The advance in technology and online media has created many new opportunities for real estate professionals to gain an advantage in a highly competitive industry. Ever more present, video presentation is seen as a pivotal tool in showcasing a property’s most salient features and best qualities.
According to Digital Media Manager – Nick Keenan of IMAGEination.tv, there are some simple rules that should be followed prior and during the shoot:
- Ensure the property is de-cluttered as much as possible and remove personalised objects. Hide wires, straighten bookshelves and coordinate furniture to heighten the sense of space. For kitchens, remove obvious appliances and clear benchtops of objects. Soft furnishings should be fluffed and bed sheets straightened. In preparing the outdoors, the same rules apply such as hiding bins, removing cars from driveways and clearing away leaves.
- Agents involved in the shoot must have a thorough knowledge of the property prior to the shoot and understand what angles and rooms will best highlight the home. If necessary have a script prepared, as a natural, flowing presentation will be more likely to influence the audience.
- Pick the right time of day to do the shoot. Be aware of the direction of sunlight, particularly for outdoor scenic shots and be conscious of any noise interruptions that might occur during the video.
- Property styling can reinvigorate interiors. Adding contemporary furniture, artwork and flowers can provide a splash of colour and create a chic modern aesthetic.
Above all, it is important that all parties understand the purpose and objectives of the video and ensure it complements the overall marketing strategy.
Words – Phil Brook I IMAGEination.tv
category: Design, Real Estate, digital media, marketing, online video, video
Give your business a boost by incorporating a few public relations strategies to increase your public awareness allowing you to connect to would be customers in a positive way. Branding is just one part of an overall strategy that you can use to expand your business and get up front and personal with the general public.
Although you may not be able to give large donations to charity, you can do other charitable works. While an interview on a national television network maybe out of the picture you still have the ability to get free editorial with your local newspaper. Remember, if you work for yourself, you are the public face of your business and all you need to do is let the public see that you have heart and want to connect to them in a personal way.
To create a positive public image you need to care about the things in your local community and show passion about things other than your business. The result is that the community will see you as a ‘real’ human being, not just someone out to make as much money as they can.
Personal branding is more about an emotional connection between your service and your customer. It’s the personal touch that matters most to the public and if used correctly you will help your business grow and expand.
Words by Bernadette Marr, IMAGEination.tv
category: Brands, Pesonal Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, marketing
Aaah, summer. School’s out, the roads are eerily empty and the ‘swell’ isn’t just at the beach. Hotel and resort occupancy is at an all-year high over summer, particularly in the Sunshine state, where the Gold Coast – the theme park capital of Australia – becomes a beacon for visitors from interstate and overseas.
Summer is a celebration of many things, but don’t chill the champagne just yet if you’re putting a property on the market. In fact, summer rates a miserable third when it comes to the best season to sell, behind the peak times of spring and autumn. Many potential buyers are away on holiday, Christmas and family commitments tend to take precedence, while those extended daylight hours and lengthy school holidays combine to create a major distraction from the serious business of buying a house.
But summer can be the perfect time to sell if you’ve got the goods. Consider a home that’s close to the beach, has ocean views or beautiful gardens which make the most of the outdoors. These are features that are often at their most appealing during the summer months. A home that’s normally dark and gloomy at any other time of the year might also be more attractive in summer. At the end of the day, a desirable property at a good price will always find the right buyer.
Words by Michael Church, IMAGEination.tv
category: Auctions, Real Estate, marketing
It seems to be commonly accepted that when it comes to real estate, the movements of the market are difficult to accurately evaluate, let alone predict. There have been rumblings in the media recently about the current market being in the buyers’ favour, but is this really the case?
Certainly there is a surplus of properties for sale. But has this actually resulted in a reduction in prices? It many cases it would appear not. Of course, it depends on the popularity of the suburb and the type of properties you’re inspecting.
Many agents are quite open about the fact that their prestige listings have seen significant reductions in price over the past 12 months. There have been reports of some homes dropping as much as three or four million dollars before selling. “Price sensitivity” is one phrase that seems to be thrown about regularly. One prominent Sydney agent put it more bluntly, proclaiming “the upper end is stuffed!”
