While the internet has brought many positives, particularly the way marketing costs have been driven down thanks to web sites lowering the need to rely on print media and the ease of e-mail communication with buyers as a whole, there is a down side.

Sellers need to be aware that the extensive use of the Internet means that every property has a digital footprint, a traceable history of prices, sales, etc.

The history of virtually any property that has been bought, sold or withdrawn from the market in the past can be found on the net. This information can impact both positively and negatively on

When selling your property, first impressions create permanent opinions. Do your best to create a positive mood for all prospective purchasers. And remember, the outside of your property matters too.

Begin by sweeping the footpath in front of your property. Remove all rubbish from the gutters. Clear the letterbox of junk-mail. If you have a lawn, do your best to make sure it is not bone-dry. Green grass is appealing and a sprinkler does wonders to most lawns – a bit hard with water restrictions, I know!

If you have a gate, make sure it doesn’t squeak. If your front fence needs repair, it m

Choosing an agent when selling your home is a big decision – this is why many people research a few different real estate agencies before they make their choice. Costs can add up quickly when selling your home, which is why some people consider hiring a discount agent to help cut costs. In theory this might sound like a great idea, but why could this end up costing you a lot more money in the long term.

What is a discount agent?

You’ve probably heard agencies boasting of their capped commission or offering the lowest fees in their area. Sounds like a great deal for sellers, d

High quality photos have become an integral part of marketing your home when selling. When searching for a property, almost all buyers will turn to the internet to find their next home, with buyers perusing many listings before making their final decision. Excellent photos are a critical part of quality marketing and will strongly influence their decision about which properties to view in person – after all, first impressions are key.

Our team has put together their top three tips to ensure the best photos possible of your property:

Light it up

A well lit room can do wonders for photo

When selling your home, an agent’s listing presentation is often the deciding factor on which agent gets the gig. It helps you get a feel for their negotiation expertise, marketing knowledge, experience and professionalism. Unfortunately, there are many agents lacking the necessary knowledge and skill to impress an owner. These agents will do and promise anything to get a listing.

Can they back up their claims?

They might be able to talk the talk, but can they walk the walk? A professional agent can present evidence to back up their claims; they should be like a barrister proving thei

It pays to be very careful when your home is being advertised for sale.  Any hint that you are under pressure to sell, will be taken as an open invitation to buyers to make unrealistic offers.

To us, anything about the sellers’ circumstances rather than about the property is a breach of our ethical duty to use our best endeavours to achieve the best price for the owners. Other agents also have that duty, but I don’t think that it is always taken as seriously as it should be.

It is noticeable that many of the worst examples occur in advertisements that are vendor funde

What would you do if you wanted to find out what your property is worth in today’s market?

Would you ask for an appraisal or do you get a valuation?

They may sound like they are the same but they’re not. Do you know the difference?

A valuation can only be conducted by a certified valuer, one who has completed the prescribed educational course and are qualified to perform the task of valuing property.

An appraisal on the other hand is simply an estimate of a property’s market value, which is what you’ll generally get when you ask a real estate agent to price your home.

Appraisals by rea

Quite often when home sellers ask an agent to give them a price estimate on their home, the expectations they have are usually higher than the price the agent is thinking. Some real estate agents, unlike valuers who are objective, may be tempted to raise their estimate price in order to get the listing.

So how does, or better still, how should a real estate agent determine the estimated sale price of your home? Real Estate agents should be familiar with recent sales of homes in your area that are similar to yours. This is the best guide an agent can use to determine what a home is wort

I chose Bruce Harry Real Estate- Holland Park to sell my Mother’s home because they did not charge any marketing fees only commission when they sold the house.

When I first met the Bruce Harry Team who dropped in one day to introduce their self and see if we intended selling the house.  They were not the pushy sales people and I explained that there was a lot of work to be done before the house was ready for selling.

The team kept in touch through SMS and it was unintrusive and he did not mind me asking a few questions.

They were very helpful and explained how the market was going at the ti