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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 […]

Don’t let them take your money.by Neil JenmanReading time: 6 mins apxZac is a Sydney schoolteacher, one of the best. Zac cares about the children with whom he spends each day. Indeed, he cares so much that he takes extra courses (outside the school or Education Department) on how to be a better teacher. Given […]

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 […]

8 POINTS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE AND PROSPERby Neil JenmanReading time: 3 minutesImagine owning a property that even agents don’t want to sell.That’s what happened to one owner recently. Four years ago, he bought an apartment off-the-plan from one of those expert “investment advisers”. He paid $550,000.Today, he’d be lucky to get $400,000.In the […]

by Neil JenmanReading Time: Apx 7 minsIn the real estate world, a “tough nut” is a home seller who wants too much money.To some degree, most sellers are “tough”; they want a great price. That’s okay, it’s just human nature. It doesn’t matter what we are selling – from a car to a home – […]

When home owners do NOT want to be home sellersby Neil JenmanReading time: Apx 5 minsLike many real estate stories, this one has touched my heart.Alf and May have lived in their home since they fell in love and got married in 1968.That’s 55 years.May was 19 when Alf, at 22, carried her up the […]

MAKING SENSE OF NONSENSE IN REAL ESTATE. by Neil Jenman Reading time: Apx 5 mins To the average consumer, there is so much about real estate that doesn’t make sense. But agents say, “This is the way we do it.” So, most consumers just shrug and sign-up with the agents. Big mistake. For those who […]

Most sellers fall for this one.by Neil JenmanReading Time: 7 mins********************************************Warning: This is a thinking person’s article. If you skim it, you’ll risk skimming the price of your home when you sell. Read it slowly. Read it carefully. Think about it. Feel welcome to comment or ask as many questions as you wish. Your family […]