We understand what it means to sell your home. It’s the reason we work so hard, to ensure your biggest investment continues to bring satisfaction right up to the end, when you hear that word.

Top Tips for Buying and Selling

When selling property there are other things to consider besides how to get the smell of dog out of the house. Although admittedly that’s an important one.

• Get yourself a conveyancing solicitor. Don’t do anything until you’ve found someone you like and trust. A few hundred dollars will save you several thousand headaches.
• Let the bank – or whoever holds your mortgage – know that you’re intending to sell. There are many documents they’ll need to prepare, and the sooner they start the better.
• Ask your solicitor to prepare the Section 27, ready to issue as soon as the property is sold. The Section 27 enables you in many cases to get your hands on the deposit before settlement date. The bank is involved in this too, so just as well you alerted them!
• Listen to your agent. If he recommends you don’t accept an offer, even if it’s a really juicy one, then don’t. He’ll have his reasons, and ultimately he’ll put more money in your pocket.
• Know the market and what your property is worth. Look for sales results online or in the papers. You should attend a few inspections and get a feel for how the agents conduct a campaign. If you’re contemplating an auction, watch a few in your area to see the auctioneers in action.

The buying process, although no more certain is far more straightforward. However there are still a few things to consider:

• Find the right loan. The assortment available these days is just staggering… you can go for the lowest interest rate, the most flexible repayment options or just the nicest smile. See what’s out there, know what you need and make an informed decision.
• Get to know a few agents in the area you’re predominantly searching. Agents like to have the details of house hunters at hand so when a property in freshly listed they can arouse immediate interest.
• If you find a great property, make an early offer. There’s no guarantee it will be accepted, but if it’s a realistic price it might be your best chance to secure the property.
• If you’re a first home buyer or if you’ve already sold your primary residence, don’t be overly fussy. When the market is strong, as is the case presently, it’s more important to nail down the area than to find the dream home. If you dawdle around too long you could find rising prices push you into areas you really didn’t want to be.
• Don’t lose heart!