IN Festivities

by Ara Jansen

Want to throw a great gathering this festive season? We asked an expert for some tips on how to make Christmas and festive parties memorable.


Anne-Marie Denney knows how to throw a party. As the event, fundraising and partnerships manager for Save the Children in Western Australia she has thrown plenty of successful balls and parties.


She also organises her family Christmas get-together every year. The 20-strong gathering spans four generations, from 3 months to 95 years. Usually held at someone’s home they’re vibrant and colourful affairs which don’t break the bank.


“I tend to choose a colour theme,” says Anne-Marie about the best way to decorate the space or the table. “Last year I did bright block colours – I used six different colour placemats alternating across 24 settings, brightly-coloured cushions on mismatched dining chairs, coloured water jugs and low vases of brightly coloured flowers. This year I am going for silver and pale blue – fresh and twinkly.


“It’s great to decide your colour scheme first and then you can start getting a mental picture of how you want everything to look, which can also inspire your menu and drinks. Once you have a colour theme, don’t get too excited about everything matching or you risk looking like a motel suite. It’s far more charming (and budget friendly) to have mismatched items like wine glasses that don’t match, side plates from different dinner settings or op shops, seat cushions or bows that fit within the theme but are different fabrics or patterns.”


Fresh flowers are always a great idea and can match your colour scheme or general theme reasonably easily. Liliums would be perfect for a light and open but dramatic feel while orange, yellow and pink roses in low vases are cosy. A flower at each place setting adds colour to your table.


“A Christmas tree decorated with love takes preference over a perfectly turned out one anytime. A fun thing for the kids to do when they arrive is to decorate the tree. Even if you have had it decorated for the last month, take your decorations off and let them do it again, or have a second tree especially for the purpose. It means they have something fun and immediate to do which gives parents a breather to enjoy a drink before the madness begins.”


When it comes to food, Anne-Marie suggests going for food with visual impact. Salads with edible flowers always look amazing and there are simple desserts which look great and can be made early. Plan and set the menu well ahead of time. Think through what can be done in the days prior and how long things will take to get ready to put on the table.


“I always ask my family to bring something but the lesson I have learned is to be very specific. If you want someone to bring a chicken – make sure you specify it needs to be cooked and hot or one of your brothers is bound to show up with a frozen chook. If you want a salad make sure you specify it – potato, green or fruit. People love to bring something so don’t be afraid to ask.”


At Christmas nutritional common sense often goes out the window so putting dressing and butter on the side, serving yummy salads and vegies, offering a fruit-based dessert option and having lots of sparkling water means people leave feeling great. If you serve bowls of chilled strawberries and grapes with pre-dinner drinks people will tuck into them and eat less rubbish at the other end of the day.


“Don’t try and be perfect,” encourages Anne-Marie. “On the day you must have a sense of humour and work around any obstacles that pop up with a giggle and a sense of fun. The food might burn, the freezer might defrost, it might be 40 degrees, it might rain, the Christmas tree might fall over and break all the presents, your sister might get embarrassingly drunk before the meal. When some disaster hits everyone will look to the host for a cue on how to react. If you laugh and carry on everyone will relax and have fun.”


www.savethechildren.org.au



Part of Anne-Marie’s philosophy is to make things flow as smoothly as possible on the day. This is her idea for a festive dessert which tastes great and can be made before the guests arrive. It’s like a trifle but much easier, can be lean on the calories if you choose light ingredients and won’t be too heavy if it’s a really hot day.


Anne-Marie’s Christmas Dessert


Ingredients


Vanilla yoghurt

Mixed berries

Vanilla ice cream

Crushed nuts

Shaved or crushed chocolate


Preparation


If you are making a number of these, do them at the same time. It’s easier to fill 10 containers with each ingredient rather than making them one-by-one.

Anne-Marie does these desserts in highball glasses but you can choose any fancy glass or cup. You might even make the kids ones in melamine cups (the ones you use on picnics and by the pool) so there’s less chance of breakage.

Start at the bottom with the vanilla yoghurt, then add mixed berries and vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle crushed nuts and chocolate on the top.

Serve with a spoon. Use long spoons if you’ve chosen tall glasses or find some fun and decadent ones.


Salad-e Shirazi


Ingredients


4 vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped

2 Lebanese cucumbers, peeled, seeded, roughly chopped

3 shallots, finely sliced

6 breakfast radishes, cut into small wedges

2 tbsp shredded flat-leaf parsley

2 tbsp chopped dill sprigs

1/4 tsp dried mint

Juice of 1 lime

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

Edible flower petals (rose, nasturtium, chrysanthemum), to garnish


Preparation


Combine the tomato, cucumber, shallot, radish, parsley, dill and mint in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice and oil. Pour lime mixture over the salad. Season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine. Garnish with the edible petals to serve.

Looking back and giving back in 2011

As another year passes by and the festive season quickly approaches, many individuals and companies draw their attention to giving back to the community. It has been said that clients prefer to do business and staff prefer to be engaged by an organisation that contributes back to the community. Here at Realmark, our Community Connect team have been busy doing just that.


Our ‘Operation Christmas Child’ program was a success with 77 individual Christmas gift boxes, donated by Realmark employees, shipped off to children in need through the Samaritan’s Purse initiative.


In addition we have this year made significant donations to a variety of charitable organisations including Red Kite, Nulsen and the Star Light Foundation.


More recently, we are pleased to announce that Anita Percudani has been appointed as a member to the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation Council. This collaboration and participation certainly augments the Realmark Community Connect contribution.


The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gallery and allows art lovers to provide their support, both financially and in-kind. Through the Foundation’s work, numerous important pieces have been acquired for the State Art Collection; many of these artworks would have otherwise been unattainable.


Our first engagement with the Art Gallery of Western Australia was in 2010 when Realmark sponsored the Gallery’s social event of the year; ‘Starry Starry Night’ – which launched the Venetian Peggy Guggenheim collection at the Gallery.


The Art Gallery’s Director, Dr Stefano Carboni and Anita’s mutual Venetian heritage aside, this event was the start of a wonderful new collaboration.


