About Business July 2015

real Facts

aDVertisinG Basics

FaMilY law

Blokes aBout town

KEEP AN EYE ON REAL ESTATE TRENDS AND PREDICTIONS

KARA DE SCHOT GIVES HER TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING

SOLICITOR PIPPA COLMAN ON SHARED PARENTING

OUR BLOKES LOOK AT LOCAL TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE

alison pillinG The Sunshine Coast entrepreneur attends one of the most unique business think tanks ever staged

John McGrath THE PROPERTY SHARK The real estate kingpin talks about his multi-billion-dollar self-branded enterprise

P lus

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER CHRIS CLOUT SHOWS US AROUND HIS AWARD-WINNING HOME

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COASTʼS LEADING LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE www.profilemag.com.au

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BUSINESS

JAcK And chris childs

WELCOME to About Business, we’re excited to bring you this month’s issue as we continue to inspire you and reinvigorate your passion for business.

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ometimes the business industry really is like a shark tank, with a group of beady-eyed beings swirling around you, watching your every move. In this issue of About Business, John McGrath from Channel 10’s Shark Tank and CEO of McGrath Estate Agents talks about how he became a business tycoon and even shares some of his top secret tips.

John is one of the most influential figures in the Australian residential property industry, having founded his real estate company from his lounge room in 1989, it is now one of the world’s fastest growing real estate groups, selling over $12 billion of residential property this year.

McGrath Estate Agents now has 66 offices on the Eastern seaboard of Australia, including here on the Sunshine Coast.

This issue, we also speak with Alison Pilling, a local entrepreneur behind one of the country’s largest trade nurseries, who has recently returned from Antarctica, where she attended one of the most unique business think tanks ever staged.

And once again, we bring you Blokes About Town, this month Ingrid Nelson and her guests talk all things real estate on the Sunshine Coast.

Don’t miss our burgeoning Real Estate section, where we bring you interesting feature stories on award-winning designers and builders from across the Coast, as well as the latest facts and advice from the real estate industry to help you make the best decisions when it comes to buying and selling a home.

We hope you enjoy this issue of About Business.

For any enquiries or to be involved in the next About Business magazine email chris@chrischilds.com.au

www.chrischilDs.coM.au

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BUSINESS gerry morris

Breakfast with Ray Martin, lunch with Shane Webcke and dinner with Lisa Wilkinson, sometimes life can be hard … but someone’s got to do it!

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he first half of the year has been a revolving door of inspirational identities here on the Sunshine Coast, as Think Speakers and Events host breakfast, lunch and dinner events with a bevy of high profile speakers including Ray Martin, Shane Webcke and Robyn Moore.

Recently we hosted our second Lunch with a Legend event where local league legend Billy Moore, dual Australian representative for both league and union Michael O’Connor, boxing champ Darren Obah and the fastest local on two wheels and all round top bloke Chris Vermeulen joined us for a panel-style Q&A session at the The Surf Club Mooloolaba.

Last month, founder of Contiki Tours, John Anderson popped by the Coast for a breakfast event where he spoke about how he took £25 and an idea and turned it into a $300m business.

But drum roll please … on 31 July, the one and only Lisa Wilkinson will be joining us for dinner! For more than two decades, Lisa has blazed a trail through the Australian media landscape, first in publishing, then on to radio and television. Lisa’s relaxed and informative presentation style has won her a legion of fans and together with Karl Stefanovic, they have taken the show to new ratings heights since they joined up for the Today show in 2007.

Having set the bar in the first half of 2015, Think Speakers and Events is only getting started, with plenty more stellar speakers in the pipeline.

To whet your appetite of what’s to come, I can announce internationally-known ‘Mr Body Language’ Allan Pease will be joining us in December.

Allan’s keynote addresses, TV shows and advice on personal image are sought after by everyone from business executives and prime ministers, to TV presenters, royalty and rock stars. His sales and communication systems have grown companies from one man bands to multi-nationals.

In the meantime, we are very busy negotiating appearances with some wonderful people for the second half of the year, so watch this space!

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For a full list of events go to www.thinkspeakersandevents.com.au Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all these great events.

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John McGrath

We catch up with the real estate tycoon from Shark Tank to talk all things business.

Blokes aBout About town Town

Th is month our blokes look at trends in real estate This on the Sunshine Coast.

alison pillinG pilling

Th is local entrepreneur talks about her experience This of attending one of the most unique business think tanks ever staged.

Milestones

Brooke Bennett shares some of her biggest life milestones.

Much much More! more!

Don’t miss informative columns and tips from leaders in their fifields elds including advice on keeping a clear head and achieving your goals.

BUSINESS

property shark WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

With an annual residential sales turnover of $10.1 billion for the 2014 financial year, McGrath Estate Agents is spearheaded by its uber-successful CEO, who has combined razor-sharp sales sense with entrepreneurship to turn a lounge-room business model into an enterprise.

John mcgrAth

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e’s the real estate kingpin essentially “monopolising” the Australian property market with his self-branded enterprise. And with all the success of the popular property board game, John McGrath, by all intents and purposes, plays the real estate field with strong business acumen.

John McGrath was already a familiar face for those in the property game as founder and CEO of McGrath Estate Agents, before television appearances on The Block and more recently Channel 10’s Shark Tank made him a household name.

The show sees a parade of hopeful entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of four high-profile, highly successful Australian businesspeople as potential investors – and when it comes to John, they are attempting to impress one of the savviest minds in real estate in the form of an impeccably tailored mogul.

As John’s steely gaze pierces a would-be entrepreneur, the brain behind the success is ticking over, carefully number crunching, always focused on the sales, equity, growth, investment that has attributed to his own success; testing the waters to decide if he’ll invest in something that will sink or swim.

And when the company figures for McGrath Estate Agents alone

reveal a record $1.27 billion sales for the month of March this year from 1237 transactions – and with more than 750 sales people in his business’ network, an enterprise encompassing residential and commercial sales, property management, mortgage broking through Oxygen Home Loans and career training through Total Real Estate Training, and 66 offices, including one on the Sunshine Coast in Buderim, this is one property shark you want to dive into business with.

So, what drives this real estate mogul?

“I’ve come to the office every day for the last three decades just wanting to be better than yesterday,” John says on the day of our phone interview, from his company’s headquarters in Sydney.

John traces the competitive streak that gave him his headstart back to his sporting days, with initial plans to pursue professional football, relying heavily on his impressive athletic prowess while completing studies at Sydney Boys High School.

After finishing school, he was facing an uncertain future after flunking his HSC exams, and sidelined from pursuing what would have been a promising start in football after contracting double lung infections.

“My original goal was to be a professional sports person in rugby league, so I think anyone in elite level or professional sports develops

“I think you need to think big and now is the time in history to be thinking big, you can literally start in your lounge room and have a great idea and through things like the internet and technology you can grow a business far more quickly than you were ever able to in the past.”

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November 2014, McGrath Projects set a new Australian record for an off-the-plan Penthouse apartment sale at “The Pacific”, Bondi Beach for $25 million.

September 2008, new Australian record for a waterfront home in Coolong Road, Vaucluse for $45 million.

October 2007, set new Australian record for a 5-bedroom home, “Tahiti”, in Vaucluse for $29 million.

September 2006, set new Australian apartment record for a 4-bedroom apartment at Walsh Bay for over $16 million.

that high level of competitiveness. I think when I was injured and unable to play sport again I had to take that same application and focus and approach from sport to another world – a world of business,” says John.

When I ask John what his most memorable sale is, he quickly reels off his top two, despite the fact he has dealt with countless figures in his 30-year career, it says something quite poignant about John’s dedication and pride in his career that he can name the year, the address and the selling price of past sales with such ease.

“My first major Australian record sale was a property in Point Piper in Sydney on the harbour which I sold for $11.25 million at 9 Wolseley Crescent in 1989,” he remembers.

“That was an Australian record and I think anyone who sets a record in the suburbs for a country feels pretty special to do that.

So that was probably the one after the first sale in my career that I remember the most.”

That first sale was in 1984, when at 19-years-old, John stepped into the property scene as a then ‘letting clerk’, selling his first property in Paddington, Sydney for $132,000.

“You never forget the first one,” John remembers.

“It took me almost six months to sell it and I thought I’d be out of a job after three months and they sort of hung in there and my boss was patient and I eventually sold one and it escalated pretty quickly after that.”

