Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

 Look at listings in the area Really try to focus on the properties that are being listed within the past 6 months. This will give you a good indication where houses prices are at. Compare similar properties Look at properties that are listed with the similar square footage, similar number of rooms and similar style to your property. Calculate the value of your home After finding 4 comparable results, find the average of these prices and depending on the seller market, increase deduct 10% from the average figure. These are just the tips on setting the price of your property. For more tips, read our article... View article »

 Fedja Bilic, property executive, walks us through some of the things that we should consider before putting our property on the market. Make a good first impression Give that front garden some tender loving care, give the front fence a lick of paint, and maybe even consider sprucing up your letterbox. Repaint the walls A fresh lick of paint can do absolute wonders. It can really revitalize and energize the property and really give it that brand new feel. Replace or polish the floors If you have carpets that are outdated, stained or damaged, consider replacing them. On the other hand, if you have floorboards, give... View article »

In visualising the kind of life that you'd have, looking into the property alone is not as encouraging as assessing the neighbourhood as a whole. Today, we're going to look at the surrounding establishments around Northcote which makes it a good community to live in. Northcote, a multicultural and all-inclusive neighborhood gives off a welcoming vibe to everyone from all walks of life. This is probably the reason why our grandmas and grandpas prefer to stay in this suburb. Lively and chirpy, that's how Northcote is to its residents with the never-ending rosters of cafes, bars and retail establishments to choose... View article »

 Well-configured floor plan Choose an apartment that has a well-configured floor plan. There are many apartments out there that really waste all the square meterage inside the apartment. They say it's 80 sqm, but the liveable area is more like 65 or 70; hallways stay clear, study nooks stay clear. Choose an apartment where every sqm is being utilised. Owner corporation fees Keep an eye out for the owner's corporation fees. This is an ongoing expense that you're going to be paying throughout the ownership of the property. Make sure it's as little as possible in the beginning because it will increase over... View article »

 Find a guarantor If you can find someone to make the rental payments on your behalf, this would be favorable to the landlord as they will receive the payments on time. Set up direct debit If you set up a direct debit, this will ensure that the funds will automatically be debited when the rent is due. Show proof of regular payments If you entered into a financial contract, where you make payments regularly and on time, please provide this to your agent as this would show willingness to make payments. Provide evidence of income If you can provide us a letter of reference from your saying... View article »

 Extra costs Make sure you're leaving enough room for water rates, council rates and potential strata fees. Having a reasonable budget Having a reasonable budget means that you'll be prepared for the other costs involved in owning the property as previously mentioned. Arranging insurance Just like owning a car, it is important that you will arrange insurance on your property. Clouded judgement Many purchases rush into a decision due to clouded judgement. Make sure that you read over the necessary documents and do your due diligence before purchasing a property. Looking for further readings about this topic? Read up on our blog about choosing between buying now or... View article »

 Be prepared. Make sure that you all your documentation are ready. For documentation, we require payslips, ID, and a savings account statement. Book an inspection. Property managers won't accept an application unless you have viewed the property. In this blog, we have enumerated the do's and dont's in attending an open for inspection that might also help in building your checklist. Make a good impression. The more comfortable the property manager feels with you at an open for inspection, the higher chance of being looked at as a favorable tenant. Get a good rental reference. If you are a seasoned renter, a good rental reference can make... View article »

 Stefan Perera, Director of Project Sales, drops some valuable insights for you to consider if you are thinking of building your own home. Pros Control and customisation If you want pink walls, you got it. If you want marble benchtops, you got it. You have the ability to sit down with your architect and develop a design brief to exactly how you want it. Building your home is a complete customisation control. It's brand new Moving into a home where you know no one has ever lived in gives you the reassurance that you're the first to use every appliance, the first to have a... View article »

 As soon as you decided that you will sell your property, appoint an agent sooner rather than later. You're gonna find that the agent is gonna work on the property prior to launching to the market and therefore could achieve an off-market sale which means less cost, less time, more money in your pocket. Set realistic expectations to what your property is worth. Everyone loves their property. Everyone has an emotional connection to their property. But when you launch your property to the market, it's crucial that you don't set the price too high. Setting a price too high will not get you into... View article »

  [caption id="attachment_8702" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Why is location an important consideration in real estate? There are many reasons, actually. Read the blog to know more.[/caption] In buying a property, location is the first and foremost consideration. But no matter how many times it’s mentioned, it’s still a bit confusing as to why it is a major part of consideration. However, describing a good location could bring up different meanings to different people. In this blog, we will highlight why location matters especially if you are considering your property’s surrounding suburbs.   Related: As a first-time owner, should I buy now or wait?   Development Potential It’s important... View article »