Archive for July, 2009

 Water leaks, gas heaters and stoves as well as everyday household cleaning agents can all pose serious health risks for those living within the home, as well as have long term implications for our planet. 

National Communications Manager, Stewart Bunn says there are some simple measures home owners can take to make their homes healthier and more environmentally friendly. 

“The construction and maintenance of our buildings, including homes, uses 40 per cent of the world’s energy and resources, and creates 33 per cent or more of greenhouse gases,” Stewart Bunn, said. 

“In fact, homes are some of the biggest offenders in terms of energy waste and greenhouse emissions.” 

According to Stewart Bunn, some easy and effective tips any home owner can implement include: 

Sprinklers:  install smart sprinkler systems such as drip irrigators that use less water than sprays and are run by a ‘smart’ sprinkler control. 

Roofs:  Paint roofs with a light-coloured, special-purpose coating designed to reflect heat, drastically reducing reliance on indoor cooling systems.  In addition, introduce solar energy panels to your roof to reduce energy bills. 

Windows and Doors:  Reduce energy needs by installing tall windows and skylights where possible, maximising natural daylight use. 

Appliances:  Endeavour to use only energy star rating appliances, which use far less energy than standard ones. 

Light Bulbs:  Energy saving light bulbs last up to eight times longer than ordinary bulbs – and when you consider how many lights bulbs there are in a home, the energy, and cost savings are plenty. 

Draught-proof Gaps:  Block cold air that passes around doors and windows with self-adhesive foam strips, rubber strips, brush strips and other types of weather strips. 

First National recently introduced an energy efficiency programme incorporating materials that help educate home owners on becoming more energy conscious. 

“We have developed some brochures and information on simple ways home owners can reduce energy consumption around their home,” Stewart Bunn, said.
“There’s an Energy Saving Guidebook which we have produced in conjunction with Archicentre, a booklet called Australian Native Plants for Your Back Yard produced with the assistance of Greening Australia and our website is full of tips, videos and information on becoming energy conscious.”

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In today’s market, the question on every home seller’s lips is how to get the best price for their property – to auction, or not to auction?  Chief Executive of First National Real Estate, Ray Ellis, has some helpful advice that might make this difficult decision a little easier. 

“Selling your home can be emotionally stressful, but being well informed about the process and alternatives helps instil a sense of control” Ray Ellis, said. 

“What you should remember at all times is that property is a commodity, worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. 

“Sometimes, it is better to go to auction to accurately determine market opinion, but in other cases it may be more appropriate to go through the private treaty sale process. Ideally, where there is likelihood that more than one buyer will be found in the marketing period, auction is the viable and preferable alternative.

“When there is a lot of housing stock available to choose from, then buyers have a broad range of choice as well as the power to keep prices down. 

“But, in most of Australia at the moment supply is well short of demand, and so sellers have the upper hand.  It depends very much on what is happening in your local area. 

“What an auction does is set a timeline by which interested parties must have completed their enquiries and arranged finance. It promoted decisiveness and allows the competitive nature of buyers to work in your interest. Also, it puts some surety into the process because a sale under the hammer on auction day is water-tight. 

“But with private treaty sales, there is a degree of risk.  Two parties could make offers for a property, but if the chosen party’s finances fall through after you’ve accepted their offer, you either have to go back to the second party in a potentially weaker position than previously, or you have to start the process again. 

“With auctions, when the bidding reaches your reserve, the property is sold unconditionally.” 

First National has successfully been selling through the auction process, posting record months in the first half of this year.  According to Ray Ellis, that’s a result that comes from a combination of having realistic, well informed vendors, effective, targeted promotion of the properties and an agent who understands the local area and auction process thoroughly. 

 “Auctions are good where a vendor is realistic and willing to accept what the market is willing to offer on the given day,” Ray Ellis said. 

“But private treaty sales, in the right circumstances, can prove lucrative too, especially in the today’s market at the top end. 

“This market has been moving more slowly in upper price ranges than the more affordable levels, so it may well be worth considering private sales in this situation.” 

Selling a home always carries some element of uncertainty – it is how you reduce, or mitigate, that uncertainty that is the key.  Some may suggest doing that by private sale, others will swear by auctions.  The best advice, though, is to get the best advice – talk to a real estate agent who knows the area and what is working well and what is not”.

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First National Real Estate has some helpful advice for the increasing number of parents still providing the roof over the heads of their 25 plus year old children. 

Recent studies confirm that vastly higher rates of 25-29 year olds are still living at home, compared with previous generations.  Couple this with current rate hikes and housing affordability at an all time low, it seems the Australian dream of Gen Y owning their own home is becoming a myth. 

