Monthly Archives: October 2014
Open Homes: Making Your Home Desirable
Whether in a buyers’ market or a sellers’ market, a key to achieving the optimum sales price for your property is through effective marketing. A property’s marketing campaign involves advertising through the internet, brochures, signs and newspapers. While your real estate agent will be able to carefully carry out this part of the campaign for you, you can actually do a large part of the marketing yourself by presenting your home well.
Fetching the optimum dollar doesn’t have to be too much hard work or too costly either. You just need to get the right advice, get organised and get cracking.
Understand Your Target Market
First you need to understand your target market or markets and tailor your presentation to suit. If young families are your primary buyers then kit your house out that way. In a three-bedroom house, you could place bunks or two single beds in a second bedroom and then a cot in the third. On the other hand, if you’re selling an inner city apartment then make up double beds in each room with luscious linen and cushions (although be sure to include a study space somewhere). It’s generally best to showcase bedrooms as bedrooms rather than home offices or living areas, unless of course you’ve got a lot of rooms.
Make A Check-List
Before you get started, it’s a good idea to make a check list for each room of your property and the exterior. Walk around the whole property. Inside tick off each room and take notes of anything that could be improved. Do the same for all outdoor areas and look at window frames, rotting weatherboards and small aspects that can be easily fixed.
First Impressions Count
Increasing your property’s street appeal is very important. We all know first impressions count and last. Think about the first aspects that potential buyers will see like fencing, the letterbox and the driveway. Spruce them up with a clean and a repaint or a restain. Tidy
the garden and mow the lawns. Get rid of outside clutter or toys. Consider sprucing up the front door with some paint and even a new door handle if it needs it. If pavers in the garden are wonky then straighten them out. If a veggie patch is empty (or overgrown with weeds) then plant it. Trim trees and clean the outside of the house if it’s dirty.
You want the entry to look inviting and potted coloured plants in large, new planters or pots can look lovely by the front door or other entrance ways. Buy a new door mat.
Remember, once the street appeal has passed the test, buyers will likely start to form an opinion about the place quickly.
Get Painting
One of the biggest internal impacts when marketing a property is painting. New paint looks clean and fresh. Choose neutral colours so as to not individualise your property too much and put off potential buyers. Paint skirting boards, architraves, ceilings and window frames a different colour for a nice contrast to the walls. Talk thoroughly to your
paint supplier about colours or consider investing a little bit of money in a professional colour consultation. Also talk to your paint supplier about the best paint type for the area you are painting – i.e. enamels for wet areas. Make sure you prep well as a cheap, nasty paint job will show up in no time.
Room Display
Be selective about furnishings and what you have on display. An overcrowded room looks bad and smaller than it actually is. Marketing a property is an excellent time to throw out old stuff and just think how much easier moving day will be. Consider paying for a storage
container for a couple of months to declutter – it will be well worth it. Keep decorations simple – nice lamps, vases and a few glossy magazines. Don’t display family photos
as you want buyers to visualise their own family in your home. From the time you put it on to the market, the less emotional you are about the property the better. Consider blowing up some scenery photos for empty walls and also adding a few strategic light fittings in the kitchen or living areas.
Last minute checks
Remember the small things can count too. Check light switches to make sure they work. Fix any doors or cupboards that don’t close or creak. Fix leaky taps – it’s a bad look.
In the garden, trim trees and shrubs especially around windows, decks and pathways to let in more light and to look tidy. Sweep paths and driveways throughout the marketing process to keep them clear. Stain wooden decks for a fresh look and replace any unstable or rotting decking. Mow the lawns before every open home. Perhaps even create a BBQ area or place a table and chairs strategically to create an outdoor entertainment
space. Let potential buyers see where they could do their outdoor entertaining.
There is always going to be a buyer out there for your property, but presenting the property well will help attract your buyer more quickly and easily. Ask friends or family members for their feedback on your property if you trust their opinion. Remember your real estate agent will always have plenty of tips on how to make your property more marketable so don’t be afraid to ask them.
Buy With Confidence
Buying a property can be stressful. However you can minimise that stress by firstly taking the time to compile a list of exactly what you are looking for in a property before your search starts. As well as the usual number of bedrooms, general location and price range, also consider the following.
– How long do you intend to own this property for, and how will your needs change over that time?
– If your lifestyle is changing, look at the space requirements for new hobbies which can require either separate indoor or outdoor areas.
– Be realistic about how much time you have for maintaining various areas of a new property. A large immaculate garden takes a lot of work, but is great if gardening is a favourite or developing hobby.
– Where do you need to be? Do you need to be close to schools, medical care, vets, recreation facilities, shopping, or even other family members?
Tip:
Be prepared to think a little creatively about your property needs. For example if you won’t need that extra bedroom for a couple of years, consider a property where you will have the space and finances to add that room later.
Harcourts Head of International Joins Top Queensland Office as Real Estate Agent
Harcourts International Real Estate Group bids farewell to their Head of International, Tina Sander, who joins the number one Queensland office, Harcourts Coastal, as a Real Estate Agent.
