View magazine - Autumn 2020 by RE/MAX Australia

Autumn 2020

2020 VISION Expect the exceptional View Property Magazine

Australia & New Zealand

RE/MAX Australia Regional Office P. +61 7 3007 9000 E. remax@remax.com.au

Contents.

143 Coronation Drive, Milton QLD 4064 PO Box 1326, Milton QLD 4064 www.remax.com.au

RE/MAX New Zealand Regional Office P. +64 9 309 8478

Just right for a winter sale

On location – Bargara, AU

Recipe of a champion

The mindset issue

E. corporate@remax.co.nz Level 3, 136 Broadway, New Market, AKL 1010 PO Box 11331, Ellerslie, AKL 1542

On location – Mangawhai, NZ

A case of Goldilocks

www.remax.co.nz

Could you be happy with less?

Checklist – Decluttering 101

Buying solo

Property development - Is it for me?

On location – Sandgate, AU

VIEW production coordinator: Jasmine Rimmer E. jrimmer@remax.co.nz

Best of hotel living at home

VIEW advertising enquiries:

10 Finance tips for 2020

Global RE/MAX supports Beyond the Bricks

ADVERTISING pages 19 to 31

Ask an Agent

Destinations: South Africa

The edge

Welcome to my home

Equipping tomorrow’s tenants

On location – Arrowtown, NZ

Making money

Well, well, well…

Investing in short term rental

Time for a tree change

VIEW editor: Lyn Cox E. lcox@remax.com.au M. +61 418 793 096 VIEW editorial assistant: Jennifer Kent VIEW design: Expressway Studio

Jasmine Rimmer E. jrimmer@remax.co.nz Jessica Kiely E. jkiely@remax.com.au

Copyright © 2020 RE/MAX Australia/New Zealand. All rights reserved. The materials herein may not be duplicated, copied or reproduced – in whole or in part – in any way without written permission. VIEW magazine is provided to RE/MAX Affiliates as one of many benefits. The opinions of guest contributors and interviewed guests are their own and not necessarily those of RE/MAX Australia/New Zealand, or its affiliates, or any of its owners, officers, employees or agents. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information it contains, neither the publishers, authors nor their employees, can be held liable for inaccuracies, errors or omission. Readers should not rely on this newsletter as a substitute for professional advice.

On location – Williams Landing

RE/MAX buildings that make a statement

Renovations for resale

Heeding the call of coast or country

And featuring RE/MAX property listings from page 19

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Just right for a

winter sale If autumn/winter is the time you’ve decided to list your house to sell, be upbeat about it. Sure, temperatures are dropping, and daylight hours are shortening – maybe your garden’s not even looking at its prettiest – but there are still plenty of buyers out looking. A home must be priced right to attract buyers, but it is also vital to maintain its street appeal or buyers may simply drive away without making an enquiry or setting foot inside. Address the gardens and landscaping. Present them as best you can for the time of year. At the very least, you don’t want the property to appear poorly maintained. Rake up the leaves, cut back dead plants and nurture the perennials. Look for winter-flowering plants and make good use of pots especially around the front entrance area. Potential buyers notice the overall condition of a property. Repainting your home can make an incredible difference, but it is also an expense you may not want to go to. It’s certainly a good idea to repair broken windows, though. Have an honest look at what other factors might be making the house look tired, faded and dirty and see if there’s something that can be done to turn this perception around. And it doesn’t matter which season you are selling in. Remove clutter and rearrange artwork and furniture to best showcase your home.

Many experienced agents will recommend to de-personalise the home as much as possible when you are attempting to sell, which means removing family photos, awards and other memorabilia. The festive season is long past so the decorations will surely have been packed away. At this time of year, when there may be less natural light, keep the home as bright as possible. Let daylight stream in through clean windows and have the interior well-lit, cheery and welcoming for evening opens. Minor works, minor improvements and staging a property are simple solutions that can tip the balance in your direction, making your home much more appealing to the buyers who are walking in your door. Energy bills inevitably go up in the winter. With a home buying public looking for energy efficiency, savvy sellers might like to showcase their home’s energy saving features. Buyers may look for and welcome evidence and information about the home’s insulation. Your solar panels might be the decider when it comes to which home to buy if the purchaser is keen to run the pool pump, appliances, space heating and cooling devices, hot water system and even an electric car with solar electricity harvested during the day.

Other features that are ticks for energy conscious buyers include: • Well-sealed doors and windows • Quality drapes, curtains or blinds • Solar hot water system • High-efficiency reverse-cycle air-conditioning • ‘Smart’ electricity meter or in-home electricity display for monitoring power usage • App-based home energy management systems • Modern showerheads, which can use just five litres of water per minute compared with up to 35 litres per minute with the old ones • Modern, wide-beam LEDs that use a tenth of the energy of halogen or incandescent bulbs • Double glazing for windows, which cuts out noise, improves security and saves energy • Good external awnings, blinds or shade sails and clever planting to stop windows heating up • A swimming pool cover that can minimise cleaning, chemical use and the running time for your efficient filter pump • And if yours is an old home, did you realise that those ubiquitous wall vents are relics from the days when homes relied on heaters without flues or gas lights. Ventilation is better controlled by opening windows, not by having permanent holes in the walls. Some say winter buyers are more serious. Whether this is true or not, a serious buyer is always likely to respond best to a well-prepared property, so sellers do themselves a real service by maximising the sales appeal of their home.

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ON LOCATION

Bargara,

Queensland, Australia

Where are we?

The market

The word is that Bargara’s golden shores and balmy year-round temperature will make you feel as though you’ve stepped onto a beach in Hawaii. Thankfully, you don’t have to travel that far!

Bargara’s affordability and lifestyle are what makes it such an appealing suburb to those buying in the area. Priced slightly higher than neighbouring Bundaberg suburbs because of its beachside location, Bargara remains well below the nation’s average.

Bargara is a beachside suburb of Bundaberg – or Bundy to the locals – and located just over four hours north of Brisbane in the Wide Bay Burnett region at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Surrounded by rich farming land, there is an abundance of fresh produce available at every turn and some of the freshest seafood you can buy, direct from the trawlers. Locals and visitors alike agree that the Queensland coastal location is unlike any other in Australia.

Lifestyle Bargara enjoys a holiday-like feel year-round and is a haven for those seeking a more relaxed lifestyle. Bargara’s affordability allows residents to enjoy the lifestyle they seek, with clean beaches and plenty of walkways to take in the post-card views on offer. Enjoying the outdoors is easy for residents, with Bargara having far more days of consistent sunshine than most. The slower-paced lifestyle is enjoyed by a variety of residents from young families through to retirees, and is a particularly appealing destination for over 50’s. Bargara’s multicultural society is celebrated year-round with several festivals held throughout the year where you can enjoy the best local produce, with a ‘paddock to plate’ experience.

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In Bargara, affordability and lifestyle go hand-in hand. With land available, there is a higher percentage of houses versus units.

The region has a largely owneroccupier presence. Median property prices in Bargara are $405,000 for houses and $340,000 for units.

Enjoying Bargara There’s nobody better to highlight what the region has to offer than RE/MAX Precision’s principal, Scott Mackey, a born and bred local.

Visit • Bundaberg Barrell to taste the award-winning Bundaberg Ginger Beer and learn how it’s made. • Bundaberg Rum Distillery for a guided tour and tastings of the worldfamous rum. • Ohana Cider House and Tropical Winery to enjoy the award-winning Cheeky Tiki Cider • Kalki Moon, an artisan distilling company winning awards for its gin, vodka and liqueurs and, no doubt, this year’s highly anticipated first rum release.

Dine • Kacy’s Restaurant & Wine Bar is one of the region’s best dining experiences – from breakfast, coffee and cake, lunch or an indulgent three-course dinner. • Enjoy one of the many other delightful cafes and restaurants in Bargara, all close by the ocean.

Experience • A special turtle encounter at Mon Repos. • One of the best kite surfing spots in Australia where the river meets the sea at Elliot Heads. • A round of golf at the internationally renowned golf course. Whether you take a leisurely stroll along the Bargara esplanade or set out to enjoy the many sights throughout Wide Bay-Burnett, there’s a lot to enjoy about the Bundaberg region. And like a true local, Scott says you can’t go past picking up a fresh watermelon at one of the roadside farm stalls on your way to a day at the beach!

Recipe of a champion

While you can daydream for free, goals don’t come without a price. Time. Effort. Sacrifice. And sweat. How will you pay for your goals? – Usain Bolt

By Michael Davoren, Managing Director, RE/MAX Australia & RE/MAX New Zealand

The 2020 challenge to the real estate industry is recognising that while change is aplenty, the basics are still the basics. We expect our service to be exceptional because our clients should expect, and receive, the exceptional. It’s 2020, the Year of the Tokyo Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. Athletes have prepared and continue to prepare as they vie for positions on their country’s Olympic team.

They must be wary… Too many experts, too much advice, too much technology, too much noise… They must choose wisely… Like the athletes, every person in the business of real estate must be in a constant state of focus as they work toward goals, with their concentration fully on their clients. Goal number one for the Olympic athletes is to make the team. Goal two is then to perform at their best. And on to the next goal and the next goal until they are standing on the dais with a medal. In real estate, our Olympics are forever. Our industry faces a great many challenges from the usual competition within the industry – other agents, other brands – to competition from outside our industry in the form of other entities wanting to take their place on the real estate dais.

Athletes’ past performances are carefully monitored. We do the same in real estate, looking at market performance and individual performance. In all cases, when you look at performances over a previous 12 months, doing the same as you have done won’t guarantee you to achieve what you have - or better. And a past year can be a mixed bag of performances! Learning must be continuous. Coach and athlete must be in sync with the goal at hand and as they move from one goal to the next. There are steps along the way. And there are rules and regulations. You can’t take the shortcuts just to ‘win’.

Perhaps champions share these characteristics, regardless of their talents. • Champions dream big, have vision and set goals. • Champions think strategically. • Champions reach goals through plans that work. • Champions are confident and say, ‘I can’. • Champions are willing to learn, understand weaknesses and train to strengthen them, and view competitors as partners who provide challenges and the chance to improve. • Champions have extraordinary determination and commitment, the courage to risk failure, turn failure into feedback, and accept setbacks as something to learn from. • Champions recognise the power of passion. • Champions know sacrifice and discipline. • Champions never give up. Did Ash Barty, at the start of 2019, think she would, or could, win the French Open? I’m sure she did, because she is a champion!

It involves having the right strategies and matching up your plan with the right coach. Even the highestperforming athlete will have a coach whose job it is to help create and implement the plan; and tweak the plan along the way. That, too, is the world of real estate. What’s your strategy… your plan? On the path to greatness, be it in Olympic sports or in real estate, why do some become champions while others fall short?

