The signs are there that it’s going to be a hot summer! Our region in particular often experiences some scorching hot days. Now is the time to start thinking about how to keep you and your home cool and comfortable over the coming hot months.
Here are a few simple tips to get your home prepared. These tips can not only help keep you comfortable, but they will save you money on power costs, and should you wish to sell your home in the future, they are attractive features to buyers.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Ceiling fans reduce room temperature by four to five degrees. Additionally, if an air conditioner is also used, together they more efficiently keep your house cool.
- Air conditioners should be maintained and used properly. A dusty filter reduces air flow and increases energy costs by 5-15%. Clean the air filters every couple of months and replace when necessary. You should also keep heat-producing appliances such as televisions or lamps away from the air conditioner’s thermostat. The heat they produce can fool your thermostat into continuing to cool. Set the fan speed on high to help push cool air around the house.
It’s worth getting some advice from an air conditioning technician on efficiently running your air conditioner. A little advice can save you thousands of dollars long term.
- Use white shades and drapes on the inside of windows to deflect heat away from the house. In the morning keep the shades and drapes closed on the east-facing windows, and in the afternoon closed on the west-facing windows. This stops a lot of heat entering the house. Combine this with opening north and south facing windows for maximum air circulation.
- Cover the outside of the windows with shades, shutters or screens to further prevent heat from penetrating through the windows.
- Common culprits of internal heat build-up are appliances, electronic devices and lights. Compact fluorescents produce the same light as incandescent lights, but use a fifth of the energy and generate less heat. Also, avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day, and if possible use a range hood fan to direct the hot air out of your house.
Dougmal Harcourts – The Property People is the leader in local real estate sales and property management. Should you have any enquiries please call us on 4628 7444.
September’s Auction Extravaganza event was held last week at the Rydges Hotel in Campbelltown.
On Wednesday 18th September we had another sensational in-rooms Auction event, featuring five great properties.
My team sold four under the hammer, with the fifth generating good interest and I expect will sell in the coming weeks. The event was a solid team effort with some tough and skilful negotiations resulting in outstanding results for our sellers.
Two properties were sold above our sellers’ reserve prices, and two were sold at the reserve price.
CAMPBELLTOWN, 20/31-35 Chamberlain Street – SOLD!
BRADBURY, 8 Anembo Street – SOLD!
ELLIS LANE, 5 Tarcoola Place – SOLD!
ESCHOL PARK, 39 Eschol Park Drive – SOLD!
APPIN, 12 Glebe Close – NOT YET SOLD
Well done to all our successful sellers and purchasers - it was a great night!
I must congratulate my sales department for all their hard working leading up to and at the auction event. Our in-room events are a great reminder to me of how lucky I am to work alongside some of Macarthur's most talented, passionate, and courageous real estate agents.
A big thank you to Paul Casarotto, our highly experienced and successful Auctioneer, and to our sponsors Domain, The Macarthur Advertiser and Harcourts NSW for your support and sponsorship.
NEXT IN-ROOMS AUCTION TO BE HELD ON 9TH OF OCTOBER, AT THE RYDGES HOTEL, CAMPELLTOWN.
If you want to know more about the process and the benefits of selling your property by auction, speak to one of our highly experienced Sales Consultants on 4628 7444.
The corner-stone of a successful investment property is having the right people managing it!
Property management is a highly important service that is often undervalued. Having a great property management team looking after your investment often means the difference between a smooth or rocky investment. It can also be the difference between a profitable an unprofitable investment!
Our property management team at Dougmal Harcourts works extremely hard to bring the very best service to their clients. In recognition of this effort and their results, our property management team scooped up all the major property management awards at the recent Harcourts Awards ceremony.
Property Management Business Development Award - Sarena Rowley
Property Management Office Excellence Award -1st place
Property Management Business Development Award - 1st place
Property Management Office Revenue Award - 1st place
Here’s a little insight into the first class and award-winning service our team at Dougmal Harcourts provides:
- When first advertising a vacant property, we work swiftly to advertise the property to as many potential tenants as possible. This results in maximum applications for the property, and the smallest amount of time the property is vacant.
- From the applications received, our property management agency uses our systems to diligently scrutinise applying tenants, and help the landlord make the final selection. This is a highly important part of the process, as the “big picture” of the final selection is: less maintenance expenses, little or no rental arrears, and maximum capital growth on the property.
- Our first class service and systems ensure rent is paid on time, expenses and bills are tracked and paid, and there are regular inspections conducted on the property to ensure it is being kept as agreed.
At Dougmal Harcourts our property management team are leading the way in local property management service. Eight dedicated Property Managers and several support staff work to ensure that all details are attended to.
Investing in a quality Property Management agency makes a lot of sense. A well-managed investment property will provide maximum income, no hassles, and the best long-term outcome.
For more information, speak to one our award-winning property management professionals on 4628 7444.
Over the past 6 months we have achieved outstanding results for our sellers at auction, clearing 70%* of those presented for sale.
