Why you should sell your house in Autumn

Property Professor Peter Koulizos explains why Autumn could be the best time to sell your home.

Spring time was considered the best time to sell as the football season was over and more people would attend weekend home opens. Spring time is also a great time to have the garden looking wonderful as the weather is getting better.

The problem with selling in the Spring is if everyone else thinks that this is a good time to sell, they too will put their property on their market, thus increasing supply and possibly dampening demand.

However, a 2010 study by RP Data showed that the best time to sell a residential property is in Autumn. This makes sense for a number of reasons. Continue reading Why you should sell your house in Autumn

Shipping Container Homes

Eco-friendly shelters made out of used shipping containers are big right now.

As the name suggests, these are made from shipping containers which are refitted for use as modular homes; modular meaning they can be tailored to fit the size requirements of their owners.

There is a surprisingly large number of designs, sizes and uses for container properties – houses, granny flats, shops, hotels, offices …and like Mudgee’s latest offering to coffee-lovers, cafes! Continue reading Shipping Container Homes

10 Things to Check Before You Buy a Home

We all know that before you sign the papers to take over your new home, there are some very important checks to be made; like building and pest reports.

But once your mortgage is up and running, and you’ve just moved in, the last thing you want to find is that you’ve just inherited previous tenants past problems and the costly repairs begin.

However, here are 10 very simple  maintenance checks which can sometimes make the difference between buying your dream house and stepping into a costly nightmare. Continue reading 10 Things to Check Before You Buy a Home

Should I Still Hold My Open House In The Rain?

Come rain or come shine…the real buyers will be out like the postal service.

You may only get one visitor but you can be sure they are serious about buying.

While you don’t want someone trudging through your home, over newly cleaned carpets and polished floorboards with wet, muddy feet; there are a few precautions you can take to protect your home while still making the prospective buyer feel welcome, warm and happy when they enter your home. Continue reading Should I Still Hold My Open House In The Rain?

Property buyers could save thousands before Christmas

Smart investors have a small window of opportunity to nab festive-season property bargains, says a leading market commentator.

CPREA (Certified Practicing Real Estate Agents) chairman Geoff Baldwin said whilst there is no doubt that the market has slowed as we approach Christmas, there is now a “short but attractive opportunity for property buyers to negotiate harder and save thousands”. Continue reading Property buyers could save thousands before Christmas

Bushfire Survival Plan

Prepare a bushfire survival plan.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the country, city or suburbs – if your home is in an area even remotely at risk of bushfire you need to have a bushfire survival plan.

Generally speaking, this should apply to:

  1. Any house in an area with a history of bushfires;
  2. Houses within a few blocks of bushland;
  3. Properties not at direct risk but that are situated near a wilderness corridor, and
  4. If you’d need to travel through bushland in order to escape.

Continue reading Bushfire Survival Plan

The top 10 tips for auction bidding

By Cate Bakos

As a trained auction bidder and experienced property buyer, I’ve bid at hundreds of property auctions over the years and have learnt many tricks along the way.

Being based in the country’s auction capital, Melbourne, means that I’m exposed to auctions every single weekend, from the beginning of February until the week before Christmas. Melbournians, Sydneysiders and even Brisbane shoppers understand that the chances of a good property being taken to auction are high. So why do so many people fear auctions? Continue reading The top 10 tips for auction bidding

Swimming Pools – Added value or Limited appeal?

Summer is just around the corner and, before we know it, another sweltering hot Mudgee summer will be on our doorstep.

And what’s better than being able to cool off by simply jumping into your backyard pool?

How many of us look back fondly at the years we spent in our youth lounging in the family backyard pool and having summer pool parties with friends?

Does having a pool on your property help or hinder when it comes time to sell your home?  How about if it’s an investment property?

The answer is neither simple nor straightforward as investing in a pool can benefit one home owner while not adding an ounce of value to the next. Continue reading Swimming Pools – Added value or Limited appeal?

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