A Humbling Experience

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community donating gifts to our Wishing Tree.  We’re about to make our first delivery to the Salvation Army and want to send out a big thank you to those that have given, especially the man that dropped off two large boxes of gifts, it is truly humbling. 

It’s not too late to donate as our last delivery will be Friday 18^th December 2015.  Please drop off your donated gifts beforehand.

Each year we at 2^nd Avenue Realty hold a Christmas Party and for the fourth year in a row we’ve had the pleasure of having the Salvation Army Choir (small version) sing Christmas carols to our guests.  Once again, they were amazing – their talent outstanding.  Thank you!   

The joy of watching children’s faces light up when they see Christmas lights certainly warms the heart.  Unfortunately, we are seeing fewer homes lit up.  Seeing a darken street is not as warming as one ablaze with colour and sparkle – we put out a challenge to you for next year – light up your home and/or your street.     

Historically we are approaching a slow, down time in real estate but we are open for business as usual during the Christmas/New Year break.  Our staff will have a well earned rest while Brendan and I hold the fort.   We wish the local community a safe Christmas celebrating with family and friends.  The New Year is not far away and we’ll be eagerly awaiting the new beginning.   Don’t forget to light up our area with the Spirit of Christmas!

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Once again, we have erected a Wishing Tree in our office and gift donations are being given to the Salvation Army for distribution to the needy.  We had a great result last year delivering three car loads to the Salvos who were very thankful and humble that our community was so generous in their giving!

As a community we should be mindful of those that don’t have as much as we do or who are in need of support; there are more and more people and families crying out for assistance and support networks such as the Salvation Army are so grateful to those who give unconditionally.  We would welcome any small gift you can give to help put a smile on someone’s face so they too can enjoy Christmas.

If you do wish to donate, please tag your gift with the appropriate age group and whether it’s suitable for a male or female, and drop it into our office.  Gifts will be handed over to the Salvation Army in readiness for Christmas distribution. 

On a real estate note, the same time last year saw our market in a similar situation so you could say we have been in a stable market.  If you are considering selling during the festive season, be aware of having your photos taken with Christmas decorations as they may have limited usage.  But, if you’re priced right, your home should sell!

Light up our area with the Spirit of Christmas!

Quality

Recently an inner Sydney sales agent negotiated a 5.5% commission plus advertising?  The home in question sold for around $7M.  Wow!  You do the maths!  This is the norm in Sydney and advertising is around $20,000.  So why is it that locally, the average person does not want to spend money on advertising or marketing their home for sale?  From our perspective, we get no monetary gain from advertising.  We provide our sellers with information and advice on how best to promote their home and whatever they choose, they are only charged cost price.  The average cost of marketing a home in our area ranges from nil (by some agents) to $2,000.  It all depends on what the seller wants and the individuality of the home – no two homes are the same, so marketing and advertising should be adaptable for each. 

Most consumers have a preconceived perception of an agent before they even walk in the door and believe there is no emotion around selling a property.  For us, this could not be more further from the truth.  We know that in most cases we are walking into someone’s home and we respect that.  The service we provide is so much more than what the average persons knows.  We are property specialist, this is our job, it’s what we do every day, and we love it.  So if you are looking for someone willing to give that little bit more, you’ve found them.  We’re here to help so give us a call. 

Forever Embedded

Did you know that what you post on Facebook - your likes, shares and comments are all permanent fixtures on the site and can only be removed by the company?  YOU DON’T OWN THEM ANYMORE.  Your uploaded photos and comments are no longer your own – they become public and open to being used for filtering and sharing – and so the spider web grows.  And depending on how you look at it and what you choose to post, this is not a bad thing.  However, when people write nasty things about individuals it is a form of bullying and even though it’s only one persons opinion, add to it the opportunity for the message to ripple out and it can become hurtful and dangerous. Facebook does have many positives; it keeps people connected and some even make a living out of their postings.  It all comes down to capturing your audience and what type of content you choose to share with them.  Posting negatively on Facebook can turn on you just as quick, so be careful!