Prior to this, John was based out of his lounge room, sharing his abode with contracts and real estate papers as he fell into the sharp pace of the property industry.

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BENCHMARK SALES:

“It’s like a lot of small businesses, when you start you haven’t got a lot of cash to fund everything and often your only employee is you and that was definitely the case,” says John.

From the get-go, once John focused on building the foundations of a real estate career, swapping the couch for a desk in a serviced office, he was a force to be reckoned with; in a Steve Jobs/Appleesque sweep, John left his first position in a Sydney real estate agency in 1987, after an unsuccessful equity purchase offer, before returning six months later to buy in as a partner, creating success of his own design.

“I hate overusing metaphors but it feels like climbing a mountain when you look back and go, wow I’ve travelled a long way but when you’re taking it step by step it doesn’t feel like it’s insurmountable or huge steps,” shares John.

John’s impact on the property scene developed rapidly through McGrath Goodhope (1988), McGrath Partners Estate Agents (1991) and finally McGrath Estate Agents (2000) gathering a slew of industry awards, including multiple BRW business accolades, government recognition for business contribution, and corporate awards across the McGrath portfolio.

He has penned three business advice books in addition to appearing on the Shark Tank, which is off the back of appearances on The Block over the past decade as resident real estate expert.

“It’s funny because I don’t see myself in media … because my day job, my real job is real estate,” says John.

“Of his experience as a ‘Shark’, John shares, “I loved taping the first season, it was fascinating. Although it is a demand on your time, you have to become more efficient at what you do.

“We spent a month last year taping Shark Tank, so a month out of your core business is always a significant amount of time but it exposes the brand to a lot of new markets and that was one of the incentives for me.

“And Shark Tank has exposed me to a whole lot of different sectors … which is very exciting because I have been very focused in the past 20 to 30 years on the real estate space, compared to what is happening in other businesses.”

John’s latest domain is tapping into the digital sphere, since joining with Apple in 2007 to develop Australia’s first search criteria-based real estate podcast to send specific properties to buyer’s iPods, as well as dominate the real estate print publication medium with lifestyle and property-focused McGrath Magazine.

“We’re a big mobile industry, we would probably be one of the biggest users of mobile technology across Australia,” says John.

“We can now list a property in Bulimba in the morning and get an enquiry from Dubai in the afternoon and that’s the exciting part of our business, that there’s a lot of interest in the Australian property market from offshore buyers nowadays, and the internet is allowing them safely and with confidence to make a lot of purchases.”

The DNA of the real estate business, John admits, is focused on constant approval from the people who list, buy and sell from the competitive ranks of salesmen and women. And according to John, it takes something BIG to stand out; advice from a shark who knows what it takes to get to the top of the corporate food chain.

“I think you need to think big and now is the time in history to be thinking big, you can literally start in your lounge room and have a great idea and through things like the internet and technology you can grow a business far more quickly than you were ever able to in the past,” he says.

“I think the expectations of the consumers are greater than they’ve ever been, so you need to no longer be a good business, you need to be a great business ... the great businesses are really starting to dominate the space.

“The exciting thing is it’s easy to get going, the challenging thing is you’ve got to be better than you ever have in history to be better

BUSINESS the cAst oF shArK tAnK (l-r) steVe bAXter, JAnine Allis, AndreW bAnKs, nAomi simson And John mcgrAth

nowadays. It’s a competitive business landscape out there so anyone who has created a business and had sustainable success is working on that business every day.”

“Key ingredients are always quality people. I think no matter what your structure or the size of your business, whether you’ve got one employee or a thousand, you need to have the highest quality people who are passionate about what they do,” shares John.

“We have a fairly flat structure, we don’t operate on a huge hierarchy, we only have a few levels of management across our team of 1500. I think it’s important for managers to be as close to as many employees as they can.”

“You need to be looking at investing in Queensland, because in my view that’s going to be the next growth market within Australia.”

John ranks his team and the structure of the company as two of the key three points he utilises for his brand’s success, with the third being the incentivised remuneration packages and commission that drives the industry.

And to hone that competitive edge as well as pay homage to his love of sport, John sits on the board of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team.

“That’s a great joy, it has allowed me to keep very close to the world of football and NRL while focused on my own business,” he shares.

“It’s good because we get to help a lot of the young players … you get the opportunity to mentor some of them through this exciting time of their life and a lot of them are looking at investing in property and homes with their family so as a real estate company we often get the opportunity to help them find a home.

“So I am able to mix a few of my passions now of football, mentoring and real estate.”

As we conclude the interview, with the news McGrath Estate Agents is set to open a new office in Noosa this month, John shares his predictions for our state market.

“I think the immediate future for Queensland is very positive. I’ll just give you the example, in Sydney we’ve seen around about a 40 per cent increase in prices over the last three years and yet in southeast Queensland, and Queensland in general we’ve seen very little price growth.

“I think that really suggests to me and a lot of other investors or people in the real estate space you need to be looking at investing in Queensland, because in my view that’s going to be the next growth market within Australia.

“That has started already in Brisbane, I think you will see the Gold Coast and the Sunny Coast be the next areas that get the halo effect … we’ve got offices in Toowoomba and Townsville and now Rockhampton so part of the reason we are opening and moving into those areas is we think the real estate market has a terrific future in those coastal regions and major regions as well.

“Noosa was always going to be an easy choice for us because there’s a huge Sydney and Melbourne population that invests and frequents Noosa so there’s a ready-made relationship with our brand from New South Wales.

“It is one of the important markets on the east coast of Australia, it’s got some of the best luxury and general real estate,” John adds, sharing that he travels every few weeks to south-east Queensland to visit his many regional offices.

“From a lifestyle perspective we want to be in places where we would love to live … and where there is a strong investment case for the future.”

And what better advice coming from someone who swims with sharks and has a winning streak when it comes to the roll of the property game dice.

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pippa colMan SOLICITOR Pippa Colman & Associates Solicitors

BEWARE THE CHILD WHO DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE

the ‘fun’ parent

With each school holiday period, comes an increased number of enquiries from separated parents, about the child’s wishes and wants after having time with their contact parent. Shared parenting can be difficult at the best of times, without school holiday periods adding to the pressure.

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he contact parent is generally the one who has less time with the child or children on a week-by-week basis, but tends to have more block periods of care during school holidays.

During school holiday periods, the children usually spend time with the contact parent participating in fun activities that they may not experience with the primary carer. There is also the fact that the contact parent hasn’t had to maintain the daily routine of getting them ready for school and checking that all the homework has been completed. Instead they may get to stay up a bit later as they don’t need to get up early for school. They may also spend more time playing with their friends who are also on holidays. Some may even get to go away for their holidays to another city or place and experience a whole range of fun things that they normally don’t do.

So it is not surprising that at the end of the holidays, the children express their wish to remain with the contact parent and not return back to their primary carer.

They might even say that they want to live permanently with the contact parent. And who wouldn’t want to live with the parent who seems to be less strict and less rules and

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“The difficulty is the contact parent feels as if the child really does want to live with them for genuine reasons ...” who doesn’t nag them about homework and chores. Who wouldn’t want to be known as the “fun” parent?

The difficulty is the contact parent feels as if the child really does want to live with them for genuine reasons. And this may be the case in some matters. The reality for many is that they have not properly thought through what they are expressing and why they feel that way at the time.

In the event that you find yourself in this situation, ask yourself – do you believe that your child or children genuinely want to live with you for reasons other than the “funtastic” time they have just had with you? You also need to keep in mind that the prevailing factor in all children’s matters is what is in the child’s best interests.

If you believe the answer to be yes, then get some advice before you take any action.

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Sunshine Coast Family Law Solicitors DIVORCE & SEPARATION PROPERTY SETTLEMENT CHILDREN & PARENTING RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILLS & ESTATES

working together P. 07 5458 9000 E. reception@pippacolman.com 12/64 Sugar Road, Maroochydore Qld 4558 www.pippacolman.com

BUSINESS JAcK childs

JAson mills

dAn PerrymAn

berni WeissKAmP

grAnt smith

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS WADE FUGE

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Ingrid Nelson catches up with the real estate gurus of the Sunshine Coast who share their top tips and advice on all things property and investment.

he Sunshine Coast has come a long way in the past few years and the growth is set to continue. Not only are we lucky enough to enjoy an idyllic, laid-back lifestyle, we are also fast becoming the envy of other states as a string of recent major developments make us one of the most exciting locations for investment and employment growth in Australia.

