THE BULLETIN DIAMOND VALLEY & BANYULE EDITION 1 2018
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A message from Executive Chairman Rob Fletcher The property market finished on a positive note in 2017, with house prices in metropolitan Melbourne rising for the seventh consecutive quarter in December to a median of $821,000. The property market in Melbourne is typically considered as the strongest in the country, largely as a result of high levels of interstate and overseas migration. Whilst we still expect to see more moderate price growth across the board this year, we have been pleasantly surprised by the high level of enquiry received for properties on the market thus far. REIV President, Richard Simpson, notes that “space is at a premium in Melbourne, which is encouraging more family buyers to consider established suburbs in the city’s outer ring”. Meanwhile, first home buyers are expected to remain a force in the 2018 Victorian property market after rushing to capitalise on stamp duty changes. In Fletchers news, we are thrilled that the new edition of our popular historical book is now available for our clients. ‘A Historical Journey – Since 1919’ takes you on a journey through Melbourne’s east and beyond. Whilst illustrating Melbourne’s rich history, it also allows you to reminisce about the simpler and quieter times! If we can assist you with any of your property needs or if you would like a copy of the book, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Kind Regards,
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Preparing for Open for Inspections You have made the big decision to put your house on the market, so now’s the time to ensure that it’s presented well and ready for prospective buyers. So, what should you do to prepare for your first open for inspection?
Do a Spring clean (regardless of the season)! Clean the bathrooms from top to bottom, wipe down window sills and skirting boards, dust all surfaces, wipe down blinds and remove all cobwebs from inside and out. In the kitchen, ensure you clean the oven, stovetop and rangehood, inside the pantry and all cupboards inside and out. It’s also a great time to go through cupboards and clean out excess clutter as it’s likely that potential buyers will open doors and drawers to check available storage. Once you have done an initial Spring clean, you will only need to do a quick clean each week to keep it looking great throughout the sales campaign.
Declutter! Now is a great time to declutter your home and take any unwanted items to your local op shop or Salvos store. The Salvation Army provide a service where they will come to you to collect any unwanted goods that still have plenty of life in them. Alternatively, enquire about doing a hard rubbish collection through your council, if time permits.
Your Garden Spend time in the garden, removing any weeds, sweeping paths and mowing the grass. It’s amazing how good lawns look after a mow and freshly cut edges. You could even sprinkle some grass feed on the grass a week or two prior to encourage new growth. Another quick way to bring new life to garden beds is to order a delivery of fresh mulch and distribute it throughout the garden beds.
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Tips and Advice When the day arrives for your open for inspection, there are a few extra things you can do to make your home feel more welcoming to a potential purchaser. Lighting a candle creates a lovely ambiance and fills your home with a calming scent. This is a great way to mask any unwanted smells such as those from pets, last night’s dinner or burnt toast from breakfast. You could also bake a cake or a loaf of bread to fill the kitchen with delicious smells to make potential buyers feel more at home. Another way to add to the ambiance in the home is to play some quiet background music in the central living rooms or even outside if you have an outdoor sound system. If you do own pets, store away their belongings during an inspection such as their bed, toys, food and water bowls. Also ensure you have cleaned all traces of hair from floors and furniture as this can be very off-putting for a buyer. Ensure you open all the blinds to allow plenty of natural light to enter your home. Open windows, especially on a beautiful sunny day, to allow air flow throughout your home to circulate plenty of fresh air and avoid it feeling stuffy. Ensure you switch on lights and any lamps as well. If it’s a cold day, particularly during winter, it’s a great idea to have the heater on to make your home feel warm, cosy and inviting and if you have an open fire or a gas log fire, ensure you light it to add to that warmth and help the buyers create a sense of what it would feel like living in your home if they should be the lucky purchaser. Likewise, in summer, leave any air-conditioners