According to Stewart Bunn, National Communications Manager, parents of Generation Y should not despair – there are a number of ways they can responsibly help their children prepare to purchase their first property. “Buying a first home is a major financial hurdle and in an ideal world kids would handle it themselves, as previous generations did,” Bunn said. “But things are very different for today’s Gen Y and young families and they often need some assistance.” 

The first step is to seek the advice of a financial advisor who can establish a savings plan and budget to track expenses and identify areas they can cut back on expenditure. 

Parents can also use the services of the financial advisor if they are considering assisting their children with a loan or donation towards the ever-important deposit and up front costs of buying a home. “Parents themselves can offer advice to their children and help them do the essential research in relation to mortgage options.  Often, a mortgage broker who won’t charge for their advice is a good place to start considering what mortgage options are available to suit the individual’s financial situation,” Bunn said. “But one of the most important things parents can do is to keep things real for their children.” 

“Too often these days, Gen Y want to move into their own home that has the same mod-cons and appliances of their parent’s home -  something that took their parents 20 or 30 years of hard work to achieve and that’s just not realistic.” The purchase of a first home is an investment and should be viewed as such. 

“Getting onto the first rung of the property ladder represents an investment over the long term, so people should take their time and get it right,” Bunn said. 

“If they need to compromise initially, on location, or furnishings or even the amount of work to be done on the property to get it like they want it, then so be it.  Flexibility is the key to getting that first all important step right.” 

For parents who are letting their children stay at home to save for a deposit, they should consider charging a ‘nominal and affordable rent’ – which they can secret away into a savings account and present as a contribution towards moving out when the time comes. 

“This will assist children understand how important a budget can be and how the real world works, as well as help them get their deposit together, or use towards those upfront costs of purchasing a property such as conveyancing and legal fees, insurance, utility connections and council rates,” Bunn said. 

“The trick is not to let the children know what you are really doing with the rent money so they don’t rely on it.”

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If you’re heading off soon for a well-deserved holiday, First National Real Estate recommends you plan some simple and cost effective security measures to make sure your home and property stay safe while you’re away. 

In Australia, around a quarter of a million households are victims of at least one break-in a year, according to the latest figures available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and even more are the target of an attempted break-in. 

“Many people leave their homes and often their cars unattended when they head off on their annual holidays and it can be a green light for burglars,” said Stewart Bunn, National Communications Manager. “It’s important to take as many precautions as you can to ensure you don’t return from your holiday to find you’re a victim of crime.” 

Home security tips from First National Real Estate include: 

Security alarm. If you have the time – and the budget – before you go away, install a burglar alarm. “This is still the best deterrent,” Bunn said. “For most burglars, an alarm simply makes your home too difficult to try and enter. Be sure to display notices about the alarm system prominently at doors and windows.” 

Lock all doors and windows.  “It sounds obvious, but people in a rush to head off can easily forget to close a window or secure a door,” Bunn said. If possible, fit deadlocks to main doors and windows, as again these are a major hurdle for a would-be burglar. 

Create a lived in look. While away, make sure your home still looks “lived in”. Leave a pair of shoes at the back door, water in the dog’s bowl and hang some towels on the washing line. Make sure a trusted neighbour or family member collects mail and regularly adjusts curtains and blinds. “If possible, ask a friend or neighbour to regularly park in your driveway or outside your home, to suggest activity,” Bunn said. 

Set timers. Timers are available from hardware stores and allow you to switch your TV or radio on at various times during the day and some lights on at night. “Tune your radio to a talkback station so there’s the sound of many different voices,” Bunn said. “If someone is snooping around, it will make it harder for them to know if someone is inside the house.”  

Sensor lights. These are anther inexpensive deterrent that are useful throughout the year. Install them at all external doorways.

Secure the shed and garage. Put away and secure items like ladders, tools and gardening implements as these can assist in forced entry and make sure the garage is locked. Store away any valuable outdoor items, such as bicycles and the barbecue. 

Turn down the phone. An endlessly ringing phone can be a give-away that there’s no-one home. Turn down the volume, and make sure the voice message gives no clue that you’ve gone on holidays.    

Spare keys. These should be left only with a trusted family member, friend or neighbour. “Don’t keep them under a flower pot or a door mat,” Bunn said. “A burglar will easily find them.”  

“Our 550 offices around Australasia have helped people buy or sell thousands of homes around the country this year,” Bunn said. “We’d like to think that by taking some simple precautions, all homes will stay safe during the summer holiday season.”

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