Real Estate News & Information
Keep yourself informed in Real Estate. Discover what agents don't tell you.
REAL ESTATE COMMISSION RATES
The best agents get the best prices.by Neil JenmanReading Time: Apx 3 minsWhen Audrey from Glen Waverley in Victoria was selling her home, she did what many homeowners do –…
AUCTION LEMONS
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…
ROBBING ELDERLY HOME SELLERS
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…
DON’T PAY ANYTHING
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.…
THE PROBLEM WITH BUYERS’ AGENTS
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…
LAZY REAL ESTATE AGENTS
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…
DANGEROUS REAL ESTATE
How NOT to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.by Neil JenmanReading time: 8.5 mins apxTwo homes on Sydney’s North Shore. Next door to each other. A combined worth of more…
GET A GOOD PRICE IN A BAD MARKET
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…
SUPERMARKET SALLY
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…
HOW TO FIND A HOME TO RENT
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…
HOW REJECTED AGENTS BECOME ENEMY AGENTS
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…
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
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…
IF OUR HOME IS NOT SELLING, SHOULD WE WITHDRAW IT?
When a property is not selling and the owners refuse to acknowledge that price is the major problem, some take the property off the market. They intend to re-list later…
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL A HOME
Most agents say now is the best time to sell. If you’re a buyer, they say now is the time to buy. It’s always the best time for agents to…
WHAT IS A LOVE LIST – AND DO WE NEED ONE?
A Love List is a list of all that you love about your home and your area. It should include what first attracted you to your home; what you have…
SHOULD WE USEA DISCOUNT AGENT?
Rarely. Well, preferably not.But…. If forced to give a yes or no answer to this question, the answer would be NO.And here’s why…If the main way you choose an agent…
WHAT CAUSES BUYERS TO REJECT OUR HOME?
There are several reasons why buyers will reject homes – either before or after inspecting them.Here are some common reasons buyers reject homes for sale …BEFORE INSPECTING.Being unable to inspect…
ARE AGENT-FINDER SERVICES OR SITES WORTHWHILE?
No, definitely not. The internet is peppered with companies that claim to help home sellers to find the best or the cheapest agents. None of these companies have ethical or…
HOW MANY HOURS’ WORK IS INVOLVED IN THE SALE OF A HOME?
Usually less than 10 hours. Sometimes as little as four hours – if you exclude the time spent at the listing presentation. Even less for an auction sale. Consider four…
SHOULD WE MYSTERY-SHOP AGENTS – IF SO HOW AND WHEN?
There are two reasons to mystery-shop agents. The first is to help you find the best agent to sell your home. The second is to check up on your chosen…
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM ‘A TYPICAL AGENT’?
A typical agent is an agent you should avoid. Most agents are typical agents. As you will see (in answer to further questions) if the only agents you can find…
WHEN SHOULD WE NEGOTIATE THE COMMISSION?
Always negotiate the commission at the point of sale NOT at the point of sign-up. You can’t possibly know how much commission an agent is worth until you see what…
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT PRICE TO ASK FOR MY HOME?
Probably the most common mistake made by home sellers is overestimating the value of their homes.
