Harcourts Blog

A messy garage is overwhelming, to say the least. After years of accumulating “stuff” a good purge is necessary, especially if you plan to move.

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Topics: Advice, Home Ownership

Moving to a new town or city can be overwhelming, particularly if you're trying to choose a neighbourhood to buy a home in. While it’s true that what a great neighbourhood looks like can differ person to person, all great neighbourhoods do share some common factors that are universally appealing. Here we explore 10 signs the neighbourhood you live in (or would like to live in) is a good one.

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Topics: Residential, Selling, Buying

Buying off the plan is becoming an increasingly popular option for good reason. As well as getting a brand new home, you’re also buying at a set price and usually only need a small deposit. However, if you do decide to go down this route, it’s vital you go in with your eyes wide open. Here are some of the things you need to think about when buying off the plan, brought to you by our partners Mortgage Express.

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Topics: Newsletters, Buying Off-The-Plan, Buying Off-Plan, Australia Property, Australia Mortgage

Bathrooms are one of the rooms in your home that can add value with some simple changes. Here are some great ideas for bring out the best in your bathroom.

While it’s often one of the smallest rooms in your home, that doesn’t mean bathrooms need to be bland and boring. Use the right colours together, add the right materials and that poky little bathroom space can easily become an oasis of calm.

Look to nature
Nature has always had a strong influence on choices and never more so than now. Natural, botanical schemes are trending throughout the home right now, including bathrooms.

Think crisp whites, creams, forest greens and natural, organic materials. Earthy greens would look very sophisticated in an earthy bathroom. For a daring look, try a navy or bold wallpaper.

Open up the space with glass
Back-painted glass splashbacks have become an extremely popular kitchen feature in recent years, and now they’re starting to make an appearance in bathrooms as well, particularly in soft blues and greens. Try restful pastels teamed with crisp white trims for an instantly soothing palette.This pairs well with the chalky pale mineral blue and green tiles that are a popular pick for their soothing properties.

Embrace technology
Traditionally technology isn’t something that has been associated with bathrooms, but built-in televisions and speakers are the perfect accompaniment for long luxurious soaks in the bath. New, mirrored flat TV technology can be installed anywhere – on the wall, on the ceiling, behind artwork, or embedded in a bathroom mirror. You need a waterproof version, of course, where the electronic compartments are completely sealed off from any moisture.

 

Keep it simple
The move towards minimalism and simplicity is becoming more popular and brings with it sophisticated concrete finishes. Walk-in showers are popular.

Banish the clutter by allowing for plenty of storage. Clean vanity tops and surfaces will make your bathroom seem more spacious.

Add colour
Paint is such an affordable way to update your space. You only need a few litres to completely transform the space.

Watery blues and greens are always popular choices for a bathroom as they feel clean and fresh and help to make a small space feel larger. Recent trends have seen more soft greys and blue greys, such as silver and duck egg blue, coming into the bathroom space also teamed with off white.

If you’re stuck with existing tiles that limit your options for decorating but you can’t afford to replace them, consider painting over them. Many tiles have a glossy surface so use a surface sealer first to give the topcoats something to grip onto.

While a well-ventilated bathroom has a lower risk of damage, it's still important to use the correct paint. A waterborne enamel for a hard wearing and washable finish, while in kitchens and bathrooms use a mould inhibitor, which reduces the risk of mould growth.

 

 

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Topics: Newsletters, DIY, Investing in Property, Home Decor & Furnishing

Investing in property has long been a popular way for Australians to build wealth. As a long-term investment, it offers several benefits including a number of potential tax advantages that can result from investing in a well-managed property. Let’s take a closer look at these tax advantages.

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Topics: Newsletters, Property Investment, Mortgage Broker, Investors, Australia Mortgage, Property Manager

When it comes to preparation, Olympic athletes leave no stone unturned.

Because the competition is so intense, preparing for the Olympics becomes life and death, with endless months of training, and unyielding focus. Preparing for a game of soccer down the beach with some friends – not so much.

The same principle applies when preparing your property for sale and deciding what to repair, and what not to. Where do you draw the line? What do you fix and what do you leave? (In this article we look exclusively at the interior of your property).

Much depends on the competition. If the competition is intense, then preparation is all important.

If the market in your area is super-hot, and houses are selling at Usain Bolt speed, it shows that buyers are attracted to the area rather than the finer details.

In such a sellers’ market, it is possible only minor, essential repairs need to be made. Undertaking costlier repairs or renovations are likely to have little or no effect on the inevitability of sale or price, and represent an unnecessary cost.

The other major factor in deciding what to repair is how urgently you want to sell.

If you want to sell your house “yesterday”, then you need to remove every barrier that could potentially short-circuit a sale. For example, some buyers will pull out of a sale because of a seemingly insignificant fault, like a door knob that falls off in their hand.

If in doubt, seek advice from your Harcourts Sales Consultant.

There is a distinctive difference between repairs and renovations, with repairs being regarded as restoring something back to its original condition, while renovations are improvements or upgrades.

So what are the repairs to consider before selling a property?

Paint

• All exposed nail holes, stains and imperfections in your wall’s paintwork should be fixed
• Paint door trims and all areas showing wear and tear
• Remove older wallpaper by steaming and give the wall a fresh coat of paint
• Avoid creating bright or darker coloured features walls, because colours are an individual choice
• Consider painting over old-style dark, wood panelling, which can create a gloomy atmosphere in a room
• Always choose neutral or lighter colours, which make rooms appear bigger, and are acceptable to more buyers (creative buyers will add their own colour touches).

Lighting

• Make sure all switches and lights are working properly
• Install brighter bulbs in gloomier rooms.

Kitchen

• Make sure all draws and doors are working properly
• Bench top needs to be pristine, with no chips or cut marks. If you need to replace a benchtop considering installing a granite top which will generally add value
• Absolutely no leaky taps, or leaky anything else
• Consider replacing old plastic door handles with metallic handles.

Bathroom repairs

• Replace or repair leaky taps
• Clean grouting between tiles, and if missing, repair
• Replace any chipped tiles

Curtains and window furnishings

• Replace damaged curtains or blinds

Floors and ceilings

• Consider removing old carpet on wooden floors and polishing the floor boards
• Remove textured ceilings and paint with flat paint (beware of asbestos)

When considering what to repair, put yourself in the shoes of the potential buyer and work out what would cause you to have second thoughts about buying, and for peace of mind, repair whatever is a potential deal-breaker. 

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Topics: DIY, Repairs, Newsletter, Property Management Focus, Tips on selling your home, Harcourts Real Estate

With gardens looking their best in summer and with the warmer weather, that doesn’t mean you should hold off listing your property as we come into Autumn. There’s definitely merit to this, Here are five reasons why:

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Topics: Selling, Open Homes

Cost is usually a major factor when it comes to any home renovations, and weighing up the cost versus return is an important part of your decision making. Whether you’re looking to sell your home or just freshen it up, here are a few low cost projects that you can do yourself to revitalise your home and add value.

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Topics: Newsletters, DIY, Investors, Renovations, Home Renovations, Australia Mortgage

Owners of investment property should be aware of depreciation related to their property. But what exactly does it mean to use depreciation to your advantage? Our partners at BMT Tax Depreciation help sort out the facts from fiction.

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Topics: Newsletter, Investing in Property, BMT Tax Depreciation

While the majority of Australians still live in houses, the trend toward apartment living is growing thanks to a growing population of downsizers and the appeal of urban living. 

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Topics: Residential, Buying, Australia