Category Archives: Real Estate

Experts report: The top three features every home should have

Posted on April 17, 2016 | Leave a comment

1. Floor plan

Ever wondered why you walk into a property and just think it works? Quite often it is because the floor plan flows well, natural light is magnified and the proportions of each room are adequate for the size and style of the property. People greatly underestimate the value of a well-functioning floor plan. We regularly see baffled clients wondering why two houses in the same street can achieve vastly different results when 90 per cent of the features are the same, but one has a more fluid floor
plan.

2. Storage

Good built-ins, joinery, garage space, hanging space and a decent laundry are all things that experienced and motivated buyers factor into their consideration. If there isn’t enough storage, many buyers will say the property is too small. Conversely, a home with quality joinery and ample built-ins will engage buyers.

3. Street appeal

Street appeal is a vital element. It’s uncanny how often we see buyers compromise on a number of other challenges a property may have if the home has amazing street presence. If you have a property with great street appeal and the right aspect allowing abundant natural light, you are on the way to a very good sale or purchase. When the market is flat buyers turn to properties with the best aspect and street appeal. When the market kicks, these properties sky rocket quickly.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes

Avoid the Traps that turn a dream home into a nightmare

Posted on April 15, 2016 | Leave a comment

Most people know about the big-ticket items to check when buying a property, such as flight paths, school zones, getting building and strata inspections, proximity to public transport and shops, or if there’s a development application for a monster tower opposite.

Sometimes the issues that don’t occur to us at the time have the power to turn what looked like a dream home into a nightmare.

Neighbours

Once you’ve got bad neighbours, it’s very hard to get rid of them, and once you’ve drawn their enmity, it can be hell.

“Falling out with neighbours and having disputes with them can be unpleasant and costly,” says buyers’ agent Gerry McPhee, of Hand McPhee. “So if you can avoid having bad neighbours, you’ll be much better off.”

How to check: Talk to your potential neighbours before you buy, advises hotspotting national property analyst Terry Ryder, as well as others around them, asking how they find the area. “You can even sit in your car and observe the street at night to see if there are any problems …”.

Noise

Property inspections are often scheduled at the quietest times. “And while things like a noisy aircon unit that runs 24/7 outside your window are fixable, sirens from fire or ambulance stations, and train noise from tracks just around the corner are not,” Patrick Bright says.

“Noise travels, and can be very disturbing, particularly at night.”

How to check: You need to drop around at all times to clock the decibel count, especially in the evening and at night, and be wary of nearby rowdy pubs and patrons at closing time.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Don’t expects re agents to answer loaded questions about neighborhoods

Posted on April 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

They are the radioactive questions in home real estate, yet many buyers seem to have no idea about their sensitivity. So they ask their realty agents:

●Is this a “good” neighborhood?

●Is it “safe”?

●Are the schools “good” or “the best”?

●What types of people live here?
●Can you show us a neighborhood with large numbers of Catholics (or Asians, Jews, Hispanics, African Americans or some other group)?

Although it may come as a surprise to some home shoppers, certain answers by realty agents could trigger federal and state anti-discrimination legal tripwires. As a result, many agents are hesitant to provide specifics.

So what are home shoppers supposed to do? First and foremost, be aware that any agents you deal with are subject to the Fair Housing Act. Also, most of the data on schools and crime that you might be curious about can readily be found on the Web — it just takes a little searching on any of dozens of sites.

Better to look for the information yourself than to ask agents. They can’t make judgments for you and most likely won’t give you answers anyway.