This statement works both ways though. In other words, properties that are competitively or “fairly” priced are still being promptly snapped up, particularly entry level apartments and first homes. With the world’s population recently hitting seven billion and Sydney remaining an extremely desirable place to live, it is difficult to see this changing in the near future. That said, the potential for another global recession could alter the playing field in new and unpredictable ways.
The lesson in all of this? Research thoroughly, know your price ceiling and don’t bid more on a property than your instinct tells you it’s worth.
By Ed Prescott, IMAGEination.tv
category: Latest trends, Real Estate, Sydney Real Estate
According to economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel, things are looking up for the new housing market this year, with Sydney, south-east Queensland and Perth expected to bounce back after a decline over the last 12 months.
Released last week, the Residential Land Market- Outlook for Demand and Supply, 2011 to 2016 report revealed that new house and land activity slowed in all major markets during the 2010/2011 period. This softening has been attributed to the expiry of the first home owners’ grant, interest rate rises in 2009-10 (and a further rise in November last year), and slowing economic growth throughout the year.
“Following the expiry of the Boost Scheme, first-home buyer demand in 2010/11 was around half that of the stimulus-induced peak of calendar 2009, reflecting the pulling forward of demand to take advantage of the incentive,” senior project manager and report series author, Angie Zigomanis said.
BIS Shrapnel concludes that this should see the residential land market improve nationally over 2011/12, and accelerate further over 2012/13 as economic growth also strengthens.
In contrast, production in Melbourne and Adelaide will continue to weaken, with new dwelling construction in these two major cities having been close to record levels, resulting in a possible oversupply.
By Danielle Ryan, IMAGEination.tv
category: Adelaide Real Estate, Latest trends, Melbourne Real Estate, Perth Real Estate, Real Estate, Sydney Real Estate
‘Somewhere in Sydney’, a unique new exhibition featuring the reworked architectural plans of buildings from a selection of locations around the city, opened in Darlinghurst’s East Village Hotel this week.
Created by Sydney-based artist Marcel Khoury, the mixed medium pieces use as a starting point the architectural drawings of around 15 buildings, which are bonded onto a canvas and then worked over to create an end product that Khoury says he hopes will be creatively and aesthetically interesting, while also providing a unique way to preserve and showcase architectural plans.
“When you’re building a house, the first step would be to produce architectural plans and the last step would be to hang up the art work,” he says. “The whole spirit of the idea is to merge the first step and the last step together.”
Presenting the ideal opportunity to check out one of Sydney’s newest art venues in one of the city’s most historic drinking holes – the pub on the ground floor was frequented by notorious razor gang figures in the 1920s – the exhibition coincides with this week’s launch of the East Village Hotel Dining Room, which is located on the first floor of the building and is billed as an upmarket restaurant experience with a menu designed by head chef Adam Spencer.
The exhibition is expected to run through to the end of the year and the work will be for sale with 10 percent of the proceeds going to Voiceless, a non-profit organisation dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals in Australia. Further details about the exhibition are available on the East Village Website: www.theeastvillage.com.au
category: Architecture, Design, Lifestyle, Real Estate
The development that will rock Melbourne’s waterfront world is now locked into its extravagant 700 million dollar plan to reinvigorate the Docklands precinct.
Melbourne’s newest suburb will receive an expensive makeover set to reveal a new-age redevelopment comprising of four new apartment buildings and a 150-room international hotel amid scenic parklands and harbour views.
In a matter of hitting two birds with one stone, Victorian premier John Brumby is proud to announce that the New Quay Parkland Precinct will generate more than 5,000 jobs over the next eight years.
“Already more than 12,000 people are coming to work at the Docklands every day and by 2020, it will be twice the size of the CBD with as many as 40,000 people working there,” Mr Brumby said.
With stage one of the development well underway, the fringe of Victoria’s prominent harbourside is making the steady transition from a construction site to a vibrant growing community. It will provide 1,000 new homes for a whopping 2,500 Melbourne residents.
