keeping the balance in 2011

It seems we have hit the ‘business end’ of this year and to see 2010 out, I’ve put together some points on how I see early 2011 playing out.

• The market will remain challenged as stock continues to outweigh demand, interest rates will also be a factor.
• However the market won’t be ‘dead’, stock will still sell. Not at a rate high enough to clean out the excess, but I think people will still see value in the market and take advantage.
• Value will remain in the market, astute buyers will act.
• When selling, we need to understand that buyers are going to be very price sensitive. Over valued pricing will be of great detriment to sellers.
• Days on market will be the enemy of sellers. Sellers and agents need to attempt to sell homes within the optimum period of one month to achieve the best results. Those homes that languish on the market will be negatively impacted.
• We are experiencing the fall out from the Government’s stimulus packages that were very successful economically, but used up future demand. While uncomfortable, this is a period of letting the market find its own equilibrium which is important in allowing for a sustainable market.

Let’s finish with some tips:

• Sellers should only appoint an agent for a period of 60 days max. This will ensure they remain focused.
• Don’t over value your home, consider ‘no set price’ sale methods (Auction, Realmark’s Set Date Sale) that allow the market to communicate to you what value buyers put on your home.
• Sellers don’t be scared of the market, but understand the challenges, choose an agent wisely and do your best to get it right from the beginning.
• Buyers, act ahead of the curve if you are in the right financial position. There is value to be had!
• Understand that the property market is a place of ups and downs. This is all just part of the ride and everyone (including my business) needs to find ways to adapt and ride it out.

Finally, from everyone at Realmark we wish all our readers a very happy and safe festive season! We look forward to sharing with you in 2011!

First home buyers and their mini mansions

John Percudani is the lead story on wangle.com.au today.

"Once again an increase in the First Home Owners Grant is in the headlines.

While this is certainly a way to assist first time buyers into the world of home ownership (also a good way to create some extra energy in the economy), I do worry about what our first home buyers are buying and building.

We really like to use first home buyers. We used them to help save us from recession..." visit the site here to read more

About Wangle:

"wangle publishes opinions from prominent and every day Australians. wangle also features other forms of writing, slice of life stories, a splash of fashion, reviews, photography, art and much more."

IN Holiday

By Ara Jansen

With the holiday season and summer almost upon us, we thought we’d help stock up the drinks fridge.

We’ve come a long way in our drinking tastes from the days of Chateau Cardboard.

Ric Skipworth has spent most of his life working in the food and beverage industry and says in the last four years alone he’s seen a serious shift in buying and drinking habits. Along with a push for fresher, tastier food has come an overwhelming interest to treat alcohol as an integral ingredient in the tastes of the meal.

“I’d like to think we’re drinking less but better,” Ric says. “We’re having less but we’re enjoying the full flavour of something. Much of that has filtered through from all these cooking and dining shows on television.”

He says encouraging the slow food movement also encourages the slower drinking movement.

“As with food, stay away from the meat in a can and buy some Italian sausage. Take your time and enjoy the experience, rather than the instant gratification. It’s not about the alcohol, it’s about the journey. Spend two or three hours in conversation with good friends and slowly enjoy the flavours an alcoholic drink offers.”

Ric suggests if you want to try something different, share a bottle of Denmark’s Mikkeller, a beer brewed with champagne yeast or Scotch whiskey from the island if Islay. He says there’s a wealth of new and interesting tastes across the drinking range and it’s worth the adventure to discover some you like.

Holiday drinking doesn’t have to be all about alcohol either. Keep a carton of bubbly mineral water on hand to sip with ice, make mock gin and tonics or add to fruit juice. It’s refreshing cold or at room temperature.

Stock your favourite fruit juice or try some of the many interesting flavours available. Have lime cordial, bitters, grenadine and soft drinks on hand or try the Italian soft drink chinotto.

Keep and eye out for specials too across the board, so you can save on the staples and favourites.

No matter how you drink over the holidays, please be responsible.