You only have to pop into the recently redeveloped Big Top Market Fresh or grab a bite to eat along the rejuvenated Ocean Street to feel the exciting new vibe on the Sunny Coast.

Other developments such as the major overhaul of the Maroochydore CBD, the multi billion dollar medical precinct in Birtinya and the proposed Sunshine Coast Airport are key economic drivers, boosting job growth and residential development.

I recently caught up with some of the key players in the real estate game on the Sunshine Coast to discover their predictions on what we can expect in the industry over the next year or two.

Co hosting the lunch was Gerry Morris of Think Speakers and Events; owner of Think Investment Realty, Jack Childs; Dan Perryman, property specialist with Think Investment Realty; Bernie Weisskamp, sales consultant with Integrale Homes; owner of Century21 Buderim, Grant Smith and Jason Mills, sales manager with Ray White Maroochydore.

WHAT DIRECTION CAN YOU SEE THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY HEADING ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 MONTHS? grant: I think we are going to see some good consistency in the market.

With interest rates so low, you have never been able to buy money

as cheap as you can right now. It is a great opportunity to purchase something as an investment or renovator. It’s never been more affordable. Being able to lock in interest rates at 4.35 per cent for up to five years is incredible. Now is the opportunity to secure and hold, particularly in that higher end as there hasn’t been that spurt yet. The houses in the $400,000 to $600,000 bracket have almost exceeded their bottom mark. I have seen some properties in the last 12 to 18 months fetching five to 10 per cent more than what they were purchased at 12 months earlier without any capital improvement. So there is some strong activity. jack: I think we are going to see a lot more growth on the Sunshine Coast. The problem is you can’t get land. We get people all the time looking to buy house and land packages on the Coast but they are in scarce supply. The big market here for investors on the Coast is to find odd blocks of land at Maroochydore or Mooloolaba that you can split in two rather than buy in the bigger estates with smaller blocks. jason: I focus heavily on what’s going on around the CBD. It’s been interesting to watch the trend as it’s happened. People have fresh confidence with the new developments. berni: From a building point of view, we are really busy. We are like the Florida of Australia on the Sunshine Coast so we have lots of people retiring and having a sea change. As Jack says though, land is gone as soon as it’s available.

WHAT AREA DO YOU THINK IS NEXT TO SEE A BIG BOOM IN GROWTH? grant: It’s a question we are asked all the time. I think you have to have confidence in the area you are buying. I have friends who are agents

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on the Gold Coast, interstate and Brisbane, they could pick up the phone and sell me a property they say is a bargain, but I wouldn’t know whether it is or not. Everything I own is on the Sunshine Coast. I have new homes, renovated property, duplexes, commercial properties, but they are all in a market I know. I could tell you what is a great buy in Buderim, Mountain Creek and Sippy Downs but could I do the same thing in Caloundra or Coolum? No. You must do your research and go with someone you absolutely trust. For example, I bought my duplex in Caloundra through an agent who is a good friend. He called me and said ‘don’t even drive down here, sign the contract now’, so I did. The first time I saw them was at a building and pest and they are probably one of my best performing investments. dan: One of the important facts we talk about is diversification. We don’t like to talk about one single market or just investing in our own backyard. Regarding the Sunshine Coast, I think you have to look at a number of factors that are going to set the Coast off for the next 18 months. Bernie and Jack mentioned some such as low interest rates land shortages, the other factors are the major infrastructures, one being the hospital. It has gone from a case of people leaving the Coast to get jobs in Brisbane or the mines to people coming back to work in construction or services. In 2013 we had 20 per cent of Queensland’s job growth.

Plaza was called the Sands and the whole corridor was a garden where the goannas lived.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING OF BUYING OR INVESTING ON THE SUNSHINE COAST? grant: It is a great time to jump in and buy something and hold on to it. There is so much property on the Sunshine Coast now that is positively geared. Buy into a good market or buy something low maintenance. Just get into the market. jack: Think about buying new. Buying the old homes are ok for people who know what they are doing. A lot of people don’t.

When my wife Chris and I started investing in property we bought and renovated all the time but you have to do your sums and keep to a certain budget. We find, particularly for investors, new is so much better. They get all the depreciation, they have six-and-a-half-year warranty, no maintenance costs and of course when it goes on the market to rent everyone loves to rent a new house so it’s easy to get a tenant. grant: I bought my first home in 2009 and went totally overboard (as I do) on the renovation and now six years later I am probably just at a point where I will get my money back. That’s my lesson learnt.

Not that the reno was a bad idea but my taste in the value of the renovation exceeded the value of the property! jason: The investors are still there for sure because of interest rates and affordability.

There is more money to be made in property than putting it in the bank.

“With any benefits and features around your area, your QUALITY of life improves and people are happy to PAY for that.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECTS OF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF OCEAN STREET? jason: The vibe about the area has changed people’s perception. You can walk down Ocean Street and have your pick of what you want.

We didn’t have that before. People in the area have access to fresh fruit and veg markets and cafes and restaurants right on their doorstep.

With any benefits and features around your area, your quality of life improves and people are happy to pay for that. The Big Top has been one of the most popular developments.

People really wanted to see something good come from it. It was a bit of a white elephant and they have done such a great job with its revamp. jack: I remember coming on holidays as a kid when it was first built and how excited Mum was to take us to this “you beaut” shopping centre. grant: I remember the goannas at the Sands.

The shopping centre previous to the Sunshine

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT WISE THAT WOULD HELP SALES FURTHER ON THE SUNSHINE COAST? jason: Balance. The Coast is popular because of its laid back lifestyle. You don’t have a high rise on every single corner. But people are going to keep coming and we are going to have to keep creating jobs, so you have to have that balance between the Coastal lifestyle and still have growth. I can see the argument both ways. You can see why the locals don’t want too much growth, but we still have to make sure we allow developments to create jobs. jack: I think we have the mix pretty much right at the moment. It would be good to see another industry that will create jobs.

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BUSINESS

KARA DE SCHOT GENERAL MANAGER PROFILE MAGAZINE

THE TOP 10 TIPS

for successful advertising Today there are millions of businesses striving to become successful. They may be the best in their field but if no one has heard of them they can fail. A good advertising strategy can make your business soar, if executed correctly. Kara shares her tips for advertsing and how to give your business the best chance to succeed in today’s competitive market. The following is from Kara’s book Advertising Basics - an easy to follow guide on advertising.

01

Hone your campaign for your audience

Gear your advertising campaign toward your target market.

Don’t try to cover the whole audience – you will end up attracting no-one. Make your ads speak to them on a personal level, know what grabs their attention.

02

SPEND!

Remember you have to spend money to make money. The more you spend on advertising the more you will make in sales, if you advertise in the right place. If you spend very little but expect fast results, you will be disappointed.

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03

Advertise where your customers will see it

Do some research and place your adverts in the mediums that your target demographic interact with regularly. If you want to advertise in a magazine, which magazine specifically are they reading? Or maybe you’re considering radio? If so – which station?

04

Unique Selling Proposition

You need to convey your Unique Selling Proposition (what makes you different), in your advertising. Your customer needs to know why they should go to you rather than the guy down the road. What are you going to give them that the other company won’t?

05

Advertise before you run out of customers

Many small business owners say they can’t afford to advertise because sales are down. Likewise many businesses say they are too busy they don’t need more customers. You need to think ahead about how you are going to keep the sales going! If you are making money think about advertising, not for sales now, but for your future pipeline of income.

06

DIVERSIFY!

Remember within your target demographic there are subsets: people who prefer magazines, people who like to dabble in social media, people who prefer radio.

So it is wise to choose a few avenues to spend your advertising dollar on. That way you dominate the market for your particular service or product. It takes at least three to seven sightings for your customer to actually buy from you, so the more places they see your brand, the better!

07

Be interesting

People don’t read ads, they read what interests them.

So create an ad that your target demographic will find interesting enough to read, and better yet, tell someone else about.

08

Keep it simple

Don’t overwhelm people with information. Keep it as simple as possible while getting the necessary information across to the viewer. Don’t use every bit of white space because you can. Leave some breathing room so people can digest your message. Keep in mind a picture says a thousand words.

09

Improve and evolve

Keep testing and measuring your return on investment with a spreadsheet. After a few adverts have run you need to assess their effectiveness and make subtle changes. Test whether there is any difference in response. Over the years you need to keep testing, evolving and improving your advertising campaigns.