Just like the athletes competing with others from their country for a place, then competing beyond, there is no time to be distracted.

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THE MINDSET ISSUE How the perception of sellers, buyers AND agents play out in auctions.

Real estate buyers and sellers continue to embrace auction as a method of sale, but this is no one-day event.

While auctions have been attributed with creating feelings of apprehension for buyers and sellers, extensive national and state legislation regulates all auction practices and protects sellers and bidders, making it the most transparent and fair way to buy and sell property.

The auction process begins with the auction marketing program, which the seller and the marketing agent plan together, and the sale of the property can occur before, on or after auction day itself.

For the seller, their property is exposed to qualified buyers with a genuine desire to own the property. They are also able to set terms and conditions of the sale and settlement that suit their own circumstances.

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Buyers today have many avenues of research and the deadline of an auction event allows them to be thoroughly informed and have finance organised so they can be purchase-ready on the day. Seeing their competition in action on the day helps their own bidding decisions and gives them confidence around their decision. If they’ve wanted to put in an offer before, they can; they are in a knowledgeable position to make an offer postauction; and should they be the successful bidder, it is finite, and they own the property.

agents who have had little or poor experience with the process: - Auctions are too much work. - I don’t have the skills. - I can’t ask sellers to pay for marketing. - I’m worried there’ll be no bidders. - I’m worried about the seller’s reaction if it doesn’t sell at auction. “I’ve learned that the number one reason most agents don’t list auctions is their mindset. “In most cases, if not all, they have never carried out an auction campaign because they’ve chosen to believe outside influences and so don’t believe in the process.” Dene finds it ironic that auctions are so much a part of the culture in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney and he asks “So why is it that so many agents in those cities do auctions? “Are they smarter than others? Unlikely… “There is no plausible ‘reason’ as to why, just an almost endless list of ‘excuses’.” He hears:

Dene Tucker, principal of RE/MAX Auction Services, says agents can be guilty of having auction misgivings.

- It won’t work in our market.

“When I pose the question ‘What things stop us from listing auctions?’, I typically get the following type of responses from

- Our sellers won’t pay for the marketing.

- Clearance rates in our area are awful. - Our buyers don’t like auctions.

- Buyers won’t wait three or four weeks.

“Far too much opposition to the auction process comes from agents and it’s a reflection of their belief systems.

far outweighs the success rate of Private Treaty and Expressions of Interest (EOI) listings.”

“In my opinion, not offering auction to all sellers as a bonafide solution is like a doctor not offering a patient the full suite of cures for an ailment.”

He says agents experienced in the auction process show evidence of the following:

Dene says the strongest real estate offices and the most successful agents understand and believe in the concept of creating maximum exposure for their sellers, thereby creating competition and premium price outcomes. They also tend to have a high print media and portal profile. “It’s fair to say that whenever you get two or more people wanting to compete for something, the price goes up.” Dene says, when it comes to agents, fear is the most common barrier to auctions. Fear of mentioning it to a seller. Fear of asking for marketing money. Fear that no one shows interest. Fear of no bidders. Fear of the seller’s reaction if the auction is a fizzer. Fear of failure. “Yet, the overall success rate of auctions when viewed across all three opportunities to sell,

- They formulate a strong print media and internet campaign that creates a sense of urgency and has the required ‘reach’. - They accept that not every auction will sell under the hammer. - They possess a ‘sell it or make it saleable’ attitude. - They discuss all the possible outcomes with the seller from the outset. - They manage the buyer interest correctly and understand how to strategically build hope with buyers. - They communicate regularly with the seller with relevant feedback including price feedback. “With such agents, there is no reason why you won’t get a result either before auction, on the day or not long afterward. “And therein,” says Dene, “lies the key to all this. Most agents - and consequently, the public - think that

if it doesn’t sell under the hammer it was a failure. “I’m confused… Your property sold a week after auction day. How is that a failure? “Here’s the thing… every day in every real estate market across Australasia, there are failures in property negotiations. I’ve touched on some reasons already, but the scenario is always the same. For one reason or another, agents have failed to create a willing seller/ willing buyer outcome. “And here’s a fact. Hot buyers and cold sellers don’t gel. The auction process brings together educated, informed buyers and sellers so things can move to the negotiation and settlement phases.” Every property is different, and every seller has varying needs and expectations when selling their property, which is why they should work with an agent who has experience and knowledge in all methods of selling, the agent who will work with the seller to determine the best way to market and sell the property and achieve the greatest result.

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ON LOCATION

Mangawhai, North Island, New Zealand

The Market

Where are we? The beautiful seaside towns of Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads are located in New Zealand’s North Island, 80 kilometres north of Auckland on the East Coast. Known for its stunning coastline, with beaches and wonderful landscapes, Mangawhai offers residents and visitors the best of both worlds – an island-like escape that is in close enough reach of the city (if necessary). Encompassing the ‘Byron Bay’ like townships Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads, the region surrounds the harbour, and is abundant in natural beauty both in the sea and on land. Stingrays can often be seen in the harbour, and it was because of this that it was named for its ‘stream of stingray’. Mangawhai is home to many endangered species, including the country’s rarest native breeding bird, the New Zealand Fairy Tern.

The Lifestyle Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads boat a friendly and welcoming lifestyle enjoyed by people of all walks of life. With three rolling surf breaks yearround on one side and harmonious harbour and estuaries on the other, plus the bushwalks, trail rides and hikes, there’s plenty to see and do in nature.

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The outdoors is truly celebrated here. While laid-back that there is plenty to keep both locals and visitors busy right through the year and the region has a very social community, which is welcoming to those who embrace it. Mangawhai has undergone a cultural change over the past 50 years. It’s become a haven for all manner of artists and creative types, adding to the region’s charismatic appeal. Whether you’re a beach lover, an art lover, a fisherman or foodie – Mangawhai’s laid-back style is a winner with many.

Previously undervalued properties have experienced a significant increase in value over the past five years. Mangawhai township is largely made up of owner-occupiers and holiday property owners, with largely single dwelling homes and lifestyle blocks. While the Northland region, which encompasses Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads, has a median price of just below $500,000, lifestyle properties have recently sold for over $3 million. Buyers looking for a sea change are looking to purchase in Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads from young families through to retirees.

What to do? Charlotte Wilson from RE/MAX Realty Group was drawn to the region’s natural beauty five years ago. She says aside from enjoying the stunning beaches, getting out on the water fishing or enjoying the walking tracks scattered throughout the township, her top things to see and do in Mangawhai include: • Concerts at The Waterfront Mangawhai Tavern • Wine tasting at Brooke Lane • Enjoying Te Arai Point beach and the Managwhai Heads surf beach (making sure you grab a coffee or fruit ice-cream at Mean Bean Coffee at the Heads Beach!) • Following the collectable and boutique shop trail throughout the township • The Smashed Pippi Gallery to see some of New Zealand’s best pottery • The ‘outrageously cool’ Mangawhai Activity Zone for kids and adults alike

A case of Goldilocks

Goldilocks found when she entered the three bears’ home that some things were too big, some were too small, and some were just right!

Fortunately, it’s a bit that way with houses. Not only do they come in different sizes but the ‘just right’ house can easily change at different stages in your life.

There are people who follow trends in home sizes. Last year, new research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Commsec pointed to evidence that Australian homes have been shrinking in size over the past decade. Apparently, homes had been getting bigger until a few years ago. Last year, the typical area of an Australian home, including units and houses, fell to just 186.3sqm. Free-standing houses now account for just over half of all new homes built, with high-rise apartments and town houses most in demand. On the other side of the Tasman, according to Stats NZ, the floor area of stand-alone houses approved for construction in the year to October 2019 was 195 square metres, which was down from a peak of 218 square metres a decade ago. Traditional stand-alone houses account for about 60 percent of new dwellings in New Zealand, with the standalone houses tending to be much bigger than other options such as apartments and townhouses at an average of 100 square metres.

Auckland City Council reports demonstrate the average dwelling sold in Auckland since around 2010 was approximately 135 square metres including garage. Across all of New Zealand, new homes tend to be significantly larger than older homes. Houses built in the 1970s were typically in the 110-120 square metre range. By 2010, new homes being built were approaching 200 square metres. Back in Australia, the Commsec report looked at the number of bedrooms in homes. Twenty years ago, one in every six houses had four or more bedrooms. That had risen to almost a third of Australian homes at the time of the 2016 Census. Perhaps demographic estimates can, to an extent, explain why houses needed to be larger. Certainly, in Australia, 2006 to 2013 produced the first increase in household size - i.e. the average number of people in Australian homes – in at least a century. Why? Children were staying home longer with their parents, more generations were choosing to live under the one roof, and new migrants were choosing to stay with family or friends. However according to quarterly ABS data, since 2014, the number of people per dwelling has been falling. For New Zealand, Stats NZ had the number of people per household generally increasing since 2008.

The average household size is projected to slowly decrease between 2013 and 2038. In a report published in 2015, one-person households were projected to be the fastest growing household type in New Zealand and are expected to account for 27 percent of all households in 2038, up from 24 percent in 2013. A ‘big is good’ cultural mantra when building has swelled house sizes, particularly in the past 20 years, putting Australia and New Zealand right among the most space-hungry builders in the world. ‘Buy as much and as big as possible’ has been the message but people are now discovering reasons why they may actually be happier if they downsize their home. For example, generation Y, millennials, couples and small families want to live closer to work, cafes, restaurants, shopping and airports and are giving up living space for better proximity to the desirable amenities. Many look to low maintenance to free up their time. Affordability is also having an impact. ‘Tiny homes’ are drawing increased interest as an alternative to traditional housing. But, while people may be sacrificing property size, they are not scrimping on quality, with small homes featuring clever design solutions that save on space, while keeping a strong focus on practicality and aesthetics.

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Work through downsizing decisions with a team on your side - financial, tax, real estate and mortgage advisors – to ensure you take the best course of action for your future. Why do so many of us end up in large homes in the first place. It could be because we’ve outgrown a smaller house, our income and status has increased, we hope to impress others and can afford it, or it is the home of our dreams. Or perhaps it’s because nobody has told us not to, or even that we might be happier in a smaller home… at any point in our life.

How might living in a smaller home contribute to happiness?

Could you be happy

with less? IS A SMALLER HOME IN YOUR SIGHTS? CAN YOU PICTURE YOURSELF DOWNSIZING IN THE FUTURE? Do any of the following scenarios sound familiar? “We have a much bigger house than we need. We still have a mortgage, but we would prefer not all our money to be going into that.” “We spend all our time cleaning and maintaining rooms we never go into.” “We want to be able to lock up and travel more, without having to worry about the pool, the gardens, etc.” “Our house needs a lot of upkeep and the yard is high maintenance and taking up too much of our time.” “We are not as mobile as we used to be and struggle with too many levels and too many steps.” “I’m a single parent of two kids. If I sell this house, I think I could pay cash for a smaller home with the equity. I have a good job, but I worry that I won’t have enough for retirement.”