Fine Wine Partners state manager Bernard Hughes picks five wines to stock up on for festive and holiday celebrations:

• Sandalford Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (around $38)
  
• Ashbrook Semillon (around $23)
  
• Capel Vale Debut Chenin Blanc (around $15)
  
• Buy a case to always have on hand: Sandalford Margaret River Classic Dry White (around $17)
  
• If you like bubbles, New Zealand’s Te Hana Reserve Cuvee (around $23) is the new kid on the block. Just launched in WA, its name means “to shine” and is proving an instant hit.

Wine consultant Zach Nelson says he’s chosen wines that “remind me of the holidays and are suited for our climate and our food”. His favourite bottles of holiday cheer are:

• Pol Roger NV Epernay for special occasions (approx $75)
  
• Yellowglen Bella or Bella Bianco for all-round holiday cheer (approx $17.99)
  
• Brookland Valley verse 1 Chardonnay 2009 (approx $19)
  
• Always keep room in the fridge for Valley of the Giants Crisp Dry White (approx $14.99 but specials can be $9.99)
  
• A lovely food wine for hot summers, try something new in France’s La Vielle Ferme Cotes de Ventoux (approx $17.99)
  
• Go the Spanish reds, particularly Torres Sangre de Toro (approx $17.99)

The Holiday Season

“Should I bother trying to sell my home over the holiday period?”

There is a perception that selling a home around Christmas and New Year is a bad idea. It is a question that I get asked a lot. Yes, people have a lot on their minds, but believe it or not, there are a couple of advantages to selling at this time of year.

The New Year often brings with it new beginnings for many of us. Once we get Christmas out of the way we feel a sense of excitement and opportunity for the year ahead and if that involves purchasing a home, you will find people will use their summer holidays to get out there and get the process of finding ‘the one’ underway. Without fail, we see these ‘holiday buyers’ in the market each Christmas and New Year period.

Another reason why selling at this time of year can be a plus is the fact that like most industries, real estate agencies slow down at this time of year. Therefore home open numbers drop, many agents take holidays and don’t run listings until they are back on board.

However, we are currently operating in a market overflowing with stock, but I guarantee a majority will sit idle during the break, which may give rise to more opportunity for your home to get noticed. Perhaps making a move while the competition is on holidays will give you some edge?

But despite all this, selling is all about your specific situation and needs and when you decide it is time to sell, if you pick the right agent it won’t matter what time of year it is. Good agents provide solutions no matter what and if there is one thing I can leave you with as we launch into 2011, it is to be smart about selecting your agent


Happy New Year from Realmark


We would just like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very happy New Year! Best wishes for the year ahead.

The Realmark team.

The market is flat and we have to wear it

I attended a REIWA event the other day and the outlook was that the market is probably going to continue as is for the next 12 to 18 months. And by continue ‘as is’ I mean it will remain challenged and overstocked.

While it is not very comfortable for some, we need this period to allow the market to find normality. Right now we are feeling the hangover of the GFC and the resulting Government intervention. The stimulus was necessary and it was effective in keeping the country out of recession, but it didn’t come cheap. Demand was pulled forward and now the market is trying to find its way without any outside intervention and we need to leave it alone.

When the market falls into this sort of plateau, people worry and those industries that are driven by the property market find it hard, but unfortunately it is just the name of the game. We need to leave the market to its own devices and that means the Government needs to resist any form of intervention

Just like it has before, the market will come back. We just need to let it do it on its own this time. History shows that when it finds it rights itself, it lifts rapidly.

John

IN Studio

An exciting exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre over summer offers a glimpse into the homes and collections of 30 Fremantle artists.

Are the things artists like to collect anything like the art they actually create? Over the summer, you’ll find out by visiting Home Open at Fremantle Arts Centre.

This personal exhibition, with just a hint of nostalgia, is a unique concept where 30 Fremantle artists or artistic couples have chosen art and objects from their collections at home.

