NHG wrote:
2. Changed PM rate with agent from 7.5% to 5.5% (they said they wouldn't do it );

Good work, you must have almost mastered negotiating to get such a drop!In Victoria, all real estate fees and charges are negotiable so we work with it on a daily basis. New clients are generally the ones who negotiate with me about fees. I figure if t…[Read more]

Thanks for the update, good to hear you got the result you were looking for. You're right, it is a good idea to be upfront about your expectations in terms of the communication level with your agent.Best wishes for the future!

Venetian blinds are notoriously high maintenance, especially in high traffic areas.I'm a big fan of roller blinds as they look great (Venetians are only nice when they're new) and every property we have installed them in hasn't needed ongoing repairs like the Venetians did.I found this company online: http://www.justrollerblinds.com.au/

You can engage an agent to lease the property for you and have all the advantages of full exposure to potential tenants. The most popular real estate sites only allow access to agents to avoid property scams (i.e. an ad where the 'landlord' asks for an upfront fee for keys to view the property)They will charge a one-off letting fee and perhaps a…[Read more]

Marie123,if you're selling, don't go for the look you want, it's really all about the look the buyer wants. Ask your agent what types of buyers are in the market at the moment, for example in Melbourne's inner suburbs we're seeing a burst of buyers who want to move straight in with everything done.The shower screen prices do seem quite excessive.…[Read more]

Marie123,if you're selling, don't go for the look you want, it's really all about the look the buyer wants. Ask your agent what types of buyers are in the market at the moment, for example in Melbourne's inner suburbs we're seeing a burst of buyers who want to move straight in with everything done.The shower screen prices do seem quite excessive.…[Read more]

NHG wrote:
– Shipping ice from antartica to the middle east?

That sounds interesting!Actually my partner and I are shifting our focus altogether for the next financial year and stepping into transport & logistics as that is his 'thing'.

From a property manager's perspective, I really agree with all of the above and it's great to see a shift in attitudes towards paying good property managers a decent amount.Whilst API magazine is telling you 8% gross yield is good, is that figure applicable to the area where your property is? If you have a great property manager as you say, they…[Read more]

Epping has had a fairly decent rental market for years which has dropped recently with the opening of Mernda's housing estates offering affordable housing.  The crime rate in the older areas and near the shopping centre is shocking, so I agree with you that sticking to a new estate is the best option if you settle for Epping.The new estates are…[Read more]

If your contract is 'subject to finance' (which it should always be when you're getting finance) and you can prove clearly you can no longer finance the purchase… you're in the clear to rescind.

I'm a big fan of Harcourts for their property management procedures & focus. You can search for Perth offices: http://www.harcourts.com.au/OfficesI'm sure there are plenty of others out there as well so don't forget to compare to other agents, but it's a start.

South Morang, Doree, Bundoora, Watsonia, Preston… I think you'll find with some serious research on those areas a rental property is a hard push when you look at the demographics.I've lived most of my life around these areas, so I'll give you my ideas on the areas:South Morang – High demand for rentals but in general low quality tenants. If you…[Read more]

Another thing to consider is vacancy rates and how the rental market is performing… According to newly released RP Data figures, Hobart's rental listings have increased by 19.2% compared to last year. SQM data shows a double up in vacancy rates since last year with some localities up to 4%. Whilst it's not all doom and gloom, it may be another…[Read more]

KeyStrategies wrote:
What are your thoughts on the commissions charged by Agents and Property Marketing Companies?

Marketing and selling properties OTP is extremely time consuming and difficult in today's market, often involving setting up an on-site sales office that is not paid for by the developers. In this case I believe high commissions…[Read more]

The real estate industry in IS heavily regulated despite what some may say. We must adhere to a strict code of conduct and  take in thousands and thousands of pages of legislation to ensure we meet all requirements in our everyday jobs. We are actually bound by legislation to act in the best interests of the seller at all times – with huge…[Read more]

Here's a classic about an apartment I managed:This client had been with our agency just over 10 years and believed we were doing such a good job with tenants he would never need insurance. Despite the fact we'd sent out information on the reasons to have insurance (damage of contents etc.) and information on companies who provide broad coverage…[Read more]

I'd also recommend Harcourts. I used to work for them and they have excellent procedures, training for staff and a policy of strong customer service across the network.

If you've got your mind set on doing it yourself and its your first time, best to find someone who has done it before and get some in-depth advice.I understand a lot of owners want to save on selling costs by not including a real estate agent, but unless you know your state's legislation regarding property sales it can be fraught with danger.…[Read more]

I really admire your thinking Cintaku, but do agree with the above comments and will summarise to… Your thinking is ahead of the times.Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems your idea would be for high quality properties for owners to occupy. In Melbourne there just aren't enough in the market at the moment to drive prices with emotional buying.…[Read more]

Maree,The tenant would then have to pay an excess and their premiums would be likely to go up. Whilst I agree it was downright silly of them to keep using the driveway even though it was damaging their car, tenancy tribunals will likely see it as follows – the use of the driveway damaged the car, the landlord didn't do anything about it, tenants…[Read more]