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• Smaller homes need less time, energy, and effort to maintain. • Less time spent cleaning and maintaining means more time to do the things you really want to do and that matter to you most. • Living in a smaller home can bring a family closer together through more social interaction. • Smaller homes can be less expensive to purchase and keep in terms of insurance, taxes, heating, cooling, electricity, etc. • Smaller homes will generally have less environmental impact as they require fewer resources to build and maintain. • Buying a smaller home may mean less debt and less risk.

The truth is that once people decide to start living small, they often find there are many advantages to downsizing, including smaller bills and a smaller set of responsibilities.

• A more affordable home might mean a wider market should you choose to sell.

Downsizing is best not done on a whim.

• Smaller homes decrease the temptation to accumulate.

Ideally, plan at least a couple of years in advance. Explore different housing options and locations. Do you want/need to be close to family or certain facilities? What’s the cost of living likely to be? What about the weather? Try and create a clear vision of your down-sized home and how you will interact with it. You know the idiom about death and taxes… almost as certain are the impacts of aging and the chance that in retirement, many may not have the same disposable income previously enjoyed.

• A smaller home means less to decorate.

• Minimalisation is said to free up the mind. • You spend less time decluttering.

TIP:

Don’t keep your downsizing plans a secret. Family and friends may need time to adjust. Even adult children can become emotional about the family home being sold.

When downsizing becomes a serious plan, you’ll need some serious strategies. It’s time to add the Marie Kondo Method to your repertoire.

101 Does it spark joy?

Decluttering

The quintessential declutter checklist

IN THE KITCHEN

BEDROOMS

BATHROOMS

1. Glassware...............................

13. Shirts.......................................

33. Medicines...............................

2. Cookbooks............................

14. Trousers, shorts...................

34. Make up..................................

3. Kitchen gadgets..................

15. Dresses, skirts......................

35. Hair accessories..................

4. Kitchen appliances.............

16. Hats..........................................

5. Pots and pans.......................

17. Clothes hangers..................

36. Personal beauty appliances.............................

6. Mixing bowls.........................

18. Shoes.......................................

7. Serving platters...................

19. Ties, belts, accessories.....

8. Tupperware...........................

20. Coats.......................................

9. Water jugs.............................

21. Winter gear...........................

10. Coffee mugs.........................

22. Socks, underwear...............

11. Glass jars................................

23. Sleepwear..............................

12. Pantry food...........................

24. Jewellery................................ 25. Handbags and purses....... 26. Baby clothes......................... 27. Baby supplies....................... 28. Pillows.....................................

37. Toiletries................................. 38. Towels..................................... 39. Bathmats................................

LIVING AREAS 40. Furniture................................. 41. Magazines, newspapers... 42. Books....................................... 43. CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes......

29. Linen sets...............................

44. Audio/visual components, cables..........

30. Doonas, quilts, comforters.............................

45. Televisions, monitors.........

31. Blankets..................................

46. Video game systems & accessories........................

32. Suitcases................................

47. Video games......................... 48. Figurines................................ 49. Crystal / China..................... 50. Vases.......................................

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101 Decluttering

The quintessential declutter checklist

CONTINUED

OFFICE/STUDY

MISCELLANEOUS

51. Computers - equipment & peripherals........................

78. Cleaning supplies................ 79. Photos.....................................

52. Old keyboards......................

80. Photography supplies.......

53. Home office supplies.........

81. Sewing supplies...................

54. Pens, pencils.........................

82. Scrap-booking supplies...

55. Rubber bands....................... 56. Staplers................................... 57. Old batteries......................... 58. Old mobiles........................... 59. Manuals................................... 60. Old warrantees.................... 61. Phone books......................... 62. Old schoolbooks and papers............................

GARAGE & OUTDOORS

64. Hardware................................ 65. Pet bedding, toys................ 66. Eskies and coolers.............. 67. Sporting goods....................

69. Automotive supplies.......... 70. Scrap pieces of timber..... 71. Brooms................................... 72. Rakes....................................... 73. Shovels.................................... 74. Garden tools......................... 75. Plant containers, pots....... 76. Plant fertilisers and potting mix............................ 77. Empty cardboard boxes.......................................

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84. Magnets.................................. 85. Coins........................................

63. Tools........................................

68. Automobiles.........................

83. Wall decorations.................

86. Coupons................................. 87. Board games........................ 88. Puzzles.................................... 89. Decks of cards..................... 90. Unused gifts.......................... 91. Sports memorabilia........... 92. Toys.......................................... 93. Stuffed animals.................... 94. Kid’s artwork........................ 95. Paper goods......................... 96. Wrapping supplies............. 97. Plastic bags........................... 98. Party supplies...................... 99. Seasonal decorations........ 100. C andles................................... 101. Candle Holders....................

Buying solo

By Jennifer E Kent

Imagine waking up one morning and deciding you no longer wanted to pay off someone else’s house because it was time to buy your own. Not an uncommon thought for a renter! There comes a time in most people’s lives when they decide it’s time to jump on the property ladder.

what is now his home after looking at another property close by.

There’s no denying that the road to home ownership can be tough and getting there can be a bit of a hard slog.

One thing that did surprise him, though, was the extra expenses such as the solicitor’s fees, building and pest inspections, and at the time he was buying, grant applications. For Al, surrounding himself with educated and experienced professionals helped significantly.

Deciding to become a homeowner and actually becoming a homeowner are two very different things. The decision to buy a home is not often made on a whim, but rather with the support and encouragement of a second person. However, purchasers going it alone – the solo homeowners - are by no means a minority. For homeowner Al, the decision to buy into the property market was entirely his, and his alone. “I was renting at the time and really, I just woke up one morning and decided I was sick of paying off my landlord’s mortgage, so I started looking into buying,” Al explained.

initial figure comes down to how much you’re willing and able to put aside. This often involves making lifestyle changes. “I was lucky in the fact that my job and lifestyle allowed me to save significantly, but I also wasn’t living an extravagant lifestyle,” he added. “With a steady income and very little expenses, I had been able to put money aside for some time so, when it came time to buy, I was able to put a deposit down relatively quickly.” Small sacrifices, such as eating out less, to big ones such as moving back in with Mum and Dad (if they let you!), can help you save significantly. The sooner you reach your deposit goal the better but allowing for the ‘just in case’ moments is equally as important.

“I realise it’s not how it works for everyone, but I was lucky in the fact I had very little expenses at the time and where I was renting was quite cheap.”

When it came time to decide which home to buy, Al said while he knew what he was after, he didn’t rush into anything. The whole process took him around three months.

Saving for a deposit is no doubt the biggest hurdle when it comes to home ownership and achieving that

He was familiar with the area in which he wished to buy, and it was by chance that he stumbled upon

“I knew my budget and the area I wanted to buy in. There were certain things I was looking for in a home, but ultimately I made sure it was something I could comfortably afford on my own.”

Being able to successfully manage your money is important for any homeowner. Having the support of a team of experienced professionals such as mortgage brokers, financial advisors, conveyancing lawyers and general insurance brokers, for example, can help you access good advice and guide you in your home ownership journey. You don’t have to have an ‘end goal’ when you purchase your home. Chances are that your first home may not be your forever home but being able to buy and live within your means is incredibly important, particularly when it’s just your name on the mortgage. While it may seem a challenge affording to buy on your own, there’s plenty of evidence proving that it is possible to buy solo.

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Property development: is it for

me?

Tandi Gill is a co-owner of RE/MAX Advantage. She and sales associate, Reno Muscat, developed and created the RE/MAX Advantage Project Marketing Division and work directly with property developers and project marketers in South East Queensland. VIEW spoke with Tandi about property development and property marketing. What is property development? The scope of a project can range from inner-city high-rise buildings to smaller suburban LMR (Low Medium Residential) sites catering for homeowners and investors. We have been mostly involved with developers, commercial and investors with small to medium sized mixed-use residential development projects, ranging from 10 units to 60 units and including commercial/ office.

Do people ask you how they can get started in property development? The scope of a project from sourcing a site and initial feasibility studies can be a large process particularly for first time developers. From us they need up-to-date information on current market conditions, buyer feedback in the marketplace, advice on marketing off-the-plan and feasibility for the project. It’s difficult to simplify because it involves such a wide range of activities and processes. For them to be successful, they need us to work side-by-side with them to gain knowledge on markets, economics, feasibility and mix of units, finance, town planning, the construction processes and the marketing of real estate projects considering other developments/timeframes.

Who should they be talking with? Real estate agents; finance specialists; accountants; lawyers; town planners; urban designers; architects; building designers; engineers; environmental specialists; landscape architects; building contractors; project managers; construction managers; quantity surveyors; project marketers… and more. Depending on how complex the project is, they may need to call on some or all of these.

What steps are involved in a development? My first suggestion is to establish how many pre-sales would be required to ascertain borrowing capacity and timeframes based on feasibility/mix of units and commercial for the project. Managing all associated costs over the course of the development is paramount. The process generally moves through the following phases: the pre-purchase stage of concept and feasibility; marketing the development to obtain pre-sales which includes providing architectural concept plans as well as finishes and fixtures, off-the-plan contract preparation, contract negotiation and purchase; town planning and development approval; planning and documentation (consultants like an architect, quantity surveyor and engineers); pre-construction (quotes and finance); construction; and finally completion.

Do you recommend using a project manager? A beginner developer can definitely use a good project manager to be responsible for the successful delivery of the project, preferably on time and within budget. Ideally, they would be involved from the project’s inception through to completion.

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What happens on completion of a project? Depending on the developer’s circumstances, they can sell the development for a profit or hold on to it as an investment property.

What is the role of the project marketer? Project marketers have thorough market knowledge and project understanding, from concept and preparation of feasibility/unit mix to sale, from design phase to returnon-investment. They have strong development industry contacts, marketing expertise and sales experience in off-the plan contracts/ process, plus passion for property. They will highlight the total benefits offered by the project – selling the developer, the development, the location, and then sell the apartment. It seems the best path to becoming a successful property developer is to start small and work your way up, and to realise that you will need more knowledge than you probably think – and a team of experts that you trust, all working with you, who can tell you everything you need to know and offer direction. When it comes to property development, there may be things you already know and definitely things you’ll know you don’t know, but you can be sure as the project moves through its phases, you will discover many things you didn’t even know you didn’t know or, in fact, needed to know!