We all live in a technical age and social media is growing and evolving at an alarming rate.  We’ve attended a number of social media conferences of late and there are many positive and exciting advancements ahead for the real estate industry.  We believe we’re ahead of our game in this respect.  If you have any questions about social media, advertising or any other real estate query, we’re here to help.  Call us for a chat.

It Can't Be All That Bad!

Deaths, marriage break‑ups, sickness, financial difficulty - these are just some of the reasons people sell their homes.  Statistics put selling or moving house as one of the most stressful times in a person’s life.  There are so many emotions involved and when you mix everything together, you appreciate how important it is for an agent to have the utmost respect and understanding of the situation, whilst being empathic to the client’s needs.  There certainly are some great agents out there who have the ability to deal with difficult situations; all you have to do is find one that will work with you and who understands where you are coming from. 

A Flinders Parade property recently sold under the hammer for $2.1m and locals were not happy about the result.  The sellers didn’t have to accept the price presented on the day, but they did!  Like all sellers, when an agent presents an offer, they have the opportunity to decide whether to accept, reject or make a counter offer.  Ultimately, the final decision is up to the seller, after all it is their home.  However, most of the time the first offer is usually the best one.  Obviously a number of factors need to be taken into consideration and every situation is different. 

Our local market is showing approximately a 50% decrease in homes on the market for sale within the 4017 postcode.  This decline has, however, been slowly building for about 2 years now so this market is not new to us.  If you would like an update on the market or any real estate advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us on 3269 1555.

Did You Know?

Builders (those born before 1946) known as the war babies and the next generation, Boomers (1946-1964), had the highest birth rate recorded, hence their name.  Next came Gen X (1965-1981), better known as the cultural and highly educated generation.  I can hear the moans and groans now but think about all the advancements we enjoy today!  Next is Gen Y (1982-1994) – the spenders with their heads down and butts down (sorry).  They are the ones accountable for our technology.  Following on is Gen Z (1995-2009) who are responsible for the lowest birth rate ever!  Well that tells you something!  And now we move into Alpha who have basically just started school. 

Why do I tell you this?  Australians per capita have the most gadgets and mobile devices in the world.  We are sponges and have a thirst for technology, knowledge and learning, and from this we grow.  Each and every generation that has come before us has left some kind of impression on what we have today.  The individual entrepreneurs of the future have just started to form. 

However, there is one thing that will not change and that is COMMUNICATION!   An open conversation.  Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media will always be around, and regardless of what future generations bring to the table, communication and listening will always be best form of communication. 

The property market is no different as we evolve just like our future generations.  We are a ‘people’ industry so we are subject to constant change – we just have to learn to adapt to whatever comes our way.  That’s what makes life interesting.  If you need up to date real estate advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us on 3269 1555.  

If You Don't Ask You Won't Get

Be prepared when purchasing and ask as many questions as possible.  The last thing you want to find out about a home you’re purchasing is that it has some hidden nasties!

When selling, if an owner chooses not to disclose information to their agent and/or the purchaser, the consequence is that the contract may fall over and this is something all parties don’t want!

We live in a unique community and with the number of homes listed for sale down, now would be a good time to be honest, transparent and up front with all parties resulting in a contact going though quickly and smoothly.  The unknown?  Well that may result in some stumbling blocks which will have to addressed as they arise causing delays and maybe even having to start the contract process over.   

On a brighter note, how wonderful is it that there are so many new businesses starting up in Sandgate.  This is exciting to see and if you would like to be kept informed on what’s happening, jump onto ‘Shop Sandgate’ on Facebook and like the page.  Also, don’t forget that fresh produce is now available Wednesdays and Sundays near Satori Organics!

Don’t forget – if you need any real estate advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us on 3269 1555.