Counting the cost to sell

Leave a reply

Going through the cost, time and inconvenience involved with preparing property for sale is something we all go through, myself included. Recently, my wife and I experienced this ourselves, where one of our rental properties required a pre-sale makeover and costs quickly escalated outside our original budget.

Now, nearing completion, to prepare the property for the market we’re in the process of staging it to ensure maximum effect when prospective buyers see it either online or in person. It’s an often overlooked area of the selling process but one we recommend nonetheless.

In the post-quake era we live in, a current property inspection provides extra peace of mind for prospective purchasers, as does a readily available LIM report (which we consider best practice). The right digital marketing plan is essential these days, and once all that is considered and the property is sold there’s the commission to take into account as well. When you add up all these costs against the investment you’ve made in your property, it goes without saying that you should expect a decent return come auction or sale day. It’s another good reason to hand pick a well-skilled agent with a proven track record and negotiation skills!

We encourage our sellers to give it their very best shot when it comes to selling. That way, when it comes to decision-making time, there is absolutely no question of whether anything else could have been done to extract a better result.

Preparing for winter

Leave a reply

With brisk mornings becoming more common and daylight hours beginning to fade, it’s worth being mindful about the winter ahead. And while we’re advocates of selling during these months when there’s less competition, it’s important that you give proper attention to a few key areas in order to effectively showcase your home.

Effective heating, lighting and insulation qualities are given more notice by purchasers when inspecting properties during the winter. Never underestimate the perception these create. If you’re selling an investment property, or a property that is likely to be suitable as a rental, it’s also important to remember that new insulation requirements come into effect from 1 July. Check out the team at Warm Fuzzies, they’ll provide you with an insulation assessment for $50 +GST as well as quotes from a handful of insulation installers to get your property up to scratch.

Appealing to these senses and making people feeling like they can live there like it’s their own home is also key. A warm house with fresh baking on a cold winter’s day is the ultimate welcome home feel! Remember – a home liked in winter is loved in the summer!

New high schools create strong demand

Leave a reply

With the keys ready to be handed over, the opening of a brand new shared campus for Avonside Girls and Shirley Boys high schools has created a new buzz in the real estate market. Local property is in demand as families continue  to relocate and secure homes within the zone  of these schools. It’s a great thing to see in the eastern suburbs and we expect to see these trends continue as all Christchurch state secondary schools look set to become zoned in the near future.

Without a doubt, enquiries are greater across the board. Just last week, a new listing triggered double the enquiry of a similar property that was out of zone. It’s a trend we haven’t seen for a while  and it’s incredibly positive for the community seeing families moving into the north-east for schooling as opposed to moving out.

Click here to read more about this state-of-the art educational facility.

Click here to view the latest video walk-through.

New year sales hard on the heels of new listings!

Leave a reply

Once again Team Griff has begun the year with great gusto, successfully selling 9 of their 12 new year listings.

Unquestionably this is conducive with the team’s belief in the new year market and their strategic planned approach to maximising this window of opportunity. Our clients are directly benefiting! Being intuitive to the local market-place is important to ensuring the right approach and method of sale is being implemented for maximum return.

Taking a snapshot of three Team Griff sales

15 Roa Road, Fendalton
Auction

44 inspections
2 bidders
24 days on market
Sold post-auction for $712,000

 

95 Hills Road, Edgeware
No price marketing

50 inspections
16 days on the market
Sold for $375,000

 

105 Queenspark Drive, Parklands
Auction

31 Inspections
23 days on the market
7 bidders in attendance
Sold for $277,000

 

“While results aren’t everything, they are the measuring gauge of a carefully executed plan.”

Effective marketing is key to securing short term sales in the highly competitive Christchurch marketplace where buyers are enjoying the luxury of choice among properties. In the north-east of Christchurch we are noting elevated levels of enquiry (20+ inspections at a new listing this last weekend). The countdown begins for the pending opening of Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ high schools at the start of term two. It’s a real coup for the greater eastern suburbs – a terrific asset that will positively influence the local market for years to come!

As is, where is, more of the same

Activity from our 2000+ ‘as is, where is’ buyer database remains steady to strong, with supply waning demand is heightened meaning multiple parties inspecting and taking action.