Each artist’s choices will be grouped in a tableau to give the viewer an idea of the kinds of things they are passionate about collecting and in turn reflecting the flavour of their home.

“Showing off the work like this gives it some context,” says Chris Hill, one of Home Open’s three curators. “The objects will give people an insight into the personal world of these artists, as well as the objects just being interesting in themselves.

“If you know the artist’s work, now you can also find out what kinds of things they choose to live with.”

Fremantle has always been a haven for artists and creative expression and the artists involved in Home Open are a veritable who’s who of the local and West Australian art scene. From newer artists through to celebrated veterans, they are painters, sculptors, graffiti artists, printmakers, textile artists, photographers and more.

Exhibitors include Brian McKay, Holly Story, Jane Martin and George Haynes, Jánis Nedéla, Max Pam, Megan Salmon, Pam and Tony Jones, Paul Uhlmann, Penny Bovell, Pippin Drysdale, Richard Gunning, Ruth and Trevor Vickers, Tanya Schultz, Theo Koning, Trevor Richards and Twenty Eleven.

The objects they’ll be displaying range from paintings which represent West Australian art history to a rock collection, erotic Japanese art or a map study. All the objects have some relation to their public and private worlds.

Together, the pieces share the story of the artists’ homes, their collecting history, explore why and how they were acquired and their significance.

The collections also reflect an interesting network of relationships. Many of these art collections have grown not just through purchase but have been gifted by friends and loved ones, swapped with fellow artists, are the works of family or have been found. No matter how they have come into their owner’s possession though, they are precious.

Home Open is a delicious, voyeuristic view into the diversity and energy of Fremantle artists and their homes, while sharing some rarely seen, stunning private collections.

“One of the things which struck me is the diversity of what people collect,” says Chris. “Hopefully that will be an inspiration to people who see the exhibition. You can collect – whether it’s expensive art or beautiful things from op shops or even found things. Then it’s how you display them that can make a home interesting.”

Home Open runs from November 27 – January 23 at Fremantle Arts Centre. Entry is free.

Join the Home Open opening party at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Friday, November 26 from 6.30pm. Entry is free but you must RSVP to rsvp@fremantle.wa.gov.au or 08 9432 9565.

IN Jazz

Singer and fashionista Ali Bodycoat wouldn’t trade Perth for quids.

When she was a child the trills and grooves of jazz music washed through the Bodycoat house.

So it’s probably no surprise that Ali Bodycoat became a jazz singer rather than being beguiled by pop. She’s been performing for more than 15 years and Ali has become one of Perth’s most recognised and loved jazz singers.

Starting in hospitality, where she learnt from the city’s best about style and service, Ali did her first professional jazz show in 1995 and never looked back.

These days the glamorous singer is rarely spotted without her trademark bold red lipstick and never wears anything but clothes by celebrated local designer Aurelio Costarella, for whom she also manages Post Emporium, the label’s North Perth store.

Ali is the proud owner of one of Perth’s longest musical residencies – 14 years at The Subiaco Hotel – where her repertoire focuses on great songs rather than just expected jazz standards.

“I swore I would never do songs like Fever or Summertime because I wanted to take the approach of singing beautiful jazz that wasn’t outrageously overexposed,” says Ali. “I wanted to broaden the audience’s journey too. If it’s beautiful music presented well, then people will listen. That’s part of the fantasy and mystery of being an entertainer.

“There’s something about the romance of jazz and the writing for me. The lyrics and the contents are not ashamed to be romantic and even cheesy. “Cole Porter is my most favourite, alongside Johnny Mercer and Gershwin. The fact that most of them wrote both lyrics and music in those days in the style was quite phenomenal.”

Ali has worked in theatre, appearing in productions like Rent and Hair, but recently debuted her self-created one-woman cabaret show, Minor Major Marlene, which was part of this year’s Cabaret Soiree Carnival season Downstairs at The Maj. Her three-night stand was a sell-out and has opened possibilities to tour the show.

