PROPERTY OF THE WEEK!

Investing can be quite daunting, particularly when you’ve never done it before. Managing your own investment property can quickly become stressful, which is why many landlords choose to hand over management to a property management team. An excellent property management team will provide peace of mind, knowing that your investment is in capable hands.

High Quality Tenants

High quality tenants are an investor’s dream – they pay on time, stay longer, look after the property and generally less problems overall. Not only can they screen potential tenants, a good property management

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

There has been much talk about ensuring that your property is adequately fitted with smoke alarms (and is law in many states) but what would you do if a fire did occur?

Investing in a fire extinguisher can help protect your property in the event of a fire.

Following are some tips to help with the placement of the extinguisher:

1. Do not place the extinguisher in the kitchen area, as a stove fire (one of the most common sources of house fire) can prevent you from accessing it.
2. Secure the extinguisher to a medium height on a wall to ensure that the elderly or children can reach it.
3. Position the ex

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

Setting a price for your property is one of the biggest decisions you will make during the selling process. Choosing the right price gives you the greatest chance at selling your home quickly and at the best possible price. Pricing your home may sound simple, but many sellers make a mistake that causes their property to sit stagnant on the market, and reduce the eventual selling price.

This mistake is pricing their property too high. Many sellers are under the impression that they need to add a margin to their home in order to achieve their actual price. Sellers assume that if they add

If you’re looking to sell a property, presentation is paramount. Here are some top tips from the team at Bruce Harry Real Estate on how to stand out in the crowd and appeal to potential buyers.

First Impressions count

When a buyer approach’s your house, the exterior makes the first impression. Overflowing bins, an overgrown yard and piles of shoes near the front door don’t get a good response – your home needs to look loved and cared for from the very beginning.

Keep it clean

Cleaning your house is a no-brainer. It’s a big mistake to assume buyers can look pa

Buying your first home can be daunting – both financially and emotionally. It’s likely to be one of the biggest investments you’ll make, so the team at Johnson Real Estate have compiled their top 5 tips to guide you.

1. Start saving now

House deposits can take a while to save, so it’s smart to start saving as soon as you can. Save the biggest deposit that you can. This not only demonstrates to your lender that you can exercise enough discipline to accumulate a large amount of savings, but you will also have a buffer of equity in the property from the beginning.

2. Buy

Many investors gravitate towards purchasing off-the-plan developments due to the perceived benefit they offer. Off-the-plan developments are often marketed as an easy way to enter the property investment world and the glossy brochures can certainly make them look an attractive choice. Being new builds, investors can maximise depreciation and minimise maintenance costs, which assists with boosting returns. Although this seems promising, due diligence needs to be exercised before signing the contract. Here are some tips before purchasing an off-the-plan development as an investment.

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