10

Create a great ad, then repeat

If you choose the correct advertising medium and you get your advert right, the leads will come. You must also have repetition of your message. Because people need to be exposed to your brand at least three to seven times before they will recognise your brand and take action, make sure they keep seeing it and each time recognise it as the same company advertising.

Looking for more advertising and marketing advice?

Contact generalmanager@profilemag.com.au

11 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BUSINESS Alison Pilling

the unstoppables WORDS CARLY REES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

S

There aren’t many business conferences where sleeping in sub-zero conditions on the ice in Antarctica is a part of the itinerary, but for this Coast businesswoman it was an opportunity of a lifetime leading her to a new career path. Carly Rees explores Alison Pilling’s journey from the unknown in Antarctica to building business back on the Sunshine Coast.

urrounded by a blanket of white and giant aluminous icebergs beaming across the horizon, Alison Pilling never expected to be standing there at this point of her life, even in her wildest dreams. The environment was breathtaking in this untouched part of the world where she hoped to unleash her mind and find her next entrepreneurial path back home on the Sunshine Coast.

Alison was on a business venture in the most southern part of the world, in Antarctica, with 106 Australian and New Zealand entrepreneurs known as the Unstoppables. The venture was the project of inspiring wealth businessman Julio De Laffitte and was designed to create new business with an aim to solve some of the country’s big problems. And where else is better than this remote part of the world to focus on the mission at hand in complete isolation to unlock inspiration.

“When you are in a place like Antarctica it is amazing and you are just in awe of it,” says Alison. “It was just a privilege to be there, where it was untouched by humans and we could really tap into what we needed to do.”

For the local business owner it was an obvious choice, after 26 years experience building a financially viable business, ePlants Wholesale Nursery, with her husband – she had another business idea in store. From the Unstoppables trip, 98 new businesses were formed including Alison’s, which endeavours to increase the financial literacy of the younger generation.

“I was really concerned about the rising rate of poverty, an estimated 2.5 million Australians are living below the international accepted poverty line,” explains Alison. “Also the growing trend that our children are staying home longer, well into their 20s, I believe has put financial pressure on our families.

“I have three children of my own as well, a 20-year-old, an 18-yearold and a 13-year-old and I have built them up to value themselves

and to value their money.”

Any challenge in business doesn’t seem to be a great feat for Alison after she braved the tradition of jumping off the ship, past the Antarctic circle, into water that would take human life after five minutes and camped on the ice in freezing conditions for a week.

These experiences and the memories of the bitter cold, seals floating on ice in the middle of nowhere and going to sleep to the sound of whales blowing water and ice cracking will never leave Alison.

“It was just about being present and really taking it in, it was really a life changing experience for me,” says Alison.

“Seven nights in Antarctica was enough time for me, but in saying that I was the last one off the boat and I make a joke they had to look in the cupboards to find me because I didn’t want to leave, you think, ‘Wow, will I ever come back here’.”

Being among great entrepreneurial minds allowed Alison to unleash her full potential both mentally and physically. She will never forget the abilities of men and women who have grown their businesses to successful empires all together at once, especially their positivity and ‘never give up’ attitude when they couldn’t get to Antarctica due to weather, at the beginning.

The idea of the trip was born from a business function led by politicians who believed the best solution to help Queensland’s debt crisis was to sell the state’s assets. Julio disagreed and other businessmen and women alike who believed new business supporting humanity and the environment to boost the economy was the only answer.

From this, bright up-and-coming entrepreneurs and investors joined together with a goal to generate $1 billion worth of business over the next five years to solve critical issues in Australia. Alison’s plan to support youth in their financial endeavours is an important new business in this venture.

“It was great that I got to bounce my ideas and what I was about, to

12 | ABOUTBUSINESS

gained a “clarity of purpose” to help youth in finance on the Sunshine Coast, Australia and all over the world.

At the same time as her daughter was at Schoolies on the Gold Coast, a 17-year-old girl fell to her death from the room above her daughter. Alison made a promise to herself that night “this would be life-changing for me because it (the news) felt like a knife”.

From the moment Alison returned from her trip earlier this year she started writing a book to help her business titled, How to Get Your Teens off your Payroll, which will be launched this year. She is also working on a number of programs around the topic, which she hopes to present to students in schools to get them excited and interested about learning about their financial future.

“That is the clincher for me, I have been sitting back and working in this business (ePlants) that we (her husband and her) started from nothing and now it is my time to step back and leverage myself so I am free to create this new business and it feels amazing to help people,” says Alison.

“I am helping people everywhere and it’s not just the young ones, it is the 20-year-olds and the emails and texts from them asking for help – that is what it is about for me.”

Common financial issues for youth Credit card debt: It can snowball into a very big debt

Buying their first car: Taking out big loans to buy a depreciable asset Phone bills: Missing payments on a $20 plan in teenage years can affect home loans in their 20s

“We all have a real MISSION to make a difference to HUMANITY or the planet in some way.”

Alison’s top tips in business

• Be true to yourself and do what you love • Give first and then you receive • Set goals and create vision boards

13 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BUSINESS

people who are successful in business and were on the same mission as I am,” says Alison.

“We all have a real mission to make a difference to humanity or the planet in some way. I have grown a lot in confidence because I had people saying it (her new business) was a great idea that needed to be put out there.”

As a child, Alison was always interested in building a secure future and getting the most out of her money, so it was no surprise she found her way into an accounting degree and a career in finance.

Although she moved into business with ePlants, she found herself always helping the younger generation at the workplace on planning ahead for their financial security into the future.

“If I talk to my kids, I say you are here for a reason, you are a genius, what is it that you truly love, because you can be paid to do what you love,” says Alison. “It’s not about the gold watch these days, the youth are so flamboyant and tech savvy and I think they will just be chopping and changing and learning their lessons and moving on once they find their path.

“It is a world of opportunity out there.”

It wasn’t until she had a defining moment in Antarctica, with American success coach Dave Martin, that she moved forward and

MILESTONES

A LEAP OF

faith PHOTOS REBECCA SMITH

When Brooke Bennett was in Year 12 at Mountain Creek State High School, she was offered a traineeship interview with Centre Management at Kawana Shoppingworld – unbeknownst to her it was the beginning of a vibrant career.

“T

o be honest, I had no idea what a centre management was,” she admits. “I thought the shopping centre ran itself and when I was told about the interview my first response was, ‘Which shop is that?’ But I was successful with my interview and employed two afternoons a week as an Office Admin Trainee.”

At the end of the year, Brooke was offered a role as the ‘Car Park Counter’ for the month of December.

“We were, at the time, preparing a development application and as part of that, we had to count the number of free car parks in the car park each day,” she says. “I was assigned to walking the car park on the hour, every hour for seven hours a day, marking on a map all the vacant car parks. By the end of it, I had a great tan and was really fit!”

Having proved her worth, Brooke was offered a full time position as a Receptionist/Admin Assistant and moved ahead in leaps and bounds – later being promoted to Promotions Coordinator, then Marketing Manager. She has recently resigned from Kawana Shopping World after 14 years and has a brand new role as Marketing and Promotions Director role at 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM. We caught up with Brooke to share her life’s milestones that have shaped her life and career so far.

Life changing milestone 1: Being offered the job as Marketing Manager of Kawana Shoppingworld After two consecutive years of the centre being without a Marketing Manager for six to eight week periods, I decided to put my hand up for the role. I knew I was ready for the challenge and I had the support of the team at Kawana. This is essentially where my career started and my passion for marketing grew even stronger as I learnt the role of the Marketing Manager of a sub-regional shopping centre.

I loved the interaction with retailers, the different promotions and events, as well as the involvement a centre had with the community.

Life changing milestone 2: Getting married and having a baby I have always been the girl who grew up wanting to get married.

I dreamed of the white dress, the love of family, the honeymoon, everything to do with weddings, so was thrilled when in December 2009, my now-husband Jamie, proposed to me on Christmas Day. We experienced an incredible honeymoon in Canada and New York and unbeknown to us at the time, our journey was just starting, as the day after we arrived home, we discovered we were pregnant! My most favourite little person in the world arrived three days before my birthday on 17 April, 2012, a day I will never forget. Jamie and

brooKe bennett

I were blessed with a son who we called Jackson and he now remains the absolute light of our lives.

Life changing milestone 3: Launching my own magazine I’ve always had a passion for weddings and I felt like I wanted to do something outside of work that fed my passion. I came up with the idea of a free wedding magazine for the Sunshine Coast. I spent a year researching the idea, and in December 2013, launched the first edition of Eternity. It’s a hobby outside of work as my work is my priority, but I love having that little something extra to pour my creative vibes into.

