Monthly Archives: October 2012

Often in real estate negotiations there are more elements to be considered in a property transaction than just the price alone.

When negotiating with a vendor or a purchaser it can help to understand the needs of the other party, as sometimes they may be looking for certain conditions of the sale that are worth more to them than securing the best monetary deal.

For instance, a purchaser who is looking to buy and secure a property now, may not wish to move into the property straight away and therefore may prefer a delayed settlement.

Vendors too may not wish to move out of their home as soon as it’s sold; they may need the finances, but may not have had the time to search for a new home to move yet.

In these cases, both the vendor and the buyer want to have the security of a ‘sold’ home and they may be willing to pay more or accept less for flexibility in settlement arrangements and the peace of mind of knowing that the home has been sold.

Inclusions may also make up part of the negotiation process. If a piece of art or furniture works particularly well in a property then buyers may be willing to pay more to have it included with the property. This can work to the vendor’s advantage as well if the item is hard to move or if they are trying to scale down the amount of furniture they are moving with.

When negotiating to buy or sell a home it’s important to think about valuable factors such as settlement times and inclusions and whether or not they would affect the price you would be willing to pay or accept for a home.

Now that the weather has warmed up a bit in Armidale, it means that many of us can start using our backyard pools again.

As most people don’t use their pools during the winter months however, there is a tendency for pools to be left un-maintained in the cooler months.

If you haven’t been looking after your pool, there are a few things you should be mindful of before using it again. Here are a few of the things you should check:

• Pool fencing – Make sure your pool fence complies with all relevant safety regulations. If your pool fence is maintained it can drastically help to reduce the incidence of child drownings. For information about pool fence laws, visit ……
• First aid – Parents and caregivers are encouraged to learn how to correctly administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Pools are required to display the CPR sign near the pool, but CPR courses should also be taken annually. For further information visit…….
• Pool cleaning – It’s important to ensure your pool is clean before using it by cleaning out leaves and other creepy crawlies and by rebalancing the water. If your pool isn’t kept clean it can cause unhealthy micro-organisms to grow in the pool’s water, which can make people sick, so it’s very important to keep a pool clean.

 

Before using your pool this summer, make sure that it’s safe and that all pool and fencing regulations have been complied to.  Also ensure that children are always supervised when in or around the pool.

 

Hopefully everyone enjoys their pools during the warmer weather, and for further information about pool safety standards, visit the Armidale Dumaresq Council website.

Renovating can be a fantastic way to help add value to your home, but you don’t need to totally overhaul a property to make a positive impact on buyers.

It usually only takes a few simple improvements to help make a big difference to a property’s appearance, so here are some tips that you might like to use for your home:

Repaint – Painting is an easy way to update a property and it is normally quite affordable if you choose to do it yourself. If you’re about to sell, remember to choose neutral colours so that your colour scheme appeals to most buyers’ tastes.

Update your floors – Old floorboards and stained carpets don’t look very appealing, but if you get your floors professionally cleaned or replace them completely, you are bound to improve the presentation of your home.

Fix up the kitchen – Refitting an entire kitchen can be a big job, so ask yourself if there are any small fixes that could help improve the kitchen’s appearance. Could you simply replace the splashback or get new kitchen appliances installed? Adding an extra shelf can also be a good idea if your kitchen has a small amount of bench space.

Take a look at your bathroom – Bathrooms can be updated with new taps, sinks and toilets, or you might also like to improve your bathroom’s look by painting the existing tiles. There are paints available specifically for painting tiles, as well as grout pens that can be bought to paint over stained grout.

De-clutter – By de-cluttering you can instantly make your home feel bigger, cleaner and fresher. Tackle one room at a time and clear away any junk or other items you don’t need or want.

Update the front entrance – People will make an impression of your house as soon they walk in the front door, so it’s important to make sure your entrance is clean and tidy. You can update your entrance easily by doing things such as repainting your front door, providing a welcome mat, or updating furniture.

Tame the garden – Most people in Armidale like to spend a lot of time outdoors, so it’s important to make sure you have a presentable outside space. You should mow lawns, prune trees, pull out weeds and clean the barbecue and any outdoor furniture. You may also need to fix or replace any loose pavers or fence palings.There are plenty more ways you can update your home and help improve its presentation, so if you would like any more value adding tips then please feel free to contact us at Professionals Armidale.

If you’re starting to outgrow the home you currently live in, chances are you’re asking yourself whether or not you should move homes or just improve the one you’ve already got.

 

When trying to figure out which of these options is the best one for you, you need to consider the logistics of doing both and their financial costs. So let’s compare…

Moving to a new home means spending time looking for a new property; organising finances for the purchase of a new home; possibly juggling a property sale too; and then packing up and moving.

 

To improve the home you have, you will need to source building quotes and advice on the additions you plan on making, and organise finances for the approved building works. You may also need to factor in temporary accommodation if you can’t stay living in your home while buildings works are taking place.

 

No matter which option you choose, it will cost you money, so you need to figure out which option will be more profitable for you.