While most people consider not leaving Perth to pursue art elsewhere as some kind of failure, Ali has proven you can build a successful, thriving and engaging career here while enjoying the best the city has to offer. She’s gained respect, reputation and plenty of work as well as actively supporting the arts and volunteering for worthy causes like StyleAid.

“I think Perth really is striding ahead compared to other Australian cities. People are actually choosing to move here and that’s really cool to me. Whether it’s music or retail, ideas and styles are really blossoming here.”

Don’t ever tell her Perth is dull. She’s one of our biggest supporters, is outspoken about issues like why the West Australian Symphony Orchestra has no home and wants to encourage everyone to support the wide variety of activities on offer.

“I think Perth has the opportunity to become even more of a hub for all kinds of arts – from music and fashion to food. We’ve got a new theatre coming and newer venues like The Ellington and The Bird are showing people it’s possible.”

buy, buy, buy

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – when the market is uncertain, smart people act.

Smart buyers start paying attention when they cross match underlying economic fundamentals with phrases like: Uncertain property market! Increase in days on market! Increasing stock levels! Low auction clearance rates! Basically when you are a savvy buyer, you know that there is good opportunity hiding behind negative talk and bad news.

Right now the property market is weighed down with uncertainty and it is showing in a number of different ways, houses are taking longer to sell, prices are fluctuating and stock levels far outweigh clearance rates. There are a lot of different reasons as to why this is happening and unless you have a crystal ball there is no telling how long it will last. What is certain is the fact that right now is a good time to step up and make an informed move.

Anti-cyclical buying is the very best buying there is, but it takes smarts. You have to be able to make the decision to press go despite the negative talk coming from all angles. You have to make the first move, you need to act before the herd (who are sitting on the fence). History shows that when the market turns it recovers very quickly and big gains are made by those already positioned in the market, and not by those playing catch up.

I always come back to the point that this state is staring down the barrel of a significant housing demand increase and as the population grows and employment improves the squeeze will again push buying and rental prices up, especially when you start to recognise the relative difference in property values in the WA market in comparison with other Australian markets.

This may very well be your chance for good buying, don’t waste it.

IN Music

Marcia Hines has paid tribute to a favourite musician by recording the songs from the classic album Tapestry.

When Marcia Hines bought her first copy of Carole King’s Tapestry it was on vinyl. It was 1971 and she sat next to the record player and followed along with the large included lyric sheet.

“It was like she was just singing to me,” says Marcia, one of Australia’s most-loved singers.

The album went on to be one of the most influential in the singer’s collection and when Marcia was offered the chance to record the songs off Tapestry she jumped at the idea. The result is Marcia Sings Tapestry And the songs of Carole King, as they’ve added three more King songs at the end.

Tapestry – an undeniable pop classic – was released in 1971 by American singer-songwriter Carole King and features such classics as I Feel The Earth Move, You’ve Got A Friend, So Far Away and its marquee track (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. It remains the longest charting album by a female solo artist and has sold more than 25 million copies.

“When Carole wrote this album, she was a young woman and she spoke for all of us,” says the Member of the Order of Australia and former Australian Idol judge. “She had a lot to say and was living her life and it was the first time I had heard stories about women being on the road. She touched certain parts of our lives that people never spoke about. Something like Will You Love Me Tomorrow was a huge admission.”

When Marcia was first approached with the idea she thought “cool, that could be interesting”.

“I also thought it would be a challenge,” says 57-year-old Marcia, who this year also celebrates 40 years as an entertainer. “Tapestry is one of those albums steeped in tradition so you really have to harness lightning and decide what you are going to do with it.

“The album was released in 1971and there have been immense changes in music since then, so we wanted to introduce it to this century but keep it real.”

The singer says the warmth on the album has much to do with the fact that both she and the musicians were in the studio together. The results are a better sounding album than she could ever have hoped for.

