propertyC R E AT I N G W E A LT H A N D L I F E S T Y L E T H R O U G H

issue 28

We sell every home as

if it was our own.

PROFILE REAL ESTATE

Profile Real Estate

by Grant and Christina Penrose

Profile Real Estate

The festive season is upon us and we’re very excited about being in our new

home before Christmas. There will be a lot more space for the boys to run and

play, with the added benefit of a swimming pool to enjoy - perfect timing as

we come into summer. It’s beneficial for us as real estate agents to personally

experience the process of buying and selling as it gives us a true appreciation of

what our clients go through!

October has been a triple-whammy month of celebrations for us: the office

celebrated its 15-year anniversary, Grant and I celebrated our tenth year of being

happily married, and Jade turned 22! She will be joining us on a short break to

New Zealand over Christmas which we’re all excited about. We’ve made a pact

to leave the phones behind and strive for a relaxing break, so that we are fully

recharged and ready for another exciting year ahead! The boys are full of beans,

still very active and loving their sports, and with Alexander going into Grade 1 in

the New Year, we will now have three quite independent little men.

2015 has been a great year for us, we’re thrilled to have achieved some great

successes for our clients which will doubtlessly see us ranked once again as

one of the top RE/MAX offices in Australia. It has been a pretty “solid” year for

real estate sales, with realistic sellers being able to move reasonably quickly. The

low interest rates have helped and the massive growth in some other major cities

assisted investors to find Brisbane attractive. By contrast, the rental market has

been reasonably tough with many not able to achieve growth in the return for their

properties due to the affordability to buy. However, we are fortunate to have an

amazing team who regularly receive referrals from existing clients to new ones, so

for our office it has actually been a period of growing the rent roll numbers!

As we look back, the team has shared a number of successes, and one of the

achievements we’re most proud of is raising and donating $11,656.50 to Make-A-

Wish. We hope this will give much joy to the children with life threatening illnesses,

and our goal for 2016 will be bigger again. In particular, our Charity Ball was a

huge success and a big contributor to the amount raised and we look forward to

it becoming an annual event. Preparation is also under way for our 2016 events

calendar, which will include more property seminars. The feedback was really

positive from our information night, so stay tuned for our next property seminar

evening.

From us to you, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, safe holiday and a prosperous 2016!

Christina0418 737 327

PROFILE REAL ESTATE

Welcome

Have you considered the advantages of remodelling your home to make it more liveable? It certainly has the benefits of saving time and money, as it avoids the costs of buying, selling and moving.

Or, if your intention is to sell your home, then it makes sense to add value to your property so you can attract a buyer at a higher price. Many buyers want to purchase a home that needs little to no work – most people just don’t want the hassle or the cost. Whichever scenario is suited to your individual needs, it is important to present your home in its best light, achieving a desirable look without spending too much.

So, let’s get to renovating. Here are my top 8 ways to add value to a property – without costing you an arm and a leg.

1. Street AppealIf a house doesn’t look appealing from the outside, chances are potential buyers won’t make it past the driveway. First impressions really do count, so start with a little do-it-yourself cleaning and tidying up

• Clean up the garden and add a few extra plants, particularly flowering varieties. ESTIMATED COST: UP TO $1,000.

• Wash down the exterior of the house, including paths. ESTIMATED COST: $100.

• Add a fresh coat of paint to all surfaces. ESTIMATED COST: $500.

• Render the front façade and paint the sides of the home, if the home has outdated brick. ESTIMATED COST: $40 TO $80 PER SQUARE METRE.

• Style the front porch with pots, décor and a chair if room permits. ESTIMATED COST: $150.

• Add a picket fence. ESTIMATED COST: $800.

• Repair any damage in existing fences.

2. Fresh PaintNothing improves a home’s appearance as cheap and easy as paint.

Neutral tones work best for larger areas, while one or two highlight colours for trimmings looks great (gutters, fascia, front door, posts).

If needed, you can seek expert advice from a colour consultant to help you make the best colour decisions for your property. Just make sure you request a ‘basic’ colour scheme. Consultants usually charge around $200 for inside the property and an additional $200 for outside the property.

FYI: It costs around $4,000 to have the inside of an average 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home professionally painted, and $5,000 to paint the outside (including external walls).

DIY painting should cost you around $500 for the inside of an average 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, and $700 for the outside the home (including external walls).

3. Make RepairsRepair any damage to walls, floors, doors, fencing and cracked tiles etc. to present the home as best as possible.

It is relatively cheap to do most repairs yourself. For example, replacing a toilet can cost as little as $200 installed.

