Real Estate Articles Keep yourself informed in real estate. Discover what agents don't tell you.

And win more listings.by Neil JenmanReading time: 5 minsAgents know it – VPA is one of the worst scams foisted upon home sellers.If you’re a real estate agent with any sense of decency – not to mention respect for your clients – you will reject (or abandon) the nefarious practice of VPA.In doing so, you […]

Their way or your way. Your choice.by Neil JenmanReading Time: Apx 3.5 minsA critical factor when selling your home is ‘policy’.The way you choose the policy will directly affect your selling price. Plus, other prices, such as commission, marketing, staging, copywriting – and the whole gamut of mostly large and needless costs which sting most […]

Translating the language of agents – for sellers.by Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 5 minutesOne of the biggest reasons that homeowners have trouble with real estate agents is that owners do not understand the real estate language. They can’t speak real estate.For example, let’s say homeowners are selling.They call an agent who says,“Oh, your home is […]

A philosophy of rare goodnessby Neil JenmanReading Time: 7 mins apxWhen he was 90, the famous writer, W Somerset Maugham, was living in his glorious home at Cap Ferrat in the South of France.He told his nephew Robin Maugham, “All these wonderful things I have collected, this beautiful house, the fine art, the books in […]

How to make (or lose) a small fortune.by Neil Jenman  Reading time: apx 4.5 minsIn today’s real estate world the key to a good financial result is knowledge. Those who know the most are those who sell for the most. And buy for the least.Some people are adept at that often sought but rarely achieved […]

by Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 6 mins PLEASE NOTE: Although this article is directed at real estate agents, every home seller can benefit from reading it. Why? Because it will help sellers recognise the best agents. Nothing is more important to real estate agents than good listings. A good listing is a sure sale.To attract home sellers, […]

Another bitter truth of public property auctionsby Neil JenmanReading time: 2.5 mins apxLast week, 1,559 properties were listed for auction across Australia. Of these, 690 were sold.As any school-child will attest, this is a clearance rate of 44 per cent.The official (fake) clearance rate released to the public was 62 per cent – at least.In […]

IT DOESN’T GET MUCH WORSE by Neil Jenman Reading Time: Apx 4.5 mins There is no one more important in my life than my 90-year-old mother-in-law, Daphne. She’s a no-nonsense woman who, like many of her generation that grew up in a Depression followed by a world war, has an uncanny ability to spot dodgy […]

Especially for what you don’t want.by Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 5 minsLast week, my wife and I went for dinner at a Thai restaurant. It looked good from the outside. But appearances are not always reality.We ordered mixed vegetables with chicken.When the meal arrived, it was mixed vegetables with beef. Not a chook in sight.The […]

The more you lose, the more you pay! by Neil Jenman Reading time: Apx 4.5 minutes A few years ago, they barely existed. Now they are everywhere. Agents who help buyers instead of sellers. They are Buyers’ Agents. For centuries sellers have had agents to help them get the highest price (supposedly). And now buyers […]

And avoid the downward real estate escalator.by Neil JenmanReading Time: Apx 3 minsWhen I was an agent, there was one promise I refused to make to sellers. I never promised to sell their home at a specific price.I did make two promises, however. First, I promised that the price I got for a home would […]

Maybe it’s time to give decency a chance. by Neil Jenman Reading Time: Apx 4.5 mins This is a real estate story that almost breaks my heart. It’s an all-too-common story that applies to agents in every area of Australia, mostly the rookies. Meet just one of them. Sally. There’s one word to describe Sally […]

10 TIPS to help you secure a good rental property.by Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 6.5 minsIf you’re trying to rent a home today, it’s bad news. Rental costs soaring with available homes vanishing. Stories of greedy landlords, dreadful properties and heartless agents.In many parts of Australia, trying to find a home to rent is so […]

HOW REJECTED AGENTSBECOME ENEMY AGENTS by Neil Jenman Reading time: Apx 3.5 mins If you’re about to put your house on the market, you’ll have no trouble attracting agents. The mere scent of a big commission will attract dozens of agents.  And if you enjoy being harrassed by agents promising you all sort of miracles, […]

How to sell or buy betterby Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 2 minsIt was a British sitcom. It was quoted in the Bible. We are told to “love our neighbours”. Yet many of us never think of neighbours.In real estate, there are two big ways neighbours can help you.ALWAYS MEET THE NEIGHBOURS.First, you should always meet […]