“It’s funny to hear something a zillion times and never think that you are going to record it. I looked at it from a fan and an audience’s perspective. So I put the album on non-stop for a month just to feel it again and I realised how cool it was going to be to re-do. My family were very patient!

“There’s no one who sounds like Carole but I know putting my voice to it will change it, plus the instrumentation we chose will do that too. That’s the stamp we put on it.

“Keeping it real was what I wanted. This album is very conversational, not about how clever you can be with your voice.”

Marcia Hines Sings Tapestry is out now. See Marcia Hines and Leo Sayer perform at Perth Zoo on February 12, 2011.

WIN, WIN, WIN!

Thanks to Universal Music Australia we have five copies of Marcia Sings Tapestry to give away…
To go in the draw, simply become a fan of Realmark on Facebook at
facebook.com/realmarkre.

IN Modern Art

By Ara Jansen

From Picasso to Pollock and Magritte to Mondrian, Perth is being treated to an international collection of modern art.

One of the modern art world’s most fascinating characters also had an enviable collection, which Perth art lovers can indulge in over the summer months.

Blessed with a keen eye and excellent taste, Peggy Guggenheim was the niece of Solomon R. Guggenheim, after whom New York’s famed art gallery and foundation is named. Peggy’s father died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, leaving the 21-year-old New Yorker a $2.5 million inheritance.

In her early 20’s Peggy moved to Paris, became enamoured with the bohemian set and became friends with artists who would go on to become big names in art’s future.

She started selling, collecting and exhibiting art as well as promoting her friends and eventually moved to Venice. Her collection became one of Europe’s most significant examples of modern American art and remains so today.

On display now and for the next four months at the Art Gallery of Western Australia are 35 pieces from the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice.

Titled Peggy Guggenheim: A Collection in Venice, the works show off the late Peggy’s strong affinity for surrealism and abstraction, two of last century’s key art movements.

The collection of European and American artists who transformed modern art includes work by Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Piet Mondrian, Vasily Kandinsky, Giorgio de Chirico, Constantin Brancusi, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.

To offer a further insight into the woman herself, personal ephemera from the colourful collector and patron, including her famous sunglasses and pictures of her much-loved dogs, will also be on display.

This is the first exhibition in the Art Gallery’s annual series called Great Collections of the World.

Art Gallery of Western Australia director Dr Stefano Carboni says the Peggy Guggenheim exhibition and others in the series, which are exclusive to Perth and not travelling elsewhere in Australia, will share some of art’s most interesting treasures with West Australians.

“I think there’s an appetite for this kind of exhibition in Perth,” says Dr Carboni. “We’ve created something very unique here, because it’s not part of another show. These are masterpieces and I want to give the public a great experience that is both visual and educational.”

The exhibition also comes with a full schedule of activities for all ages which range from talks and after-hours master classes to student art workshops.

Peggy Guggenheim: A Collection in Venice is at the Art Gallery of Western Australia until January 31, 2011. Check out greatcollections.com.au for full activity list.

*Realmark is an active and enthusiastic supporter of the arts and has a close association with the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Our award-winning company was a sponsor of Starry Starry Night, a glittering fundraiser held in the lead-up to Peggy Guggenheim: A Collection in Venice.*

Realmark scoops REIWA awards

This month, I am proud to announce to IN readers that Realmark won four categories at the recent 2010 Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Excellence Awards.

We received the following awards:

• Best Large Residential Agency of the Year- for the second consecutive year
• Best Commercial Agency of the Year - for the first time
• The Communication Award - for the fourth time
• The Innovation Award - for the third time

My fellow director and wife Anita, and myself, plus some senior staff members were at the event to accept the awards and it was an incredible feeling to be recognised by our peers across so many categories.

However, these awards are not mine, they belong to the entire Realmark team because without their hard work and commitment to the Realmark approach, this never would have happened.

What is also encouraging is that these awards are a sign that we are delivering on our promises to our clients and ultimately, that is why we all get out of bed everyday.