Anita said that the partnership positions Realmark alongside an iconic West Australian organisation. It provides a premium brand association and opens our work up to a whole new audience.


“Along with our other community initiatives we were looking for a way to get involved in the arts and I am really excited about being part of the Foundation and supporting its important work. We wanted to build a more diverse philanthropic portfolio for the business and we felt the Gallery and Realmark values were well aligned.


“This association is about being a good corporate citizen, giving back to a society that helps sustain our business. I am looking forward to encouraging younger generations to see the value in art and culture and to help contribute to the Gallery’s growth,” she said.


It is anticipated that Anita’s involvement with this key WA cultural organisation will also expand business networks as a collective benefit to our clients and employees.
“I also look forward to the wonderful opportunities that may arise through this partnership for our employees and the broader Realmark community,” she said.


The Gallery is currently exhibiting Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600 – 1800 from the Victoria and Albert Museum and is available for viewing until 9 January 2012.


As we approach 2012 we will be looking for further opportunities to augment the Community Connect program as we see it as absolutely vital to give back. Not only does it unite people working together for a collective goal, but it also makes a difference to the community that supports us.


Just finally, on behalf of Anita, myself and all of the Realmark team I would like to wish all of our readers a very joyful and safe holiday season and a prosperous and happy New Year!


Until next time.

IN Gardens

We usually associate a garden with the colour green, but is your garden green enough to help the planet? We asked one expert what you can do to help green your garden and still make it feel like a haven.


When you consider giving your garden, courtyard or outdoor area a face-lift or a boost, it’s worth taking some time to consider making the project green, waterwise and as eco-friendly as possible.


ABC TV Gardening Australia presenter, environmental scientist and landscape designer Josh Byrne knows that with a little thought and pre-planning your new space can be gorgeous and environmentally considerate. No matter how small, you can always add some greening touches.


If you’re starting from scratch or redesigning and renovating your garden or outdoor space, Josh suggests the first thing to do is consider how the design complements the thermal comfort and energy performance of the house and surrounding areas.


“Be conscious of what materials are used – that is, where they are sourced from and how long they will last,” Josh says. “Other key sustainability goals that should be addressed include water efficiency, local food production and wildlife habitat. It’s a matter of identifying the sustainability objectives early on in the design process and being clear on the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes. Like anything, it just requires a little thought and effort.


"Just because you are going for a garden which ticks plenty of eco friendly boxes, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be maintenance-free. At the same time though, it doesn’t have to suck up all your leisure hours. Decide how much time you want to spend taking care of your space and plan around that.


“Some garden elements, such as vegetable gardens, do require regular maintenance but they are also extremely productive, so there’s a return from the resources that are expended. The size and intensity of food gardens should be scaled according to your needs, expectations and capacity. Higher maintenance activities should be balanced with low maintenance areas so the net result is manageable.”


One of the things very close to Josh’s heart is the home veggie and herb patch and he definitely recommends one if you want to green your garden.


“Growing veggies and herbs is so rewarding, with significant taste and health benefits. Even if space or time is limited, seasonal herbs and picking greens can be incorporated into feature planters or pots. There are also lots of clever and stylish ways to incorporate fruit trees into gardens, such as the use of trellises and productive screening hedges.”


While you’re doing all this Josh suggests the three big no no’s to watch out for are:

• Blanket irrigating, as opposed to hydro-zoning the garden, based on the specific water requirements of plants.

• Dominating the garden with hard landscaping at the expense of planted areas, which help to cool the home and outdoor living areas, whilst allowin rainfall to infiltrate the soil and increase biodiversity.

• Using timber products that aren’t certified by a recognised accreditation scheme, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Lastly, what’s one smart trick which is simple but can make a garden look a million dollars and still be environmentally friendly?


The answer is mulch. Use quality mulches and gravel surface treatments.


“If done well, this can really lift a garden by providing a neat finish that sets off plantings. Gravel areas around feature plants can be used to reduce irrigated areas, whilst mulched garden beds will help with moisture retention and reduce weeds.”


www.joshbyrne.com.au

IN Applecross

What’s in a suburb? According to two Applecross locals, it’s their life-long connection to the area which makes it the ideal place to live and work in.

There’s something special about working in the area you grew up in. You know all the nooks and crannies, the best places to hang out and you can’t go past a quietly satisfied sense of belonging.

For Paul Evensen, associate director of Realmark Applecross and Mark Correia, owner of cafe C15 Espresso, Applecross is that place.

“I live and run a business here,” Paul says. “A lot of people go away but end up coming back because they miss the area and are familiar with it. I love being in this part of the city because it’s so accessible.”

Paul sends his kids to a local school and presents a monthly book prize to a local student for being a quiet achiever not only at his kids' school but also the one he attended as a child.

“I’ll often see people around here I went to school with and some of them have kids at school with my kids, so there’s a lot of familiarity. There’s just that instant connection and I think that makes a difference doing business here.”

Mark Correia and his twin Jason own C15 Espresso, a cafe in the busy Kearns Crescent eatery area, recently dubbed the Claremont of the south. The brothers grew up in nearby Attadale but have been living in Applecross for the last eight years. The brothers have been in business together for most of their lives and started C15 eight years ago.

“The river is one of my favourite places,” says Mark, who also loves meeting friends at The Raffles for meals. “I’ve also seen the place grow and it has come such a long way from where it was before. It’s a really pretty part of town.

“All my friends live around here and a lot of my neighbours have grown up here as well. Plus having a business in the area, I think there’s something great about all those links.”

Mark and Paul’s local connection has meant Paul hosts a chat about local real estate every Thursday from 9 – 10am at C15.

“It’s free and I’m trying to break down that barrier people sometimes feel with real estate agents while at the same time promoting the local area and its activities,” says Paul.

You see, it really is all about being local.

Realmark’s Applecross office has relocated to 11a Riseley Street adjacent to C15 cafe. Telephone: 9428 2888. C15 is at 15 Riseley Street. Opening hours are Tuesday – Saturday 7am – 10pm, Sunday 7am to 8pm and Monday 7am – 8.30pm. Telephone: 9316 4242.

