As a 15 year veteran of the real estate industry, I feel it is my duty to offer feedback on our new industry representative website…..
..and I am sorry to have to say that I prefer the old site. As a real estate agent trying to conduct property value assessments one of the key factors in delivering clean crisp listing presentations is clean clear information.
Not everyone is happy to take a laptop into a home to do a listing presentation and it will be awhile before i-pads become common place too so there for we still rely heavily on printed documents to deliver information in a listing folder for our clients to consider in relation to pricing and marketing their home.
To try and print the other houses that are for sale in an area is a shambles! 1 listing is a 4 page print with advertising all through it and simply is not good enough to present to a prospective client who is judging your every word and presentation. To try and produce a report on every house for sale in an area that is comparable to the subject property is an exercise in futility and ultimate frustration. 12 listings – took 8 pages to print!
It is not just the agents that seem unhappy with the new format and layout, clients are complaining too. What appears to have been forgotten is that we are the ones paying for the site and yet I don’t seem to remember being consulted on its layout and functionalities.
Yes the purchaser is the main user, but we are the ones paying and using it everyday for appraisals etc. A customer(buyer) might use it for 2-3 months once every 7-8 years.
The very first buyer I spoke to after it went live was extrememly disappointed with the site and she has also e-mailed you (before she spoke to me). She said that “I would rather search the individual agents websites than try to find a property on here”. That speaks volumes to me.
The site is still as slow as it ever was and also as unreliable. I am sorry Alistair, I have to say that this falls along way short of the kind of site that the industry could be proud to call its own.
I sincerely hope that you listen to the feedback that you will get over the new site and take it on board and make any necessary changes to finally produce a site that we are all proud of.
Sorry – you are not there yet!
Sean Powell
May 05 2010 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Hi everyone, just wanted to let you all know that on 27th March 2009, & just like we do every year, the Professionals salespeople throughout New Zealand will be out in force in their “Red Jackets” collecting for Child Cancer.
It is the charity that we are committed to and passionately support. Every sale we make in our office – $5.00 goes to Child Cancer.
Since 1995 The Professionals Group nationally have raised over (Get this!!) $2.9 million for the Child Cancer Foundation. These funds have gone towards the much needed facilities throughout New Zealand, contributing to The Family Place and the National office opposite Starship Hospital in Auckland, and fully purchasing
The Family Place in Wellington, and two Sunshine Lodge Holiday Homes in Taupo & Queenstown.
Our commitment continues.. The impact on a family with a child diagnosed with cancer is horrendous, and every little bit that we can do as an office, a community, and as a nation, helps make the going just a little bit easier. For those that know people that have gone through this, are going through it, or for anyone experiencing for themselves, you will know the huge impact it has on everyday life for the whole family.
The idea of the Sunshine Lodges was to provide a place where families could go for a break. For a chance to unwind without having to worry about trying to find the money to pay for it. It allows a family some much needed time out and away from it all where they can be together, and where they can recharge their energy to continue their battle.
I appeal to you all to help us help them (the children that are inflicted with this terrible condition, and their families). Every little bit you give on Child Cancer Day DOES make a difference and I hope that I have been able to illustrate that with this blog.
We will be out in force at the following locations on 27th March 2009 between 11:00 – 2:00pm
Coutdown Colombo Street, Hillmorton Bakery, Addingtown Mall or Tower Junction, Hornby Mall & Dress Mart, Barrington Mall (outside Warehouse), St Martins Mall, Halswell Shopping Centre (New World & by Post Office), Rolleston New World & Shopping Centre, Funky Pumpkin Colombo St, Beckenham Shops, Warehouse Blenheim Rd, Couplands corner Waterloo & Carmen Rds.
Please note that if we are not at any of the collection points stated above there will be a collector somewhere not far away, so do make an effort, every little bit helps.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I hope to see you out there on the 27th March. (Remember I will be at Countdown Colombo Street) and if you are going to come to any of the locations mentioned above, please do be kind to the businesses that have allowed us to collect there, maybe buy lunch, or do your groceries there instead of where you would normally do them.
It isn’t really much to ask – so please be generous and help make this the most successful Child Cancer Collection Day ever!!
Check out this link for more details about this worthy cause. http://www.childcancer.co.nz/
Sean Powell
February 26 2009 | General | No Comments »
Yesterday New Zealand turned out in numbers to the voting polls around the country and 45.5% of the vote went to The National Party which means that in Parliament they will hold 59 seats (made up of of 41 electorate seats and 18 list seats).
