Archive for July 25th, 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.”

Share this:

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”.

Share this: