Spruce Up the Outside for a Sale

It can't be stressed enough that to attract the initial attention of a buyer, a vendor should make sure the outside of one's house including the walkways, garden and pavement all look sufficiently attractive. This may make the difference between a drive-by and someone actually calling in on inspection day.

Trimming the lawn, of course, is primary. But this must also include doing all the edging work between lawns, paving areas and garden beds. Once you have pruned and weeded the garden, one trick is to add mulch. This gives a consistent look throughout.

Another step to improve the garden's attractiveness might be to purchase two or three mature plants. This will make an immediate impression and will help stimulate ideas in a buyer on how they could further improve the garden.

If you have bare patches such as around the base of trees, you can place some gravel or pebbles on top to mask the area and increase its appeal.

You can also place up lights at the base of trees and dot your pathways with low-voltage lighting for effectiveness.

You might also consider steam-cleaning your paved driveways and paths to eliminate stains and to freshen up their appearance.

For more information contact Martin Donnelly on (02) 9605 7777.

Buying Your First Home, One Step at a Time

Making the move to buy your first home can be simplified by taking steps in the right order. Here are some general guide lin es.

First, consider the amount you have available for that all important deposit. The greater the percentage of the purchase price that can be put down as a deposit, the less you will have to repay over the years on your mortgage. It will also assist the process of obtaining finance.

If you look at how much you're accustomed to paying in rent each month, this will give you a rough guide line as to the amount of monthly mortgage repayments you can handle without adversely affecting your day-to-day living expenses. Of course, many people find that there are always ways to cut back on some of the luxuries if it means the difference between renting and owning your own home. Careful budgeting is often the key.

The next step should be to find the best source for your financing. The range of home finance packages available today is greater than ever before, which is an obvious advantage as long as you shop around and compare alternatives.

With your financing pre-approved, you are then ready to consider your real options as to what form your first home will take, relative to the area in which you hope to live.

Even if this means starting off with a quality unit instead of that eventual dream home, you've embarked on the road of home ownership which can make all the difference to your future security and happiness.

Add Value With A Courtyard

Here's a new idea. Instead of renovating the bathroom and kitchen, try installing a new courtyard. This can link the inside of your house to the outside and can have a particularly useful function during the summer months.

Instead of simply being an adjunct to the house, a courtyard can function as an outdoor room. Also, potential buyers can envision their own renovations to the bathroom and kitchen, but a courtyard adds a unique dimension that wouldn't normally have been envisioned.

There are many ways to link the interior of the house with the exterior, but one simple way is through colour coordination. You might have a large living room painting whose main colour, for example, could be mirrored by outdoor cushioning and plant pots or garden sculptures.

A barbecue and tastefully done bench seating can add utility to the design, while a host of native and succulent plants can create a low maintenance atmosphere. One container with a well-chosen cactus can serve as a focal point in place of a whole garden plot of flowers.

One thing about courtyards is that they are relatively easy to design, so that you can do your own for as little as $1000, or you can have the comfort, security and innovation of a professional landscape designer for anywhere from $5,000 to $60,000.

A Housing Inspection Gives You Peace of Mind

When you purchase a home you are usually making the largest investment of your entire life, so why wouldn't you want to make sure of the quality of the property you are about to acquire?

An inspection agent will give you a written report detailing any observed minor and major faults. This will enable you to get a rough idea of what it will cost to bring everything up to top condition.

The report will include the house exterior. The inspector will look at the walls and their structural integrity, the condition of the mortar, any signs of rot, guttering problems, and the sub-floor ventilation.

An inspection will also look at the roof to see its structural integrity, and if there are any broken tiles and possum problems. It will examine the chimney's condition and the state of any iron sheeting as well.

The floors will also be inspected for structural integrity, subsidence, and dampness. It will look to see if there are any signs of rot, mould, borer and termite activity. Another item includes signs of exposure on waterproofing under concrete floors.