ON LOCATION

Sandgate,

Queensland, Australia

Where are we? History and bayside charm combine in the coastal suburb of Sandgate, 16km north of Brisbane’s CBD just south of the Redcliffe peninsula and in the Moreton Bay region. Sandgate is an architecturally striking suburb, with its rich past featured in the many historical buildings and eclectic range of homes, with no two the same. Waterfront living meets country life by the bay; and the expansive bushland and nature reserves are home to kangaroos, koalas and an array of birdlife.

Lifestyle Sandgate is a vibrant, family-friendly and historic town that enjoys a closeknit community atmosphere. The strong sense of ‘community’ in the bayside has neighbours knowing each other and residents supporting local small businesses. Families run fundraising events and the whole area joins in to embrace the importance of community and the beautiful surrounds. Festivals held throughout the year celebrate the vibrancy and artistic influence of the district. Many activities centre around Bramble Bay.

Enjoying a lifestyle by the Bay is easy, especially with a great range of local boutiques, antique shops, cafes/restaurants and bars an easy walk – not drive – away. In Sandgate, residents enjoy a balanced seaside village lifestyle while close to the city, with easy access via public transport.

Market snapshot There’s been massive regeneration in the last decade. The majority of Sandgate residents are young families, couples and a few retirees.

The region offers terrific value for money, with generous land sizes compared to inner city. Multi-unit dwellings are rare. Less than 20 per cent of the area is units and townhouses. Council zoning prevents high-rise unit complexes rises on its waterfront, which is very much appreciated by locals who prefer the ‘cottage’ feel of the foreshore. Median house price in Sandgate is $680,000.

Must do’s RE/MAX Property Shop’s Tamara Wecker says there’s plenty on offer in Sandgate whether you are visiting for a day, weekend or staying forever. She says, • You can’t visit Sandgate without taking a stroll along the Shorncliffe Pier. • Kite surf, or just watch, at a waterfront recognised as one of the best in Australia for the sport. • Watch the pelicans. • Grab fish’n’chips or pack a picnic and sit in the foreshore parklands with locals and visitors alike. • Wander the Sandgate Historical Trail • Join the Sandgate community as it hosts and celebrates some of the region’s best festivals throughout the year, including the Blue Water Festival on the Easter long weekend followed by the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race, Einbunpin Festival and Music by the Sea.

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Best of hotel living at home A memorable hotel experience stays around with you for some time. Perhaps it was the quirky décor (If you’ve stayed at QT Hotel in Sydney or Wellington, you are probably nodding your head), the breath-taking view from your room or the amazing breakfast.

The hotel people know that impressing their guests with new experiences is a great way to get repeat customers. Have you ever thought about your experiences with technology while a hotel guest? It seems that many of us are wanting to bring our best hotel tech experiences into our homes, and this may be a tip for sellers looking for a point of difference. Consumers’ smart home expectations are reflecting vacation experiences, so going beyond the horizon pool with swim-up bar. A hotel may be the first place you come across technology such as smart parking, occupancy sensor-controlled systems, predictive maintenance and high-tech bathrooms. The other thing about the hotel people is that they are generally focused on finding ways to enhance the guest experience, but at the same time, not blow out the budget.

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They look for ways to control costs. Technology may deliver both, and while there is much you can’t bring home from your hotel experience, like the 24-hour concierge, you may be able to replicate the technology in your home. Are you familiar with predictive maintenance? By formal explanation, it is a technique that uses conditionmonitoring tools and techniques to track the performance of equipment during normal operation to detect possible defects and fix them before they result in failure. It can involve tools within the walls of the hotel bedroom or bathroom to alert staff of leaking pipes or electrical faults. This smart-hotel technology trend is moving into the residential arena, with such maintenance tools integrated into homes being built. Homeowners will be more familiar with occupancy sensor-controlled systems.

Smart thermostats have built-in sensors that scan the space and the room constantly for motion and body heat and can raise or lower temperatures based on seasons and how many people there are in the room. This and sensor-controlled lighting can help reduce energy usage and costs. It’s possible for lights to shut off when no one is in a particular room or in a particular space, and for power supply to the microwave or coffee machine to be shut down when no one is around. If you’ve ever travelled in Japan, you may recall the toilets with great fondness. Smart toilets are found in most hotels and department store bathrooms. This high-tech toilet wizardry delivers climate-controlled seats, a touch of a button or wave of a hand to lift or lower the seat, a built-in bidet, warm air dryer, automatic deodorizer and flush, and it’s self-cleaning! It’s an experience that is likely to find its way into the home. So too is smart parking. The use of technology to assign parking spots and streamline traffic in and out of a parking garage will become more prevalent in residential developments, with high-end home buys being the first to expect this.

10 2020

Finance tips for

By Matthew Andrews, General Manager, Pivotal Financial Australia

The finance world is a complex one, heavily regulated, with a vast array of lending products. So how does one choose a home loan? This is where a mortgage broker can help. Brokers are dedicated to understanding how to match you and your circumstances with a lender that suits you. There are so many factors to consider when making an application, and a competent broker will take the time to identify the factors that are the most important to you. They will also guide you through the process of obtaining finance. No matter your circumstances, it’s always worth a phone call! In the meantime, here are 10 tips from our Pivotal brokers to consider:

– Pay your credit cards in full every month. The interest you pay on a $20,000 credit card may be the equivalent of the interest on a $80,000 home loan. Expensive!

– Set up an off-set account against your home loan account. That way you’ll see your savings grow and save interest on your loan at the same time.

– Stability is built with three legs – maintain three separate accounts for saving, spending and emergencies.

– Review your loan structure at least every 12 months. A lot can happen in that time, and you may be losing money if you don’t keep abreast of the market.

– Pay yourself first - Save 10% of all income into a separate savings account. Watch it grow!

– Seek professional advice on how to structure your finances before making purchases. It’s the things that you are not aware of that can bite you later on.

For more tips, or to discuss your personal circumstances, contact us and make your next move your best move!

– Maintain separate business and personal bank accounts. It keeps your transactions transparent and your accountant will love you at tax time. – Build your round table – seek out a team of trusted advisers and use them! – Seek professional advice before fixing your rate. The rate may look great, but there can be heavy penalties if you break it. – Write a budget and keep it real. A budget is a tool to help you see where your money actually comes from and actually goes to, not a wish list of where you think it ‘should’ go.

AUSTRALIA Pivotalfin.com.au NEW ZEALAND Pivotalfin.co.nz

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I give credit to all of the brands that are taking part in initiative, which is not only helping those in need during the crisis but will be there for the communities as they heal.

Global RE/MAX supports Beyond the Bricks At the time of writing this article, approximately 40 real estate industry brands and stakeholders had united in Beyond the Bricks, an industry-wide response to the devastation caused by Australia’s bushfires. The fires sparked in September 2019 – including on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Binna Burra in the Scenic Rim. By the start of Australia’s annual bushfire season in October, embers spread, leading to more intense fires. On November 11, a state of emergency was declared in New South Wales and Queensland. Fires continued to spread. Just before Christmas, parts of Victoria were on fire. Then South Australia. The fires continued to worsen and spread. Locations were familiar names, even overseas, including Snowy Mountains, Kangaroo Island, and the ski fields of Mt Buller and Mt Hotham. At the time of writing, the devastating bushfires had scorched more than one million hectares of land, affecting every state and territory in some way. People had died and more than 1.25 billion animals - wildlife and stock – were estimated to have perished. The bushfires also dealt a punishing blow to many primary producers.

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Many people were left helpless and homeless. The heartache prompted real estate agencies and bodies to band together, and collectively support charities who would make a difference as the extent of the damage was realised. RE/MAX Australia was amongst the big brands to quickly join the initiative. Director Josh Davoren explains Beyond the Bricks. “The industry-wide response to the devastation has a three-phase focus that encompasses the pillars of ‘relief, rebuild, restore’. The aim is to provide immediate relief and support to those in need (Phase 1); help to rebuild family homes and individual lives (Phase 2) and help restore affected communities and encourage ongoing support through, for example, promoting tourism and local businesses (Phase 3).

“The Australian real estate industry united and RE/MAX extended that to the global real estate scene. As our Australian network sprang into action, our Denver colleagues gave their support in promoting Beyond the Bricks through the global RE/MAX network and many of the 125,000 RE/MAX members globally reached out to us.” Beyond the Bricks rolls out in association with four charities: St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies), The Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). “The extent of the devastation caused by the bushfires across Australia is shocking and we continue to count the cost in lives, homes, animals, farmland and bushland,” says Josh. “Not only is there the immediate loss of property and livelihoods but ongoing damage to communities.” From establishment, Beyond the Bricks’ emphasis was on immediate support and long-term strategies to rebuild affected communities, while recognising there will be ongoing challenges as they attempt to rebuild. The emotional and psychological toll will be long-term. “It may take years to rebuild these fire-ravaged communities and the emotional damage may take a lot longer,” said Josh. “Our communities need our help. Our real estate businesses are part of the fabric of the communities they serve. As real estate professionals we stand proud as we continue to support and rebuild our communities.” Visit https://www.beyondthebricks. com.au/remax

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FOR SALE

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agent ASK AN

How do I catch the buyer’s attention? Depending where you read it, somewhere around 88 per cent, and anything up to 95 per cent, of prospective buyers go online to search, which means images of your property are their first point of contact. In all of about eight seconds, your prospective buyer has seen your photos, taken in the headline and made a decision whether to look further at your property or keep scrolling on to the next. In those few seconds, poor imagery could cost you a sale! Consider that: • Having a smartphone is not enough to make you a great photographer. • Professional photographers have the equipment, the experience and the ability to put themselves in the shoes of the buyer, in order to capture the right imagery for the best sale outcome. • Superior photos, video and drone photography are even more worthwhile investing in if yours is a high-end property. If you only have eight seconds, make it count with the best quality stills and best quality video.

Is location really that important? YES! People, in the main, want to live close to the things they like the best: things like dining, playing and relaxing… and friends. Invest in locations where there is the strongest demand and desire to live. Such locations generally feature such amenities as well-regarded schools, good transport, great retail and lifestyle choices, and cafe precincts.

People value time, so the time it takes to commute and access lifestyle choices remains important. In an age where technology allows people to work from home, download speed may be more important to some buyers than kilometres. Internet access may be the box a buyer needs to tick over close proximity to transport infrastructure for the work commute. The CBD location is a good investment if you want to attract the younger demographic. With an emphasis on walkers and cyclists today, look for infrastructure that encourages these activities. Middle-ring suburbs, around 10 kilometres from the CBD, can be in demand as they gentrify. And watch for the ripple spreading outwards. Consider ‘affordable’ in terms of whether a property fits with the type of people who can afford to live there. It’s not the same for everyone. Never has been!