Labour secured 33.8% of the vote which equates to 43 seats in Parliament (made up of 21 electorate seats and 22 list seats) .
While the Green party did not secure an electorate seat they did however get 6.4% of the party vote and so have secured 8 list seats in Parliament.
New Zealand First only managed to get 4.2% of the vote and will no longer be represented in Parliament.
The Act party did win an electorate seat (that of Rodney Hyde) but only managed 3.72% of the party vote. This gives them 5 seats in Parliament (made up of 1 electorate and 4 list seats).
The Maori Party fared well on election night securing 5 seats in Parliament which are all electorate seats. They only managed 2.24% of the party vote.
United Future secured .89% of the party vote but did win an electorate seat (that of Peter Dunne) and will be represented in Parliament with 1 (electorate seat).
The only other seat in Parliament was won by Jim Anderton’s Progressive Party in my electorate (Wigram) and he will have 1 seat in Parliament. His party vote was .93%.
So what does it all mean? – CHANGE?!
National can not govern alone because they only have 59 seats in Parliament. If the other parties were to for some reason band together and form a coalition government they would have 61 seats together and obviously this is more than National has.
However this is not likely to happen so – here’s the scenario. National have agreed verbally to work with United Future and Act. Together they will hold a total of 65 seats in Parliament. While the other parties would only be able to manage 57 which would give a National/Act/United Future coalition, a majority which will enable them to govern.
It is likely that the Maori Party will agree to govern with National for the simple reason that it will enable them to get some of their initiatives and policies to the fore and possibly passed into parliament. It is in their interests to do this so it will be interesting to watch over the next few days and possible weeks to see what eventuates.
At least this year a government can be formed relatively quickly without another party like New Zealand First playing king maker to give one of the major parties a majority to be able to govern. They can get on quicker with the business of running the country and navigating us out of the tough economic climate we are currently in. (Obviously outside forces have a lot to do with this but internal policies are also key).
Well I say congratulations to New Zelalnders who I think have indicated they want change. Let’s hope it is a change for the better and that our new government can deliver and be all that we want and need them to be.
I hope you have found this analysis of the election night results useful, and if you have any comments, please feel free to let me know.
For a more in depth look at the results go to http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/
Regards
Sean Powell
November 09 2008 | General and Public Opinion | 1 Comment »
Yes I know we are in a tough economic time, but there is often a flip side to most things. Let’s consider some things.
1. Interest rates – on the way down. What does this mean for us? Well obviously more money in our back pocket each week due to less interest on our mortgages, but let’s look past the obvious.
If mortgage rates drop, then investment rates should follow suit not long after. If banks are earning less interest, they can not keep paying the same amount out – so they must also come down at some stage.
Investors will therefore be getting a lesser return putting their money in the bank and may look to other avenue to invest.
With falling interest rates and falling house prices yet rents staying at relatively good levels, property becomes a more attractive option.
If investors come back to property – realising that once prices steady, then not only will they be getting a good return on their money due to the low interest rates and low purchase price, but capital gain will also start to become a factor as property prices once again lift.
One of the issues we have had to deal with as an industry and as home owners, is that investors have not been interested in residential property investment. This has meant that buyers are fewer on the ground and sales are taking longer as a result. If they come back and start buying again, then we could see demand for property rise again and with it property prices also. It may take some time due to the current volumes of property on the market, but what I am saying here is that it will turn around and that amongst the apparent doom & gloom, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
2. Fuel prices are returning back to a level of reality. I recently read a great article that I though I would share with you regarding this. It was in the International Herald Tribune and I have included the link below.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/business/renover2.php?WT.mc_id=glob_mrktg_lead&WT.mc_ev=click
With lower fuel costs, once again we have more disposable income. People may now consider buying further afield than they were earlier due to fuel/travelling costs being lower than they were 2-3 months ago.
3. It is nearly summer!! It always picks up in the summer – there is usually so much more positivity this time of the year – something to do with the sun and endorphins – etc I won’t pretend to know exactly what I’m talking about here but my point is simple, it is a great time of year!
4. Approximately 4 months ago I appraised a residential investment property for a client who was not happy with the price and decided that now wasn’t the best time to sell. They chose to re-rent it out instead. I caught up with them a month later and what they told me surprised me. They said that of the 8 of the prospective tenants that came to view the property, at least 6 had sold their homes recently and were just going to rent and wait for the market to fall further before getting buying their next home.
If this is a true indication of what a large number of people are doing, then at some time we are going to experience a significant amount of demand for property again, especially if they all decide to get back in it at relatively the same time. – Food for thought. I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced this also.
