IN Community

Our local used to always be the pub, but a new cafe in Scarborough is creating a strong sense of community amongst residents, many of whom are only streets away.

There’s just something about a local cafe in a suburban area. There’s something satisfying in the fact that whoever is making your coffee remembers your order and might even remember your name. You also know these people have got something extra invested in the area when you see them at the local fish and chip shop with their own family on a Friday night.

Scarborough’s Kinky Lizard Espresso Bar is one of those places. Friendly and relaxed it has quickly become a local meeting and hang-out spot for the locals, whether it’s families for weekend breakfasts, coffee-gathering mums, business meetings or lunches on the go.

Local resident Phil Hayes starts the day with a beach run and a dip in the ocean and stops at Kinky Lizard in his boardies on the way home for a daily shot of coffee. The associate director, sales agent and auction expert is also the latest addition to Realmark’s Scarborough office.

“I moved to the area before I started working for Realmark but because I live here I can explain to people what’s so special about the lifestyle and what’s on offer,” Phil says. “This area has changed in a positive way and a lot of places, like Kinky Lizard have opened, which really adds to the relaxed atmosphere of the place and that sense of community.”

Cafe manager Mia Strauss agrees. An overseas transplant via the east coast, Mia says the locals have welcomed Kinky Lizard (officially Kinky Swell, so as not to be confused with its East Perth cousin), with open arms since its opening.

“People like to go for coffee here and they’ve told us how much they like a local place to do it,” says Mia. “We notice people have made friends here after becoming regulars and one couple even met here. We have our own coffee blend too which you can’t get anywhere else; it’s often a talking point. We’re also BYO and don’t charge corkage.”

Mia and her husband Dan Snowden, who is the Kinky Lizard’s chef, have run eateries together for the last seven years and also live in Scarborough. From watching the floor tiles going down in the new building, the pair work tirelessly to ensure the welcoming feel of the cafe and that the menu offers locals reasons to keep coming back.

Kinky Swell is open seven days a week from 7am – 4pm (breakfast and lunch until 2.30pm and coffee until 4pm) at 166 Brighton Road, Scarborough. Realmark Scarborough is open weekdays from 8.30am – 5pm at 3/257, West Coast Highway, Scarborough.

what about the rental market?

Much of the recent yarns around real estate have been focussed on whether property sales are up or down…but what about the rental market? It is worthwhile reflecting on this area of the market more specifically and what it means for landlords and tenants.

With the number of people attending rental viewings reaching in some cases the high 20’s and with unprecedented amounts of rental enquiries there is no doubt that it is a landlord’s market.

This acute demand for rental properties stretches across the board for homes of all price ranges; however the demand is particularly high for apartments and middle range homes. The influx of people requiring rental properties is partly fuelled by arrivals from over East and overseas, by affordability issues and difficulty in financing. There is also a growing demand for single occupancy accommodation.

According to REIWA, the plummeting rental vacancy rate from 3.4 per cent in the June quarter to 2.8 per cent in the September quarter is an indication that more individuals are choosing to rent than own, resulting in stronger rental returns for landlords.

On the other hand, the strong demand for rentals will progressively cause rent prices to rise. Combine this with falling interest rates and we will start to see the number of first home buyers increase. In short it’s a simple case of supply and demand and affordability is the key factor responsible for swinging the market which ever way.

But what should a property manager be doing in such a market context for you as a landlord you ask? They certainly should be providing you with letting solutions that maximise the return for your investment. Just as a sales agent should utilise solutions to ensure that your property isn’t under sold…they should be using methodology that ensures that you don’t under rent your investment.

You may have heard of Realmark’s sales method – Set Date Sale, whereby all offers are presented by a certain date with no set asking price advertised. We employ as one of our To Let options, a similar approach for listing rental properties – Set Date Rental; which ensures that the most competitive rental offers are presented which is vital in the current market.

However, price is not the only important consideration for landlords, property managers should also be employing a thorough and structured system to ensure that not only a good return is realised but screened and referenced quality tenants are secured as well.

An informed property manager can also alleviate the headaches of the legislative requirements, market your investment utilising multi-medium marketing strategies to attract the largest applicant pool as well as save your precious time ensuring your property is well looked after.

As for tenants, they need to be informed if they want to be competitive. For instance, every applicant should now have their own ‘tenant CV’ and be willing to sell themselves. This hasn’t always been necessary in previous years but is important in today’s market if you want to even be considered.

Needless to say, whether you are a landlord or a tenant you should remain educated about the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of renting, which can sometimes be a complex web of legislation and things you should know. To assist in sharing such knowledge, Realmark have launched an advisory website for tenants and landlords which can be accessed by visiting rentalpropertiesperth.net.au. There, people can find advice like how to create a memorable first impression for your rental property in order to achieve a premium rent price and equally as important, how to attract the right kind of tenant.

IN Change

Achieving goals is about making lasting change, not just change for the short term. Swimmer and motivation coach Shelley Taylor-Smith reveals a few tips on how to make 2012 your best yet.