Should I buy a tenanted property? As an investor, make sure the appeal of buying a tenanted property doesn’t overshadow the property itself. Do the usual research on location, structure, future development etc. Speak with the property’s current property manager and have them advise on the current situation of the tenants and lease. Ask to view the current lease in place – in terms of length, additional agreements or anything outstanding from previous landlords.

Check the rent rate is on-par with current market conditions. Sure enough, there’s the immediate rental income on settlement and the time, money and possible stress associated with finding a suitable tenant but focus on the property itself first and the current tenant after that.

Should I sell while my property is tenanted? There are always two sides when it comes to property changing hands. If you are selling, someone else is buying. A rental agreement and tenants may make the business a little more challenging. Tenants must be advised of intent to sell, prior to the property being shown to prospective buyers. Opening the home for inspection will impact on current tenants. Written notice must be provided to the tenant, generally with a minimum 24 hours’ notice. Inspections may create inconveniences for tenants during this time. Be prepared for tenants to potentially negotiate decreases in rent or costs for maintaining property during this time. A rental agreement does not have to end simply because an owner wishes to sell. In fact, marketing the sale of an investment property as already tenanted may be a positive for other investors. The buyer may find it attractive to take over the tenancy and continue renting it out to current tenants. If a fixed term agreement is in place, unless the tenant breaches conditions of the agreement, it will carry on as is.

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DESTINATION

Plenty to love about

South Africa

Popular spots include the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma ranges; Hermanus for whale watching; Knysna lagoon, Oudtshoorn; the ‘ostrich capital of the world’; Cango Caves for some of the world’s largest stalagmite formations; and Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. Dragon Mountain in the Drakensberg Ranges is the highest mountain in South Africa and said to be the inspiration behind J.R.R Tolkien’s Misty Mountains in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Cape Town is the #1 tourist spot because it has it all – stunning beaches, spectacular scenery, great food and wine, and close-up wildlife encounters. Take a five-minute cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Hike Platteklip Gorge. Sight-see in Bo-Kaap or on Robben Island. Cape of Good Hope is Africa’s southwesternmost point. It’s where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet and is regarded as one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world. Tour the Cape Peninsula and visit the seaside villages of Scarborough and Simons Towns and Boulders Beach.

Safaris are a major drawcard. Everyone wants to spot the ‘Big Five’ - elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo. Kruger National Park is world-famous. Addo Elephant National Park was set up to protect the last of the elephant herds and adds Great White sharks and Southern Right whales to make up the ‘Big Seven’. Drive the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Mossel Bay along the south-western tip.

Add to the list these slightly lesser known adventures: Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage site just 50km outside of Johannesburg, where 15 fossil sites with a huge collection of Hominin fossils and stone tools document the times of nearly four million years. Go horse-riding in Namaqualand National Park. In August, ride through wildflowers alongside zebras and other mammals during the day and camp under the stars at night. If sharks are your thing, do a cage dive with great white sharks in Gansbaai, visit the Cathedral dive site at Aliwal Shaol during ragged tooth shark season or visit around mid-June to mid-July for the legendary sardine run. Finally, not to be overlooked are the friendly folk of South Africa who will greet you warmly and the wonderful diversity and affordability of South Africa’s food and wine. The Cape Winelands region, just north of Cape Town, is home to historic wine estates and beautiful old architecture, or Stellenbosch, the birthplace of Pinotage.

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Three of South Africa’s best holiday regions: INVESTOR ALERT: HIGH DEMAND FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS

Seaside Escapes (Western Cape) The Western Cape is the place to be – provided you can withstand its icy waters. For bustling shorelines close to trendy eateries and pubs, visit Camps Bay or Plettenberg Bay; and St Helena Bay and Wilderness for more remote seaside escapes.

Bushveld Retreats (Mpumalanga and Limpopo) Mpumalanga and Limpopo are South Africa’s best provinces for game viewings and safari holidays. Bela-Bela in Limpopo and Lydenburg in Mpumalanga are great tourist towns.

Haven for Adventurers (Kwazulu-Natal) Home to the Drakensburg Mountain range, Kwazulu-Natal is the perfect province for avid adventurers with canopy tours to mountain bike trails and fly-fishing sites. Howick is a good base close to the iconic mountain range.

Kalk Bay: one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world INVESTOR ALERT: YEAR-ROUND RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RETURNS THROUGH ANNUAL HOUSE PRICE GROWTH South Africa is a treasure trove of tourist destination ‘hidden gems’ such as the quaint suburb of Kalk Bay, dubbed one of the ‘coolest neighbourhoods around the world’ by Forbes magazine. There are boutique stores, the iconic Olympia Café, the Dalebrook rock pool, a quaint harbour, surf and mountain views. The median asking price of a freehold title last year was R6 million (approx. $599k AUD and $623k NZD)

Buying real estate

The most desirable Johannesburg neighbourhoods are found in the north of the city, including suburbs like Dunkeld, Hyde Park, Houghton, Illovo, Inanda, Melrose, Parkhurst, Parktown, Parkview, Sandhurst, Saxonwold and Westcliff. In Cape Town, City Bowl is an upscale residential suburb with a vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle. Atlantic Seaboard properties are among the most sought-after, in upscale neighbourhoods like Bakoven, Bantry Bay, Camps, Clifton, Fresnaye, Green Point and Mouille Point. To buy a permanent holding or holiday home, expect to pay on average up to R1mil for a small home of up to 140sqm (approx. $100,000 AUD/NZD), R2 million for a medium-sized home (141sqm to 220sqm) and between R20 million to R50 million (approx. $2mil to $5mil AUD/NZD) for top-end luxury homes.

four-bedroom home with a

For around a $1mil AUD/NZD spend in Cape Town, you could pick up a

pool and garden in a typical suburb, an oceanfront apartment or a residential golf course property. While around 38% of homes sold for R400 000 and below in the first

Want to know more? https://www.remax.co.za/

RE/MAX of Southern Africa has more than 2,450 agents operating from 175-plus offices in ten countries.

quarter of 2018 according to a

It was the first country RE/MAX

RE/MAX National Housing Report,

franchise to be sold outside of

entry-level homes in decent suburbs

North America and is the largest real

are generally R1 mill+ .

estate company in South Africa today.

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY At the time of writing, there were no restrictions but there are guidelines and steps all purchasers must be aware of. E.G. all foreign funds remitted to the country must be declared and documented, the property must be endorsed ‘non-resident’ as a condition for repatriation of funds and non-resident investors must pay Capital Gains Tax on the property’s sale. Tax on the profit of the sale of a property is calculated according to the local tax laws of the country to which a seller hopes to transfer the funds.

Non-residents intending to stay in their property for long periods must comply with the SA Immigration Act. PLEASE CHECK THIS INFORMATION WITH THE RELEVANT AUTHORITY.

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The

edge

A post by Dave Skow, Go Fund Me organiser, very early in the campaign: Thanks for all the early support! I’ve been contacted by a few of you just to make sure all funds will go directly to Luke - please rest assured that I’m only doing this as a big Survivor fan and someone who was really touched by Luke’s story over the past few years. I’m extremely fortunate to have a very blessed life financially so am just looking to do what I can to help. Thanks again for getting behind this. Fingers crossed we can crack the $500k! Incredibly, in less than three days, it had attracted more than $550,000 from supporters.

Real estate agents today cannot afford to be ‘average’. In the business of helping sellers sell homes and buyers buy homes, an agent’s future is in delivering exceptional services. People’s experiences and the relationships you build with them… that’s the ‘think bigger’ in RE/MAX. And in a network of exceptional agents, these are those whose initiatives are extraordinary – giving them ‘the edge’. Introducing… Dave Skow The RE/MAX hero who stepped in to help the people’s champion In September last year, a young dad called Luke Toki, from Baldivis in Western Australia, proved himself to be the ‘People’s Champion’ even though he didn’t win the season of Australian Survivor. It broke the hearts of Australian Survivor fans around the country when Luke bombed out of the immunity challenge and his chance at the $500,000 prize in the finale. Luke had joined ‘Survivor’ for the second time in two years, hoping to win the prize money to support his young family. His sons Nate and Lennox are both on the autism spectrum and require expensive therapy sessions, whilst his newborn daughter Madeleine was

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diagnosed with cystic fibrosis just weeks before he left for filming in Fiji. She will require expensive ongoing treatment and medication. Dave Skow, the broker owner of RE/MAX Elite in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and an Australian Survivor fan, set up a Go Fund Me page after Luke’s devastating exit from the competition. It was to become the fastest Go Fund Me campaign in Australian history.

Inside a week, Dave posted this message on the Go Fund Me page: Hi all, In what will be the last update for this Go Fund Me page, Luke & Mary have put together this video to say thanks. To all 16,000+ donors, you should all be very proud! This has been a life changing undertaking for the Toki family. Thanks again for all of your wellwishes and messages of support over the past week. This has been a tremendous effort which has yielded an astounding result. Take care, Dave

After the amount raised passed the half a million-dollar mark, Dave announced that the donations had been stopped on Luke and Mary Loki’s request. “They decided they didn’t want to take anything more after seeing how much had been raised and were overwhelmed by the kindness of the people donating. As they said, all those people have their own goals and their own bills. “They are just extremely grateful to people for giving their children such a good start in life,” Dave said. If Luke Toki is the People’s Champion and survivor, Dave Skow is undeniably a true hero.

Welcome to my home An open home, or an open-for-inspection (OFI), occurs when a property that is on the market is available to potential buyers at a nominated time and date.

• Registering your contact details so the real estate team can keep you informed about the property you viewed and others that are similar.

Visitors to the property can walk through and around the home. Visitors are asked to register their details and give comment so agents can provide market feedback to the property owner.

As a potential buyer, you are conducting the first ‘building inspection’. Your personal inspection is an informal initial sweep that will be later followed up by the professional building inspector. Practical things you might check out are:

While buyers may have had their first look at a property online, it is the open home or OFI where they can get their first real feel for a property and its surroundings; and there is an expectation from house hunters that an open home or OFI is part of the marketing strategy. The property owner and marketing agent should work closely in planning open home strategies. Successful open houses begin with thoughtful preparation. Timing is important. Don’t schedule it on a day when a local community or significant sporting event is being held, for example. Avoid holidays that are renowned for people leaving town. All well and good, if it’s a holiday that brings people in! Discuss advertising and promotion for the open home with the agent. Property owners can assist here by sharing news through social media. Let all the neighbours know. There are generally local council rules and regulations around signage, which the agent will be familiar with. The agent may suggest balloons or colourful flags to draw attention to the property.