Life changing milestone 4: Winning the professional Business Woman of the Year award I was first nominated for the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network’s Business Woman Awards in 2011 and made it to the finalist stage, which was a privilege in itself. I couldn’t attend the awards night that year as I was on my honeymoon. I was surprised to be nominated once again in 2014 and went through the process, only to be announced as a finalist again.

I was up against some incredible women and remember standing to the side of the stage when my name was called out and just being in absolute shock. This was what I needed to realise that I am good at what I do and I have achieved some great things through my career.

Life changing milestone 5: Starting my new career with 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM In December 2014, I saw an ad in the paper for the Marketing and Promotions Director role at 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM. I had known the team at the station for years as I had been a client and when I saw the ad something came over me. Within two weeks, I was offered the job and ready to resign from Kawana Shoppingworld. After almost 14 years at Kawana, it was time to move on. I had done all I could there, won numerous marketing awards, a massive redevelopment ... it was time. But that didn’t make it easy! I cried my eyes out the week before I left. But, I love my new career, the role, the team I work with, it’s fun, vibrant, challenging and the perfect move I needed at the perfect time.

14 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BUSINESS FIONA ROBERTS ALL ABOUT AWESOME

ALL ABOUT AWESOME:

getting clear

When you’re in the midst of a busy week at work, sometimes it can be difficult to keep a clear head and focus on what’s important. Here are three helpful things to keep in mind and help keep you on track to achieve what you want.

I

’ve met a lot of people in business who are fantastic at what they do, but they don’t seem to be doing the one thing that they are in business for – making money. There’s a lot of talk about doing what you love and never working a day in your life (don’t get me wrong, I’m all for that!) but interspersed with your passion, needs to be a healthy dose of ‘down to earth’ and focus.

So, here’s three ways I stay clear: Ask yourself the hard questions, and keep asking them: What do you want? Why do you want that? What are you NOT changing that is stopping you? Where are you NOT moving outside of your comfort zone? Each of these questions will reveal multiple layers, so you will need to ask these questions over and over to truly drill down and reveal meaningful answers. Consider keeping a journal, and revisit your answers once you have made some progress and are ready to move to the next level.

Write a list, and tick it off: You’ve got your answers now, all you have to do is break it down into bite-sized steps. This process will refine your

answers and give you a further degree of clarity, ensuring your focus is crystal clear. If you get stuck, look at that – why is it hard to move through that particular point? Is this a point you falter at regularly?

Revisit daily. I have a daily list of successes, outstanding items and priorities. This inspires personal accountability. I understand that there’s never enough time to do everything, but there’s always time to do the important things. So at the end of each day, I email myself a short list of where I have succeeded (this is SUPER important – otherwise we can become bogged down in what we still have to do and we forget to celebrate our wins), what I have outstanding and of those outstanding items, what my top priorities are. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, and sometimes – we just need to get out of our own way. Getting clear is the first step. We all want to achieve a million things, but if we aren’t clear on what those things are, it will never happen.

Remember, there’s no reason you need to go through this alone, so do join in the conversation at www.allaboutawesome.com.au. I’d love to hear about your goals, challenges and successes.

“Ask for what you want, and be prepared to get it.” ~ Maya Angelo

15 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BRIEFCASE

WORDS NICOLE FUGE AND ANNA RAWLINGS

S

MELISSA PARK

ALICE-ROSE MCINTOSH

Studio Collective Location: Maroochydore

Spoilt Skin Location: Marcoola

tarting a new business can be a daunting task, but Melissa Park made sure she was well prepared, had a clear path of what she wanted to achieve and how she was going to get there.

“Make sure you surround yourself with people who support you,” she says.

Melissa grew up on the Coast and in 2008, completed a Bachelor of Business (marketing and management) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She then enjoyed some time travelling and living in Brisbane, Canada and Melbourne.

Upon her return to the Coast, Melissa began working in sales and marketing for a local curtain manufacturer.

“This really sparked my passion for the industry and I’ve always loved working with customers directly so I thought a retail environment would be perfect for me!”

“Surround yourself with people who support you.”

Drawing on her background in marketing and office management, Melissa teamed up with business partner and interior designer Casey Drummond late last year, “the blend of our skills is a perfect match”.

Melissa and Casey founded Studio Collective, an interior design studio in Maroochydore.

“We work with builders and developers on their commercial projects as well as with residential clients on their new or existing homes,” says Melissa.

“We want to build a reputation with our clients as being approachable, creative and good value for money. Our goal is to grow our business organically through being great at what we do and building long-term relationships with our clients.

Eventually we would love to have offices in major cities like Brisbane and Melbourne.”

M

eet one half of the bubbly mother-and-daughter dynamic of Spoilt Skin beauty clinic in Marcoola – Alice-Rose McIntosh. Since joining her mum, Angela in the clinic three years ago while still at school, Alice has worked her way through extensive studies in retail services, and a one-year course to graduate with a Diploma of Beauty Therapy with the accolade of ‘best practical student’ in her class.

“I have a real passion for it – working with my hands, seeing the difference I can make, those before and afters,” says Alice.

“I enjoy meeting people and talking with the customers, it’s fantastic.

It’s great working with mum – we are a team and it’s always positive.”

“I have a real passion for it – working with my hands, seeing the diff erence I can make ...”

With a passion for knowledge, Alice is currently studying to attain Dermalogica expert status through the company. To successfully reach this level, she has to complete 30 masterclasses.

“As the head person here that is involved in becoming an expert, I can give the best advice on the products,” she smiles.

“The training has been really educational, I’ve learned a lot. It’s pretty rewarding and it helps me when it comes to helping my clients achieve great results with their skin.” This constant training is accompanied by attending beauty expos, classes and a congress meet scheduled in August through Dermalogica.

“It allows us to know what is going on worldwide with the beauty industry,” says Alice. “Here on the Sunshine Coast, we are slowly getting up with the times, there is definitely a lot more technology involved with the facials and a lot more cosmetic surgery.”

Alice shares the main concern they see with local clients is sun damage, as well as eyebrow shaping and anti-ageing, and in future, she plans to increase her knowledge with introducing cutting-edge services and technology. In the meantime, she will continue to learn from her mentor.

“It’s rewarding to get knowledge from Mum, she’s had about 15 years in the beauty industry, so I can learn from her, and she can guide me as well.”

16 | ABOUTBUSINESS

REAL ESTATE designer home by chris clout design

inside27

18

life storey

Chris Clout shows us around his awardwinning home

lifestyle change in retirement

Tanya Mungomery looks at the pros and cons of housing options

17 | ABOUTBUSINESS

28

the good inspector

Mark Rowlingson gives an insight into the life of a building and pest inspector

REAL ESTATE

lifestorey WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONTRIBUTED

Beginning his career as an apprentice carpenter, Chris Clout’s work has evolved into beautiful awardwinning designs, transcending the boundaries of conventional carpentry. But at the core of his designs is a humble philosophy centered on the important values of functional family life and living.

F

rom the first floor of his two-storey cubby house, a six-yearold Chris Clout hunches over to check out his handiwork.

The design is complete with support posts, framework, bracing, ladders and a solid roof over the second storey, which I’d bet provided a pretty decent view over the neighbourhood at Jervis Bay, New South Wales, where Chris grew up.

“That’s one of many cubbies, there was one every week for years,” he says with fond recollection. “They were always pretty out there…I had quite elaborate ones, the council was going past one day and said, ‘have you got approval for this near the power lines?’

“We were building pools and water slides, my dad was a builder and he had job sites all around, so we always had heaps of timber.”

A lot of kids build cubby houses, but most designs are limited to a couple of chairs with an old sheet strewn over the top – at best, the most lavish self-built cubbies are a couple of planks of wood nailed between a few sturdy branches. So it’s fair to say Chris was in a league of his own from an early age.

“I grew up in a family full of builders and designers,” explains Chris. “When I was 16, Mum and Dad bought a beach house and over the years we kept renovating and adding to it and Dad used to let me design it.”

Chris laments he hated English at school, but was good at woodwork, maths and art, so carpentry seemed like a good fit and a starting point for a burgeoning career.

“Since I was a little kid, I wanted to play with hammers on Dad’s job site. We were always living in houses that we were renovating, I was surrounded by it, so I did a carpentry apprenticeship.”