8 Ways to add value to your home for less than $20,000

4. FloorsThe floors of a home are the single, largest visual area of the property, so it is a good idea to present them in an appealing way.

Fresh flooring will make a potential buyer feel that the house is clean and inviting. To freshen up your home’s flooring, try the following:

• Rip up old carpet and polish timber floors if the home has them. ESTIMATED COST: $4,000 (FOR AN AVERAGE SIZED HOME).

• Install new carpet. ESTIMATED COST: $3,000 TO $10,000, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE AND QUALITY SELECTED.

TIP: Linoleum flooring comes in some great finishes like a timber or tile look, and it is often cheaper than carpet.

ESTIMATED COST: $2,000 FOR AN AVERAGE SIZED HOME.

5. Lighting• Let there be light – open up blinds, curtains and windows to let light and fresh air in.

• Replace outdated lighting with simple, contemporary styles. Light fittings have never been cheaper and there

is a huge variety available from hardware stores.

6. Revamp the KitchenA dirty, outdated kitchen is a sure way to put off any potential buyer.

Revitalise the kitchen cheaply and add value to the home with the following suggestions:

• Cupboards – The cheapest option is to paint your existing cupboards. Specialised paint is available for laminated surfaces.

ESTIMATED COST: $200 FOR A SMALL KITCHEN.

• Hardware – Replace handles with new metal or timber ones. ESTIMATED COST: $160.

• Benchtops – Install new benchtops. ESTIMATED COSTS:

• DIY laminate starts at around $50 per square metre at places like Bunnings and Masters, or $200 per square metre customise.

• Stone veneer benchtops: $250 per square metre.• Solid stone benchtops: $450 per square metre• Replace old tap fittings with a stylish modern fitting.

ESTIMATED COST: $200.

• Appliances – if your existing appliances are working and cleanable, you don’t need to replace these.

However, if they are broken or in bad condition, look out for sales or factory seconds to save costs.

7. Bathroom RefreshJust like the kitchen, small changes to your bathroom(s) can have a big impact. Try things such as:

• If the wall tiles are outdated but in good condition, try painting them white with tile paint. ESTIMATED COST: $200.

• For the floor, it is better to replace old or broken tiles, re-grout or cover the entire floor with a tile look linoleum and upgrade the shower tiles.

• Add new taps or, if taps are ok, add new tap heads. ESTIMATED COST: FROM $50.

• Paint the vanity if it is in good condition or replace it if it isn’t worth salvaging. ESTIMATED COST: REPLACING THE VANITY WILL COST $250.

• Style your bathroom with lovely, colour coordinating towels.

8. StorageFinally, create storage with shelving and cabinetry. Storage is one of the top priorities that potential buyers look for.

DIY wardrobes and cabinetry can add extra storage. Ikea offer packs at an affordable price.

Start designing today!

Source: http://www.console.com.au/September Console Newsletter 2015

Bardon

Brisbane Nov 2013 Nov 2014 Nov 2015

Median Weekly Rent - House $410 $415 1.2% $420 1.2%

Median Weekly Rent - Unit/Apartment $385 $390 1.3% $385 1.3%

Days on Market (Avg) 25.6 29.3 3.7 30.7 1.4

Days Vacant (Avg) 15.1 17.2 2.1 18.3 1.1

Source: rentfind.com.au

What our Clients say:Hi Helen,

Please accept my thanks to you and your team for managing my property. This was my first experience with owning a rental property and your team made the job very easy.

The unit was only vacant for three days of the four years I owned it.

Your work in having the unit rented for 99.9% of the time is much appreciated.

Regards,

Colin

Property Rentals Brisbane

The Market

PROFILE REAL ESTATE

Profile Real Estate

Recently Rented

Paddington3 1 0$750 per week

Kenmore4 2 1$590 per week

Toowong 2 2 1$455 per week

Rent your property with us and receive free landlord insurance for 1 year!

Call us today on 3510 5222

Settled / Sold by our team

Bardon

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Carina Heights Riverhills Milton Taringa

Strathpine Morningside Albion St Lucia

Kenmore The Gap Chapel Hill Ashgrove

Bardon Thornlands Indooroopilly Sinnamon Park

Toowong Forest Lake Bowen Hills Middle Park

To sell your property call 0418 747 997 today

RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE141 Boundary Road, Bardon Qld 4065

Christina Penrose: Grant Penrose: Mob: 0418 737 327 Mob: 0418 747 997 Direct: 07 3510 5244 Direct: 07 3510 5256 Email: christinapenrose@remax.com.au Email: grantpenrose@remax.com.au

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