Carbon Tax - how can you benefit?

The Carbon Tax legislation has now been passed through the lower house of Federal Parliament. An historic event without doubt.

But amidst all of the debate around energy efficiency and greenhouse emissions, it’s worthwhile considering how the Carbon Tax would affect the property market.

Residential energy use is on the rise with the ever increasing availability and development of gadgets and technology. While a number of household appliances are being made to be more efficient, energy consumption per person has increased as has the size of the average Australian home which is now in the largest range world-wide.

Furthermore, energy costs are rising beyond what most think is affordable, no wonder homeowners and buyers are becoming increasingly mindful of a home’s energy efficiency rating and how the carbon tax will affect them.

There is no doubt that the introduction of carbon tax will have an inevitable impact on the property market both in terms of consumer preferences and affordability. Once it is implemented next year, it will progressively have a significant impact on consumer activity and people need to be prepared for this.

It will affect household spending and buyer preferential demand for particular types of houses as buyers gradually become a lot more aware of how energy efficient a home is. This will become a distinct buying feature to be ranked and marketed.

Energy efficiency may become, for some, one of the most important features when considering a property. It could very well overshadow other features which currently dominate the decision making process. Things like ocean views, swimming pools, air-conditioning and heating systems, or that dedicated entertainment theatre room may come under different consideration and level of importance in the buying selection.

It is likely that renovations and building new homes will also become more expensive for people as the price of materials increase and building codes change. Thus, buyers will be attracted to established homes instead, which will consequently bump up the prices of this market segment. This will in turn impact on the ongoing challenge of housing affordability in Western Australia.

It’s not just the buying of property that it will affect; it’s the ongoing cost of living and many people may choose to buy a new property that better suits their carbon tax adjusted lifestyle in the future.

People need to start thinking about the type of property that will suit their lifestyle post the introduction of the carbon tax, because it will have an effect and people need to accept this.

Developers and sellers who are in tune with this structural change in Australian society and in particular the property market, who take a proactive and positive approach could create a competitive advantage and improve sale or rental returns. We as real estate agents need to think further than selling ‘bedrooms and bathrooms’ and develop a more sophisticated understanding of the product whilst shifting the focus towards this emerging buyer selection criteria.

IN Freo

Celebrating the truly eclectic nature of our port town, the annual Fremantle Festival celebrates the start of Summer.

Anyone who has spent time in Fremantle knows its diversity and the Fremantle Festival celebrates the city’s colour, quirks, creativity and community spirit.

Well over 100 years old, Fremantle Festival is Australia’s oldest and longest-running festival.

“The festival has grown over the years and includes all facets of Fremantle life,” says Alex Marshall, the co-ordinator of cultural development at the City of Fremantle.

Much-loved highlights of the Festival which starts in the middle of November include the Sunday Street Parade featuring vibrant floats and the energy of Carnivàle, the indigenous festival of Wardarnji celebrating Nyoongar culture, a children’s fiesta, a youth music event, shows at the Town Hall and Black Box Theatre, a coffee festival on the strip and entertainment at Kulcha.

Continuing the varied nature of the fun and activities on offer, the community part of the Festival features everything from visual arts and a feast in the park to a reggae beach party and Tweed Run vintage bicycle ride, which should feature around 100 cyclists on old bikes. There’s also the return of the Sticky Maze and Alex says a record 106 different groups have activities planned.

“What makes it most exciting is when we have people coming back and talking about putting their event in the festival. The strength of the Festival is how people wish to use it and people are starting to respond to that. The many and varied things people want to do is exciting.”

Interesting inclusions this year include Unbuilt Fremantle which is an exhibition looking at planning applications for past and present Fremantle dating back to the late 1800s, including those for buildings which never went ahead.

Taking the Festival to the West End will be Projections on High where local visual heroes VJZoo will illuminate buildings on High Street with static and moving projections.

“The West End is one of the jewels of Fremantle and it’s an opportunity for people to remind themselves about what a fantastic part of town it is. We want people to move around the community more and discover new spaces and disused buildings.

“In the last few years people have been talking Fremantle down but there are a lot more people talking it up because we know it’s a unique place.”

The Fremantle Festival runs from November 18 to December 4. Program details at www.fremantle.wa.gov.au on the Festivals page. Most festival activities are free.

IN Fitness

Getting fit for your wedding is one thing, but a Perth personal trainer who specialises in training bridal parties is on a crusade to stamp out something called brideorexia.

Justine McInerney might have started a personal training business, but she has also got a serious message to teach her clients.

A nurse, midwife and personal trainer with 18 years of experience in the health care profession, Justine owns Runaway Brides, a training business which gets bridal parties fit for a wedding.

While Justine can help people look great on their big day, her ultimate goal is to educate brides and grooms to exercise safely and focus on the long term goal of maintaining their health and fitness during their marriage, rather than only on their wedding day.

“We want brides and grooms to start their marriage feeling healthy and strong, thinking clearly and glowing from within,” Justine says. “We encourage couples to train together. We like to say that couples who train together stay together.”

A good 70 per cent of her clients are women but Justine and her team – including fiancé and head trainer Colby Huggins – train all members of the bridal party and their friends. With a focus on fun (as well as plenty of exercise) they also work with young professionals through to older people, many of whom simply want to keep fit and aren’t necessarily married.

“The boxing sessions are really popular,” says Justine. “How often can you hold the pads when your favourite girl is banging the hell out of you? It seems to be a great release for people who are stressed out!

“We find it also gives couples something in common to talk about when they leave a session. It’s something they can share in as they are preparing for the wedding and being in a marriage.”

As well as seeing fit people head to the altar, part of Justine’s mission is to eliminate the rise of bulimic brides to be and brideorexia as an acceptable practise for wedding preparation.

Brideorexia is a term given to the extreme measures brides or grooms take to lose weight in order to look great on their wedding day. That includes strict calorie limits (anorexia), binging and purging (bulimia) and over exercising. It has been around for centuries and continues to be accepted as part of wedding preparations.