When it comes to managing the open home, maximise the potential of the property inside and out to attract good buyers. Be ready at least a half hour before the open home commences. Hand the property over to the real estate team and leave. Not everyone who comes to an open home is a potential buyer. There are bound to be curious neighbours and passers-by. You never know if they know someone who is ready to buy a home. Potential buyers will often go along to an open home rather than phoning and asking for an agent, possibly because they don’t feel as committed. If the shoe is on the other foot and you are going to an open home as a buyer, your strategies might include: • Carefully planning your visits to maximise your time at each property; • Taking notes and photos on your smartphone or iPad; • Drawing up wants and needs as headings to make notes against; • Comparing properties that are priced above and below your ideal budget; • Asking questions of the real estate team; • Giving honest comment to the real estate team so the property owner gets valuable market feedback;

• Windows and doors not opening and closing properly • Signs of damp, mildew and mould along skirting boards, ceilings and walls. • Cracks in interior or exterior walls. • Ceilings that seem to sag or walls that seem off centre or look like they’re buckling. • Musty smells. • Signs of rot in outdoor decks and floorboards. • Water running as it should from taps, including how long it takes for hot water to appear. If you’ve noticed the smaller, often cosmetic problems, your building inspector is free to focus on any potential bigger issues. Open homes or OFIs have been evolving for about 100 years, with changes in use of technology, to staging, to the days of the week and times of day they are held. The one consistent is that it’s the best way to get a feel for the home. It also provides an opportunity to begin a positive relationship with the marketing agent.

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By Jennifer E Kent

Equipping tomorrow’s

tenants Do you ever think back to when you first left school? I do. I was so eager to ‘grow up’ and move out of home, become my own person… pay my own rent (and why ever did I want that so badly!). It wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. Finding a landlord who was willing to take a 17-year-old university student and her two friends as tenants was a challenge I didn’t anticipate. It was both frustrating and disappointing but, with the help of some kind people who stuck their neck out for me, I eventually had my rental property. Your experience may read much the same, perhaps with even more challenges. Someone helping others get off on the right foot with landlords and property managers is Katie Knight from RE/MAX Success. I spoke with Katie about her involvement in the Queensland Government’s Tenancy Skills Institute and how she’s helping our future tenants.

Katie, how did you become involved with the Tenancy Skills Institute? I met with the organisers at a function some time ago - at that stage they were running the program independently. I remember looking at what they were doing and seeing the value in what the program had to offer.

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Can you explain what the program is all about? The program targets anyone who wants a rental property or like to improve their skillset in maintaining private tenancy. It’s now a Queensland Governmentfunded program where students can either book themselves into a course online, or may be referred to the program by someone like me. It’s designed to give students the skills and understanding of what is involved in renting a property. It covers everything from communicating effectively with property managers and neighbours, care and maintenance

of the property, independent living and budgeting. It gives basic information that no-one tells you as a first-time renter and it does it in an in-depth, thorough way.

How do you work with students? I’m invited to speak with course graduates. I’m excited for them and am keen to show them how they can connect with property managers (friends not foe!). It gives me a chance to talk to them about how things really work and what to expect. Fostering good relationships from the start is really beneficial to everyone.

Already the program seems to be making a big impact. I see that, of the first 100 graduates, 70 per cent had moved from homelessness to securing a house and over 80 per cent were living in private rental market housing. Yes, not only is it arming people with skills in finding and securing property, it is educating them about living independently. I had a great upbringing in a very stable and supportive household but not everyone has that - for a variety of reasons. Some find it more challenging to find secure housing. The program gives students knowledge and access to resources out there that may help them, especially in a situation where they feel helpless.

It sounds as though it goes a lot further than just helping people find a rental property.

Katie, what else does 2020 hold for you? There are a lot of changes on the horizon for 2020. As we see what happens with the rollout of changes to rental law reforms, we’ll be navigating and managing that alongside our landlords and tenants. I’d love to see the rollout of the online training course in schools, but that’s more likely a longer-term plan given the red tape!

It does. There are many services out there that can help but often people don’t know what to do. They end up avoiding the situation and do nothing. The program encourages confronting those issues head on and directs participants where to find assistance and access services to bring about solutions.

As well as your involvement with this program, you are developing a program aimed at giving school-leavers the right information about renting. What can you tell me about that? I’ve been working with a few schools in my region for a while and have had great feedback from the information sessions. I’ve spoken with large groups of senior students and even met smaller groups at properties to work through the process of looking at a rental. We cover everything from finding the right property, how to apply and what to include in their application; things like questions to ask a property manager, what to record on a condition report and understanding the value of a property. I encourage them to carefully consider who they are moving in with as they are entering into a legally binding contract, one that cannot be easily changed due to a simple change of mind. We’ve been collaborating to put together a competency-based online course that schools can implement with their students. There’s quite a bit of red tape to get this through but we’re hoping that it will one day be available to students.

How do you think property managers and landlords will respond to this new wave of educated renters? We’ll all love it! Encouraging great communication from the start is vital and showing they have the understanding and respect toward renting will no doubt be positive. I encourage students to include the course certificate they receive in future rental applications so a landlord can be confident they fully understand their obligations as a tenant.

TOP TIPS FOR NEW RENTERS

• Include some personal information about yourself when applying for a property. • Be mindful of who you rent with. • Make sure you’re budgeting correctly. • Maintain a good relationship with your property. • Establish a good relationship with your neighbours.

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ON LOCATION

Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand

Where are we? Nestled in the beautiful peaks surrounding the Arrow River in New Zealand’s South Island Lakes District is the sophisticated yet quaint village of Arrowtown, which sits just 20 minutes from bustling Queenstown. Arrowtown is alive with history and charm, and streets that could be straight from a movie set. A historic gold rush town of the 1800’s, these days Arrowtown’s intrigue and beauty have helped carve its reputation as a popular tourist destination. Accommodation, dining and sightseeing are a large focus for the town, thanks to the stunning scenery and landscape that surround it. Streets are lined with historic buildings from the gold rush period and can be enjoyed daily as their practicality lives on through their use as cafes, galleries and boutiques.

Lifestyle With a population of a little over 3,000, Arrowtown’s residents enjoy a close-knit and welcoming community. A mix of professionals, small business owners, couples,

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families and retirees choose to move here to enjoy the hinterland living.

The excellent educational facilities make it a popular choice for families.

The community spirit is kept strong in Arrowtown with numerous very active community groups and quality amenities including the library, museum and events centre, along with the golf course and near-by ski fields.

Arrowtown is renowned for its café and restaurant culture.

Arrowtown is a popular location for anything from farming and viticulture to film production.

There are delicious options for every budget and time span in food from fine dining to a casual pizza and in boutique beers and local wines. Arrowtown is a must-visit destination and a haven for residents who enjoy everything at their doorstep.

What’s on offer • Wander the streets and just take in Arrowtown’s beauty and charm. • Explore its boutiques and dine in its restaurants and cafés. • Admire its architecture of years gone by. • Explore and immerse yourself in the history of Arrowtown at The Lakes District Museum and Gallery. • Hire a gold pan and head down to the river to pan for gold. • Visit a winery or three, including in nearby Gibbston Valley where you’ll find some of New Zealand’s best. • Play on one or all of three stunningly beautiful golf courses. • Head over the Crowne Range to the Cardrona ski field; and the iconic Cardrona hotel for a beverage by the outdoor fire. • Walk or cycle one of the many trails through the hills and alongside the river, and paddle or swim in the Arrow River’s crystal-clear water in warmer months.

Making money How do you make money out of real estate?

Every property owner who sells a house, apartment or dwelling of some sort would like to do so for more than they paid for it. So, do you make your money when you buy?

It’s important to keep the negotiations going.

Well yes, in a sort of way… but only if you absolutely buy the right property, which doesn’t necessarily mean that property was cheap, or a bargain because of the seller’s circumstances.

When you are 100 per cent focused on the future, you comprehend how transient prices and market trends are.

The location may make it a great investment or perhaps it’s because you can easily improve on its value with a bit of freshening up. Think ‘worst house in the best street.’ The ‘right property’ is more likely to be the one that delivers long term capital growth. That you make your money when you buy, not sell is often trotted out as advice. In preference is the notion that having seen the moneymaking potential when you buy, you only actually realise it when you sell. A preferred piece of advice is having seen the potential for making money when you buy, you only actually realise it when you sell.

But back to buying the ‘right’ property… It’s best not to focus on the purchase price at all. If you do, you could be in danger of missing potential though being fixated on how much you wanted to pay. Over the life of your investment, factors like renovation potential, suburb growth, subdivision and even street appeal can make up for the extra few thousand you pay.

You are looking at how much money that property might make you down the track rather than how much you are spending on it today. Would you keep $5000 or $10,000 in your pocket if you were looking at an investment property you knew to be in the catchment area of a new college to be built or a major spend on infrastructure had been signed off? If you are planning to hold on to that investment property, it would be a smarter move to get that money out on the negotiating table now.

That brings us to another consideration: how long are you planning to hold on to the property for? The buy-in price matters a whole lot more if your intention is to ‘flip’ the property. Price growth in the market and resale potential are far more difficult to predict if you are taking a short-term view. Look at the bigger picture, to the long-term, which is the winning strategy for most investors.

While nothing in property is certain, narrowing your focus to the short-term and obsessing over a few thousand dollars is unlikely to be a winning strategy in any market. Instead, look at the bigger picture and remember that the big payday will come when you sell the property.

Buy and hold strategy • Focus on location if you want capital growth. • Research the property and the area. • Take a long-term view on sale price over immediate buy-in price. • Have a plan and stick to it, with a savings buffer so you don’t have to bail if something unforeseen happens. • Understand where you’ll stand with capital gains tax issues in the future. • Remember that the value is in the land, which appreciates while a house will depreciate as it ages.

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Well, well well!

Agents selling homes across all price-points are noticing an increased interest in a property’s ‘wellness’.

Consumers have become increasingly conscious of their own wellness, hoping to experience richer and more fulfilling lives by living a healthier lifestyle. Their interest in a home’s wellness does seem to parallel its dollar value: buyers of top-end homes are most represented in those seeking wellness features. What does this ‘wellness’ mean when it comes to property? Homes built with wellness in mind might have some, or all, of the following: • good air quality

• insulated walls and temperaturecontrolled areas for ‘sleep enhancement’ • kitchens that include appliances designed to grow herbs, vegetables, microgreens and flowers

• good lighting

• eco-friendly designs and construction

• access to community

• vertical gardens

• access to green spaces

• garden spaces for micro-farming

• energy efficiency

• soundproof meditation rooms

• proximity to public transport

• indoor/outdoor meditation spaces

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• spaces that indulge personal passions, be that a music room for a jam session or an outdoor kitchen/living space designed for entertaining • and, in the case of new residential developments, creative amenities for physical well-being like climbing walls or yoga rooms

These are homes that promote health and wellbeing. According to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a non-profit organisation with a mission to empower wellness worldwide, residential real estate is the next frontier that will be radically transformed by the wellness movement. It defines ‘wellness real estate’ as homes that are proactively designed and built to support the holistic health of their residents.