So I’d like to thank the entire Realmark team for all their work that has culminated in these awards, but I’d also like to use this opportunity to thank Realmark’s clients. Thank you for choosing and supporting our progressive approach to real estate, we wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t believe in us.

IN Motoring

Indulge your inner car lover with a European trip which is all about driving, racing and a touch of glamour.

When Paul Blank started telling people about his holidays to Europe visiting car factories and going to the Monaco Grand Prix, they demanded he share his motoring passion and knowledge with them.

So he did just that and set up a guided trip to highlight some of the best motoring action available in Italy and France.

Based in Perth, Paul has been a motoring enthusiast since he was a kid and a motoring journalist and well-known classic car rally organiser as an adult.

He was also the first person in Australia to run car events exclusively for women, which now happen twice annually.

“There are a lot of women getting interested in driving in motor sport and having a go,” says Paul. “Many of the events don’t require special gear as they are one car at a time in a race against the clock.”

He’s visited the Monaco Grand Prix many times. Friends and associates were entranced by his stories and convinced him to share his passion and enthusiasm by being their trip guide.

Paul took his first group in 2005 and they have become an annual event with a maximum number of 16 participants.

The trip starts with Italy’s Mille Miglia, the world’s most famous road race which began in 1927. It attracts more than 360 cars which have to be the same models as those which competed in the early years. Celebrities and famous racing drivers are known to be part of the event.

You’ll also visit the supercar homeland – the Galleria Ferrari and Lamborghini’s factory and museum.

What’s cool about the trip too is the chance to drive your own convertible sports car – like a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi – rather than sitting in a tour bus being shuttled from place to place.

Paul provides a comprehensive and custom-created roadbook packed with directions and tips for sightseeing on the way, local road rules and etiquette plus personally-tested great places to eat.

Other highlights include going to Cannes, Monaco and the Grand Prix, Lake Como and an exclusive, can’t buy lunch with motoring expert and veteran F1 commentator Bob Constanduros.

It’s also not just a trip for the boys either. Paul says there are usually an equal number of women on the trip, not all of whom are car enthusiasts. He says the buzz and beauty of the places visited create an entertaining trip for all ages.

“The trip takes two-and-a-half-weeks and the driving is leisurely. All the cars have satellite navigation and people love having everything organised. They just have to worry about being somewhere by the end of the day.”

The Ultimate Grand Prix Experience costs $8,600 per person double or twin share and doesn’t include airfares and Grand Prix tickets. The next trip is May 2011.

For more information, check out
www.classicrally.com.au

Realmark scoops REIWA awards

At last night’s Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Awards, Realmark took out four of the evening’s honours. We were announced as the winners of the below categories:

• Large Residential Agency of the Year for the second consecutive year
• Commercial Agency of the Year for the first time
• Communications Award for the fourth time
• Innovation Award for the third time

My wife Anita and I attended the ceremony and accepted the awards. It was a very proud moment for us and our entire team. We strive to bring a new, effective approach to what we do and being recognised by our peers for our efforts is an amazing feeling. Realmark wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a hard working team of people, we share this moment with all of our employees and thank them for their efforts over this last twelve months. The next step is the Real Estate Institute of Australia national awards, fingers crossed we pick up our first ever national award.

The first to move usually wins

Anyone who is working in, or active in the property market would know what I am talking about when I speak of the current sense of uncertainty surrounding the market.

I wouldn’t say things are dire out there but people, whether they are sellers, buyers, investors, landlords or tenants, are uncertain and when people are uncertain, they tend to stop and put off making decisions. Therefore the market is in somewhat of a holding pattern.

This type of market is just part of life in the property market and it will change at some point, nothing is forever in this industry. Therefore pull your head out of the immediate, be able to look ahead and if you are positioned correctly I recommend you be the first to move. Don’t decide to move when everyone else is, that is when the opportunities are diminished. Real benefits come from acting when everyone else is scared.

Something to think about no matter who you are or what your intentions are in the property market.