“We’ve all come across a friend, family member or work colleague who has dropped a significant amount of weight in a short time in the lead up to their wedding day. Of course most of this weight is put straight back on within the next few years of marriage as maintaining a brideorexia lifestyle is near impossible long term.

“We want people to consider their long term fitness future and in the short term before their wedding, we can help them get into that strapless dress. We’ll also show them how good fitness and regular exercise is an excellent de-stressor without turning them into bridezillas.”

The decision making process...

Consumers today are not following the patterns of the past. By that I mean consumers are becoming increasingly astute and in-tune to the property market and will now research the credibility of an agent as opposed to selecting purely on the basis of familiarity or proximity. Now, clients will investigate an agent’s integrity and reputation long before picking up the phone to engage in a conversation about buying, selling or letting.

Information online is also more accessible than ever and this has empowered customers to make informed decisions. In the past, people relied on a family connection to the brand or simply that an agent was located at the end of their street.

The emotional connection to a brand is also highly important. Not the emotional connection that comes from a previous transaction but an intangible emotional attraction that one self generates with a product or service. So in other words, people are not just buying a ‘Hoover’ because their mother bought a ‘Hoover’ anymore, it’s about the difference the product or service can make to them. There are much bigger points of differentiation from brand to brand these days and a higher consumer sensitivity to brand values. In terms of the property industry, we are certainly seeing that not all real estate agents are the same.

For the Realmark brand, associations such as; innovative, contemporary, progressive should be evoked. Our service offering includes tailored solutions, specialist advice and most importantly, quality results. Our list of awards is also an important expression of our potential value to a consumer and verification of what we can offer.

While the awards themselves might not be the actual trigger that brings clients through the door, it is professional recognition that helps to give the agency credibility. It also gives the consumer confidence that the advice they are being offered has some weight.

Today, clients are looking for independent ratification that they will receive expert knowledge and advice, a choice of strategies and solutions and that the agency can be adaptive to the client’s needs and wants. This is where awards come into play as they help to give affirmation that the agency is a stand out provider.

Client testimonials are not enough, in my opinion consumers want more facts around other consumers’ experience and circumstances, to provide credibility and reinforcement. Realmark are utilising specific case studies that address individual client scenarios and showcase the range of marketing strategies, solutions and selling methods that have proven to deliver results in the past. Provide more than an incomplete story but a reference for consumers to reflect their needs against.

But most of all, people are looking for confirmation that an agency actually has real answers and really understands the how and what to deliver the best advantage and this is the overriding factor when it comes to the decision making process in agency selection today.

IN Symphony

Pulling together all the things he’s good at, David Garrett has released an album he hopes builds a bridge between rock and classical music.

David Garrett has the looks of a model, owns unparalleled skills on the violin and loves rock’n’roll. Hence, it seems perfectly sensible that the 31-year-old classical musician would combine all these things for an album which has sent him hurtling into the mainstream.

Just released is the sizzling Rock Symphonies, which features David on violin, fronting an orchestra and a rock band covering rock classics ranging from Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir to Aerosmith and Run DMC’s Walk This Way and November Rain from Guns N’ Roses. He’s also rocked up classics like Toccata, Peer Gynt, Asturias and The 5th.

“I did my research and listened to a lot of records to learn what songs would work with the right approach,” says David, who was recently in Australia. “I had a lot of fun with this but it was also something I needed to do.

“I didn’t care about the reaction so much as how far I could push myself. The more I pushed myself, the more excited I got about the possibilities. I love music, not just classical music so I thought it was important to keep the classical respect but get people from both rock and classical areas interested in something new.”

Born David Bongartz, the German-American adopted his mother’s maiden name and has been playing violin since he was four. By 14 he was the youngest soloist signed to the prestigious classical music label Deutsche Grammophon. Without telling his parents, he later left Germany for New York, where he was accepted at the world famous Juilliard School, studying under legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. To pay the bills he worked as a model which landed him in the pages of Vogue and walking the catwalks for Armani.

Since then David has played with symphonies and with his band all over the world, usually accompanied by his faithful Stradivarius. Rock Symphonies is David’s eighth album and a DVD concert featuring his cross-over tracks has also been released. He has partnerships with Audi cars, MontBlanc, Cadbury and wears German jewellery and accessories by designer Thomas Sabo. His arrangement of Beethoven’s The 5th has been used in a series of chocolate commercials but he’s also broken the world speed record for performing the speedy Flight of the Bumblebee.

Australia’s Shrinking Properties – One More Thing to Think About

In the Perth real estate this industry, it’s our goal to help people find the property that best suits their needs – whether that’s an investment property, the dream family home or a first home.

Many of our clients are becoming increasingly aware that Australian properties are shrinking. This is nothing new, it has been happening for years with lots gradually becoming smaller so developers can fit more lots into subdivisions for Perth’s ever growing population.

What this means for home buyers, is that they will not be able to offer their family’s the same sort of home and living style that they had growing up. What this means for us as real estate professionals, is that we have another significant issue to discuss with clients.

Home buyers need to be realistic about the change in housing options; too many people become sentimental about particular properties which can cloud their judgement. There has been a shift in how we live and this is reflected in the demand for medium density accommodation close to the city and different style homes.

Some home owners are happy to forgo such things as a backyard and instead have a pool or an alfresco entertainment area. A spacious property is no longer a huge priority for those wanting less maintenance and more living space. For these people, the fact that lots are getting smaller is welcomed news.

The irony is that this has coincided with an ongoing growth in the size of the houses Australians are building. Bigger houses on ever shrinking lots.

John

Reading the market: quicker reaction time now required!

There is no question that we are living in times of uncertainty with economic trends turning corners with the blink of an eye. It seems that the days of the market cycle and change pace seen in past decades may now be replaced by much more volatility. We may now all need to adjust to a new market dynamic that provides much more frequent and dramatic shifts in direction and this will inevitably impact on everyone.