Chris completed half of his apprenticeship in Jervis Bay and the remainder here on the Sunshine Coast, which proved to be confusing, as both states had different building codes and regulations.

Chris went on to work for his Uncle Paul while completing a TAFE course, but he was well advanced and fast-tracked his career.

He worked for his uncle for four years and says many of his designs went on to win awards.

“Since I was a little kid, I wanted to play with hammers on Dad’s job site, we were always living in houses that we were renovating, I was surrounded by it, so I did a carpentry apprenticeship.”

A chris clout home

18 | ABOUTBUSINESS

“During my time with him, there was a property boom here, it was a good time,” he says. “I got to design, not just muck around with doing drafting and details ... what I designed had never really been built before, it’s always new.”

Chris was 25-years-of-age when he started his own business as a residential building designer and immediately started winning awards. In his first year of business, he won the prestigious Building Designers Association of Australia, National Design Excellence Award, 2009.

“I started building cubbies when I was a kid and now I’m working on $6 million houses – which are like big cubby houses for big adults and all their toys!”

Most recently, Chris Clout Design entered four projects into the Sunshine Coast Design Awards and came out trumps, winning Best Residential Interiors; Best New Home Over $2M; Best New Home $750 to $1M; and Best Multi Residential up to 6 units.

But one of Chris’s most prized designs is his home at Sunshine Beach, aptly named the Cubby House, which he and his wife Dani have put on the market, to make way for their next exciting venture.

The Asian-inspired four-bedroom, two-level home has taken out seven awards, including the 2014 Best Alteration/Addition in Residential Design at the National NABD Design Awards.

“We bought over 10 years ago now, over the years we were going to do a duplex and units but the economy slowed down, so we’ve kept renovating it to a point where it’s finished,” he says. “I want to dream bigger and go bigger.”

Much of Chris’s inspiration comes from resorts in Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand, as well as South African architecture.

“Sometimes I do best when I don’t look at anything else and get inspired too much,” he says.

“I spent a lot of years spending money and staying in the best hotels and experiencing different bathrooms and kitchens, you see the positives and the negatives.

“Travelling was one big thing for inspiration ... the place where we got married in Bali three years ago, it is an interesting place, with a very mixed multicultural atmosphere, that place is pretty special.”

Having worked tirelessly – quite often until 1am most days, to build a reputation of quality, Chris is now in a position to “pick and choose” the good jobs.

“That’s taken a while, but I’m getting to design houses with no budget and they’re quite upmarket, luxury houses, so you can be rewarded with your pay check, but also in being able to have a bit of freedom.”

Having just welcomed his second child into the world, Chris is growing and nurturing his business in line with his family values.

If the foundation is anything to go by, the next chapter in his life ‘storey’ is sure to be an exciting one.

chris clout And his FAmily

chris’s originAl cubby house

19 | ABOUTBUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

JASON JAEGER HENZELLS AGENCY JJAEGER@HENZELLS.COM.AU

CONFUSED ABOUT SELLING? These two things are all you need to know

A

The process of selling your property can seem daunting at times but it may be comforting to know that there are essentially only two ways to go about it – with a price or without.

lmost 80 years of local real estate experience here at Henzells has taught us that both methods deliver excellent outcomes. It really comes down to individual circumstances and personal choice as to which option suits you best, but whichever way you jump it should be done in close consultation with an experienced local property agent to guide you through the process.

Setting a price. Sounds obvious and it is, however it is setting the right price that is the important factor in determining whether or not you achieve a beneficial outcome.

Obviously all sellers want to attain the highest possible price for their property, but there is no point persisting in thinking a home is worth more than the market will offer or settling on a set amount of money and refusing to budge.

It is important to be realistic when setting a price. Communicate with an agent who knows the area well, do your research and look at what similar homes in the area are selling for to arrive at an accurate assessment of your property’s value.

Setting a price has many advantages. It can be less intimidating for buyers (and sellers) than, for example, the auction process. Setting a price also means you are more likely to target genuine buyers who know what they can afford.

Even though you have set a price, flexibility is the key to success.

Buyers are more educated than ever before so carefully consider all offers. Time and time again we see sellers wishing they had taken the first offer on their home as it is often the best.

The second way to sell your home is by not setting a price. Most people automatically think “auction” in this space and that is certainly a useful strategy under the right circumstances, for instance if there is high interest and demand for the property. However, it is not the only way.

Increasingly homes are being advertised “by negotiation”. This is when a property is offered to the market without a set sale price and buyers are encouraged to make an offer and negotiate.

This is an appealing method for many sellers as it can deliver the benefits of an auction strategy without the time constraints and other pressures that many find stressful. It also enables sellers to negotiate on terms and conditions, such as length of settlement, as well as the price.

When taking this route, it is important to set boundaries. Respond to market feedback. If results aren’t forthcoming within a strict set timeframe, it is important to set a price without haste, take the home to auction or remove it from market. Buyers tend to lose interest if a property is listed by negotiation for a long period of time, because they will assume there is something wrong with it or it is overpriced.

Once again, it all comes down to listening to the market, being realistic about what price you will accept and choosing an experienced local agent with excellent communication skills to guide you through the negotiation process.

Among the myriad of different selling strategies you often hear bandied about, it should be reassuring to know that there are really only two options to consider, with a price or without.

20 | ABOUTBUSINESS

Important things every landlord needs to know

There can be a lot of confusion surrounding the legislative requirements for landlords before, during and after the tenancy. Below are the answers to some of the most frequently-asked questions we receive.

Q: What do I need to do before I rent the property?

A: This is dependent on many variable factors, such as your budget and the age and condition of the property. In general, below is what we as agents would generally recommend having completed prior to the property being advertised: n

Professional cleaning of the entire property

n All

carpets, lounge chairs and mattresses (if furnished) professionally cleaned

n You

have at least two full sets of keys, one key for each lock at the property

n General

pest spray carried out if it hasn’t been done for 12 months

n Any

repairs noted are attended to, such as loose handles, holes in fly screens etc…

n Gardens

and lawns re-barked, mowed and weeded and all hedges or small trees trimmed

Q: When do I have to service the smoke alarms?

A: All smoke alarms must be serviced, tested and made compliant within 30 days of the signed lease beginning. The tenant also has rules to follow with smoke alarms, such as not tampering with them or removing them, and not making them inoperable at any time. It is recommended that you engage a licensed, reputable company to carry out work to the smoke alarms to ensure legislative requirements are met as your property manager is not qualified to provide advice about this.

Q: Can I charge my tenant for water and sewerage usage?

A: The answer to this question is dependent on a few things – n

If the property is not individually metered (for instance if it is a unit where the Unity Water bill is received by the Body Corp and split between all owners) then no, you cannot charge your tenant for water usage.

Tracey Rossow Investment Manager

49 Bulcock St, Caloundra 0448 616 055 trossow@henzells.com.au 21 | ABOUTBUSINESS

n If

the property is individually metered but not certified as

water compliant, then you can charge the tenant “excessive water consumption” – the amount classed as excessive is not legislated and the amount to be charged, within reason, is up to you.

n If

the property is individually metered and certified by a

plumber to be compliant, then you can ask the tenant to pay for all water usage.

NOTE – Tenants cannot be asked to pay for sewerage or access costs incurred, only for water that they use.

Q: If an inclusion to the property stops working will I have to have it repaired or replaced?

A: Yes. As per the RTRA Act, all fixtures, fittings and inclusions of the property must be maintained in working order by the lessor for the duration of the tenancy. Fixtures are things that are attached to, or installed in, the property (e.g. picture hooks) and inclusions are items supplied for the tenants use (such as the dishwasher, air conditioner or televisions).

Q: How much notice do I need to give my tenant if I want them to leave?

A: Regardless of whether the tenant has signed a fixed term or periodic lease, you will need to provide a minimum of two months notice with a Form 12, without grounds. This notice cannot end before the lease end date if they have signed a fixed term lease.

If you are asking the tenant to leave due to an un-remedied breach (for example rent arrears) different time frames do apply. The time frames required for notice periods can be found and downloaded from the RTA Queensland website. n

REAL ESTATE

DAN PERRYMAN QLD INVESTMENT BUILDING CORPORATION DAN@QIBC.COM.AU

THE PROPERTY WINDOW

A

s an experienced property investor and many years now as a professional property specialist I have found one principle absolutely critical to successful property investment; objectivity.