So in summarising, things may look bleak at the moment, but when you consider various factors and indicators, it can only continue for so long so let’s remain positive out there and remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that the wheel will continue to go around and eventually we will come full circle again – SO WHETHER YOU ARE A BUYER, SELLER, SALESPERSON, COMPANY OWNER OR MANAGER – REAL ESTATE IS CYCLIC AND HANG IN THERE!
HAPPY BUYING, SELLING, AND INVESTING!!
November 07 2008 | Canterbury Real Estate and General and Market Facts and Public Opinion | No Comments »
Well we are coming into the sunny summer season again and it’s almost time to get out those hammers and nails and do all the jobs you have been thinking about doing over winter.
Well I have to admit that while I am not that handy around the home, I don’t mind giving the odd job a go, and no doubt I will give a few things a go this summer as well.
I thought I would write some simple tips for the novice DIY’s amongst us that should help in the planning of any work that may need doing around the property.
Hope this is of help to you all, and happy DIYing! 
Sean.
SIX TIPS FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF WORK AROUND THE HOME
1. Make a list:
Spend some time taking stock of the kinds of maintenance and improvement projects you’d like to begin. A well-considered list will help you to set reachable goals.
2. Assess your skills:
Make sure that you carefully consider which projects you are fully capable of completing. For example, unless you have sufficient experience with electrical, plumbing or construction work, you should probably leave those tasks to the professionals.
3. Check the regulations.
Be aware that any building/alteration work you undertake around the home must be compliant with all of the current regulations. For a useful guide to what these are check out
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/building-law-and-compliance
4. Establish priorities:
Which projects are most important to you? Which projects will be the most costly? Which is more important: timeliness, quality or cost? Before beginning any do-it-yourself project, it is always wise to determine specific goals and priorities so that you are fully prepared when it comes time to begin.
5. Create a budget:
For each project that you want to complete, make certain that you have a firm budget in place. Allowing for unexpected circumstances (such as errors or the need for additional materials) in your budget will keep you from overspending.
6. One step at a time:
When it’s time to begin, remember to pace yourself! Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new garden terrace will take time as well. Complete one task at a time, and soon you’ll feel the wonderful sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that doing-it-yourself can bring!
October 17 2008 | General | No Comments »
I was watching a bit of the cricket last night between New Zealand & Bangladesh. During the match, when things weren’t going so well for us and Bangladesh were obviously on top, one of the commentators (Australian – sorry I didn’t catch his name), was doing his best to soften our wounds. He was saying how incredibly amazed he is with the way in which we as a country perform on the sporting front. He said that for a small country of less than 4 million people (someone needs to tell him we have reached that milestone now!), that we do exceptionally well and that we are extremely competitive. He admires the courage and heart that we have on the various sporting fields and arenas in which we compete.
It was a bit more detailed than that but he was basically saying that we should be proud of the way we compete and of what we actually achieve. It was actually hard to feel bad about losing to Bangladesh after his comments (although the Blackcaps probably don’t feel the same way!).
We are in a way I guess like David and a lot of the countries against which we compete could be compared to Goliath, much the same as in yesterday’s match we could be compared to Goliath, and Bangladesh to David.
So good on them for winning. Yesterday they had a great day, we had a bad one. Fact is – it does happen! What is important is what you learn from it and what you then do about it to rectify it. So I hope the loss has humbled the Blackcaps a little and they now dig deep like I know they can to get up and win the next match against what is more than certain to be a fired up and confident Bangladesh team. BRING IT ON!!
GO THE BLACKCAPS & AS FOR BATHURST ON SUNDAY – GO FORD!!!
October 10 2008 | General | No Comments »
Get your listings priced right and they will still move in this market place. This blog follows on from my previous blog on “Strategies in a Challenging Market” in which I commented that education is crucial to helping our buyers & sellers understand the current market place and where they fit within it.
Part of the education process is to know exactly where your property sits in relation to other (comparable) properties currently for sale. If you are higher than everything else, then obviously your property will help sell the others around you because they will appear to be better value for money than yours. Equally, if your property is priced under the competition, they will make yours seem like better value for money and because of this you are more likely to achieve a sale in a shorter time frame.
For properties that are harder to sell because they are on a main road, next to a railway, transmission poles or wires, or even close to an undesirable property, price becomes even more important. Ask the owners to remember back when they purchased the property and whether they deemed it to be cheaper than other properties around that they had seen at the time, and the answer is often yes. It must also be true then that when they sell the property that the same value must be perceived for a purchaser to forgo the undesirable features of the property and to step forward and buy it.
