Real Estate Myths Debunked

Advice On Staying Put During A Renovation.

Recently, local Interior Designer Shaye Ford renovated her home in Killarney Vale, without moving out and during a pandemic. Here she shares some practical advice and tips to stay sane during the process.

WHERE DO I STORE EVERYTHING?

I was super optimistic that I could move furniture room to room when we started, however after a month or so we moved a lot of our stuff to my parents - which made it so much easier! I would highly recommend getting you furniture out the way from the get go! So whether it be a family or friends house who have the extra room for a few months or hiring a shipping container or getting a storage shed - it’s well worth getting it all out of the way!

BE PREPARED FOR THINGS TO BE CHAOTIC FOR A WHILE?

For a few months we ate our dinner most nights standing up or on a trestle table that had a drop saw on it. When the floor was ripped up we smelt dirt and earth each night for a week. Also, get used to washing up your dishes in the bathroom.

KEEPING SANE.

Remember! it’s isn’t forever and enjoy the ride! It may be chaotic and you may be washing your greasy frying pan in the bathroom but remember it isn’t forever. Booking a night away every now and then or staying with family and friends for a night of normality always helps keep the brain sane!

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

We worked on the reno before and after work each day and night. Demo, painting, sanding. Whatever we could do to save money and time. Living on the job site meant that we were aware of issues before things could go wrong. The biggest advantage by far was the cost savings by not paying rent somewhere else.

PLAN MEALS.

When you don’t have a kitchen and your tired, it is easy to get takeaway every night which is not healthy or cheap. Make up extra dinners so you can have leftovers or plan to use your BBQ a lot.

SAY NO TO VISITORS.

During your reno, avoid visitors and play catchup when your home is complete, organised and beautiful. Trying to have people over in a reno is stressful and not much fun.

ABOUT SHAYE

Working across a range of design styles, Co Interiors is a local interior design studio that thoughtfully incorporates Shaye’s signature aesthetic, equally balancing the client’s style and the soul of the home. Shaye’s designs are mindfully curated – striking a balance between modern and traditional while maintaining a touch that never feels too on-trend, overly designed or precious.

Looking For The One?

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Contact Agent Kurt Bratby 0423 939 510 or call Wiseberry Heritage on 4393 3922 Comprising four generous bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, ensuite to main, multiple living and dining areas this home brings functionality and comfort together.

Cook up a storm in the well-appointed kitchen showcasing stone benchtops and ample cupboard space. Outdoors features an entertaining area with bench seating and a low maintenance yard on a generous and fully fenced 536m2 (approx.) block.

Located Opposite The Water!

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Contact Agent Kurt Bratby 0423 939 510 or call Wiseberry Heritage on 4393 3922 This cottage-style retreat will capture your heart from the moment you set eyes on it! Situated on a corner block in the streets of Gorokan, this rare find sits proudly waiting for its next owner.

Step out onto the concrete entertaining area to relax after a hard day’s work and enjoy the tranquil setting and in-ground swimming pool perfect for the summer season ahead. This home is the perfect setting to bring the family.

It's Waiting!

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Contact Agent Kurt Bratby 0423 939 510 or call Wiseberry Heritage on 4393 3922 Showcasing a seamless and practical floor plan, this home features neutral colours throughout. Features continue with fully carpeted bedrooms all with built-ins and ceiling fans, main bedroom with walk-in robe and ensuite.

Other features include solar panels covering both north and west faces for optimum performance and reduced electricity bills, tank water for toilets and gardening, and efficient LED lights.

Rare Large Block

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Contact Agent Megan Down 0438 584 495 or call Wiseberry Charmhaven on 4392 0700 A unique blend of large family living and exceptional quality has combined to make a lasting impression in this Kanwal home. This effortless design encompasses spacious interiors and flawless style.

Multiple living spaces provide endless room for the whole family to enjoy with formal living and dining, casual meals and living and rumpus room. Venture outdoors with deck area and spa.

Bring the Family, Boat, Caravan & Trailer!

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Contact Agent Sean Kennedy 0411 557 059 or call Wiseberry Charmhaven on 4392 0700 Offering a great family lifestyle in the ever-popular streets of Lake Haven, this home provides a feeling of comfort and space as soon as you walk in the door.

This large family home offers three bedrooms with built-in robes, two living areas, a formal dining room, light-filled galley style kitchen with casual dining leading out to a covered back deck. Offering a drive through garage with side access perfect for a caravan or boat .

DISCUSSING AND DEBUNKING

Real Estate Myths WITH SALES AGENT Max Manning

ABOUT MAX

Max lives in and specialises in the northern part of Central Coast and is a dedicated, enthusiastic and professional agent with over 23 years experience. With his brilliant level of service, dedication, communication and negotiation skills and backed by the largest sales team of trained negotiators with proven results you wouldn’t want any other agent selling your home.

WILL ADVERTISING MY PROPERTY AT A LOWER PRICE GET MORE BUYERS?

Everyone loves a bargain. A lower price will always attract a lot more interest but our goal as an agent is to get our vendors the best price possible with the right circumstances.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO USE A REAL ESTATE AGENT TO SELL AS “FOR SALE BY OWNER” SAVES MONEY?

As agents it is our job to act as the middleman and we specialize in negotiations, this is what we do on a daily basis whereas some owners may only sell a home once or twice in a lifetime. You wouldn’t get your plumber mate to conduct your dentistry, you need to get the right person in for the right job.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS WILL HIDE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO LAND DEALS.

You do hear of stuff like this happening. One thing that we do at Wiseberry is that we get everything disclosed to us at the time of signing the Agency Agreement. This is so any buyer will have all details available to them so they can make an informed decision before making a purchase.

WHY DO SOME AGENTS PUT ‘CONTACT AGENT’ ON THEIR LISTINGS INSTEAD OF JUST DISPLAYING THE PRICE?

This is an interesting one, I think a lot of agents put ‘Contact Agent’ on their listings for a variety of reasons, whether that be because the vendor had unrealistic expectations regarding the price of their home or the home was unique in some way and the agent wanted to see what the market was indicating. Personally I believe a buyer needs some kind of indication of where the property sits in the market and how much they need to come to the table with.

WHY DON’T YOU ALWAYS DISPLAY THE ADDRESS ON ADVERTISING?

The two reasons are the vendor does not want their address listed or agents don’t display the address on listings to get the phones ringing. It can be beneficial to get a buyer on the phone and have a yarn to figure out exactly what they’re looking for, how serious they are and weed out the tyre kickers.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS EARN LARGE SALARIES.

Absolutely not. You get out what you put in like any career or job. Hard work certainly does pay off in our industry but there’s a lot people don’t see that goes on behind the scenes. As far as what you can earn, this differs on a case by case basis between businesses, there is no right or wrong way to do it. You also need to factor in admin and marketing costs, like any sales job you have KPIs and targets that you need to meet in order to succeed. What many people don’t see is a lot of agents work six to seven days a week, your phone is always on and you are constantly taking calls morning, noon and night.

JUST LIKE USED-CAR SALESMEN, REAL ESTATE AGENTS WILL SAY OR DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO MAKE A SALE.

This is something that really grinds my gears because of unscrupulous sales people we can get the raw end of the stick in terms of being a trustworthy industry. I’ve spent the entirety of my career making sure that I’m as honest and approachable as humanly possible to try and alleviate some of the stigma surrounding our industry. Ultimately you want to find an agent that you can trust to handling your biggest asset. I highly suggest doing your research, reading trustworthy testimonials and reviews and building a solid relationship with an agent before putting your house on the market.