Here's a clikky to one QS website: ClikkyIn essence they say: The role of the Quantity SurveyorQuantity Surveyors are recognised under the Australian Tax Office Ruling No. 97/25 as appropriately qualified professionals for the purposes of assessing the construction value of rental properties.…[Read more]

I'd be severely checking your figures or contracting the person who gave you the quote.Eg, the real estate agent would not get out of bed to sell 12 blocks of land for a commission of $3,500 (it may be $3.5k per site but even still that is light on). The Construction Contract Supervision $ 950 – is this the daily cost of supervision?etc

1% rule sounds more like the rule that I'd follow 1% of the time

As per Duckster above but also go to the WA Dept of Fair Trading (or whoever registers real estate agents). Contact the PM's licensee (often the PM only works for the real estate agency and is not a licensee or director of the company).Stir as much sh!t as you can within the company to reveal their incompetence.

Thanks Tim, I did one nearby. Docs were completed within a week with the CC completed in double quick time. I know that there isn't much work in doing the calcs & preparing the drawing (I have done these previously but no longer have access to the rainfall data).It was cheap enough, painless and has got me over the line.

2.5% per annum, need to estimate construction/replacement cost of house and age of property.

Generally TV and radio towers are high powered transmitters vs phone towers being low powered devices. Recent studies have shown no discernable links between mobile phone useage & brain cancers. http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25659The price effect of any existing phone or tv tower is already reflected in the price of property nearby. Likewise…[Read more]

A builder can only provide you with a break up of the cost, whether it be the replacement cost if the work was done today or the initial /replacement cost years back when the work was done.I would recommend using a QS.

Personally, I would be seeking that the contract sum be changed for the following reasons:Price paid reflects your cost base, any money spent on repairs is reflected in the reduced cost base for cgt, stamp duty would be reduced (negligibly), you do not have to offset the 'income' against the expense of the repairs (the repairs may cost you less…[Read more]

See a different lawyer to the one that you used for the purchase. Not only can they advise if compensation is payable by the council (probably not) but they could also review whether or not your conveyancer was negligent in the purchase by not having undertaken all reasonable searches etc.Ok, you have said the proposed easement is 3 m wide but…[Read more]

There are many commercial real estate agents in the phone book, they specialise in properties which are for commercial or retail or industrial investors. That is, avoid your local rea and go to the legit commercial property brokers.

jsoohoo wrote:
Howdy All,I have a pressing matter about an offer I submitted.  I am a first home buyer and buying sight unseen. 

Not being too critical here Michael, but…..  you are a first home buyer and you are probably making the biggest investment in your life yet you are prepared to buy 'sight unseen'.  How do you know you are get…[Read more]

Engage a QS, they're cheap and will give you a more effective depreciation schedule.

Contact an insurance broker rather than a retail insurance agency ie don't go  straight to the NRMA as they do not have access to the same range of products suitable for commercial premises.The insurance broker can discuss your requirements and will then advise you what you should have eg business package

Research – that is check (and read for yourself) the LEP, talk to the town planner at council who can tell you whether it could be approved for strata subdivision or whether it is non-complying development, get an estimate from a builder as to what all the costs of conversion to meet BCA requirements would be etc.

The deposit is what you negotiate – if you can get them to agree to 5% or less, great.Releasing the deposit to the vendor – the usual 'what if' scenario: what if the vendor delays settlement, blows your deposit, walks from the deal, dies……… where is your money? Goooone.

The biggest problem with Sydney is the entry price. Pay SD on purchase, REA on exit, holding costs, CGT (discounted if held for over a year) etc, you would need to be looking at making a gross profit of  $150k to walk away with $15k. IMO not worth it. Look further afield.

Something that no-one has considered in the equation – risk, ie security of tenure. Australia has one of the highest/most secure forms of tenure which is guaranteed by the Crown (under the Real Property Act in each state).Can that be said of any of the other countries?

If it is anything like the pack in NSW then it covers the lot – 2 copies of the lease, renters guide etc.

jmboy wrote:
When I do sell I will sell privately, by negotiation.  It may take longer but I will hopefully get some more money back with no agent fees.

Taking a step back, I'd say BIG Mistake. Why, you're depressed, it will show in your dealings with buyers. They will see that it is a distressed sale and you will be mince meat. Use an agent,…[Read more]