Taking a universal view, investments in all areas whether it is cash at bank, shares or property, the immediate future is likely to see lower returns on investment being accepted. People’s expectations are less and yields from investments are adjusting to a new world paradigm of lower and more volatile returns. This in turn, may influence a shift to more property investment due to the long term security and its tangible nature.

Property investors currently do not appear to be talking doom and gloom the way equity investors are. Why is that?

Property investment here is relatively safe compared to the volatilities of the share market and international economies. In the Australian property context yields have not vaporised overnight and during these unstable times, people are increasingly attracted to the long term capital return and base line security that property investment offers.

In terms of property trends, we are seeing a re-emergence of investor activity that is informed and considered in its decision making. They understand that it is not about bargain hunting but more importantly about securing the right asset in commercial and residential markets that would not normally be available, if not for the current times.

Affordability may be challenging however data would suggest that it is emerging in the Perth residential property market. Aligning this affordability aspect with a shift in sentiment will see a spike in buyer activity and possibly a sharper cycle adjustment than we have previously been accustomed. So property investors and agents need to be prepared to read the market quickly and adjust their approach.

The weekly selling and letting activity of Realmark covering various residential and commercial market types provide us with a unique advantage to anecdotally sense a shift in the market well ahead of it appearing in statistical reports months later. In today’s world, changes may occur in days and not quarters. Sellers and buyers for owner occupation or investment would be wise to build a direct relationship with a real estate agency that has this level of market connection so that they can maximise the benefit to them.

Whether trading in property short term, investing long term or simply wishing to achieve the best sale or rent price outcome, an effective agent can guide you to extract best results from a market that is constantly and quickly evolving.

John Percudani
Realmark Director

IN Character

by Ara Jansen



Actor and musician John Waters has had a busy year doing all the things he loves the most on stage and screen



John Waters never had a plan to rule the stage or the screen. Somehow, things just fell into place and at 62, the actor and musician has become one of Australia’s much-loved veterans.
He’s back on the road next month touring with Looking Through a Glass Onion, his stage salute to the life and music of John Lennon.
“It’s a very enjoyable show and it’s very intimate with the audience because I talk right to them,” says John.




“I never tire of live performance because it is so alive and different each time. It’s an opportunity to be bigger than life on stage, because otherwise I’m not a hugely theatrical person. I’m a family person with five-year-old twins, an eight-year-old and grandchildren. They continually fascinate me.”
It has been a year of high-visibility for the guy who among other things spent almost two decades on Playschool. John not only released his debut solo album, Cloudland,




but returned to our television screens in the second season of the Logie-winning series Offspring. He plays Nina Proudman’s dad Darcy, a real estate agent who falls into bed with a lot of different women.
“He’s got a good heart and he’s well-meaning,” John says fondly. “He succumbs to women but he’s a good-natured man who loves his family even if he can’t hold a marriage together.




The Proudmans are an out-there family and they have a lot of sex while trying to deal with the issues of their professional lives. Darcy has a positive twist on everything; he doesn’t see problems, just solutions which makes him a nice character to play.”
John says his role in Offspring has also taken him to a different audience from his previous three year long role in All Saints.



“I think the stories are things everyone can relate to. It catches a 30-something female audience as a chic flick, but there’s plenty for men to watch too.
“It’s also great to be able to enjoy this new lease on life every time something goes to air on television. It seems to be the place most people notice you, compared to the stage.”



As a result it seems that a whole new audience is enjoying Looking Through A Glass Onion, which has started to draw much younger crowds, not just aging Beatles fans. They’re now bringing their kids and grandkids too.
“I’m happy to be enjoying a renaissance, if that’s what people’s perception is. In the meantime I’ve remained true to the fact that I’m going to do what I do regardless. Plus I still get to play the guy that gets the girls.”



Looking Through a Glass Onion is at Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton on October 5, Bunbury Entertainment Centre on October 6, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on October 7 and on October 8 at the Astor Theatre in Mt Lawley.

IN Flavour- Anna Gare

By Ara Jansen

IN Flavour


Her life-long love affair with food has finally seen Anna Gare release a cook book and the results are delicious.

When she titled her first cook book Homemade, Anna Gare meant it in every sense of the word.

The recipes come from her kitchen and those people who taught her to cook. She tried and tested them on her family and friends in the kitchen of her Fremantle home and if she wasn’t plucking ingredients from her garden, she was sourcing them as locally as possible. Good friends helped her style and photograph the food and local company Fremantle Press have published the book.

“It’s very me,” confesses Anna. “The food is very simple. I like cooking quick and clever food. I feel completely satisfied and cleverer if I cook something in five minutes rather than taking an hour or two. It gives me real satisfaction to create something quickly. Less time in the kitchen and more time at the table and more time on the dance floor, I say!”

Released this month, Homemade is the realisation of a long-time dream from the one time Jam Tart singer and caterer turned television cooking judge. The book features recipes created for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, impromptu feasts and snacks.

They range from a mouth-watering deluxe lamb burger with blue cheese and rocket to veal saltimbocca and passionfruit tart. Rather than being divided into sections, the recipes are mixed in together, like an olive and leek tatin next to dukkah, encouraging constant browsing to see what tempts your tastebuds. Anna has kept the methods as simple as possible – each line starts with a verb clearly explaining what action you need to take next.

The cook says one of the things she loves the most about food is its ability to get people talking. She’s had some of her favourite moments with her children as they’ve chopped and cooked together.

“I have the best conversations with my kids over the kitchen bench. Someone is peeling potatoes and it’s a really nice time working alongside each other. Rather than going to the movies together, this is a really beautiful bonding opportunity.”

As well as being on bookshelves, Anna will also be back on television screens soon as she returns for season two of Junior MasterChef Australia.

Homemade is released through Fremantle Press ($49.95 hardback).

To self-sell or not to self-sell – that is the question?

The recent article in the Sunday Times about the benefits of self-selling properties has sparked heated discussions with Perth’s real estate agencies. A minority of owners have been selling their own properties for decades, but that is not the issue. The issue is ensuring that you have not undersold your property.

