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If you’re pondering the prospect of selling your property, one of the first questions many people ask is what will it cost? After all, selling a property is about realising a maximum return for a substantial investment, so it pays to know upfront who will receive a slice of that pie and how much it will be. The following is a general guide to the costs involved in selling a property. Agent’s fees or commissions The agent you engage to sell your property charges for the service in the form of a commission or set fee. This covers the time they devote to creating the sales campaign, liaising with potential buyers, hosting open homes, and offering their professional expertise. These commissions can vary depending on the agent you opt to work with, but a great agent will be upfront about the costs involved and the value they provide for that charge. It’s also important to remember that you shouldn’t decide which agent to work with based purely on their fee. A well-regarded, experienced agent can be worth their weight in gold when it comes to local market knowledge, creating the right sales campaign for your specific property, and providing good advice that results in a swift sale for a price that you are happy with. Conveyancing Any property sale has legal implications, which is why it pays to engage a legal advisor or conveyancer. Again, their fees vary but their job is to guide you through the legal nuances of a property purchase or sale. They will help you understand the contract of sale and ensure all key dates are met during the transaction. Depending on your needs, they can also add specific clauses to the contract of sale to reflect your wishes, while making sure you meet all your obligations within that contract. Property marketing A great marketing campaign is essential to a stress-free property transaction. Depending on the property, this marketing might include advertising the property on the major portals, such as realestate.com.au and Domain, advertising on the agency’s website and social media, and more traditional advertising such as print newspapers, magazines and flyers. The cost of this marketing is often separate to the agent’s fees and should be factored in early in the sales campaign. Styling costs Some properties benefit from professional styling or staging prior to sale. Your agent will advise you if they think this is necessary, but for the right property, it can be a very worthwhile investment, potentially adding a substantial sum to the sales price. Lender fees If the property you intend to sell has a mortgage, there may be lender fees involved. These tend to cover things like discharging the mortgage or early exit fees. Each lender’s fees vary, so it pays to speak with them about the charges you will incur. It’s also a good idea to get in touch with your lender early in the sales process, as they will have discharge forms and other documents that need to be filled out. Meanwhile, the process of discharging a mortgage can take anywhere from 14 to 21 days on average. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying or selling a property please contact us to help you on your property journey

When it comes to selling a property, presentation is everything. When you present your property to best effect it invites a potential buyer in and allows them to envisage your home as their own. So how do you ensure your home is as well-presented as well as it can be? It takes preparation and an eye for detail, so here’s our guide on how to prepare your property for sale First impressions First impressions are everything when it comes to selling your home. Other than the images of your property that a potential buyer sees in marketing, the first physical impression they will get is when they drive past the property or attend an open for inspection. That means your home should have great street appeal to create that wow factor. In the months leading up to the sale, tend to the gardens and property exterior, including: Trimming trees Mulching the garden Mowing the lawn Clearing any exterior items that don’t need to be there Exterior areas With the garden in check, don’t forget to turn your attention to the property’s exterior and particularly the entry. Do give your front door a fresh coat of paint if it needs it; water blast and clean any pathways, decks and patios; and clean all windows. Don’t forget to look up and tend to any little things that might be below par, such as gutters that drip, shade sails that need a clean, or fascias that could use a once over and wipe down. If your roof is looking tired or has tree sap on it, consider calling in the experts to give it a clean and paint. The aim of the game here is to create a perfect first impression where everything is neat and tidy and no small repair issues raise red flags that there might be something amiss with the home. Finalise any maintenance and repairs On that note, use the months prior to taking your property to market to finalise any repairs and maintenance around the home. In other words, view your property with a critical eye and fix any problems that you have been meaning to get to, or that are minor but may put a potential buyer off. Go neutral One of the best ways to refresh the interior of the home is to have it repainted prior to sale. Take a good hard look at your interior walls and their condition, have any minor cracks or knocks fixed, and then consider a neutral paint scheme that is light and bright. Light neutral tones give the impression of light and space, and also allow the buyer to envisage themselves in the property. The little things Sometimes it’s the little things that add up to give your home great buyer appeal. This might include replacing tired window furnishings, swapping out dated kitchen drawer handles with newer ones, or changing aged light fixtures for a more seamless and contemporary look. Declutter One of the most important parts of readying your home for sale is decluttering. In the months prior to sale, progressively work through your property, cleaning out cupboards, and removing extraneous personal items. You might choose to relinquish these items or perhaps box them up and put them in storage. The aim here is to allow potential buyers to see the property in its full glory and forge an emotional connection to it. The decluttering process also involves casting a critical eye over your furniture to ensure it accentuates each space of the home. Overly large furniture can overwhelm a space and make it look small, while dated furniture can age a property. Meanwhile, artwork can be a very personal choice, so do look at the art and images hanging on your walls and consider whether they have widespread appeal. Style if necessary Some properties benefit greatly from styling, where a professional brings in furniture and items to create a beautiful impression in the home. Have a chat with your agent to see if they believe styling might be necessary to really lift the potential value and appeal of your property. The final touches The final touches are the elements that add life and extra appeal to a home. They might include indoor plants and flowers that provide a touch of colour and greenery, or soft furnishings such as throw cushions that tie together the colour scheme of your home. During the open for inspection stage, pay careful attention to these final touches to ensure your property instantly connects with potential buyers, who feel drawn to the home’s warmth and lifestyle. It’s all about emotion Selling a property might involve the transaction of bricks and mortar, but really it’s about someone falling in love with your home and wanting to call it their own. They should be able to see the property in its full glory, enjoy its space, and imagine themselves living there or owning it. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying a property contact us to help you on your property journey.