or fans on throughout your home. It’s always nice to have fresh flowers displayed throughout your home. Try and select flowers that will last longer so you don’t have to replace them every week. Lilies, Singapore orchids, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolas, Lisianthus are just a few varieties that should last around two weeks in a vase. Or many green leaf varieties such as gum leaves, philodendron fronds, palm fronds or succulents will last even longer. Changing the water, removing fading blooms, re-cutting stems and replenishing flower preservative will greatly lengthen the life of cut flowers. Another alternative to cut flowers, is to purchase some potted indoor plants which won’t require much maintenance but make a big difference to the presentation of a room. As an added bonus, they will also help purify the air. Varieties include Fiddle Leaf Fig, Peace Lily or Prayer Plant to name just a few. Finally, ensure you make and present all the beds nicely, investing in some inviting throw rugs or cushions if need be; hang fresh towels in the bathrooms; plump and fluff the cushions on the couches; remove any clean washing from the line, including any washing on display in the laundry as you want it to feel as clean and fresh as possible. If you have children, it’s always a good idea to put most of their toys into storage and just keep a few out for them to play with during the sales campaign. This will also help you when it comes time to get ready for your open for inspections each week as there won’t be many toys to put away. How you present your home for sale is crucial to helping potential buyers form an emotional connection with your home, so it’s absolutely worth your while spending some time to get it right before you open the doors to potential purchasers.
Kate Evans (nee Fletcher) Brand & Lifestyle Ambassador 9836 2222 | kate.evans@fletchers.net.au
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Tips for buying your first home Buying your first home is universally daunting, whether you’re prepared or not! To help you feel as calm and confident as possible when making the decision to enter the property market, Shore Financial have put together their top tips for buying your first home.
Get rid of excess debt Make your home loan your top priority by ridding yourself of all other debts such as credit cards, car finance or personal loans. This will help you remain focused and you’re unlikely to feel overwhelmed. It’s important to get into a good saving routine before you take out your mortgage and part of that is learning to live within your means.
Know your limits and avoid over extending When looking for a home, make a list of things that are must haves and get an idea of what properties with these features are valued at. Having an understanding of these factors will ensure that you don’t get tempted by homes that don’t necessarily suit your plan and expectations. Finding a home within your limit will help to keep you calm and still allow you to enjoy a healthy work/life balance without feeling overwhelmed.
When looking at homes check everything Don’t be afraid to question and test anything and everything when buying a home. Buying your first home should be a positive experience and finding out about structural faults, water damage, or issues with pests after the purchase could be costly at a time when you’re already financially stretched.
Make sure you know ALL the costs When deciding on what you can afford, make sure to consider all the additional costs that come with buying a home. These can include solicitor’s fees, mortgage insurance, transfer fees, stamp duty, inspection reports etc. At the same time, ensure that you research all available state grants to minimise these costs.
Consider a mortgage broker When buying your first home, it’s more important than ever to surround yourself with expert knowledge. A mortgage broker can not only navigate the process and fill in all the forms for you but also help to talk over any doubts or concerns you have about your financial situation, deposit or limits.
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An Ideal Sunday My ideal Sunday is having breakfast with the kids in the morning then heading to Rosanna parklands for a ride and a play on the swings. After lunch I head off for a bike ride from Rosanna to Templestowe via the Yarra Trails through Banyule flats. Greg Taylor, Director & Auctioneer My ideal Sunday generally looks like…exercise in the morning, whether it be a bike ride on the Main Yarra Trail with my partner, a work out at the local F45 training facility or a nice walk. Brunch is always a must, usually somewhere new - I am currently working my way through the Broadsheet suggestions and they never disappoint. I also make sure I see my family and friends whenever time permits.