A building inspector will then preview the garden for signs of pests or rot and any trees likely to cause structural damage. He/she will look for water run-off and any poisonous trees and shrubs.

Finally, the inspector will look at any outbuildings for structural conditions and potential fire hazards.

If you would like a recommendation for an inspection agent or any help with real estate matters, feel free to phone me, Martin Donnelly, on (02) 9605 7777.

On Buying and Renovating

Many people forget that time is money, and this is never truer than in real estate. For instance, if you are buying an investment property and renovating, the sooner you finish the renovations, the sooner you can have your property tenanted and producing cash flow.

One key strategy to speeding up the renovation process is to ask your vendor for permission to enter the property before settlement for the purpose of obtaining tradespeople quotes.

At the same time you can measure up the rooms and make all necessary notes to properly prepare for the renovation. The idea here is to begin renovating the moment settlement occurs. Every day lost subtracts directly from your bottom line.

The next thing to do is to properly schedule your tradespeople. You don't, for example, want the carpet layers in before the painters. Get advice on who should have first access-such as plumbers and electricians-then co-ordinate all your tradespeople accordingly.

Another trick is to give the tradespeople as much advance notice as possible, so they, too, can plan their schedules.

Proper planning can see fully renovated kitchens and bathrooms occur in just over a week.

Another tip is to plan your renovations beforehand and to get an evaluation for both before and after the planned renovation. That way you can better calculate your budget.

If I can be of service in any matters pertaining to real estate, feel free to phone me Martin Donnelly on (02) 9605 7777.

The Signboard Means Business

How many times has an "Auction" or "For Sale" sign on a property caught your attention? Probably often. A well designed board acts like a beacon, alerting all who pass that the home is on the market. So never underestimate the powers of a quality signboard outside your home when you are selling.

Such a sign can alone generate a large number of enquiries and, in many instances, has produced the buyer. Some people are suddenly prompted to buy simply because they see that a property they have admired or that has a position they particularly like is up for sale.

You may think that neighbours in the area will have only a passive curiosity in the board. However, they may well tell friends or relatives looking for a new home, thus broadening the potential market.

While the real estate agent is the best person to advise you on what style the board should take, you can maximise its effect by selecting one that is distinctive. For instance, it could include an enticing headline, details such as land size, the number of bedrooms, the inclusion of a pool, or any other attractive features, and be large enough to attract the possible purchaser's attention.

Along with advertising and the services of an experienced agent who contacts potential buyers, the signboard exposes the sale to as wide a market as possible.

For friendly, expert advice on any real estate matter contact me, Martin Donnelly on (02) 9605 7777.

Buying / Selling - Adjustment of Rates

"Plus or minus adjustments", this phrase often brings a startled look to the face of a purchaser of a property when the matter of cheques to be produced for settlement is discussed.

When the purchaser takes possession of the property, the contract contains a clause whereby the vendor is responsible for the rates up to the date of settlement. If those rates have already been paid in advance by the vendor, at settlement they are adjusted in the vendor's favour and vice versa.

This follows a very simple formula. If, for instance, a year's council rates have been paid for the year ending September 30th and the purchaser of the property settles a month earlier on August 31st, the vendor is entitled to a refund of 30 days' rates. Therefore on the settlement date, August 31st, the amount of the rates of, say $1000, is divided by 365 to give the cost of the rates on a daily basis ($2.13), and then multiplied by 30 (the amount of days that the new owner will benefit by the rates already paid). The resulting amount of $81.90 is added to the purchase price of the property.

Alternatively, for rates in arrears, the vendor would allow the purchaser the pro rata proportion of the unpaid rates. Similar adjustments are made for other outgoings.

These comments are meant to be helpful, but it's always advisable to seek professional help before proceeding. Contact: Martin Donnelly on (02) 9605 7777.

Dunsheas United Realty 17 Oxford Road Ingleburn NSW 2565 Tel: (02) 9605 7777 Fax: 9605 7124

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