It is also important that in a declining market salespeople are aware when the median sales price in an area falls and then be the first to adjust their owners’ prices. Often the first cab off the rank will get the best fare. In other words if the median sale price has fallen and you discuss this with your owners and get the necessary price adjustment, and do so before other salespeople and owners become aware of the fall in median price, you will often catch one of the few buyers in the market place. The main reason for this is that every purchaser wants to feel as though they have achieved a value for money deal (and here’s the crunch) – in their perception. They also do not want anyone else to get it.
So even in a declining market good sales volumes and prices are achievable if you keep yourself up to date with the current market trends and be professional enough to make your sellers aware of these trends and give them the option of what to do. If they choose not to listen to sound professional advice, don’t be afraid to let them go. It is better to be working with realistic, educated, and motivated sellers in this market as they are the ones that will probably achieve a sale.
Finally, you must remember that the most important stage of any marketing campaign is the first 2-3 weeks. this is the period when the majority of buyers looking in that area or price range will see the property for sale and make a decision whether to view it or not. It is therefore crucial that the price is right in those early stages. In a falling market it is not acceptable to have the attitude that “we can start high and come down later” because you will forever be chasing the market down. The longer the property is not sold on a falling market, generally the lower it will sell for. So it goes without saying that getting our sellers’ properties sold quickly is certainly important, and correct pricing is essential to achieve that.
I don’t think that what I am saying is new, but I think it helps just to refocus sometimes and realise what is happening and what is important to your continued success in these tough times.
October 07 2008 | Canterbury Real Estate | 2 Comments »
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Christchurch&w=all
I was reading Deon Swiggs’ comments about how beautiful New Zealand is and have to agree! I took the day off on Wednesday and went north up State Highway 1 to a little place called Greta Valley then went inland to a settlement called Scargill. I made the comment to my wife about how green everything was and just how stunning the countryside was looking. We have made that trip several times before, and I don’t know if it is just me not having taken much notice before, or whether it just did look particularly stunning that day!
Maybe with all the turmoil around the world financial markets and all the negativity in the media, I was subconsciously looking for some good! Either way, our countryside – affectionately known as the Canterbury Plains for obvious reasons (because they are so flat and seem to go on for ever), is certainly not PLAIN! We are lucky to live in such a beautiful country and should not take that for granted.
I guess it’s like anything though, you can only see what you allow your mind to see. So open your mind and your eyes everyone, cause we are living in one of the most beautiful places on our planet!
From a one-eyed Cantabrian!!
October 03 2008 | General | 4 Comments »
I think the most important facet in coping in this market is education. It is crucial that both our buyers & sellers know what is happening in their respective market places by being shown facts and not just allowing our current media onslaught to be left to educate them.
Sellers need to see the “why” when we tell them what we think their house may be worth. The why can be shown by providing statistics of recent comparable sales, current competition in the market place, recent market trends (i.e medians), and the absorption rate in their market (i.e. how many houses are on the market at present divided by the number that have sold in the last 3-6 months.)
It is not simply enough now to say here’s what’s sold and here’s what I think.
In a changing and challenging market we need to step up as professionals and illustrate that we really do know our chosen field inside & out.
I provide all my appraisals with detailed statistics, and the power of showing them what is happening vs telling them, is incredible.
The flip side of this is that they are more likely to list at a more realistic and saleable price if they understand the why. As a result you have a more desirable listing compared to others for sale in the area. This in turn generates inquiry (sales & listings).
Another advantage of knowing these statistics, is that you can make the information available to the purchaser also. If you have a well priced listing, and have the evidenceto back it up, and can show them and not tell them, they are less likely to come in at such a low level with an offer.
We, as salespeople, need to take more responsibility for our own understanding and knowledge of the market and be readily able to demonstrate this to both our sellers and buyers, as this will lead to people wanting to do business with us because they are confident in us and in the market as a result.
I recently e-mailed a purchaser a copy of a market analysis I did for an ownership unit I have for sale. The reply was incredible. She said that she now felt confident to go and purchase in the market place because I had shown her what value was and what it wasn’t. She did not buy my unit, but was extremely thankful for the time I had taken to educate her.
Just a thought!
Happy selling, and for all of potential buyers and sellers out there, don’t be afraid to ask your real estate professional for information on similar sales around the area.
September 30 2008 | Canterbury Real Estate | 3 Comments »