instagram.com/missmariecafe
Hayley Ruedin, Property Consultant After a sleep in on a Sunday I enjoy heading to a local café for some brunch, Miss Marie is a favourite - I enjoy a big breakfast and a latte. Following brunch I will take the dog for a walk around Chelsworth Park and along the Yarra Trails. Sunday evenings I enjoy heading to Barr’d, a local Tapas Bar, with some friends and enjoy a drink and some great food. Mark Dixon, Senior Property Consultant & Auctioneer After a very big sleep in and a delicious home made breakfast, I would jump on my bike and ride through the Banyule Flats to my favourite spot at Sparkes Reserve under a big golden elm and read a book for a couple of hours. On my way home I’d stop off and get a freshly baked custard tart from Two Peas In a Pod (their cakes, slices and biscuits are to die for) to eat when I get home and undo all the good that the ride would have done. After a lazy homemade lunch I would head to Vino Central to meet up with friends and enjoy an array of amazing wines. Following which, we would wander down to Toyama Japanese Restaurant and eat far too much of my favourite cuisine.
instagram.com/barrd_winetapas
Jaclyn Sullivan, Property Consultant My perfect Sunday morning is breakfast and a strong coffee at Sweet by Nature in Heidelberg Heights. Next, a visit to the gym and then a catch up with mates in either Smith Street or Johnston Street Fitzroy to watch the footy. Troy Crouch, Property Consultant
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instagram.com/sweetbynaturecakes
My ideal Sunday is a big breakfast at Hunters Lane with my wife and kids chattering in the background as I read the paper catching up on the sporting events of the weekend. In footy season it’s then either off to the city to watch my beloved Carlton or in better weather some time at Possum Hollow in Heidelberg where the kids can run themselves around in a secure environment close to the Yarra River. Thomas Bechelli, Director & Auctioneer My ideal Sunday never starts with a sleep in with my two sons Jasper and Archie rushing in to our bedroom to see what the plan is for the day! Usually a family orientated outing with my beautiful wife Renae, the boys and Percy our Poodle thrown in for good measure. Very hard to beat relaxing in the backyard slow cooking on the BBQ while enjoying the company of friends.
instagram.com/hunterlanerosanna
Mark Roberts, Property Consultant My ideal Sunday starts off at Rivers of Yarrambat, where I select my favourite meal of Smashed Avo and Persian Feta on sourdough, with rocket poached egg and bacon, washed down with a long Macchiato. I like to sit at one of the outside tables in the warm morning sun and enjoy good food and conversation. Once we have finished we wander through the gift shop and nursery to see what goodies we can find. If I really feel like indulging, I will stop off and have a pedicure and foot spa before going home. The rest of the day is family time either at home or visiting the extended family or friends. To finish off my day is to have a little snuggle with my beautiful blind dog Bronson.
instagram.com/riversofyarrambat
Kaye Hoverd, Senior Associate
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So you want to know the shortcut to long-term health? Well sorry to disappoint you but there is no ‘secret’ or ‘shortcut’. The truth is that getting a lean body composition and perfect health will require commitment, persistence and planning, and will almost certainly not follow a linear path. That said, it is achievable and despite the mass of conflicting and confusing information in today’s media, it really is very simple. You see, the formula to health hasn’t changed since our prehistoric ancestors were hunting and gathering, and studies have shown us time and time again that these same ‘secret’ ingredients are the foundation of disease and obesity-free cultures across time and geography: • Physically active on a daily basis • Avoid processed foods • Sufficient amounts of all natural protein • Moderate amounts of healthy fats • Nutrient rich (soaked/sprouted) carbohydrates • Prepared cultured/fermented foods See...simple! At least in theory. But let’s face it, the application of these rules in today’s society of constant stress, prolonged periods of inactivity, preservative and chemical rich produce and toxic environmental factors make adhering to such guidelines both challenging and impractical. So instead we are going to start from the beginning, and breakdown what I consider the four key ingredients to health, being movement, nutrition, hormones and recovery. Simon Sinek says ‘Start with Why’ - understand your purpose and create a compelling reason for change. I say start with movement. People often start their weight loss journey by jumping into the latest fad diet. As you’ll learn in the next edition, cutting calories over the long term is a recipe for disaster - hormonal disruption, energy depletion and worst of all, metabolic slow down. The on-again off-again nature of dieting is not the solution, and avoidance and deprivation are not the right way to go about reinforcing lifelong healthy habits. We encourage everyone to start with movement because we preach that motion drives emotion... that is, movement has the power to control the brain, its synapses, thoughts and long established neural pathways sabotaging both your health and your esteem. Movement is the circuit breaker, the mental interrupt that along with releasing serotonin (that feel good hormone), and sets us up for success through positive reinforcement.