IN Selling

There’s more to selling your house than just spring cleaning according to a local real estate agent who reveals the best way to get top dollar.

When you go for a new job it stands to reason you want to look your best at the interview. Well, it applies to your home too. If you’re thinking of selling, it’s the next owner you want to impress.

Smells of coffee brewing and biscuits in the oven have now become outmoded ways to snag a buyer...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Marketing matters to YOU

We were very excited to again be recognised at the Australian Business Awards, taking out the Marketing Excellence category for the second consecutive year.

Marketing is something that is very close to my heart and to be honest, when you are selling a home, it needs to be close to your heart too. It is a major point of ‘make or break'...read the full article at realmark.com.au

IN Harmony

Singing is not only wonderful to the ear, but it’s also food for the soul. Meet a Perth mum who revels in her chance to sing.
We’d all be blessed if we had 100 sisters, aunts, grandmothers and mums looking out for us.
Wembley mum Sam Auert says that’s exactly how she feel...read the full article at realmark.com.au

IN Cash's Shoes

An Australian musical show celebrating the music of Johnny Cash comes to Perth this month.

Elvis might have had blue suede shoes but Johnny Cash wore black and was a rebel and a musician who stood against the system. He was also one of music’s most loved and controversial artists.

The man in black was 71 when he passed away in 2003 and during a bumpy and awarded career the singer, songwriter, actor, author and musician broke ground across style...read the full article at realmark.com.au

A night to remember

July 23 was the first ever Realmark Recognition and Awards Night and it was a very important milestone in Realmark’s history.

Realmark directors John and Anita Percudani wanted to create an awards initiative that not only recognised performance in sales...read the full article at realmark.com.au

IN Bloom

The magnificence of our local wildflowers pop with colour and texture in a new book out in time for the wildflower season.

A life-long passion for the natural world has led Stanley Breeden to his latest book which celebrates the wildflowers of Western Australia.

Along with his wife Kaisa, the pair’s Wildflower Country is a large format hardback book whose photographic images are so vivid...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Swan Lake on Ice

Get ready to see moves which didn’t even make the Winter Olympics in Vancouver earlier this year when Swan Lake on Ice performs in Perth.
The 26 Russian skaters of the Imperial Ice Stars have won accolades for competitive skatin...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Real Estate - We need YOU!

The world of real estate has changed a great deal since I first started out as a commercial agent and it has changed dramatically over the past ten years. In fact, this industry just never stops moving.

This constant change is something I love about this industry...read the full article at realmark.com.au

A dark new passion

A south-west winemaker has swapped grapes for chocolate and found a dark new passion.

It was quite by accident that John Wade got involved in chocolate. While he was working as a winemaker for Denmark’s Rickety Gate Wines, the owners started discussing sourcing chocolate which would complement their wines...read the full article at realmark.com.au

TRADING HOURS – LET THE MARKET SPEAK

Realmark Commercial director John Percudani says when it comes to trading hours, we should forget the referendums and simply let the market speak.

“When the issue of trading hours rears its head, there is always one fundamental that is left out of the conversation every time and that is what the market wants,” Mr Percudani said.

“Obviously there are stakeholders who are threatened by the extension of trading hours who are being protected by these regulations, however there is a lot of time and resources spent on this debate when if we just let the market speak, the people of WA would be getting what they want and the market would find its own equilibrium.

“It may be a crazy notion to some, but the fact is, if there is specific demand for extend trading in certain suburbs and strips, businesses that operate in these areas will profit from this and stay open. In areas where the demand isn’t strong enough to make staying open later or on Sunday’s profitable, those businesses will only be open when it is profitable to do so.”

“It is not a complex equation, it is just the way it is. We are trying to regulate something that really should be allowed to happen naturally, like it does elsewhere in Australia,” he said.

“Why are we telling people when and where to shop? The market should be telling us. The fact is consumers will go elsewhere, maybe online if they can’t find what they want, when they want it.