While there are many important areas of consideration when it comes to successful property investment; solid research, current market conditions, etc., without objectivity this information can be set aside or even completely overlooked.

Many investors can struggle with objectivity without understanding the importance of this guiding principle only to realise in time their investments aren’t performing to plan or worse.

Over the years I have witnessed hundreds of investors making decisions on their future through investing in property, some good and some not so good decisions.

An example of the latter, many investors buy holiday-style

investments at their favourite destination because it’s a great place to holiday, they get swept away in the feeling that comes to them in the location.

They convince themselves that owning a property there means they may have ‘free’ accommodation on that occasional getaway while doubling as an investment. Rarely have I heard that this type of investment has delivered any more than a very expensive form of accommodation to the investor.

Similar stories emerge about universitystyle accommodation in the hope that little Johnny may one day require a room for his studies. Many times I have heard stories of the late Aunty Doris who has left a rundown cottage behind which is going to be sold at a bargain and will make for a beautiful renovation.

Unfortunately none of these are objective investment decisions, these decisions are not based on the primary reason we invest in property, which is to create wealth.

Over the years I have witnessed hundreds of investors making decisions on their future through investing in property, some good decisions, some not so sound decisions.

22 | ABOUTBUSINESS

Kangaroo Point, Brisbane • Brand new architecturally designed two bedroom luxury apartments • Allocated secure car parking • Premium Kangaroo Point location, adjacent to CBD

URBAN CHIC APARTMENTS

Inner City Location

For your free information pack CALL 07 5451 1080 www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au

a

KANGAROO POINT IS READY TO SHINE, REINVENTED AS A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LIVELY INNER CITY VIBE. THIS IS WHERE BRISBANE HISTORY MEETS THE NEW URBAN CHIC, JUST 1.5KM ACROSS THE RIVER FROM THE CBD. LUXURY ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

URBAN CHIC APARTMENTS

The Marc is one of a kind in Brisbane. Explicitly designed for a location brimming with energy and vitality - ultra spacious, mega stylish, at the smart edge of current design, with all the essential comforts.

Many apartments enjoy great views of the river, the CBD or towards Moreton Bay. From the residents-only recreation deck on level 9, stunning vistas stretch out in all directions.

The clean-lined exterior façade is Art Deco inspired. A simple silhouette offsets bold characteristics with fine detailing. Well-sized apartment interiors capture the modern mood. The clarity of Danishinspired design is functional and accessible, graceful and beautiful.

Stylish kitchens integrate fluently with living spaces, so entertaining is sheer pleasure. And extra-generous balconies are all about living large: whether it’s a dinner for two or inviting everyone round for drinks before a night out. The Marc brings coffee culture and eclectic retail on side too, with a street-level café and shops.

Must have amenities include pay TV and ADSL internet, air conditioning and intercom security. Another advantage: specially negotiated bulk electricity discounts for occupiers.

a

SUNSET VIEWS FROM THE MARC

ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED

The Marc is designed by Red Door Architecture, a boutique design studio focused on creating outcomes for their clients that incorporate spacial requirements while helping them realise their ideals and values through architecture. The entire Red Door team believes in economical, sustainable and smart design and takes a contemporary, sophisticated, versatile and eye-catching approach to creating space The design for The Marc takes account of site and local contextual constraints, and applies climate-responsive principles to create a building that offers residents a comfortable home and enhances the urban environment of Kangaroo Point.

The sub-tropical South East Queensland climate that invites contemporary outdoor living has been carefully considered.

Extended slabs to the Northern façade limit solar exposure to the glazing during the heat of the summer. Angled perforated screens to the Western façade regulate harsh afternoon sun while enabling views to the CBD. Comfort and environmental considerations are behind every unique layout.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The Marc presents as a destination with a soul, prized by all who admire individual artistic expression. Savoring the challenge of crafting its enlightened interiors, Mary Durack Interior Design reinterprets the principles of Scandinavian style.

Through is the clever use of colour, timber patterns, organic shapes and contemporary graffiti art, The Marc’s imaginative environments express a new energy. Externally, strong horizontal elements and sinuous geometric screens are reminiscent of the great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.

PREMIUM LOCATION

The well known Brisbane inner-city suburb of Kangaroo Point is a highly sought after 1.3km2 geographical area bordering the Brisbane River directly adjacent the CBD. Home to a relatively youthful population, the avergage age is 35 with the employment sector dominated by a high proportion of professionals and service related roles.

Due to the close proximity to employment, entertainment and education amenities, Kangaroo Point is a prime destination for property owners and tenants. The household average occupancy is just 1.9 people meaning a good proportion of couples and singles reside in the area. A large portion of occupants are in the long term rental market which provides a good base of demand for quality rental properties and drives above average yeilds.

Vacancy rates have been healthy in the area, however can fluctuate at times partially influenced by short stay accomodation options with regular vacancies. Avoiding these types of “short stay” properties and adhering to a particular set of property investment parameters will ensure you avoid sporadic rents and maintain quality long term leases.

Kangaroo Point residents have multiple transport options including; bus, bike and ferry with direct access to the city via the Story Bridge, the Captain Cook Bridge, City Ferry network and a proposed new pedestrian bridge planned to link into Edward Street, Brisbane CBD. The Marc, strategically set in the heart of Kangaroo Point meets and exceeds a number of important property investment parameters including location, design, value, rent-ability and appeal. In addition, the developer has committed to deliver some extra inclusions along with rental protection for property investors.

For your free information pack CALL 07 5451 1080 www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au

URBAN CHIC APARTMENTS

KANGAROO POINT IN PROFILE

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POSITIONED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE RIVER FROM THE CBD, KANGAROO POINT IS BRISBANE’S KIRRIBILLI EASILY ACCESSED AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE. Boosting Kangaroo Point’s appeal is its unrivaled transport connections, including road, bus, CityCat, ferry and the Clem7 cross-river tunnel. It’s also a very walkable location. Popular bars and award-winning restaurants are all around. The area is also home to the internationally-famed Gabba stadium.

For your free information pack CALL 07 5451 1080 www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au

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REAL ESTATE

tanya mungomery Integrity. Knowledge. Results.

Tanya Mungomery brings 20 years of client service experience to her role with McGrath and prides herself on exceeding clients’ expectations through her friendly and professional manner.

Dedicated to delivering exceptional results in a stress free manner with proven results, Tanya makes an excellent choice for the sale of your property offering six star service and advice delivered with integrity.

Tanya Mungomery Sales Agent M 0414 260 711 T 5450 8000 E tanyamungomery@mcgrath.com.au W mcgrath.com.au

Lifestyle CHANGE IN RETIREMENT Escapism, life reassessment, returning home, quality of life or health/environment are just some of the reasons retirees choose a lifestyle change and the best place to start is by writing a list of all the things you want from your home once your kids leave the nest.

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lifestyle change can be a positive and rich experience for those who have carefully considered the option in a realistic way and who have handled change well in the past.

Let’s take a look at the different options available on the Sunshine Coast and weigh up the pros and cons.

A RURAL HIDEAWAY People moving to rural settings in retirement usually want some space, a few acres, fresh air, scenery and a greater sense of peace.

Tanawha, Diddillibah and the Hinterland areas offer a quieter life.

Perks include owning animals; growing a vegie garden; improved health thanks to all that fresh air, lower stress levels; and a quieter and more peaceful way of life.

Downside includes poor internet connectivity; limited transport; limited shopping, entertainment and dining options close by; and tending to a few acres can be time consuming and challenging for retirees.

A CITY APARTMENT Buying an apartment in the inner city of one of Australia’s capitals is ideal if you want to be close to the action – think of Buderim, Mooloolaba and Caloundra for the Sunshine Coast.

Perks include walking distance to public transport, shops and restaurants; lower maintenance and greater security.

Downside includes body corporate rules; problem neighbours and no way to avoid them feeling claustrophobic or too close to neighbours; high body corporate fees; and lack of parking for visitors.

A BEACH PAD Retirees are tending to move to the beach from all over Australia, and to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to be by the beach. Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headlands, Caloundra and Coolum would be great places for a beach pad.

The positives include exercise – with the beach at your back door to motivate you to get moving; easy-going lifestyle; more events during peak holiday seasons offset by quieter months during off-peak; property values potentially boosted by overlooking ocean and potential appeal to visiting friends and family.

The negatives include salt spray can damage car/house which means high strata maintenance costs; tourist season can make it difficult to find a car park and beach towns can suffer volatile markets where prices yo-yo between the peaks and troughs of a property cycle.