As the hype continues to build and the development enters into phase two, it is understood that actual construction of the monumental project will begin towards the end of 2012 and is expected to be completed by 2018.
Article – Katie Taylor
category: Commerical Real Estate, Development, Melbourne Real Estate, Real Estate, marketing
Social media is an important tool for any business wanting to get their message across to the right audience. Astute real estate agencies along with vendors and buyers are increasingly relying on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to market properties in a sometimes frustrating market.
The advantage, like any effective sales program is to reach a wider audience then traditional methods and interact with people that you may not have been able to reach previously.
1. Choose the right tools
To lay a foundation for a social media campaign, identify which social media channels will be most effective for you. To market a home, you could consider: having professional videos taken and uploading it to YouTube, creating an individual Facebook page with great photos or creating a twitter campaign with interesting facts about the home and location.
2. Promote your home
Creating a Facebook page to market an individual house is a strong way to showcase its features. By posting photos and information you can effectively promote your home to hundreds of online users. Remember that a listing passed from one Facebook page to another can generate a great deal of exposure.
3. Lure people in
If there is something unique and exciting about the home you can use that information to create a buzz and get people talking. By creating a conversation you are effectively marketing the home and producing interest that may not have otherwise occurred.
4. It’s always important to have a strategy
Social media is extremely effective when used correctly. Remember that posting too often or repetitively can very quickly turn potential buyers off. So it’s important that you refrain from posting unless there is something truly relevant to write about like specific details, features or changes to the marketing schedule.
category: Real Estate, social media
An inspired heritage offering has stolen the spotlight in the Sydney market; this dramatic residence sits beneath the iconic Macquarie lighthouse and is attracting a unique blend of buyers thrilled by the rare occasion to invest in local maritime history.
What was once two separate lighthouse keeper dwellings have been expertly transformed to mirror the opulence of its remarkable clifftop setting. Celebrated heritage architect Clive Lucas reinvigorated the original four-bedroom cottage with a flawless restoration showcasing refined period details and contemporary flair. The expansive 2600sqm block of land reveals endless potential within the prestigious Vaucluse community.
Ray White Real Estate agent James Hundt believes that the keepers’ cottage provides a premier family address with a selection of indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces that uphold a priceless tribute to its historic setting.
“The buyer will be someone with a true appreciation of the heritage of this property as well as a keen desire to entertain and share this property with guests.” Mr Hundt said.
To obtain your very own piece of eastern suburb heritage, you must of course pay the full-figured price tag and the owners of this immaculate single level residence have their sights set on a sale price of over $8 million.
Words I Katie Taylor I IMAGEination.tv
category: Lifestyle, Real Estate, copy writing, marketing
Although the strength of Australia’s property market may currently appear a little uncertain amid broader fears about the global economy, a recent comprehensive survey has determined that our country is one of the most desirable places to live in the world.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Survey has seen Melbourne claim the title as the world’s most liveable city for the first time in a decade, with Sydney receiving sixth place and Perth and Adelaide coming in at eighth and ninth place. The survey, which examined 140 cities, awarded Melbourne a whopping 97.5%, enough for it to take over the title from previous leader Vancouver.
“Australia, with a low population density and relatively low crime rates, continues to supply some of the world’s most liveable cities,” says Jon Copestake, an Economist Intelligence Unit survey editor.
The scores are assigned based on a variety of socioeconomic factors including political stability, crime, infrastructure, transport, cultural events and more.
So the next time you hear a Melbournite complain that they’re having a bad day, just remind them that in many ways, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Here’s the top 10:
1. Melbourne 97.5%
2. Vienna 97.4%
3. Vancouver 97.3%
4. Toronto 97.2%
5. Calgary 96.6%
6. Sydney 96.1%
7. Helsinki 96%
8. Perth 95.9%
9. Adelaide 95.9%
10. Auckland 95.7%
category: Latest trends, Lifestyle, Real Estate
