1. Buyers Tips
2. Sellers Tips

Buyers Tips

1 'You wanted to borrow HOW MUCH???'

Obtain a loan pre approval letter prior to purchasing. This strengthens your negotiating position, as a seller will look more favorably at your offer if they feel you are qualified financially to purchase their home.

2 'Yes the use of lattice to support an entire patio roof is unusual…'

Check with the local Council to confirm the pool and other extensions have received appropriate approvals and meet with their regulations and by-laws.

3 'Well if you don't want the place - the nesting possums in the ceiling do!'

It is good insurance to obtain a thorough building inspection prior to purchasing. Your offer can be conditional upon this and most building companies can supply you with a detailed report on your new home. Pay particular attention to the electrical wiring in the ceiling spaces of older homes.

4 'Yes but if we just knock the four walls down and replace the roof….'

A home should fit your criteria without needing wholesale changes. Do list your basic requirements and remember, the best buy is normally a home where most, if not all of your listed items are already in place. There are many purchasers with good intentions who either never get around to improving the property to suit their needs, or simply do not have the funds to complete the required renovations/improvements.

5 'Well I guess they won't notice how noisy my lawnmower is then'

Before submitting an offer, consider spending time near the property at various times of the day. What is the 'feel' of the neighborhood? Is this property subject to traffic noise in the morning and again in the evening when people are traversing to and from work? Is it the main thoroughfare for the local council trucks as they enter and leave their depot? Are you satisfied living in an area with, (or indeed without), a high percentage of children nearby? Do you need public transport? Is it handy? Is your street used to funnel traffic to and from a busy arterial road? What is the state and general condition of the properties surrounding you? Have you met your potential neighbors? Say hello and ask them about the area. By spending a little time doing these simple tasks you may consider purchasing elsewhere, or indeed you may revise your upper limit should you find the property totally suitable for your needs.

6 'Really? The front door doesn't come with the house?'

Do not assume that pool cleaning equipment or portable dishwashers, air conditioners and pot plants are remaining with the property. If you expressly want an item that is not firmly attached to the property then ensure you make reference to the item in your offer to purchase.

Sellers Tips

1 'They won't even notice the door missing!'

"First impressions last"- Make sure your front yard leaves a good first impression. Many prospective buyers will drive past a property first and then make a decision whether to view it or not. If this good impression then flows through into the interior of your home an early offer acceptable to all parties will normally occur. Use neutral colours, reduce the amount of furnishings in the home (even if you have to place the excess into storage), ensure the home smells fresh, and is spotlessly clean. An experienced agent will advise you on the most beneficial way to enhance the saleability of your home.

2 'But they told me I can get so much more???'

Always get three appraisals. The cheapest agent isn't always the best. The highest appraisal price isn't always the correct one and can prove costly in the long run. Most agents' policy is to list- reduce- sell. In the meantime, your property runs the risk of becoming 'stale'. If this occurs, you may find the property sells for below other similar properties that were offered to the market for a more realistic asking price than yours. Thus, without realizing it, your overpriced home has assisted your opposition to sell their more reasonably priced homes and in some instances may actually get them more than they would normally have expected simply because in comparison to your home it appears to now be 'a good buy'.

3 'I suspected there was something wrong when the ceiling started to warp!'

Arrange pest control clearance prior to marketing and present to potential buyer - whilst this certificate cannot be transferred to new owner, it does give them added confidence.

4 'What pergola?'

It is reasonable that in the future, before selling your home, you will have to produce proof that the necessary approvals from council for any additions and improvements made to your home have been obtained. At the moment, it is the responsibility of the purchaser to satisfy themselves that these improvements have been authorized and constructed in accordance with council by-laws. Therefore, it is recommended you contact council to obtain these approvals (especially pool fencing) before finding yourself in court facing a hostile purchaser!

5 'But it was always my intention to take the front door with me…'

Understand the difference between a fixture and a non-fixture. As a general rule of thumb, an object which is attached by more than its own weight or which is attached with the intention that it should become a long term part of the property or an object that is attached so that substantial damage will be caused by its removal all constitute fixtures. There have been recorded cases whereby larger pot plants that have root systems burrowing into the surrounding soil have been ruled as fixtures and have become the property of the purchaser even though the seller never intended this to be so. It is vital that you ensure your agent is clearly advised of any fixture remaining with the property. It is always best where possible, to remove this item before placing your home on the market. This is an area where sound advice should be sought from an experienced agent.