When it comes to selling a property, a real estate agent’s main focus is to get you the highest possible price for your home, and to achieve this they might suggest some improvements. So, let’s look at what those might be and how they can help you achieve a swift and successful property sale… Some general basics As any seller will appreciate, selling a home is about putting the property’s best foot forward and attracting people to that property from the outset. That’s why agents always recommend devoting some time and effort into the general preparation of the home. These basic tasks include: Completing any obvious repairs or unfinished jobs Tending to the garden to create great street appeal Decluttering inside the home and ensuring its tidy Cleaning the interior and interior so the property looks fresh Beyond that your agent might have some specific suggestions for your property, depending on the buyers you are hoping to attract and the price you want to achieve. Some minor renovations If there’s something obvious about the home that’s likely to put buyers off, your agent might suggest a minor renovation or repair. It might be that an internal doorway is in the wrong spot and could easily be shifted to improve the home’s flow. Perhaps the property needs a lick of paint, or perhaps the bathroom needs a minor makeover. Each of these suggestions is designed to remove an ‘obstacle’ that might stand in the buyer’s way when it comes to envisaging themselves in the property and putting an offer forward. Fresh paint and window coverings You’d be surprised the difference that simple improvements such as fresh paint or new window coverings can make in terms of giving a home a more modern look and feel. And again, these are two quick, easy and affordable improvements an agent might suggest. Fresh paint in a neutral or light colour palette makes the home feel light, bright and spacious. It also fixes any minor wear and tear that the home’s interior walls may have suffered. Meanwhile, new window coverings can also update a home, creating a light, bright and spacious feeling that continues throughout the property. Professional staging As much as you love your furniture, it can date very quickly. Large furniture can also make a home feel less spacious than it is. In a bid to give a property that true magazine feel, your agent might suggest removing your furniture and having a professional stylist stage the property with their pieces. For the right property in the right price bracket, professional staging can be a very worthwhile investment, adding tens of thousands to the value of your home. A garden makeover First impressions really count in real estate, and one of the first things a potential buyer is likely to do is drive by the property. To create that great first impression, your agent might suggest a minor garden makeover that could include trimming trees, pruning, reshaping hedges, fresh mulch on the garden beds and any other tactics that give your garden an appealing and welcoming look. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying or selling a property contact us to help you on your property journey.

Selling any property is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated process. With the right agent and the right preparation, selling a property can be easy. So, here’s a quick guide to what’s involved and how you can help ensure it’s the smooth and seamless transaction you hope for. Prepare in advance Selling a property for the best possible price involves preparation. After all, you want to ensure the home puts its best foot forward and attracts as many prospective buyers as possible. Often this preparation begins months in advance of a sale and includes: Tidying the garden Tending to any repairs, unfinished jobs or maintenance Repainting the home where required Decluttering inside the home and staging the property in some instances All these tasks are designed to ensure any prospective buyer can envisage themselves living in the property. They ensure the home looks welcoming and appealing. The right agent Selecting the right sales agent is key to a successful and stress-free sale. The agent you choose should understand the local market, have a proven track record and know exactly how to market your home to best effect to achieve the price it deserves. When selecting that agent, be sure to look at their online reviews, meet them in person and ask them questions about what price they believe your property would achieve, and how they would go about attaining a sale. Ideally, the agent you’re looking for will have excellent local market knowledge, good references, proven experience in your local area, be a great communicator and will also be someone you feel you can work with and entrust your property to. They should also have excellent negotiation and people skills, as these are paramount when it comes to determining who your prospective buyer might be and getting any sale across the line. The right price It’s natural to want to achieve the best possible price for your property, but ultimately selling a home comes down to what the market is willing to pay at that moment in time. Regardless of whether you choose to sell your home by auction, private treaty, tender or any other sales method, it pays to be realistic about the property’s price and how much potential buyers are willing to pay. As they have access to this information every day a great agent is the best person to advise you on the price your home might achieve based on market trends, recent sales, similar properties currently for sale and more. And remember, setting the price is an important decision. Set it too low and you could miss out on reaping the reward for a highly-valuable asset. But if you set it too high, you could alienate potential buyers from the outset, meaning your home’s likely to spend longer on the market and that price might then have to be reduced. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying or selling a property please contact us to help you on your property journey.