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What is movement, and how do you best apply it to fit in with your lifestyle? That depends on the individual and their current physical state and routine. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, at least initially because consistency is the key; be it a walk around the block, sports training, aerobics in front of the TV or an F45 HIIT style interval class. It’s about creating the habit and its resulting mental effects more then the physical stimulus itself. So lets take it a step further now and break it down into the four main categories of activity that make up the movement matrix: 1. RESISTANCE TRAINING – Weights, resistance or strength training has the biggest impact on ‘shaping’ our physique. Thanks to the post exercise caloric afterburn (EPOC) as our body recovers from training, as well as the gradual increase in our metabolic rate (BMR) as we build muscle. Weight training will allow you to completely reshape your body. In short, what lifting heavy weights will do—for men and women—is raise the metabolic rate, promote greater fat burning, and help give more definition when the body fat comes off. 2. CARDIO TRAINING – Most of us understand that ‘cardio’ or aerobic training has a bigger influence on cardiovascular health, since your heart and lungs work harder for longer when you do it than strength training. Aerobic exercise also improves oxygenation to the tissue cells as well as to the brain, detoxifies your system, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and increases energy by helping to modulate stress. 3. WALK, RUN or SPRINT. Just don’t JOG – We are bipedal mammals designed to move on two legs. Walking is an underutilised recovery and relaxation tool and the perfect accomplice to your training. I also recommend sprinting (i.e. 10 x 200m on the minute) to give you the benefits of resistance training and improve athleticism and performance. Please be aware of your body and understand the technique differences between running and jogging from a posture, technique and impact perspective. 4. HAVE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE – We are born to move so take the stairs, walk at lunch, play with the kids, have a swim, ride your bike, go for a hike. Enjoy the benefits of getting lean and healthy by being as active in day-to-day life as possible. In summary, if you’re stuck in a rut and want to improve your health (both physical and mental) then start by incorporating daily movement into your life. Once movement is part of your daily ritual, then look at balancing the four components of movement in order to both maximise health and physique adaptations. Stay tuned as next time we’ll discuss the all-important component of nutrition and how to strategically set yourself up for success.
Hamish Evans 0402 117 138 | hevans@f45camberwelljunction.com.au Visit F45training.com.au for your local facility.
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Balwyn North 61 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North | 9859 9561
Manningham Suite 5, 1012 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East | 9841 5788
Banyule 114 Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna | 9430 1133
Maroondah 1 Seymour Street, Ringwood | 9955 4988
Belgrave/Tecoma 1561 Burwood Highway, Tecoma | 9751 0299
Mooroolbark Suite 1, 14 Manchester Road, Mooroolbark | 8814 3688
Bellarine 74 Hesse Street, Queenscliff | 5258 2833
Olinda 3/1606 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda | 9751 0299
Blackburn 75A Railway Road, Blackburn | 8833 8888
Projects 94 Union Road, Surrey Hills | 9836 1132
Blairgowrie 2815 Point Nepean Road, Blairgowrie | 5984 2600
Projects CBD Shop 1/413 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne | 9326 8566
Canterbury 244 Canterbury Road, Canterbury | 9836 2222
Waverley Suite 6, 710 High Street Road, Glen Waverley | 8523 8523
Diamond Valley 951 Main Street, Eltham | 9430 1111
Wollongong Shop 2, 143-149 Corrimal Street, Wollongong | 02 4226 1074
Glen Iris 1509 High Street, Glen Iris | 9885 3333
Wyndham 114/22-30 Wallace Avenue, Point Cook | 9131 4000
Knox 4 High Street, Bayswater | 9720 9711
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