Often the choice made by home owners to self-sell is driven by the idea of saving money in fees rather than selling the property at full potential, which can be done by working with an effective agent.

Soft marketing options and social media are available online for individuals who choose to self-sell their property yet selling online can not provide the skills, expertise and individually tailored approach that an agent can.

Not all agents are the same, but sellers need to appreciate the benefits that a contemporary solution-based agency can provide. Progressive agencies can offer sellers increased buyer attraction, effective engagement methods, multi-layered marketing campaigns which all ultimately increase the selling potential of the property.

Many self-sellers don’t necessarily have the time required to fully investigate the real estate market not to mention the expertise needed to make an informed decision, this misconstruction can lead to an underselling of the property.

Often when home owners choose to self-sell, problems can arise due to personal connections with the property which can put potential buyers off. Home owners are much safer working with a skilled, experienced agent who can provide an emotional-free transaction.

Selling a house shouldn’t be about saving money on agent fees, it should be about selling the property at its full value as to increase the selling price. This will ultimately save the home owner more money.

So if you want to save money when selling a house, save not by avoiding fees but by selling your property at its highest potential.

John

Realmark Wins at the Australian Business Awards

There is a positive buzz in the Realmark offices after the news that we won two Australian Business Awards (ABA) recently. This is a major achievement for Realmark, placing it in the significant company of other ABA winners including some of Australia largest and most widely respected businesses.

The two awards received were the E-Business award and the Product Excellence award. These are both areas which we have strived to excel in and it is encouraging and very pleasing to know that we are not only on track, but providing leading edge solutions for our clients’ advantage.

As a company, Realmark has invested a great deal in marketing tools for online media to ensure we have a presence in this realm and in a way that is in tune with todays consumers’ needs. This allows us to engage with clients in a meaningful and valuable manner.

In addition to this, the Realmark blog and Facebook page enables consumers to have a direct exchange with us and assist with their property queries; our development of customised micro sites for all property listings plus the individual web presentation provided to sellers and lessors, known internally as Q sites (questions answered) together with our weekly on line client reports, have all proven to be highly appreciated innovations by our clients. This is additional to our realmark.com.au website presence.

As more people are looking to seek a fresh alternative to the traditional real estate agencies, Realmark is currently in a great position to connect with todays consumers and by using our choice of strategic selling solutions we can deliver them excellent results. The product excellence award was for one of these solutions, Set Date Sale, which Realmark has customised to suit WA market conditions. It has consistently delivered outstanding success for our sellers by comparison to other sales approaches; notwithstanding the varying market conditions.

These awards motivate all at Realmark to keep embracing new and exciting directions that can advantage our clients. The future will bring a changing face to real estate and I am confident that Realmark is on the right path to continue as a company which delivers outstanding results throughout the changing property cycle.

IN The Air

By Ara Jansen


More and more West Australians are embracing kiteboarding and it’s proving to be an exciting sport suitable for young and older men and women.


If there’s one thing that Perth is known for it’s the wind. You can almost set your watch to the Fremantle Doctor and the breezes.


Darren Marshall is one guy who never complains that the wind is up because it’s perfect for one of the favourite things in his life – kiteboarding.


“People hate the wind in Perth unless they have a good use for it,” says Darren. “Once they take up kiteboarding, they become wind fanatics.”


If you’ve seen people off the coast skimming across the waves seemingly attached to a kite but definitely not hang gliding, then you’ve seen a kiteboarder or a kitesurfer. And the sight of them is becoming more and more common.

Darren, like many others, was a surfer before he became a kiteboarder. When he discovered it, he liked the fact that the winds were more regular and predictable than the waves.

The 42-year-old Sydneysider followed the wind to Perth in 2004 and since then has been one of its biggest promoters and supporters. Darren’s company teaches kiteboarding, runs a kiteboarding store in Scarborough and somewhere in between family commitments also manages to catch the wind and waves at least a few times a week.

Between November and January are the best times to get out on the water and pretty much be guaranteed ideal conditions – a stiff 18 – 25 knot breeze. Darren’s favourite spots include kiteboarding at Cottesloe, Scarborough, Safety Bay, Lancelin, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Augusta and Margaret River.

In recent years, developments in technology have meant that kiteboarding is no longer just a sport for big strapping blokes. In fact, women are taking it up in large numbers because it builds strength and has a high fun factor.

“It used to be a very bloke-oriented sport, attracting 25 – 35 year old single males. Now we have people in their 60s, teens and many more women. The biggest growth area is with women. Instead of just sitting on the beach and watching, they’re doing it too.

“It’s not like surfing, which is very solitary. Kiteboarding is the sort of sport where you rely on a bit of assistance and it brings people together. The business throws family days too so that also helps build the community.”

What’s attractive to newcomers and is driving up participation rates is that you don’t have to wait 10 years to become good or even just competent.
“The kites have become very light and easy to control and you can have little muscle and no fitness and really enjoy it at a high level straight away. With a few lessons, in a couple of weeks you can be riding and jumping.”

Always keen for a new challenge, Darren has also started teaching people to stand up paddle (SUP). He says it’s also something which takes no time to learn. If you can stand, walk and use a broom, then you’re mostly set.


www.australiankiteboarding.com.au

Realmark Wins Two Australian Business Awards

Realmark has enjoyed success once again after winning two Australian Business Awards.

Our team took out the award for E-Business and Product Excellence and was nominated alongside some of Australia’s biggest and most well-known companies.

These awards recognise the innovative and strategic direction that Realmark has taken to offer a superior service.

This is a huge success for Realmark and reflects on the dedication of the entire Realmark team. It is also great encouragement that we are having a positive impact on the property market.

Being recognised at this level confirms that we are on the right path and providing service solutions that really connect with today's real estate consumer.

Perth real estate.

John

IN Charity House

By Ara Jansen

A soon-to-be-built house in Banksia Grove is more than just a family home. It will be raising funds to help young people.

