for advertising that you don’t need! 

Paper media—while some say it’s not necessary, it would appear that our local newspaper has a good    following and shouldn’t be eliminated from the budget.  Each home should have an individual marketing plan set out so advertising is optimised to capture the target market.  Our experience shows that 7 out of 10 people that buy in the area already live in the area!  So where would you advertise?

If we can help with your property needs, just call our team on 3269 1555.

February 10, 2015

It's Like Watching Paint Dry ...

Now I’ve never actually watched paint dry, and probably never will, but when this saying is said, we can all relate.  Our market can’t really be compared to watching wet paint dry, but we know that there are buyers out there eagerly waiting, so where is everyone?  On the flip side (as there’s two sides to every story), we know that everyone loves living here and are maybe happy to stay put.  I know I’ve said that many times before!

We did see some very happy sellers successful in securing contracts over the weekend.  Once a contact is obtained, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a sale (apart from contracts obtained under auction conditions).  Most of the time, there are conditions that need to be met eg, building, pest and pool inspections, finance etc.  Only after all these conditions are satisfied can a SOLD sign be erected.  Win, win! 

Unfortunately, there are times when the unknown comes into fruition and a seller is faced with the outcome of an unsatisfactory building and pest inspection.  Often they have no idea their home is in this condition.  This often changes the whole dynamics of a contract and in some cases alters the selling price.  Finance, well what can we say, you just have to go with it!


In some states, sellers are required to conduct building and pest inspections prior to listing their property for sale.  This is a great idea and would alleviate a lot of problems and unknown surprises.  Similarly, finance pre-approval is highly recommended.  It can all be very confusing but if you need any assistance with either buying or selling, we are happy to help...