Shelley Taylor-Smith has a simple motto: Get Up, Get Over It & Get On With It. In 10 words the seven-time Women’s World Marathon Swimming Champion, author and founder of Champion Mindset Consulting has encapsulated a valuable life lesson.

“I believe we are all here to succeed, in whatever way you define that,” she says. “I don’t believe our role is to be miserable and fail. It’s our birthright to succeed and you have to be prepared to do what it takes.”
Shelley works with passionate and energetic individuals and teams to help them develop the mental skills and strategies to be the best they can be, while maintaining a healthy balance in their sporting, professional and personal lives.

Using more than three decades of experience as an athlete, coach, writer and consultant she helps people at all levels and from all walks of life overcome performance and lifestyle issues to discover the mental toughness needed to stay on top of their game while successfully navigating daily obstacles.

Shelley says in order to make your goals for 2012 successful, start with a passionate purpose.

“First though, close off 2011,” Shelley says. “It’s usually emotion that wears us down so you need to recognise what you didn’t start and what you started and didn’t finish. Consider the lessons learnt there and decide whether those are still your goals. By drawing a line in the sand it gives you permission to let go and move on.

“It’s really important to note what you started and stopped, what you feel you failed at and what you achieved. If you are going to carry it forward consider doing it differently for a different result.”
She says being unrealistic is what causes plenty of people to fall early in the year, so start with goals you can achieve and which fit in your life before working up from there. Most people bite off more than they can chew when starting a drastic change of life in a short period of time.

However most people – the stats say close to 95% - fail because they don’t usually resolve to do what it takes day by day, lack knowledge (having a plan of action) and/or lack motivation (a list of benefits you will feel).
So what can people do to help them stick it out? The Passion Pyramid (below) is what Shelley uses to explain how your purpose and mission must anchor your plans and be the fire which motivates you.

If those two things are not strong enough, when you hit a bump, it will be hard to get over or you’ll just abandon your plans.

Find solid answers to these crucial questions: What are my reasons for wanting to do X? What are the benefits to me? These will guide you and provide the inspiration to take the steps to get to the goal. This also adds a positive spin rather than thinking you have been penalised.

Consider the power of your own self talk and the difference between the statement “I am not going to eat junk food anymore” versus “I am going to eat healthier food”. One is more like a prison and the other offers possibilities.

“People start off well-intentioned saying ‘this year I am going to achieve X’ but the To Do list becomes never ending. As a result you jam more in; more goals and more expectations in your life without having let go of anything. The end result is no space for ‘you’ and an overwhelming feeling that you can’t get there. Living by your To Do list means you can cross a lot off but not actually achieve anything.”

There have been times in everyone’s lives when they’ve won. While you might have forgotten what it’s like to win, think of a time in the past when you have and use that positive emotion to fuel your current goals.

“Make sure you stay flexible though. These are your goals and you are in control. Maybe you think you can achieve something in six months and then find it will take longer. Accept that, adapt to the change and stay focused on the end prize – your reason why and your benefits.”

For more tips and tools to champion your life visit www.championmindset.com.au

the year ahead

However, on a positive note the market is progressively showing signs of normalisation and there are a number of telling indicators.

Firstly, the proportion of first home buyer transactions is increasing, stock levels are gradually reducing and the rental market has improved dramatically.

Secondly, the recent cuts to interest rates are approaching the long term average and this will inevitably have a positive impact together with growing affordability, combining to help fuel the growth in the market. It is pretty safe to say that the prospect for the first half of 2012 is that there will be increasing activity in some market sectors.

On the other hand, while stock levels are trending down they are still relatively high with days on market considerably long. There is also still quite a difference between seller’s expectations and the actual realisation of the sale price.

Although nobody knows what the full effects of the economic down turn of Europe will have on the world economy, I believe Perth is in an historic place at the moment and perfectly positioned geographically to reap the benefits of promising activity in South-East Asia. Centres such as Shanghai and Singapore represent the top end of a longitudinal rim of activity with Perth ideally located in that context. The dynamics of this ‘South-East Asian – Indian Ocean rim’ is certainly grounds for strong State economic growth and cautious property optimism. Australia is part of a group of developed countries offering value that makes them unique from the bigger developed countries. We are in a different world regime and perfectly placed.

It is also worthwhile mentioning the gradual ‘changing face’ of Perth. Any born and bred local will tell you that Perth is becoming more and more exciting and dynamic with the whole sentiment towards the State shifting. Population growth as well as investment in major infrastructure projects such as the Perth River Foreshore and East Perth redevelopments as well as the Perth Stadium and key entertainment and cultural facilities will inevitably have an impact on general sentiment and in turn the property market.

So generally speaking I think the long term outlook for Perth is positive and the European market will eventually sort itself out. There have been worse times in the world’s history lets face it. The effects of the international economy will linger around for a while but people should start to focus on the opportunities available in the New Year rather than the doom and gloom merchants.

Realmark’s priority will always be to provide people, clients and staff alike, with hope, opportunities and advantages. Good luck for 2012!

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