When the home at 6 Saxicola Road eventually goes under the hammer, the people who take possession of the keys will be the link which closes a chain in the life of a building which has a wonderful back story.
The house in Banksia Grove is the 2011 Youth Focus Charity Home. It is being built as a fundraiser for Youth Focus, an independent not-for-profit organisation supporting vulnerable young West Australians and their families through a range of free mental health services to battle issues associated with suicide, depression and self harm.

The Charity House provides an important source of revenue for Youth Focus with all profits from the sale going directly to help maintain their services. The first home was built in 2005 in Baldivis and a second was built in Mandurah in 2008. This year 101 Residential and long-term supporter Scott Park are once again supporting the Charity House project alongside the Banksia Grove development.
Offering the opportunity for young people to help each other, the construction of the Charity House allows apprentices to become involved in building the house. This not only offers them the opportunity to gain experience and skills, it also provides a sense of satisfaction by assisting those in need.
Youth Focus business manager Warren Mahoney says in the construction industry, mental health is an important issue, so it’s a perfect relationship.

“Young people involved in this industry face many challenges,” Warren says. “For most, having money and freedom yet significant responsibility for the first time can create stress. To its credit, the industry has recognised this and we are starting to work with various players to better educate supervisors to have a deeper understanding of triggers and symptoms related to poor mental health. “The construction industry is very relevant as research clearly indicates that young men are disproportionately more likely to suffer mental health issues and not get help compared to young females. Young men just don’t raise these issues with each other and they are statistically more prone to suicide and depression as a result. This project is a great way to raise awareness so the support from 101 Residential and Banksia Grove is very important to us.

Building has commenced on the site at Saxicola Road and once the property opens as a display home towards the end of the year, the public will be invited to view it. Warren says Youth Focus will have a presence at the house in order to share information about their services. The family home will be auctioned early in 2012.

“Working with apprentices on this house and then with people coming to visit, it’s a great way to access young people or their families who might need our services.”
Check out www.youthfocus.com.au

20 Year Milestone in the Property Industry for Realmark Consultant

When Daniela Ligovich joined Realmark back in 1991, she probably didn’t expect to still be working with us 20 years later.

Back then Daniela accepted a receptionist job with Realmark when it was just a team of two; myself and my wife Anita. Today she is our senior residential property manager in our Leederville office

“It just so happened that while working as a receptionist I started to learn more about property and became quite interested in it all. After getting my certificate in property management I found myself in the role of residential property manager,” Daniela says.

At a time where one in six people are leaving the property industry it is great to celebrate Daniela’s personal achievements over two decades with Realmark and that she continues to enjoy her job and being with Realmark.

Daniela has stayed with the Realmark team as we have grown and gone through many changes.

And as Realmark as a company has grown, so has Daniela’s portfolio, with many people working with her for their investment property portfolios and even some past tenants who have come back to Realmark to buy their first home.

This loyalty from clients speaks volumes for Daniela’s dedication to her work and for Realmark’s approach to real estate.

Realmark is lucky to have people like Daniela on board and we look forward to continue working with her into the future over the next 20 years!

John.

Renovate then sell?

At this time of the year, many real estate agents are finding that some home owners would rather stay put in their homes and renovate than try and sell in the struggling market.

For those who choose to renovate, it’s important they are aware of the value of their property and know that any major structural renovations will not have an immediate effect on the property’s value but will add to it over the next 10 years or so.

It is common for home owners to be hesitant about selling in a dull market; however there will always be people out there who need to sell or need to buy and as real estate professionals, it’s our job to inform home owners of all the alternative options.

When giving advice to home owners, it’s important to remember that many other factors come into the decision of selling up and moving on.

While some may believe the rational thing to do in a tight market is to hang onto what they’ve got, others will see the benefit of selling up and moving to a property that better suits their lifestyle.

Although home owners might be afraid of not getting the maximum amount they could in a good market, they should also remember that the market could swing in their favour when buying their next property; however if they wait too long for the market to pick up again, upgrading to a bigger house or different neighbourhood might not be achieved as easily.

By talking through the different options for home owners in a clear and transparent way, they’ll be able to make the best decision for their situation and will appreciate the unique Realmark approach to real estate.

It’s always important to remember that what might be the best solution for one client, won’t necessarily be the best solution for the next.

IN Beaux Arts

Dress-up, put on your dancing shoes, shake off any winter blues and indulge in a bygone era at the first Beaux Arts Ball in Perth.

A passion for film and the aesthetic of the pre-World War II period has led Kat Black and Jasper Cook to bring fashion, art, theatre and film together for a night of celebration.

Better known in Perth as VJzoo, they’re the organisers of the first Beaux Arts Ball – an evening paying homage to the 1920s and 30s and taking its cue from the balls and salons held in Europe and America at the time.

“It was such an important and exciting time culturally,” Kat Black says. “Modernism was forming – Cubist artists like Picasso and Surrealist’s like Dali. There was so much experimentation, especially with young art forms like film. Man Ray laid household items like pins directly onto negative film and exposed it to create abstract art films while Paris was the heart of the avant-garde movement.”

For the pair that dovetails perfectly with their love for old films and their VJ work. They’re passionate about anything from the late 1800s through to the 1950s but Kat and Jasper’s very favourite period is 1929 – 1934, after the development of the talkies.

“It was a crazy time where pretty much anything went. Movies like Flying Down to Rio with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Busby Berkeley classics like 42nd Street or Cecil B. de Mille spectaculars like Cleopatra with Claudette Colbert. They were huge, dramatic, fantastical pictures – escapism for depression-era audiences whose lives could not have been further removed from the opulence shown on the silver screen.”

Entertainment at the Beaux Arts Ball will include Perth’s premier jazz artists led by Graham Wood of The Ellington, with guest vocalist Gina Williams, Michelle Smith playing jazz harp and Zoe Kikiros from the West Australian Opera. There will be also plenty of opportunity to dance – from the Charleston to swing.

One of the attractions of the ball will be 50 Living Works of Art. Some of Perth’s hottest young artists, designers and stylists will be creating costumes that blur the line between art, fashion and performance. There will be a grand procession of these Living Works of Art in the tradition of the original Parisian artists’ balls and the winners will be judged by a panel on the night.