 

The biggest issue with adding onto, or rebuilding the current home you have, is overcapitalising. Extensions or new homes are expensive, so if you’ve decided you want to improve your current home you need to ask yourself whether or not you’re likely to get back the money you’re going to spend.

 

Take a look at what new and renovated homes are selling for in your area (it may help to talk to local real estate agents). If you won’t make much more on your home with an extension or a new home on the block, it may not be worth making major improvements.

 

If you think that moving might be a better option, you will need to consider current market conditions and figure out how you will be able to afford a new purchase. Do you need to sell your current home to afford a new one or would you like to keep the house you have? These are important questions to ask yourself, and if you intend to sell your house you need to think about how much more you will need to spend to get a new home you’re happier with.

Whether you decide to pack up and move or extend the home you have, you need to add up the costs and the benefits of both and then compare your options. Talk to both builders and real estate agents and hopefully they will be able to give you a good idea of the options available to you.

It’s a question that homeowners are regularly faced with – should you DIY or hire a handyman?

 

For many years Australia has had a ‘do it yourself’ kind of attitude – but is DIY the best and/or most cost effective way to fix and renovate?

 

From fixing a door handle to putting in that dream walk in wardrobe there is always a cost involved. Whether you are sticking to a budget or not you tend to stop and think “can I do this myself or should I hire a handy man”?

 

When it comes to costs, DIY generally seems to be the better option, but it’s very important that you know what you’re doing. If you’re unsure or are trying to fix something for the first time without any guidance, you could be in store for bigger problems than what you started with.

 

There’s also the issue of whether you have the time to finish your DIY project as opposed to getting somebody to handle it for you while you can go and attend to your regular work and priorities. There are probably quite a few residents in Armidale who have started DIY projects that have been prolonged or perhaps even scrapped altogether.

 

Ask yourself how long it will realistically take for you to finish your DIY considering the skills you have, and then consider whether a handyman will be worth the extra cost and convenience.

 

If you browse through sites like www.serviceseeking.com.au you will find that there is a handyman available for almost any project you can imagine around the house, and some of them have very reasonable prices. It’s also worth asking friends about any recommendations of local handyman who might be able to help you out for a good price.

Of course some people are very skilled at completing their own projects and don’t need the help of tradies and handymen, but we thought we would provide some food for thought.

If you have any DIY or handyman stories then feel free to leave a comment and share them with the rest of the Armidale community.

Organisers for the Armidale Relay for Life are asking the Armidale community to start getting their teams together and to register for the event.

In case you haven’t heard of the Relay for Life before, it is an event that brings friends, coworkers and families together in a relay event that runs over two days to help raise much needed funds and awareness for Cancer Council NSW.

Those who support the event will help fund the Cancer Council Helpline (13 11 20), which is looked after by trained oncology nurses who help people calling with all cancer-related inquiries.

Funds from the Relay also help contribute to cancer research and for the promotion of lifestyle choices that prevent cancer.

The Armidale Relay for Life is a great cause to be a part of, and while raising money to help fight against cancer is a very serious issue, the event itself is a lot of fun and a great excuse for the Armidale community to get together.

This year’s Relay for Life will be taking place at the Armidale Showground on October 27 and 28.

If you’re interested in taking part in this fantastic event you then you can register your team at www.relayforlife.org.au or you can contact Grant Clark on 0434 583 201.

Are you thinking about renovating? Are you worried about the disruption it might cause in your life?

 

The good news is that renovating doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Many families have renovated their homes with quite minimal stress to the bank balance (and their sanity) – however preparation is the key and it’s important that the hard work is put in before you pack a single box, to ensure that you get the most from your labours.

1. A realistic plan is one of the most important things you can put together at stage one. This needs to include a schedule of every single task that needs to be undertaken. Don’t forget to take into consideration the comfort of your family – if a particular room needs more time – then don’t forget to allot spare rooms to live in until the renovation is complete.
2. Don’t make important decisions mid-renovation. Choose all of your colours, fittings and equipment before you begin. There’s nothing worse than a prolonged renovation because you have changed your mind or were unprepared for out-of-stock fittings. This only serves to lengthen the process and makes the project considerably more expensive.
3. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Renovation contractors are happy to give you tips – even if you are completing the job yourself. Again, you run the risk of spending more if you don’t do it right the first time.
4. Your neighbours can be your greatest ally if treated correctly. Let them know of your renovation plans to avoid noise-disputes. Invite them over for a mid-renovation BBQ and show them the progress. There is a better chance that they will be cooperative if you’re positive from the outset.

5. Keep an eye on the time! Are you planning on starting a job, or having a holiday in the middle of   renovations or remodelling? Sometimes it’s unavoidable – but any major life-changes should be kept on hold until after the job is done.

6. Give the kids a break. If it’s a prolonged remodelling job, dust and rubble can cause major health hazards –  especially to the little ones, and short breaks away with friends or family can give you all a break from living together in such a stressful environment.

Well that’s all of the tips we have for today – have you “survived” a major renovation project? What are your tips? Leave a comment and share your stories.