Elite Agent
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87.7% of homes sold for profit in March quarter
Less than 13 per cent of houses resold at a loss during the first quarter of 2020, despite floods, bushfires and COVID-19. New figures from CoreLogic analysed approximately 72,500 sales over the first three months of the year. It shows profit-making sales in March were only down 1 per cent from the December quarter, a nominal amount. Gross profit was…
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Landlord insurance and the Goldilocks principle
Too little or too much is a conundrum many landlords face when it comes to their insurance. While having too little (under-insurance) is rife among property owners, having too much (over-insurance) is also an issue, so landlords need to find the right balance to ensure they appropriately and adequately protect their investment. Under or over?Under-insurance is when a portion of…
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Unlocking potential
Unless your internet has been offline for the past decade, every business knows the importance of the customer experience, or CX as it’s more commonly known. Having your customer receive the experience you want them to have, and indeed the one they are expecting, requires you knowing and understanding your client’s journey. And, just as the client journey comes before…
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Creativity, innovation and relationship building: where is property management heading?
There’s no doubt that property managers have had to adapt in response to the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 situation. As far as Hannah Gill is concerned though, the pandemic has provided opportunity to accelerate some much-needed change and innovation in an industry that is “ripe for disruption”. So, what does the property management industry look like right now? According to Hannah, it…
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Sophie Monk’s Gold Coast mansion up for rent
If you’re looking for a swanky bachelorette pad, or simply somewhere to watch The Bachelorette in style, Sophie Monk’s Gold Coast mansion can be yours to rent for $1200 a week. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home sits on 4,000 square metres of land, and boasts an in-ground pool, ocean access, a boat ramp (and boat storage area) and even a jetty…
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The new normal? Office blocks with touch-less entry
The technology wasn't developed for COVID-19. It had been in the pipeline for quite some time. But The Gateway building on Macquarie Street in Sydney is the country's first office tower to implement hand-scanning technology, allowing workers to enter without touching a thing. The Gateway building at Sydney’s Circular Quay has become the country’s first…
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Oliver Bowler: Referral and repeat clients drive my business
Years in the industry? Seven, I started at Ouwens Casserly in April 2013. What’s a special place in your local area? Norwood Oval. I was born on Woods Street and love the buzz of the parade on a Friday night when the footy is on. The atmosphere at the oval and the surrounding pubs and restaurants can’t be beaten. Did you choose…
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Rentals see biggest price drop in over 15 years
Rental prices have plummeted nationwide, with unit rentals experiencing their biggest price drop in over 15 years, according to new figures released by Domain that show a historic fall of 3.2 per cent over the June quarter. “The rental market has become highly fragmented in recent months,” Domain Senior Research Analyst, Dr Nicola Powell said. “Rental prices fell across most…
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Service, please!
Every client wants excellent service, but no two are the same. In order to deliver excellent service, you need to know what your client values and the outcomes they desire. You see, when you know what a client values and what they expect to happen, that’s when you have the potential to truly serve and deliver an exceptional experience. You…
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Tasmania first state to accept HomeBuilder applications
The Treasury has announced that, despite some initial hesitations, every Australian state and territory are now signatories to the HomeBuilder scheme. Tasmania is already accepting applications, becoming the first state to do so. ACT will provide information on how to apply next Monday, while QLD has promised information “shortly”. Other states are expected to follow suit. The $25,000 grant has…
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REIV: Melbourne is prepared for new COVID restrictions
As Melbourne returns to stage three lockdown, local real estate agencies are feeling a sense of deja vu – which, luckily, makes them well prepared to deal with the recent shift in fortunes. “Real estate in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will continue to service the community with online inspections returning along with online auctions,” REIV President Leah Calnan said. Inspections…
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Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire return to lockdown: why we need to be vigilant
Philip Russo, Monash University and Brett Mitchell, University of Newcastle Metropolitan Melbourne and the shire of Mitchell will returned to Stage 3 stay-at-home restrictions as of midnight Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced, after 191 new cases were recorded in the state overnight – its highest ever daily case total. The lockdown means for the next six weeks, people in…
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Good news: HomeBuilder has caused a boom in new home inquiries
The Federal Government’s HomeBuilder scheme has led to a surge in new home inquiries since it was announced in early June. REA have today released their ‘Insights New Homes Snapshot’ for July, which shows inquiries to developers nationally jumped by almost 63% in June. Even more impressively, inquiries about land experienced a 93% lift over the month. “I expect to…
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Look inside Cate Blanchett’s $12m Sydney apartment
Cate Blanchett’s Macquarie Street split-level apartment in the historical Astor is on the market, with a $12 million guide price. Blanchett bought the eighth floor abode in 2015 for roughly $8 million. The 400sqm property has a stunning view of Sydney Harbour, overlooking the sails of the Opera House. For a further touch of glamour, the property initially belonged to…
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Walkability: the new gold standard for urban planning
Once upon a time, the Australian dream was to buy a property in the suburbs, taking advantage of the vast networks of highways and the lowering costs of vehicles to get away from the rat race. The suburbs offered plenty of space to raise a family, even if it meant markedly more time in the car, travelling to and from…
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Capital city apartment values to be hit the hardest, experts predict
The latest Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey is out, and it’s not the best news for apartment owners. 43 experts and economists were asked to predict various aspects of the housing markets, including the projected values of apartments and houses in the eight capital cities. They predict price drops of between 7-8% price drops by the end of September for…
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NSW Government offers free mental health work programs
Mental health is a growing concern in many industries, including real estate. The trauma of recent events has impacted workers far and wide, and the toll of such an upheaval in the day-to-day lives of all of us will be felt for some time to come. To help soften the impact of COVID-19, the NSW Government is offering a range…
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Daily grind or creative mind?
