Real Estate Articles Keep yourself informed in real estate. Discover what agents don't tell you.
HONESTY KILLS DEATH HOUSE SALE
Back in September last year, LJ Hooker at North Ryde had no trouble selling a home that had been the scene of a gruesome triple murder. Their selling technique was simple – say nothing.
LAWYER SWIMS WITH SHARKS
When we enter the world of property advisers, we know that salespeople are likely to make a hefty commission if we sign something. We expect to be bitten – at least to some extent.
MORE THREATS AGAINST JENMAN
As a consumer advocate, I am often threatened by agents because I am trying to stop consumers from getting ripped off. But this is the first time I have been threatened because I tried to protect agents from getting ripped off.
REAL ESTATE ADVERTISEMENTS
When Elder handed a prospective buyer his L J Hooker brochure, he never dreamed he would be fighting court battles for the next seven years.
MUMMY’S HAD A HEART ATTACK
Yesterday Trevor confirmed that the heart attack was genuine. Something about a mother’s leaky heart valve and her being in a lot of pain. But look, now that he’s got a response to his For-Sale sign, it’s time to talk money. After all, things are tough in Brisbane for many agents these days.
REAL ESTATE AT CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME
“We’re interested in the property advertised for $1.5 million,” said the buyer, “Can we look at it tomorrow?”
FAIR REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATING
Whether you are selling or buying, if you are fair and realistic, you will find the whole process far more pleasant.
JACK WEAVERS FINALLY BUSTED
Scottish novelist, Sir Walter Scott’s, immortal words on deception, “Ah, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
FROM PRISONER TO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT ADVISER
There are few better examples of the farcical property regulation in this country than the case of Michael David Wilson.
FAMILY FACE EVICTION
The payments made by the family were higher than the payments made by Gruber and Chen to the ANZ Bank. More profits for Gruber and Chen. This is called a ‘wrap deal’.
HOPE LOOMS FOR BLACKLIST TENANTS
Once again, the annual Morgan poll says only one in ten Australians believe agents are honest.
FALSE REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING
Once again, the annual Morgan poll says only one in ten Australians believe agents are honest.
INSIDE THE JAMES TOSTEVIN SCANDAL
Late last month, Melbourne real estate agent James Tostevin was pictured in newspapers, drink in hand, toasting his latest success.
HOUSES OF DARKNESS
Each night, after he finishes work, Conrad Joseph stops briefly at a five-star hotel. Striding up to the reception desk, he hands over his
BEWARE OF PROPERTY “EXPERTS”
2 Questions and 3 Golden Rules. by Neil Jenman Yesterday I saw an email that made my blood run cold. It was from a property identity. He was inviting consumers to listen on-line to a panel of property “experts”. The first name on the list of “experts” is someone whose clients have suffered some of […]
“BUCKET AGENTS”
James is an agent. He’s been in the game 20 years, which means he’s caught many bad habits. Although his integrity won’t allow him to charge upfront costs.
CORONAVIRUS AND PROPERTY
How to handle fear. By Neil Jenman The most famous words about fear were probably spoken by Franklin Roosevelt during his 1932 inaugural address as US president. America was then in the grip of the worst economic depression in world history. Banks were closing, businesses were collapsing, and millions of people were losing their jobs. […]
BOOM IN FAKE FIGURES
For those not good at maths, look at the weekend auction “results” from Canberra – the city many say is always awash with distortions.
7 DIRTY TRICKS IN REAL ESTATE
Fortunately, this trick is rare. Here’s what happens: Homeowners (usually elderly folk) who do not know the value of their home call an agent.
A BETTER WAY TO A BETTER PRICE
How not advertising can get a better result by Neil Jenman READING TIME: 3.5 mins apx Local agents said this apartment was worth “around $260,000”. When we said the owner wanted “more than $300,000” (otherwise he’d lose based on what he paid with costs), the local agents laughed. They said lots of similar apartments were […]
DON’T BE “SHORT-SOLD”
7 STEPS TO SELLING FOR THE BEST PRICE by Jim Grigoriou author of the soon-to-be released book, ‘The Real Estate Short Sell’ READING TIME: APX 8 minutes Most properties are short-sold. Despite what agents say, I have done the research, I know the terrible truth: Most home sellers lose tens of thousands of dollars because […]
WHEN “CONDITIONING” IS ESSENTIAL
How to avoid it and get a better price. by Neil Jenman READING TIME: Apx 7 minutes If you’re a home seller, you should understand why agents use a method called “conditioning”. Let’s imagine you are a real estate agent. Imagine you are ‘pitching’ to sellers. You know these facts: The sellers must sell. Their […]
HOW SELLERS CAN TAKE CONTROL
Use yesterday’s idea to get a great result today. by Neil Jenman READING TIME: 4.5 minutes apx Many of the today’s agents who hurl abuse at me, say I am “stuck in the 1980s” – the decade I opened my real estate office. No, I often reply, I am stuck in the 1970s or before. […]
HOW MUCH ARE ‘TYPICAL’ AGENTS WORTH?
by Neil Jenman How much do you earn per hour? Forty dollars? Fifty dollars? If you’re a cleaner, your rate is $26.61 per hour. If you’re a lawyer, maybe $300 per hour. So, how much are you thinking of paying a typical agent to sell your house? How does $500 an hour sound? Enough? What […]
INSIST ON RISK-FREE SELLING
by Neil Jenman Reading Time: 4 mins apx Risk is part of owning a business. If you own a fruit shop, unsold fruit goes stale and needs to be thrown out. If you have a restaurant, the same applies with food. Risk is everywhere in business. It’s the price of great rewards in future profits. […]
The massive “Hidden Cost” of selling your home
by Neil Jenman The auction was over. The agent was beaming. The sellers looked like many sellers at the end of an auction – as if they’d been slapped around by Conor McGregor. The buyers had a silent smirk – having come prepared to pay $1.4 million, they bought this gorgeous home in Sydney’s south […]
Warning to Home Sellers
Although most home sellers under-sell their homes, it doesn’t have to happen to you. If you follow the Jenman Golden Rule for Selling in 2020, you’ll be headed for three huge benefits most sellers never receive.
Real Estate in the Holiday Season
You hear it everywhere: December and January are quiet months in real estate. It’s holiday season. Some agents say you shouldn’t even bother to buy or sell!