“In an age of every increasing consumer assess and individuality it is the consumer who should be dictating the trading hours agenda not politicians or retailers.”

Mr Percudani says more flexibility around trading hours would encourage more vibrant hubs throughout Perth.

“You can not artificially create the village centre, it is something that happens over time and it cannot be controlled by planning or regulating trading hours, we need to have the foresight to see that,” he said.

“I fear we are crushing creativity and opportunity by being lead by specific stakeholders on this issue. While some sectors will be impacted by opening up trading hours, so many will benefit and so will the people of WA.”

The art of coffee roasting

Fans of good coffee take their brew as seriously as lovers of quality wine, cheese and chocolate. Local company Darkstar are showing drinkers what it’s like to enjoy a smartly blended coffee... read the full article at realmark.com.au

Leederville - Realmark's home

I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but Leederville is almost the spiritual home of Realmark. Leederville was a forgotten city fringe commercial precinct when Realmark first opened its doors back when it was just my wife Anita and I running the show in a small shop font with some second-hand furniture. We have sure grown up since then, and Leederville has too... read the full article at realmark.com.au

Volunteering Holidays

People travel for many reasons but now groups of travellers are giving back as well as taking in the scenery. Ara Jansen discovers a growing trend.

Catherine Wallace likes to travel but there was something missing in her adventures. So she found a group trip with a difference and headed to Vietnam. A year later she was in Tanzania.

The 29-year-old had discovered that by spending part of her trip working on a sustainable community project she was not only giving but receiving plenty too.

Catherine travelled with World Expeditions, a company pioneering community project travel adventures... read the full article at realmark.com.au

Beat the Crisis

I sometimes feel I am turning into a broken record when it comes to the looming housing shortage we are facing in this State. It is a big issue and it is likely to be the fundamental that once again smashes affordability of housing in WA. So we need to keep talking about it.

There are many factors at play in this shortage, one issue surrounds what our first home buyers or young people are building. We need more homes to be built, that is a fact. But what we don’t need is oversized houses built in new subdivisions which are getting further and further away from the CBD. There is a mindset in WA that when you build a home, you need to build something as big as possible, with a theatre room, alfresco area and multiple bedrooms, but this mindset is actually just leaving us with... read the complete article at realmark.com.au

Experiment with a new look

Just a quick message to post a link to a nifty little site I found... http://bit.ly/homestyler.

Good to have a tinker with some ideas or experiment with a new look for your favourite room.

Are clichés costing you thousands?

The Barefoot Investor, Scott Pape, wrote in a column a few weeks back something along the lines of, real estate agents get paid too much for what they do.

This comment was not popular within our industry because it is pretty scathing, but I think he has made not only a very valid, but very important point.

The thing is, selling a home is major financial decision no matter who you are, and the quality of the advice you receive at this time can impact you in the way of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So sellers, are you falling for the old clichés? Silent listings, buyer databases, a quick sale is a good sale and so on?

In today’s market your home will sell with or without an agent. The danger out there right now is underselling and missing out on sometimes tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In all honesty, many agents today are simply order takers, and they are getting paid big bucks for the privilege. If you handed over that cash to any other discipline (say a lawyer or accountant) you would have massive expectations around their service level, why are we not expecting the same from our real estate agents?

So I am in real estate, why I am I saying all this? At Realmark I know that we provide value in that we help people get more for their property, we help them make good decisions around their property. We provide proven processes and our results reflect this. We work hard to remain informed and in touch, we never push outdated methods. We don’t take our commissions for granted and those in our industry that do reflect badly on us, and let me tell you, it is frustrating.

Sellers you need to understand that old clichés cost you money and rob you of the transparency you deserve. Let your sale mature with buyers within the optimum 21 days, demand a high level marketing strategy, expect real buyer feedback and find an agent that offers process, not personality...don’t just appoint an agent because they are a neighbourhood celebrity!

Be a little more savvy and it will pay off, often financially.