The thought behind this is “the more agencies we give our property to, the more buyers will be available to look at it”. This is sadly NOT the case. Have you ever seen a Bunnings ad or a Harvey Norman ad – “we’ll beat it by 10%”? Well, that’s exactly what happens with open listings.

 

Buyers will go to one agent (who works for the vendor) and ask what they will get the property for, they are told by the agent “for the asking price”. The purchaser then goes to another agent and asks the same question to which the response is “maybe $20,000 under the asking price”. Who do you think the buyer will buy through? Forget the fact that the 2^nd agent just went to your wallet and stole $20,000 of your money.

 

If you do want to list your property with more than one agent please list with only two agencies and do what is called a ‘conjunction agency’. That way the fee is split between the two offices and you know both agents are working FOR you, not against you. (It is advisable to ensure the agencies have a good working relationship together too).

 

In other news, December, January & February have been the best I have ever seen! The market is certainly busy & March will be no different!

 

Thinking real estate? Think Professionals!

The Armidale Autumn Festival kicks off on the 18^th of March and this week is the last week you have to register for the Autumn Festival Parade or a stall in Civic Park. Click here if you’re looking for registration forms – they have to be in by 5pm tomorrow (Friday)!

 

A little more on the Autumn Festival (from armidaletourism.com.au website):

 

18 March 2011: Twilight Festival - Armidale Civic and Curtis Park
19 March 2011:  Armidale Civic and Curtis Park, CBD for Parade
20 March 2011:  Criterium and Mile Foot Race in CBD area
21 March 2011: Armidale Cup at Racecourse

 

The Autumn Festival is a culmination of our city’s multiple cultures, expressed through a range of things like music, dance, food and of course the float parade.

 

If you’re attending this year, and I encourage you to do so, you will be treated to up to four days of festivities. Day one starts at 5pm on the 18^th of March with the Twilight Festival which will include street markets, free entertainment and more. Day two ‘Fun Day’ kicks off with a pancake breakfast, followed by the street parade, markets, more entertainment, food, rides and more. Day three gets a little more physical with the criterium and mile footrace through the CBD, as well as the Armidale Farmers' Market. Finally, if you’ve made it to the fourth day with any energy, you can attend the Armidale Cup at the racecourse.

 

I for one will definitely be seeing some of the action, but I doubt I’ll be able to keep up with it all for the entire 4 days. I hope you get to enjoy some, if not all of the Armidale Autumn Festival too!

Then the Show starts to take shape with rides going up and lining the horizon, cattle and horse floats start to take up residency at the showgrounds and the familiar thoughts of fairy floss and show bags start to flood the mind.

 

From the livestock displays, riding competitions, pig races and baby animal farm; to the demolition derby, wood chopping comp, battle of the bands and tug-o-war; to sideshow alley, show bags, rides and fireworks; there’s something for everyone in Armidale to enjoy.

 

I should say that the Show actually does start this Friday (4^th of March) so you should definitely mark it in your calendar if you haven’t already, to attend either Friday or Saturday.

 

You can read more about the finer details of the Armidale Show here in an article I found in the Armidale Express, or you can just rock up on the day and see what takes your fancy!