Coffee and a chat is a good place to start – talk to Team Griff today.

Active start to 2019

Leave a reply

As predicted the 2019 new year real estate market has a fresh vibrant vibe in the air. Both physically on the street with good open home attendance and online enquiry are showing positive activity, even with a hint of determined decisiveness!

Backing the new year market, we have prepped a number of listings to launch early to mid January, which to date is proving to produce the desired level of enquiry. Often with less stock on the the market immediately over the Christmas – New Year period, being that “first taxi off the rank” is a smart thing to do in the realm of real estate marketing. This equates to heightened interest in the limited available stock from a buying public hungry for new listings.

It’s also worth noting that the Reserve Bank’s reduced LVR restrictions have come into effect from 1 January. This means that banks will now be able to lend 20 per cent of their new loans to owner-occupiers who have a deposit of less than 20 per cent of a purchase price – up from 15 per cent of new lending. The required minimum deposit for investors has now dropped to 30% from 35%. It’s foreseeable that these changes will bring a new batch of buyers into the housing market.

Being intuitive to the marketplace and seasonal trends is something we like to pride ourselves with, meaning we can be on the front foot when tailoring a marketing package with our clients who are looking to sell.

We believe the advantages of the new year market are many, so if you would like to strategise a specific plan to maximise both your property and the current market over a cuppa, be sure to make contact. We’d welcome the opportunity to offer specialised strategic advice to ensure the best possible result. We’re ready to get to work!

The power of effective marketing

Leave a reply

Achieving another outstanding result under the hammer in our auction rooms clearly confirms why we continue to recommend auction as best practice for sellers of ‘as is, where is’ properties. The results speak for themselves.

Check out the facts on our most recent auction:

Address:                                            65 Perth Street. Richmond
Days on the market:                        9
Purchaser inspections:                   28
Number of pre-auction offers       2
Bidders in attendance:                   6 (2 active)
Private offer prior to listing           $170,000
Final selling price at auction     $271,000

Team Griff’s as is, where is, under the hammer strike rate year to date: 100%

The reality is there are many “astute” property opportunists active in the greater marketplace hunting for that next bargain. A homeowner who fails to engage in an effective marketing campaign to flush out multiple purchasers can become vulnerable prey for this calibre of purchaser. Such purchasers are governed by their own perception of value, plus their motivation to maximise profits. It goes without saying that they have very little regard for a sellers’ interests.

With 306 ‘as is, where is’ sales under our belt now it would be fair to say we understand this market. Accomplishing results like the above is the most satisfying aspect of the process. Seeing people moving forward with their lives and in most instances realising a greater selling price than expected makes it a very positive experience.

With spring on the horizon, we look forward to creating many more magic results for our clients prior to the end of the year. If your intention is to get sold before the year’s end, we suggest you contact us sooner rather than later. ‘As is’ buyers are hesitant to hold properties over the Christmas/New Year period due to labour shortages, so it’s best to get the ball rolling now.

Creating the win-win

Leave a reply

Win WinAchieving clients’ ultimate goals with the least time and inconvenience is a frequent request from both buyers and sellers. Very often both purchasers and home owners talk to us well in advance, briefing us of their real estate plans and aspirations for their forthcoming sale and/or purchase.

Here at Team Griff, given that work and live locally we are often in the know of that forthcoming property likely to fit a specific purchaser’s criteria. Frequently we assist in matching people and property even before a property is officially launched to the market.

Following a thorough appraisal of market value, some homeowners feel sufficiently informed to decide on a “happy to sell at” figure and prefer the option of selling without all the fanfare of a comprehensive marketing campaign.

This is often the case with uninsured ‘as is, where is’ property sales. Given that we have a large portfolio of recently appraised properties and an even larger 1900-strong database of prospective ‘as is, where is’ purchasers, connecting buyer with seller for a hassle-free off-market sale is a regular occurrence. Year to date 13.5% of our sales have been transacted on this basis.

While we regard it best practise to engage in a full marketing campaign to ensure maximum exposure and a better selection of purchasers, if a no hassle, low-pressure, ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ sale is appealing to you, do give us a call or flick us a quick email or text. Remember, it our job to create that win-win of bringing buyer and seller together!

