Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category

UK Property Market and the 2012 London Olympics - 17 | 07 | 2012

Times are certainly tough in Europe at the moment with the European Union battling to save the euro and deal with the continuing fallout of the GFC. The UK is currently revelling in a momentous year that celebrates the queen’s Diamond Jubilee and will shortly play host to the 2012 Olympic Games. However, with property prices at the lowest levels in recent years, can London and the area’s outside the city expect an upturn in wake of the games or will it be another costly extravaganza leaving behind empty shells only visited by tourists?

Since the 2008 games, China’s magnificent ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium has at times been relegated to a winter amusement park and the $14.4 billion Games in Athens has been cited by some as a source of its crippling financial woes. Certainly not the kind of results London will be hoping for.

“London is still a solid investment,” remarks Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, in an interview with REIT.com. “What is planned for Lee Valley (a previously derelict area developed for athletic training)… is absolutely stunning,” says Liz.  “I think we are going to see a whole new area of London opened up, that this would not have happened if we hadn’t had the Olympics.” While London will always fair well as a great global city, it will take careful economic planning to invigorate the market outside of London, but the two week party will certainly be a welcome diversion from these austere times.

Words by Phil Brook I IMAGEination.tv

category: Real Estate

How to choose a real estate agent - 09 | 04 | 2012

Selling your home can be a stressful time and having the right agent to help you through this often complex process is crucial, according to most real estate online sources. Today much of the information required to begin your research on an agent is readily available on the web with some of the more common methods outlined below:

1. Check an agent’s professional credentials and experience. Review their previous sales, areas of expertise, biographies and current listings.
2. Ask family and friends for referrals. Is there someone they used that they trust and who was committed to them? Did they receive the kind of customer service that went above and beyond their expectations?
3. Interview a selection of agents and ask for an appraisal of your home. Ensure they have a deep level of knowledge in your area and the type of property you are selling. Ask if they can provide references?
4. Agents should be expected to know the sales history of your home and local area data to support their financial recommendations.
5. Take into consideration that the highest appraisal may not be a realistic one and that the lowest commission fee may not actually serve your best interests in the long run.
6. Ask an agent what sort of marketing campaign they intend to employ. Have they got past and present examples?
7. Ensure you understand and check every aspect of an agreement and make sure there are no hidden costs etc…

Before making any important financial decision it is important to consider your own individual circumstances and seek professional advice.

Words by Phil Brook I IMAGEination.tv

category: Real Estate, Real Estate Marketing

Why floorplans should be an essential part of the marketing mix - 23 | 02 | 2012

In such a competitive market it can be difficult to find that marketing edge but can something as simple as a floorplan make all the difference?

In a recent survey of their buyers online habits a leading real estate agency found that one of the simplest and cheapest products on the market, a floorplan, could hold the key to success.

They found that house hunters browsing online, drawn in by the photos on a particular listing, would review the floorplan (if one was available) before even reading the property description.

Buyers reasoned that while the photos whet their appetite for a particular property it was the floorplan that gave them the hard info they desired.

It gave them instant access to the important requirements they sought in a property, for example how big are the rooms, how do the living spaces interconnect, how are the bedrooms laid out, and how big is the yard.

Anecdotally though few agents use floorplans on all their property listings, most use them selectively but a large percentage of agents don’t use floorplans at all. Are they missing out? Buyers trends are suggesting yes.

Are floorplans only useful on websites though? Again, research says no. Where a floorplan is available at open homes, either as a print out or on the back of a double sided brochure, prospective buyers are gathering these up to review at the end of the day.

So imagine a potential buying couple, spending Saturday after Saturday hunting for that perfect property. On a good weekend they may attend upwards of 6-8 properties and by the end of the day they are probably struggling to remember one from the other.

Feedback has indicated that buyers in this position will refer to the floorplans they collected at the open homes, not only to recall details but to start mapping out the potential of the home for example marking out walls on the floorplan for potential removal and renovation.

Floorplans therefore, as simple as they may appear, are proving to be a powerful tool for agents and vendors to hook buyers by giving them the information they require in a easy format.

But if you haven’t used floorplans before there are some tips to learn along the way.

The first would be if you’re going to use a floorplan showing everything. It seems odd to give buyers a beautiful layout of a 5-bedroom family home, but not include a siteplan of the outdoor space and land.

And following close behind, providing a scan of a builders or architects plan might make initial sense, but if an average buyer can’t read what is usually a highly detailed mass of measurements and lines then they’ll give up in frustration and move onto the next listing.

So what should you be aiming for with a floorplan then? Clean, easy to read and understand layouts of the interior spaces matched with a basic overview of the land the property sits on, with a clear measurement scale, north point and room labeling.  Simple!

By Ryan Lahiff I IMAGEination.tv

category: Real Estate, Real Estate Floorplans, floorplans, marketing

Property insight: How to prepare to shoot a great property video - 23 | 01 | 2012

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Get noticed with a personal branding strategy - 13 | 12 | 2011

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

Summer: To sell or not to sell - 09 | 12 | 2011

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

Is Sydney currently a buyers’ market? - 04 | 12 | 2011

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

Improvement imminent in new housing market - 29 | 11 | 2011

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 - 16 | 11 | 2011

‘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

Docklands check-in for a $700 million dollar makeover - 19 | 10 | 2011

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

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