Technology may be getting more sophisticated every day, and slowly cannibalising manual tasks and administration, but data shows it’s not a future of robot overlords we face, so much as technology-assisted work. That’s good news. Tech that cuts out admin and gives us powerful insights into our customers frees us up from the daily grind. It allows us to use…
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Finding yourself when all seems lost
Who are you? This may sound like a strange question to ask, but it’s totally relevant and incredibly important. It’s a question that we should ask ourselves regularly, and it’s one we should not underestimate the importance of, especially given the current conditions. Sometimes, when we are feeling out of sorts, it can all be due to one simple thing.…
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Kevin Rudd has bought Pat Rafter’s former $17m Noosa mansion
While a lot of Aussies assumed we'd be watching week two of Wimbleton at the moment, nobody could have predicted that the mystery buyer for Aussie tennis legend Pat Rafter's $16m Noosa mansion is none other than Therese Rein, the wife of former PM Kevin Rudd.
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Are you eligible for a $3000 Small Business Recovery Grant?
As we all know all too well, the real estate industry has been hit hard by COVID-19. Luckily, things are improving, but many businesses still need a cash boost in order to make the transition back to normal.If you are a small business owner, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $3000 from the NSW Government.The Small…
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Talisha Buttsworth: Clean workspace, clear mind
Years in the industry? Going on eight years. I started on reception straight out of high school at 17, and I am now a Property Manager at Island Sands Asset Management. What’s a special place in your local area? We have so many. Our local beach in Tannum Sands, walking onto Wild Cattle Island at low tide, Facing Island, and…
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Who are your customers?
At what point does someone become our customer? While there is not too much travel going on right now, let’ssay you go online and book a flight with Qantas, you proceed tocheck-in and head to the lounge before boarding the plane. When do you think Qantas believes you become their customer? If the experience at…
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EBM RentCover stresses importance of following rent freeze process
EBM RentCover is stressing the importance of following the government’s rent freeze process after receiving an influx of inquiries from landlords relating to COVID-19. EBM RentCover Managing Director Sharon Fox-Slater explained while there hadn’t been a notable rise in insurance claims during the past couple months, there had been a significant uptick in inquiries from landlords seeking clarity on what…
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30 minutes with Daniel Lee – Plum Property Brisbane
Only 10 seconds into a video depicting an Indooroopilly home, it’s hard not to break into outright laughter. On screen is Plum Property principal Daniel Lee looking for all intents and purposes like a dodgy used-car salesman espousing the virtues of a true ‘renovator’s delight’. It’s irreverent, it’s downright amusing, and it’s nothing like a standard real estate video. It…
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HomeBuilder a potential win-win across six key areas
The federal government’s new HomeBuilder scheme offers eligible Australians money to renovate or build a home. While it’s attracted controversy, HomeBuilder does offer a much-needed opportunity to make old homes more energy-efficient. Research released in March showed the energy performance of housing must improve by an average 44-48% in the next decade for Australia to reach net…
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How a pandemic could improve the traditional workplace
Having had to rapidly adjust to working from home due to COVID-19, many people are now having to readjust to life back in the office. Many will have enjoyed aspects of what is sometimes called “distributed work”, but some may be dreading the return. So is there a middle ground? Could hybrid work arrangements, known for boosting well-being and productivity,…
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How COVID-19 changed business practices
The pandemic literally changed the world. It certainly changed the way we conduct business of all kind. The real estate industry has learnt a lot of lessons from March through to the end of June, and continues to learn. These lessons learned from how we have been forced to adapt have a great many positives. My observation of the main…
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PR isn’t what it used to be
In the last five years, digital and social media have fundamentally changed the way PR works. Once upon a time, media outlets had the power to decide which ideas, products and services the public wanted to hear about. Now, audiences hold the power. With search and social at their fingertips, consumers know what they’re looking for and have the tools…
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The new opportunities of working from home
Obviously, the pandemic is still a very much a reality for everyone. Yet as restrictions ease, it is also clear that people, at least in terms of mindset, are thinking about what comes next. It’s true across many aspects of our lives, including our homes. After being in lockdown for so long, many people are reconsidering the suitability of their…
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Tony Issa: Being true to others and ourselves
Years in the industry? Since 2010 in different capacities, but always related to property. What’s a special place in your local area?I really love Finesse Eatery and Espresso Bar in Sylvania, and Cup and Cook in Kyle Bay – they are relaxing environments where I can chat to the operators and locals while enjoying great food and coffee. Did you choose…
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How to show true value as a property manager
Property managers need to do more than just return phone calls on time to show true value and secure more managements, a leading industry expert says. Speaking as part of a Transform 2020 lesson, Coronis Now Director Jodie Stainton says property managers must actively think about ways to offer more than their rivals and stand out in the crowd. “I…
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Boosting exposure with innovative marketing
With listings and transactions taking a hit as a result of COVID-19, agents have increasingly been looking to more innovative marketing tactics to gain exposure for their properties. Collings Real Estate‘s leading sales agent Christian Gravias has been successfully implementing a range of unique marketing strategies that have proven highly effective in the current climate. The Melbourne agent has focused…
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Avoiding data disaster
When we have new clients looking at implementing a new CRM, we are often faced with the conversation about migrating data from their existing systems or spreadsheets. Data is one of the key contributors to success or failure when it comes to changing CRMs. So how do you prevent a data disaster unfolding? Last month we had a new client…
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