Every property has something unique that’s likely to attract the right type of buyer, and when it comes to selling your home, identifying this point of difference is important. By knowing what makes your property stand out from the crowd and who it’s likely to appeal to, you and your sales agent can create a sales campaign that will pique the interest of the right type of buyer and ensure your home sells quickly. So let’s look at how you determine your property’s point of difference… What is a point of difference? A property’s point of difference is the element that allows it to stand out in a marketplace of similar homes. Perhaps it’s that your home has dual living potential, or maybe it’s the fact there’s a pool or additional car accommodation. Essentially this point of difference answers the question, ‘why would the buyer pick your home above the other similar properties available?’ Why it matters When you find and outline your property’s point of difference, you give prospective buyers a reason to inspect that home and potentially choose it as the property they purchase. It allows the home to stand out from the crowd and creates a fear of missing out on something special about the property. And, while a great agent is an expert in finding this unique selling point, the property seller can assist by considering their home’s point of difference and highlighting it well in advance of the property hitting the market. How to find it If you’re wondering what your property’s point of difference is, just consider the questions ‘what’s special about my home?’ and ‘why have I loved living here?’. Often the thing that attracted you to a property will also be a major drawcard for potential buyers. As an example, it could be any of the following and more… The home’s aspect Renovation potential Sub-division potential Two street frontages Low-maintenance living A corner block A quiet cul-de-sac Separate guest accommodation A mature garden A swimming pool The home’s layout The property’s outlook The land size The location And much, much more How your agent uses a point of difference Your sales agent will use the property’s point of difference in the listing that appears on websites, social media and property portals. Essentially, it’s the hook that’s designed to entice people to inspect the home in person and seriously consider it as their next purchase. The agent will also use this point of difference in the negotiation process, highlighting why this is an opportunity not to be missed by the buyer. The reality is every property has a story to tell and a unique point of difference that sets it apart from its peers. When you find it, use it and showcase those unique qualities, you’re well on your way to a successful sale. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying or selling a property contact us to help you on your property journey.

It’s a big decision to sell a property, and sometimes it can be tricky to know whether a sale is the outcome you’re after or the one that will serve you best in the long run. If you’re undecided about whether you’re quite ready to sell, here are five essential questions to ask to make the decision-making process easier. Why am I considering selling? There are numerous reasons people choose to sell a property, including upsizing, downsizing or a change in your personal relationship status. Perhaps the property you have no longer meets your needs, or you’re moving to a new location and are seeking to sell so you can purchase elsewhere. In some instances it’s obvious you need to sell your existing property to realise the capital you require to achieve that aim. But in others, it’s not so clear-cut. Perhaps you’re in a position to retain the property you have while also purchasing another. Understanding the reason why you’re considering selling and what you can achieve by doing so is critical to making the all-important decision of whether to hold onto a property or whether it’s time to let it go. What’s my long-term goal? Owning a specific property is often part of a longer term goal. It’s a stepping stone to the next stage of life. That’s why it’s important to consider whether selling that asset helps you achieve your long-term aims, and these aims might be financial, personal and practical. For example, perhaps you initially purchased the home as a first-time buyer looking to get into the property market. Now, maybe you’re seeking to upsize or improve your living situation, and selling that asset helps you get to where you want to go. What are the benefits to selling? Like all big decisions in life, selling a property should be weighed up carefully, considering the benefits and the drawbacks. In terms of selling, those benefits might include: Moving onto the next chapter Realising capital in your existing property that you can use elsewhere Letting go of a property that no longer meets your needs or is high maintenance Putting you in a better financial position Freeing you up from a mortgage What are the drawbacks? As you weigh up the benefits of selling, it also pays to consider the drawbacks. Perhaps the existing property is in a region tipped to enjoy long-term capital growth, but that potential hasn’t yet been realised. Maybe, you’re temporarily moving elsewhere and this is a property you would happily move back to in the future, when the time is right. It’s also important to consider the costs involved in selling and how they impact your financial decision or the overall profit you’re likely to receive from that property. Is there an alternative to selling? In some instances there might be a better alternative to selling a property considering both your financial position and stage of life. You might choose to retain the property and rentvest, where you rent out the property you own and rent a home in the area where you work or want to reside. Or maybe you’re in a position to own multiple properties, retaining the original one and also purchasing a new one elsewhere. If the property is in a high capital growth area, perhaps it’s worth holding onto a little bit longer and renting it out while you realise income from that home. Talk to a trusted agent If you’re on the fence about selling your property, it’s worth seeking the advice of a trusted real estate agent, who will walk you through the price the property is likely to achieve, the current market situation in that area and the options you have. A great agent isn’t just interested in listing your property now, but in helping you achieve your long-term property aims whether the immediate outcome is selling the property now, or holding onto it and revisiting the idea of selling a long time in the future. Looking to buy or sell? If you’re considering buying or selling a property contact us today to discuss your property journey.