Grow your own in one square metre By Lyn Cox

The New York-based International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has even developed a rating system to determine how healthy and sustainable a building is based on measuring 11 aspects of air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community, and innovation. It does appear that we are at the beginning of a new movement in home and community design that tackles our uniquely modern problems: sedentary lives, unhealthy diets, stress, social isolation and loneliness, pollution, nature-deprivation. Perhaps, luxury will take a backseat for now as wellness homes trend in the housing market.

A decade ago, when I moved onto my newly built house on a small block of land, my sister gave me a book on how to grow your own food on one square metre. It has proved invaluable. Find a sunny spot. Dig over a square metre and remove all the weeds. Use a spade to remove sods if its grass, which you can stack upside down somewhere in the shade and later use as mulch. If you’ve dug a hole or have a raised garden bed, you will need to import soil. Rake in a small bag of blood and bone. New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. Australia has more climate zones but while northern parts have a more tropical influence, the southern areas are generally more temperate to warm. From my own adaptations:

It the needs and expectations of today’s home buyers are already starting to go beyond the area of the house, perfect floor plan and location to include finer aspects that support healthy living, it may be a groundswell for the future where sellers may need to offer a home where the focus is on ensuring clean air, water and freedom from harmful environmental factors along with its usual amenities.

Autumn/ winter curry plot:

Property investors may stand to gain from the trend as tenants realise their energy (electricity and water) bill will be lower in an energy-efficient building and are prepared to spend more money on the rent.

• Red or brown onions (roughly midway point corner to corner)

The importance of investing in a home that helps us achieve physical and mental well-being is becoming more and more relevant as our lifestyles become more hectic.

Prior - compost, organic fertiliser, blood & bone. Boost with liquid seaweed once growing. Divide the square diagonally but not evenly. While ideally you can walk all the way around, staring from the back right… • Coriander • Eight daikon radish and 20 swedes (wide space) • Carrots • Double row of peas

• Fenugreek • Mini cauliflowers in two rows (or eggplant in spring/summer) • Six broccoli or bok choy Autumn/winter soup plot: Prior - composted manure, compost, blood & bone. Boost with liquid seaweed once growing.

Loosely divide the square into four triangles. • Carrots at the back (lightly sprinkle seed) • Punnet of leek on the left • Up to 24 beetroot on the right • Sorrel and five drumhead cabbage at the front (Tip: If cabbage seed, sow in toilet rolls) • Couple of knobs of garlic, punnet of onions and two kale in the centre And if you have space for a tub, pop in some potatoes. Winter salad plot: Compost. Boost with liquid seaweed once growing. Divide the square into 16 smaller ones and sow these (or substitute to your liking). Think of this as four rows of four. Starting from the back left… • Row 1: one endive, lightly sprinkle baby carrot seeds, 10 mizuna seeds, one daikon radish • Row 2: lightly sprinkle coriander seed, 20 shallots, seven Chinese swedes, five corn salad • Row 3: four snow peas planted on a teepee, one tatsoy, 16 onions, lightly sprinkle parsley seed • Row 4: one spinach, six winter lettuces over two squares, one rocket And if you have space for a tub, pop in three kipfler potatoes cut in five-centimetre pieces. If you are like me and don’t seem to have major luck growing from seed, stick with seedlings. And if you can’t make a square, don’t worry. I have followed the same principles in my narrow vegetable garden wedged between driveway and fence, where I can get two rows at best not four.

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Q&A with Scott Mackey What does short term rental (STR) mean?

home-like environment than a traditional hotel or motel room.

The term short-term rentals (STRs) generally refers to residential properties that are available to rent for a short period, which I consider anywhere from two days to five months. Short-term property rental is quite variable as far as the amount of time that defines it.

People are looking for shorter leases, to make for ease of relocation as they follow jobs and careers. An STR arrangement gives more flexibility all round including not having to move furniture. And the way people value furniture has changed. It’s become more like fashion, where they’d rather have new and latest style.

In many ways, it is an enhanced version of holiday letting, which traditionally was used for beach holidays in Australia, but is now moving into the cities and other locations away from the coast. There are many STR platforms including Airbnb, stayz, HomeAway, TripAdvisor and booking.com. Most properties are fully furnished and self-contained.

Have you noticed a change in customers’ rental accommodation needs? Customers have changed in terms of what and how long they want to rent. Short terms rental platforms, such as Airbnb, are fulfilling many different needs… such as visitors into an area for work, family commitments, health reasons or travel. In many cases these people prefer to be self-contained and in a more

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It’s the ‘now’ mentality and things are ‘disposable ‘. It’s easier to move on from locations and relationships when you are in an STR arrangement.

Where are STR options more likely to occur? They can occur just about anywhere - in capital cities, near hospitals and universities, near major sporting venues, convention centres and popular wedding locations, in regional centres attracting FIFO professionals, where there is employment through new projects and infrastructure construction, and in holiday locations and tourist spots.

Are there benefits to be had in owning STR? The short-term rental platform may prove a more attractive option for property investors where regulations give owners certain controls over who can stay in their property.

Owners can be clear and upfront about conditions of renting, such as no pets and no modifications. STRs have a more simplified process in comparison with tenancy agreements when it comes to booking start/leave dates and extending dates, while still having the risk covered for property owners. People occupying properties are paying greater amount of money upfront. A property remains sale-ready and valuation-ready in condition and appearance and is not reliant on the tenant’s taste in décor. Overall, there is more flexibility for both the property owners and the renters who seek short stay situations.

Short stay set-up tips Be aware of all local regulations.

• Have good pictures. • Be in a desired location. • Be spotlessly clean. • Make things easy for guests. • Keep guests happy.

How protected are the property owners?

Are there renter checks and reviews of accommodation?

I use the Airbnb platform to co-host with the landlords.

Most platforms are peer-to-peer. This is very prevalent in Airbnb, but generally not available in the traditional rental model. This insight is valuable and allows us to ask for more information or decline the guest and wait for another.

The Airbnb host guarantee protects hosts for up to $1,000,000, but we do recommend homeowner or landlord insurance in addition. Historically, most problems like mess and damage have built up over the long term. There is probably around ten times more chance of there being a problem with a long-term tenancy than a short-term stay.

Where might I look if I want to buy a suitable property to offer STR? One major difference for the investor in short term rental over traditional is that when you are buying position it is really proximity over position that you are looking at. The STR user is more likely to be happy to embrace the buzz on the strip and is not necessarily seeking the quiet cul-de-sac. STR guests will often be attracted to accommodation experiences such as rooftops, attractive gardens, quirky interior design, unique architecture and historical appeal. Short-stay hotspots include properties that are in close proximity to CBDs and commercial hubs, tourist hubs and cultural precincts, transport hubs including airports, and the expected coastal areas.

Are there features I should look for if I want to buy a property to offer STR? While common facilities can be highly desirable for short-stay guests, such as swimming pools, sauna rooms, gyms or even tennis courts, they don’t have to be a resort. They just want everything they need to be there so that they can just settle in. And, once again, think ‘proximity’. ‘Must haves’ tend to be practical, like good air-conditioning, high speed Wi-Fi, quality shower heads, spacious bedroom and comfortable indoor and outdoor furniture. Having a sofa bed for extra guests is a drawcard.

About Scott Mackey’s real estate career spans close to 25 years, with 17 years as business owner. He built a 400-strong rent roll at RE/MAX Precision in Bundaberg, Queensland but sold it to further expand his short-term rental (STR) business, incorporating Airbnb, which he began in 2016. His other business interests include a Queensland-wide body corporate business.

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Time for a tree-change By Lyn Cox

We live and build our houses on plots or blocks of different sizes – from less than 300 square metres, to half an acre, to hectares. Fortunately, Mother Nature has got this covered. She gives us trees of all different shapes and sizes. Trees have a positive impact on the environment and have a role to play around our homes when planted safely and suitably. Strategically planted trees in a neighbourhood or just around a home can absorb and muffle noise, especially in urban areas. They filter sewage and chemicals, reduce the effects of animal waste and ultimately improve the water quality of run-off. One of the first things I remember learning in primary school science was that trees absorb carbon dioxide, locking it away in their wood, roots and leaves as they grow; and that they produce oxygen and improve the quality of the air we breathe. Trees are referred to as ‘the lungs of the earth’. Trees provide shade plus have a cooling effect as they release water vapour into the air through their leaves.

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They help to limit soil erosion. They can reduce wind speeds. Their canopy breaks the force of wind and rain on the earth while their roots bind the soil. Tree planting projects work to conserve rainwater and reduce sediment deposit during and after storms and flooding events. Trees, which are said to be the longest living species on earth, provide shelter and food for hundreds of other species of animals and plants. Trees make me feel better!

In Australia, National Tree Day was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John and has grown into the country’s largest community tree planting and nature protection event. Schools Tree Day will be on Friday 31st July and National Tree Day on Sunday 2nd August this year. The New Zealand government launched the One Billion Trees Programme in December 2019, to increase tree planting across New Zealand. The goal is to double the current planting rate to reach one billion trees planted by 2028. I vividly remember Arbor Day as a child and have since been told that the first Arbor Day happened in Spain in 1805. It’s a day to raise awareness of trees and the important role that they play and is celebrated on different dates around the world.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? - symbolizes the ineffectiveness of unheard thoughts and opinions.

Australia’s first Arbor Day was held in Adelaide in 1889 and fell on 10th February this year. New Zealand celebrated its inaugural Arbor Day in Greytown in 1890. It falls on 5th June 2020. Unfortunately, not every tree that gets planted can be sure it’s going to do the most good! Sadly, misguided people do plant the wrong trees in the wrong locations, and can create maintenance nightmares, neighbourly disputes and potentially dangerous, sometimes life-threatening situations. Local nurseries with knowledgeable staff are good place to start when selecting trees for your yard. I take along photographs, measurements and information about aspect. My very small houseblock on Australia’s east coast offers little room for trees of any decent size but some trees and bushes I’ve grown over the years include: Grevillea (Golden Lyre, Ivory Whip, Peaches and Cream, Billy Bonkers and more!), Callistemon viminalis, Xanthostemon, Michelia family, Nodding Breynia, Sweet Osmanthus, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Ivory Curl, Tibouchina, Crab apple, Blueberry ash, Banksia, Frangipani, Citrus, Macadamias, New Zealand Christmas Bush (Metrosideros thomasii ), NSW Christmas Bush (ceratopetalum gummiferum), New Zealand

Christmas tree (Pohutukawa), and the list goes on. It’s up to you to select the best trees for your situation. In Australia, unpopular trees are gum trees close to homes, particularly in fire-prone locations, evergreen conifers like the tall and fast growing Leylandii cypress and the Liquidambar, which can be costly to maintain or remove. Deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in autumn and winter, are often good choices for suburban gardens because they allow sunlight to filter into gardens during winter. There’s been significant research around the notion that good green infrastructure, including trees, green roofs and walls, can add value to your home. As populations grow and cities increase in density, paying attention to green infrastructure is of increased importance because it affects our well-being. Trees could also be considered a feature when it comes to selling your home. Findings from the past decade have concluded that a tree in front of a house increased the house’s sale price by an average of $7,130AUD and that a ‘broad-leafed tree located on a street verge’ increased the price by about $16,889AUD.