My advice is to ask lots of other people about their experiences, research widely and spend time finding somewhere that suits both people if you are a couple. Write a list of all the things you want from downsizing, find out all moving costs and also have a Plan B.

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THE GOOD inspector They say your home is your castle, but what if your castle is full of termites, snakes and other unwanted creepy crawlies? What if the foundations have rotted from a leak in your bathroom and the plaster has gone soggy? Well, for Mark Rowlingson, all this is just another day in the office.

WORDS KATE DAVIES PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

MARK’S TIPS

to avoid major defects in your home cause ✓ Clean out your gutters – blocked gutters can a number of problems the ✓ Remove any vegetation against the side of house – vegetation attracts termites and of helps maintain moisture around the perimeter the property, which can cause movement depending on the soil type er ✓ Check sealant around bath edges and show trays – if the waterproof membrane lets go it can cause serious problems in the home l ✓ No home renovations without a professiona 00 $20,0 than more g costin – any work needs to be completed by a licensed tradie 28 | ABOUTBUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

I

t is a serious job, being a building and pest inspector.

People’s livelihoods are on the line, but so is their safety, so how do you draw the line? For Mark Rowlingson the distinction is easy because for this tradie, a home is a haven and a haven should be sturdy.

“I once heard a story about a building inspector who was sued because a deck in a home he had given the all-clear for crumbled, killing three people. That’s why our job is so important and why everyone, buying or selling, should enlist our advice,” he says.

Mark began in the construction industry as a builder apprentice for the Queensland Government in 2003. After completing his trade, he moved to Mt Isa to work with the world’s second largest mining company, taking on an office role for the contracts department.

“That was a pretty interesting role, I learnt a lot about contracts and contract law, which has helped me with what I do now,” says Mark. “Giving some general advice to clients that have never bought a house and have signed a contract, and don’t understand what it means to have a building inspection and pest inspection done, and what they can do with it as a result and the findings in the reports.”

Before relocating to Brisbane, Mark expanded his industry experience at Mornington Island, an Aboriginal community of more than 1000 off the gulf of Queensland.

“I was the foreman up there, although we didn’t do too much new construction, we did a lot of renovations and maintenance for the Department of Housing, but everyday was a challenge and I learnt a lot from my role,” says Mark.

“It was an isolated community you could only get to by plane. It was the sort of place where you had to plan ahead at least a month because of the time it took to get materials to the island. Everything had to be barged into the community and over the wet season there was no fresh fruit for a month if the roads were cut. It was very different.”

Qualifying as a builder in 2008, Mark started up his own building and pest inspection business in North Brisbane, before buying into a franchise.

Since then, Mark’s eyes have been opened to a new world of “bad” construction and dodgy home renovations that have gone horribly wrong!

“The worst that comes to mind is when homeowners try and do work to their own property, when they want to do major renovations to a house and try and take it on themselves,” says Mark.

“People do a lot of damage to their house doing it that way, they don’t realise the consequences, and while they think they are improving it aesthetically, they are actually reducing the value of their home.

“Most of the time the work done is so bad it would need to be ripped out and started again, and if they do things like a bathroom themselves, if they don’t do a proper waterproof membrane by a licensed contractor, that devalues the whole house because the whole bathroom would need to come out because the floor is going to rot.”

On top of home-renos-gone-wrong, Mark also inspects homes for pests, crawling through roofs in search of termites, ants and even snakes.

“Crawling through roofs is probably the worst part of my job, especially in summer. I keep saying that I need to start doing yoga classes because sometimes I have to crawl through roofs where I am twisting and contorting myself.”

Mark admits that although he does not have a fear of confined spaces, snakes give him the heebie-jeebies.

“The worst experience I have had was a house that was 120-years-

old and had been moved. It was the old rectory from the Anglican Church in Brisbane. They moved the house out in five or six pieces 10-yearsago, out onto a 10-acre block on the side of a hill,” he says.

“It was all pieced back together, fully renovated and an absolutely beautiful house. However, as I was doing the external examination I noticed a snake skin hanging down from an open eve and went and saw the owners to ask them if they had things moving around in the roof before showing them the snake skin. They said, ‘oh no that’s the small one, the snake that’s usually up there, his skin comes out of the roof and curls up on the ground, it’s about five metres long!’... Needles to say, I never went up there!”

It’s obvious how important Mark’s work is to the building and real estate industry, especially for homeowners preparing to put their house on the market.

“Pre-sale inspections can work in favour of the seller, because they know of the defects before the buyer and can use it as a negotiation tool because they are aware of that upfront, they know that they would need to get it fixed beforehand or provide the information to the buyer,” he says.

“To get maximum profit for the house it is always better to get a building inspection done, especially an older property such as an old Queenslander that has been let go. We can find some pretty serious things wrong with them especially on decks, which can collapse if the structure is not sound.”

Selling houses can be scary, but with Mark’s advice, the task doesn’t seem so daunting.

“I keep saying that I need to start doing yoga classes because sometimes I have to crawl through roofs where I am twisting and contorting myself.”

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REAL FACTS

Whether you’re looking to enter the real estate market or are already a seasoned home-buyer, it pays to know the trends and predictions within this often-fickle industry. Profile keeps you in the know for all things real estate.

HOUSING MINISTRY TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY Politicians from the major parties are seeking the creation of a dedicated housing ministry. They say their goal is to make homes more affordable. The final report of the Senate Economics References Committee's affordable housing inquiry said a housing minister was needed to provide leadership across portfolios and governments. The committee wants the new portfolio to be located in a central agency such as Treasury or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The committee said governments at all levels have a responsibility to use policy interventions to improve the efficiency and affordability of the housing market. “As such, the current lack of a dedicated Commonwealth housing minister is a matter of concern for the committee,” it said.

HOME LOAN DEMAND REACHES SIX-YEAR HIGH Loans to homebuyers have hit their highest level since September 2009. The ABS says there were 54,686 mortgage commitments in March, up 5.1 per cent in annual terms. That included a 7.1 per cent rise in loan approvals for established homes to 46,105 and a 3.4 per cent increase in loan approvals to buy new homes to 2777. However, loan approvals to build new homes fell 7.4 per cent to 5804.

The average mortgage for an owner-occupier grew 7.3 per cent to $342,500, while the average mortgage for a first home buyer rose 7.8 per cent to $326,300. Overall, property buyers made $31.6 billion in housing finance commitments in March, up 15.6 per cent on last year.

NO NATIONAL BOOM, SAYS ANALYST Experienced property analyst Louis Christopher is the latest to confirm that there is no national property boom. Louis, of SQM Research, says asking prices continue to rise in Sydney and Melbourne, but the picture is not consistent across the country.

Nationally, the number of listed properties fell 2.8 per cent in April. “The numbers clearly illustrate there is no national housing boom,” says Louis. “But the Sydney market has become the

‘problem child’ for the RBA and it looks like Melbourne is now heading that way as well. In contrast, median asking house prices in Darwin continue to fall with year-on-year comparisons showing a 12-month decline of 3.5 per cent. Perth also recorded declines in house asking prices.”

BIG BUDGET WINS FOR BUILDERS There are more than 300,000 small businesses (more than any other industry) in the building and construction industry who are winners from the Budget. “Master Builders called for a Budget to boost confidence and viability for business in the here and now and the Government has delivered,” says Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of Master Builders Australia.

“The $5.5 billion small business package will massively boost confidence, activity and jobs in the industry. In an industry as capital intensive as building and construction, the immediate write off of assets up to $20,000 will provide an immediate stimulus. “Measures to cut tax for both small companies and sole traders will also underpin a reboot of confidence for builders, home-buyers and consumers.

CHINESE BUYING TIPPED TO HIT $60BIL A report forecasts Chinese investment in the Australian property market will continue to rise. Financial services company Credit Suisse predicts residential property investment from Chinese-based investors and new immigrants from China will more than double over the next six years to $60 billion.

Foreign investment is blamed by misinformed observers for locking first-home buyers out of the market, but experts say the public has a distorted view of how much the Chinese truly influence housing prices. “It sounds like a big amount, but realistically it’s still a pretty small percentage of the entire market,” says Cameron Kusher, senior analyst with property data analysts CoreLogic RP Data. “Yes, it does have an effect on prices, but only in a narrow area: new houses in estates and new apartments in the inner city.”

Information sourced from www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au, www.reiq.com and www.genworth.com.au

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