The client experience

Leave a reply

Client Experience

What comes first, the commission or the client?

We would all like to think that it is the client’s interests that takes priority, particularly when people are transacting real estate, there is only one thing in mind – seeing the mission accomplished of moving from A to B.

Being mindful of this throughout the selling process is paramount for us as sales professionals and it goes without saying that if this focus is lost, without question the client’s ultimate goal and quality of service is compromised.

Recently it was incredibly humbling to be awarded 1st place for Harcourts Canterbury’s Client Experience Award. For this to be endorsed by our very own clients makes it even more special. To our loyal clients – thank you. That endorsement makes the effort and long hours so worthwhile.

To my team, this award would not be possible alone. Your support both in the field and behind the scenes is what makes this possible. Creating memorable client experiences takes true teamwork.

For me personally, in the twilight of my real estate career that will span 30 years next year, this would have to be the absolute pinnacle and there is no better accolade I would wish to lay claim to – it’s simply amazing and the ultimate in job satisfaction.

This is the absolute reason why we do this every day! Thank you.

Demand for ‘as is, where is’ properties remains strong

Leave a reply

As Is Update(3)

Backing onto a strong start to the “ as is” market Team Griff’s 100% auction strike-rate year to date reflects both a strength of this active market for 2018 and the team’s proven marketing expertise.
Underpinning this 100% strike rate is multiple party participation, with an average 4-5 bidders participating in each auction.

Providing our homeowners with a selection of active bidders on auction day is directly attributable to our 1800+ strong database of known ‘as is, where is’ purchasers gleaned from a long track record of sales of uninsured properties dating back to 2012. This translates to competition with the real benefit of not having to rely on one person’s perception of value, as is invariably the case with an “off the street” type sale.

As the supply of uninsured homes on the open market now begins to decrease, we foresee the demand remaining strong, reflecting the inevitable fact that there is a finite supply of these properties.

Whether you are contemplating to sell your ‘as is, where is’ property or simply need a sounding board to bounce options off, please feel free to contact us in confidence – we’re ready to assist.

 

Recent success stories

45 Medway Street, Richmond

45 Medway Street, Richmond
3 beds, 1 bath, 1 living, 1 garage
Declared reserve $110,000
Days on market: 14
Number of inspections: 30
PropertyFiles downloads: 47
Bidders: 5
Sale price: $155,000

1
529 Bower Avenue, Parklands
4 beds, 2 bath, 2 living, 2 garage
Days on market: 21
Number of inspections: 56
PropertyFiles downloads: 32
Bidders: 7
Sale price: $397,000

591 Madras Sunny-5


591 Madras Street, St Albans
4 beds, 2 bath, 1 living, 2 garage
Days on market: 7
Number of inspections: 21
Bidders: 3
Sale price: $365,000

From Rags to Riches…

Leave a reply

Rags to Riches

Talk about both ends of the property spectrum! Team Griff have just sold an earthquake-damaged flat in Waltham for $86,500 and a stunning architectural build in Waitikiri for a street record in excess of $1.3m – two Christchurch suburbs that are like chalk and cheese.

In both cases, assisting our owners to move forward with their lives for differing reasons is what makes this business so positively enjoyable. This sort of job satisfaction is hard to beat.

At Team Griff we pride ourselves with such versatility, having the skillset, systems and experience required to service a broad cross-section of both clientele and property.

For the cheapie in Waltham, it was a case of mucking in, digging deep into our 1,800 strong ‘as is, where is’ database of potential purchasers, not being too proud to do the hard yards of selling something that was rather undesirable. On the flipside, the $1.3m sale was one of my old neighbours simply touching base giving the heads up that they were intending to sell within the next twelve months. As it worked out we were working with a purchaser whose brief fitted the property perfectly – the rest being history. Needless to say, the owners were overjoyed with the result, let alone the convenience of not having to go to the open market with all the fanfare and intrusion of a full marketing campaign.

So whether your property is in the “rags” or “riches” basket (or somewhere in between) be sure to make contact, as there is a good chance we will be able to perform our magic for your situation and property too.