Toitū te ngahere, toitū te whenua, toitū te tangata. If we look after the forest, if we look after the land, the land will look after us. VIEW PROPERTY MAGAZINE

ON LOCATION

Williams Landing & Point Cook , Victoria, Australia

Where are we? Just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD is the suburb of Williams Landing and, slightly further south, Point Cook. A relatively new and rapidly growing suburb, Williams Landing is a popular location for first home buyers. Thanks to its public transport infrastructure and proximity to the freeway, it is conveniently positioned for those looking for easy access to and from the city. Point Cook is a more established suburb, which was once the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force. Point Cook has experienced residential and commercial development over the last 30 years and is popular suburb for those who wish to enjoy all the amenities and easy access to the beach.

Lifestyle Williams Landing offers the convenience of urban living, with easy access to shopping, amenities, public transport and plenty of eateries. Locals enjoy being able to walk to everything they need and being in a safe neighbourhood. This makes the area ever more appealing to younger families. Apartments and new designer homes are evident throughout the suburb, which adds to a sense of city-living but with a community feel and room to grow.

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The more established Point Cook boasts a very family-friendly feel and offers an outdoors lifestyle much enjoyed through its many parks, outdoor activities and of course, being so close to the beach, the water. Parklands and bike tracks make their way through the suburb and are frequently used by those commuting to work as well as families enjoying an afternoon cycle.

The Market Both Williams Landing and Point Cook have experienced strong growth over the past decade.

With future developments securing their ongoing growth, both suburbs continue to attract significant interest from both owner-occupiers and investors. Aiding interest is the projected development growth over the next decade. The median house prices in Williams Landing is $661,000. The more established Point Cook is expanding and evolving, with single dwelling modern-style homes on larger estates and proximity to schools boosting its growth. $633,500 is the median house price in Point Cook.

Top things to do RE/MAX ACPA principal, Leon Lee, has lived in both Williams Landing and Point Cook and says both suburbs have much to offer residents and visitors. • Start any day right with a morning walk along the beach at Point Cook Coastal Park, followed by grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many local cafés. • Keep the kids active and entertained by spending the day exploring the parks and sports reserves in Williams Landing. • Discover Airforce history at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook. • Head out on the water with fishing, canoeing, kayaking and more on the open water at Sanctuary Lakes Resort. • Play a round of golf on the championship course, designed by the Shark himself, Greg Norman.

RE/MAX buildings that make a

Statement

BANKING ON RE/MAX COUNTRY Last year Kev Perry moved his growing real estate team into new premises, a prominent bank building in Crows Nest, Queensland. The original Queensland National Bank was built in 1905 in Curnow St. A new timber building was constructed at 6 Charlotte street in 1909. This was destroyed by fire and rebuilt as the National Bank (now NAB) from concrete and bricks in 1959. The RE/MAX County office incorporates the bank vault.

WARKWORTH,

NZ, WELCOMED RE/MAX HOUSE

Ben and Nola Kloppers moved RE/MAX Realty Group into historic premises, the gracious Bank of New Zealand building, circa 1930, last year. They were delighted to be given permission to place ‘RE/MAX House’ over the entry to welcome real estate customers to the lower floor of the heritage building designed by prominent architect Richard Abbott (1883 – 1954), which is typical of the style of bank buildings of the period.

VISION GENTRIFIES COUNTRY HOTEL

COTTAGE MOVED WITH THE TOWN

‘The Loftus’ is home to RE/MAX Vision in Junee, New South Wales.

A pretty Pokeno cottage with a unique history is home to RE/MAX Stars, New Zealand. Lisa Walden says the cottage was re-sited from nearby Pokeno Hill when the town itself shifted to level ground.

Annette and Jenna Pollard bought the heritage-listed building, which was built around 1890 as an up-market hotel for rail passengers, and they are currently renovating. Upstairs are 24 completed guest rooms. A stunning function centre on the lower level is a work-in-progress.

Historical reports suggest the original town square was laid out in the 1860s but relocated around 1927 when the population drifted south to cluster around the railway station, post office and other facilities.

FANCY A STONES GINGER BEER? David and Stephanie Cotterill have a prime corner location for RE/MAX Experience in Stones Corner, one of Brisbane’s oldest retail hubs. The building’s façade lends itself to the character of the vibrant precinct with the suburb named after James Stones who bought the land in 1875. The Stones family created a line of beverages including the famous Stones Ginger Beer. The site of his ginger beer shop became known as Stones Corner.

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Renovations for resale When you are faced with the decision of whether to renovate in order to sell a property or to sell it ‘as is’, what should you consider? What’s popular in your marketplace? Are buyers not able to get their hands on the ‘fixer-uppers’ quickly enough? Talk with the people in the know – the local real estate agents. When you have a wellpriced property in a desirable neighbourhood and the majority of buyers want to move in to a ‘finished product’, the effort you put into renovations is likely to be worth it. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Firstly, a word of caution. Don’t create a false impression. The buyer will have an expectation born of the photos they’ve seen, the address and the price. Don’t shatter it through the cracks in the walls, the broken windows or the shabby paint job because it’s likely they’ll walk away… fast.

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#1 TIP

Focus on increasing the feeling of space.

If renovation is the plan, it’s not going to happen overnight. Tap into the experience of local real estate experts and find out the renovation projects that are likely to yield best resale value. Best renovation efforts will increase the feeling of space in a home, which could mean an open floor plan, great storage and improved lighting. Updating or replacing the kitchen is widely considered one of the top renovations for profit. Buyers like modern bathrooms with clean and stylish fixtures and fittings; and while the bathroom reno is almost as popular as the kitchen overhaul, don’t discount the value of adding a new bathroom. It is widely accepted that a wellexecuted paint job in one consistent neutral colour or slight shade variations of the one neutral colour is the safest approach. Everything in the home should be new or in good working condition, which includes every light, fan, door hinge, doorknob, window, screen and tap as well as every appliance that’s a fixture. The entire home should function as new. Buyers look at floors… including what’s under your rug! A newly

polished timber floor or new carpet can be a selling point. The front door and the garage door are important elements in the home’s street appeal and replacing or modernising them can add a lot of wow. While you are out there, repair and paint the front fence and add a new letterbox. Feature the house number. These days the outdoor area is an extra room, an all-weather extension of the house, and money spent on a well-designed all-weather area is generally worth it when it comes to sale time. And if you are concerned the simplicity you’ve created through white walls, simple countertops, neutral drapes and furnishings, and neutral art might seem cold and uninviting, counter it with soft lighting. House plants too are so on trend right now and can make the home come alive. Quality renovations attract more buyers than obvious handyman repairs ever will. If you decide not to make repairs and improvements, do what you can to enhance the property’s best features and price it appropriately.

Heeding the call of

Coast or Country By common definition, a sea change means moving away from the hustle and bustle of city life to a much quieter and relaxed coastal town by the sea. A tree change is moving inland to live in a country town or a place by the mountains. Are sea and tree changes still popular with home buyers in 2020? The answer appears to be yes. Buyers are still making the move to the seaside or bush and commuting to work, even as prices jump in regional areas. There are still people moving out of the city to relatively affordable treechange, and to a lesser degree seachange, locations because of cheaper land prices and where there are more opportunities to build. They discover a more relaxed and relatively safe lifestyle makes daily commuting to and from work in a CBD worth it. Many dream of a better life in the regions. Technological advances make working from home a more realistic option for many professionals. Fly-in fly-out work opportunities and more flexible workplaces that support home-based employees or contactors enable families to change their base from cities to lifestyle locations.

have beautiful sunsets or a beach close at hand… and think, ‘why aren’t we living here?’ Buyers looking for those areas that are close to a city so that they can commute whether that be for work, for the shopping, the health facilities or major transport hubs such as international airports. And don’t think these sea-changers and tree-changers are totally to do with an aging population or that they are all retirees. Younger generations are also in search of better lifestyles away from the pressure of city living. As populations grow in regional centres, the increased call for infrastructure spending to make these centres even more attractive, as well as programs to support growth in employment opportunities, generally follows. According to a survey conducted for the NBN in 2016, 72 per cent of Australians have considered a sea or a tree change. It also suggested that respondents were twice as likely to

think about a sea or tree change than actually do it. The survey identified two prime motivations for those wanting to make their move: a slower pace of life and a better living environment. Around a third considered cost of living the main reason to relocate.

Have you been tempted, or have you made your move, motivated by any of these? • greater value for money • lifestyle living • affordability • presence of a vibrant community • access to close-by city services while living in a more relaxed environment • local planning controls to maintain the desirable coastal or country environment Analysts say that a sea change or tree change doesn’t work out for one in five people who attempt it, often leading to stress and expense as they return to the city. This suggests how important it is for ‘changers’ to do their research and understand how they can successfully make the move - and be gainfully employed if need be while living their tree or sea change dream.

It’s about quality of life. Some regional areas are becoming standout performers, even surpassing what’s happening in major cities. Homebuyers look for that sweet spot of affordable prices within a manageable distance of their place of work or a CBD. They come for a weekend and find they are enjoying being somewhere where they are not living on top of their neighbours,

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Australia's real estate industry is united in support of our bushfire affected communities

OUR AIM

Raising funds directly for charities on the ground in bushfire affected regions.

Connecting families in need with generous home owners in the area to provide temporary accommodation.

Visit beyondthebricks.com.au to donate and find out more.

BEYONDTHEBRICKS.COM.AU/REMAX

View magazine - Autumn 2020

Articles inside

Heeding the call of coast or country

Renovations for resale

RE/MAX buildings that make a statement

Investing in short term rental

Time for a tree change

Well, well, well

Equipping tomorrow’s tenants

Welcome to my home

The edge

10 Finance tips for 2020

Destinations: South Africa

Best of hotel living at home

Global RE/MAX supports Beyond the Bricks

Ask an Agent

On location – Bargara, AU

Property development - Is it for me?

Just right for a winter sale

Could you be happy with less?

Buying solo

A case of Goldilocks

The mindset issue

Recipe of a champion