Miss Sander has been a part of the Harcourts International corporate team for over eight years, and has been instrumental in successfully launching and building Harcourts businesses in The United States of America, South Africa, China and Indonesia.
The team at Queensland’s top performing office, Harcourts Coastal, are excited to have Miss Sander on board and believe Miss Sander’s international connections and experience will prove invaluable to the team and their clients.
“Tina’s unique background as the Head of International for Harcourts will prove to be a priceless asset to our clients. She is an exceptional communicator with an infectious personality. Tina’s energy and highly disciplined approach to the business make her a formidable advantage to Harcourts Coastal,” said Harcourts Coastal Business Owner, Dane Atherton.
Mike Green, Managing Director of Harcourts International said Miss Sander possesses all of the traits necessary for a successful career in real estate sales. “She is passionate, focused and energetic – all vital for success in real estate. While we are sad to lose her from our corporate team, we are excited about her new challenge with one of our leading Harcourts businesses, Harcourts Coastal, and have no doubt that her clients will benefit hugely from her hard work, discipline and focus on service.”
Miss Sander said she was excited for a new challenge within the Harcourts Group, “I’ve spent eight years growing teams, implementing The Harcourts Way, and ensuring our businesses operate efficiently across the globe. I’m really looking forward to being able to utilise this knowledge and experience in another challenging arena.”
“The Harcourts Coastal office is consistently number one in Queensland. I’m hoping the relationships I’ve built around the world, along with my discipline around delivery and high standards, can add to their continuing growth and success,” Miss Sander continued.
Harcourts Head of International Joins Top Queensland Office as Real Estate Agent
Harcourts International Real Estate Group bids farewell to their Head of International, Tina Sander, who joins the number one Queensland office, Harcourts Coastal, as a Real Estate Agent.
Miss Sander has been a part of the Harcourts International corporate team for over eight years, and has been instrumental in successfully launching and building Harcourts businesses in The United States of America, South Africa, China and Indonesia.
The team at Queensland’s top performing office, Harcourts Coastal, are excited to have Miss Sander on board and believe Miss Sander’s international connections and experience will prove invaluable to the team and their clients.
“Tina’s unique background as the Head of International for Harcourts will prove to be a priceless asset to our clients. She is an exceptional communicator with an infectious personality. Tina’s energy and highly disciplined approach to the business make her a formidable advantage to Harcourts Coastal,” said Harcourts Coastal Business Owner, Dane Atherton.
Mike Green, Managing Director of Harcourts International said Miss Sander possesses all of the traits necessary for a successful career in real estate sales. “She is passionate, focused and energetic – all vital for success in real estate. While we are sad to lose her from our corporate team, we are excited about her new challenge with one of our leading Harcourts businesses, Harcourts Coastal, and have no doubt that her clients will benefit hugely from her hard work, discipline and focus on service.”
Miss Sander said she was excited for a new challenge within the Harcourts Group, “I’ve spent eight years growing teams, implementing The Harcourts Way, and ensuring our businesses operate efficiently across the globe. I’m really looking forward to being able to utilise this knowledge and experience in another challenging arena.”
“The Harcourts Coastal office is consistently number one in Queensland. I’m hoping the relationships I’ve built around the world, along with my discipline around delivery and high standards, can add to their continuing growth and success,” Miss Sander continued.
Harcourts Head of International Joins Top Queensland Office as Real Estate Agent
Harcourts International Real Estate Group bids farewell to their Head of International, Tina Sander, who joins the number one Queensland office, Harcourts Coastal, as a Real Estate Agent.
Miss Sander has been a part of the Harcourts International corporate team for over eight years, and has been instrumental in successfully launching and building Harcourts businesses in The United States of America, South Africa, China and Indonesia.
The team at Queensland’s top performing office, Harcourts Coastal, are excited to have Miss Sander on board and believe Miss Sander’s international connections and experience will prove invaluable to the team and their clients.
“Tina’s unique background as the Head of International for Harcourts will prove to be a priceless asset to our clients. She is an exceptional communicator with an infectious personality. Tina’s energy and highly disciplined approach to the business make her a formidable advantage to Harcourts Coastal,” said Harcourts Coastal Business Owner, Dane Atherton.
Mike Green, Managing Director of Harcourts International said Miss Sander possesses all of the traits necessary for a successful career in real estate sales. “She is passionate, focused and energetic – all vital for success in real estate. While we are sad to lose her from our corporate team, we are excited about her new challenge with one of our leading Harcourts businesses, Harcourts Coastal, and have no doubt that her clients will benefit hugely from her hard work, discipline and focus on service.”
Miss Sander said she was excited for a new challenge within the Harcourts Group, “I’ve spent eight years growing teams, implementing The Harcourts Way, and ensuring our businesses operate efficiently across the globe. I’m really looking forward to being able to utilise this knowledge and experience in another challenging arena.”
“The Harcourts Coastal office is consistently number one in Queensland. I’m hoping the relationships I’ve built around the world, along with my discipline around delivery and high standards, can add to their continuing growth and success,” Miss Sander continued.