Many people think that selling a property by auction is only for expensive or unusual properties. The reality is that auction is a proven and effective method of selling all types of properties in all price ranges! Over the past 6 months we have successfully sold numerous inner city units through to some of the largest and most outstanding homes in the region. Many of these have achieved above our seller’s reserve prices.
If you are thinking of selling this spring, consider auction as a method of effectively selling your property. Here are some facts as to why auctions are so effective.
Why sell your property by Auction?
- It is more active when compared to other sale methods. At Dougmal Harcourts, our Auction campaign is set for an intensive 21 days, which means buyers cannot ‘sit back and wait’ (which can often happen with other sale methods). This gives you more control of the sale process.
- The Auction event allows the natural market forces of supply and demand to determine where your property’s true market value lies.
- The Auction method makes your agent work hard! The time, effort, organisation and accountability of the Auction selling method is far more than any other selling method.
- An Auction offers you interchangeable selling options! The Auction method can easily be changed to a Range Sale or Fixed Price Sale if you choose.
- Finally, the Auction sale method is the only one to offer you three opportunities to sell – sale prior to auction, sale at auction, and sale after auction.
* Includes March 13 to August 13 auction results
For more information on the methods of selling your home, including auction, speak to one of our highly experienced sales consultants on 4628 7444.
Our team at Dougmal Harcourts – The Property People recently attended the Harcourts New South Wales Quarterly Awards at the Star Room in Darling Harbour, to celebrate individual and office real estate achievements for the April – June 2013 quarter.
We competed against 66 other real estate offices, 150 sales consultants, and over 60 property management professionals across NSW to gain these highly sought-after awards.
ANNUAL AWARDS APRIL – JUNE 2013
Individual Awards:
Customer Service Award - Sarah Walker
Bronze Sales Achievement Award - Gary Ghassibe & John Krivograd
Gold Sales Achievement Award - Troy Holmes & Garth Makowski
Ruby Pin - John Krivograd
Property Management Business Development Award - Sarena Rowley
Top Lister - Garth Makowski
Top Marketing Budget - Garth Makowski
Top Auction Lister - Garth Makowski
Top 10 Sales Consultants - Income to Office - 4th place, Troy Holmes | 5th place, Garth Makowski
Office Awards:
Top Auction Office
Property Management Office Excellence Award - 1st place
Property Management Office Revenue Award - 1st place
Property Management Business Development Award - 1st place
NSW Top Office (highest gross revenue per sales consultant) - 2nd place
NSW Top Office (highest gross revenue) - 1st place
Well done to the whole Dougmal Harcourts team for receiving these awards. A few special mentions must go to our superstar on the front desk, Sarah Walker; our outstanding property management team; Sarena Rowley who manages out Property Management team; and Troy Holmes in sales for having an outstanding quarter. Well done guys, you truly deserve the recognition received!
Our August Auction Extravaganza event was held last week at the Rydges Hotel in Campbelltown.
On Tuesday 20th August we had another sensational in-rooms Auction event, featuring five great properties.
The auctions were action-packed, energetic, and fun for all with strong and competitive bidding for all properties.
The clearance rate for the night was an outstanding 100%! One property was sold before auction, and the other four properties were sold under the hammer ABOVE our sellers’ reserve prices.
BRADBURY, 12 Caley Street – SOLD BEFORE AUCTION!
AMBARVALE, 14 Woodcourt Street – SOLD!
CAMPBELLTOWN, 69 Waminda Avenue – SOLD!
AMBARVALE, 3 Drood Place – SOLD!
Well done to all our successful sellers, purchasers, and our team at Dougmal Harcourts – The Property People. It was a great night, with even greater results!
A big thank you to Paul Casarotto, our highly experienced and successful Auctioneer, and our sponsors Domain, The Macarthur Advertiser and Harcourts NSW for your support and sponsorship.
NEXT IN-ROOMS AUCTION TO BE HELD ON 18TH OF SEPTEMBER, AT THE RYDGES HOTEL, CAMPELLTOWN.
If you want to find out more about the process and the benefits of selling your property by auction, speak to one of our highly experienced Sales Consultants on 4628 7444.
Last week the Reserve Bank made the decision to again cut the official interest rate by 0.25 percent to a new record low of 2.5 percent.
This rate cut was decided based on the RBA’s concern for the national economy. Latest national data shows the jobless rate rising over June and building approvals down sharply over the month.
The lower dollar and a recovering share market are however a positive together, with increased buyer activity in the Australian housing market.
Locally, our housing market is very strong, fueled by these continually low interest rates. Properties are selling quickly, and there are not enough properties on the market to fulfil current demand. Off the back of this we are seeing some solid house price growth and good sale prices throughout the local market.
Our auction sales are particularly going really well, reflecting Sydney’s auction clearance rates around the mid seventies, and many properties selling well over reserve prices.
We are also now heading into the busiest selling time of the year - spring! Statistics clearly illustrate that spring is the busiest time in the real estate year. More people are selling and buyers are coming out of “winter hibernation” to purchase their new or next home.
If you are thinking about selling, now is the time to start getting all the things done around your home in preparation of a spring sale. Contact our office today and we can give you information on the things you should consider in getting you and your property ready for spring selling campaign.