VJzoo will be projecting some of their favourite scenes from movies of the era to complement the live acts. Some of the footage will be obscure – like the fabulous scene of a costume ball on a zeppelin in Cecil B. de Mille’s Madam Satan and a scene from Fashions, featuring more than fifty fan dancers in the 1934 Busby Berkeley film plus the classic scene of girls dancing on biplanes from Flying Down to Rio.

“We’re film nerds and we’re really looking forward to showing off some of our rare footage. We usually work in nightclubs and while we love bringing film history alive to a new audience there, it’s also great to be able to play to fellow enthusiasts of the period occasionally too.”

Be ready to escape and immerse yourself in another time, another place at the Beaux Arts Ball. While this won’t be a perfect historic recreation, VJzoo are aiming to capture the spirit of the Jazz Age – glamorous, wild, creative and free.

The Beaux Arts Ball at the Perth Town Hall on August 6. Tickets from BOCS. Ticketholders have access to free workshops to create their own head-dress and other costume pieces.
Check out http://thebeauxartsball.com for details and the latest news.

IN Wallpaper

Winter might be a time for snuggling, but it’s also a perfect time for warming your walls with images, colour and texture.

In some countries you’d probably start a trend if you chose to paint a wall rather than wallpaper it.

In Western Australia where painted walls have become the norm, we’ve once again started to look at wallpaper as a different way to decorate and use it almost like furniture – a chance to express a love for colour, pattern, and texture or just shout about our personality. It’s not that we’re unfamiliar with wallpapering; it’s just that it has taken a long time to become really groovy.

Wallpaper designer and creator Ann-Louise Jansson – better known as Lollo – has a passion for turning walls into flat works of art, totally bucking the notion that wallpaper is even remotely old fashioned.

“For the last few years people who have been using wallpaper have put it behind the bedhead or television as a feature but now they are starting to talk about putting it on three walls and wrapping it around windows to tie a room together,” Lollo says from her Jolimont studio, Scandinavian Wallpaper & Decor.

Her made-to-order wallpaper can turn your bedroom into something an astronomer would be proud to sleep under or have you convinced you really do live on a white sandy beach when you gaze over from your couch.
There are murals of historic landmarks like the popular Eifel Tower and the view across the Brooklyn Bridge or collages of words, pictures and objects which infer a place or simply a stand of trees to offer a quiet moment of contemplation.

Because the wallpaper is custom-made, instead of framing all your holiday photos, consider turning them into a display, frieze or strip of images and let the wall become your photo album. Or just choose one photo and blow it up to take over a wall. A shot from your phone or camera of about five megapixels will be enough for a good-sized wall.

“People often come in with something traditional in mind but when they see the big wall murals they often change their minds. I think they want a little more personality, so they might choose some family photos in black and white to go on the wall in the television room. It’s also a great talking point.”

Smartly chosen wallpaper with the right images, can also be used to create a feeling of space and can extend a small room, making it feel more like a window than a wall.

“I think wallpaper makes a home more interesting and is another way of people showing who they are. It’s another way to add art to your home by being an alternative to art.”

In terms of trends, Lollo says people often choose a design based on how long they are planning to stay in the house. If you’re only planning to stop for a few years, something more neutral is usually chosen, while those looking to stay for five years or longer are keen to have images which truly say something about how they live or what they love.

“The up-coming collection includes paper that looks like raw wood panelling and concrete walls so it will give the effect rather than needing a cedar wall. Some of the paper is textured and you can personalise text on top of the designs. It’s generally very strong and you can also wipe it down.”

Check out the designs at wallpaperdecor.com.au and mrperswall.com.au.

IN Work Ethos

Work doesn’t need to be dull. A West Perth business has taken a leaf out of Google’s book and is a perfect example of working hard and playing hard.

The next time you see a group of blokes walking through West Perth in pyjamas and Mickey Mouse slippers or dressed as superheroes, check out if they’re smiling. Then make sure you ask if you can snap a picture with them – because that will make you smile.

Pyjama Monday is just one of the creative management techniques Matt Lambie and his business partner Adam Fitzgerald have endorsed for their custom software company, The Frontier Group.

Matt, the group’s chief information officer, has been friends with Adam, the company’s CEO, for 13 years. They met at university, decided to start a business and the first person they employed was a uni friend.

When they started The Frontier Group in their share house, they were clear they wanted a certain aesthetic and culture which would make them want to work and go to work. The result is a company philosophy which uses some unusual techniques but equally demands a standard of work excellence.

“A big part of how we have set up the office is what people in this industry expect,” says Matt. At 30, he’s one of the oldest in the office, with most of the 22 employees being in their early to mid-20s.

“We don’t have the same budget as Google and I was lucky enough to visit their offices and it’s as crazy as you hear about – people working in tepees or with stars hanging over their desks.”

The Frontier Group’s translation of that includes having an open-plan office, regularly having two programmers work on a project simultaneously with two keyboards, daily meetings standing in the round to discuss yesterday’s work or problems and even advice from the in-house stylist. They do charity and pro bono work and on Friday afternoons everyone can work on a project of their choice, but the catch is that it must be potentially beneficial to someone.

Matt says they have proven that if you demand creativity and productivity from your people, then they must have an environment in which to thrive. Punching a time card and grinding away lacks inspiration and lifestyle.

“We don’t want our people here all night and on weekends. It has to be a great place to go to work but you have to want to leave too. We’ve tried to balance it. I think our culture is quite tangible. It’s partly because we wanted to build something we’re proud of but also because we want to come to the office, so it had to be a cool place.”

Of primary importance of course is that every quirky thing they do serves to support impressive and innovative work, not detract from it.

“We don’t have to crack the whip and I completely trust people to do what they need to do. It’s great that the staff really are embodying the whole ethos. Working this way makes them happier and more creative. It makes them proud and gives them a sense of identity.

“The benefit is that they get up in the morning and want to be here. In this day and age there are a lot of offices you can’t say that about.”