I was speaking with a good friend of mine on the weekend about his 34 year-old son who was yet to leave home. As you can probably imagine, the conversation was not ‘when’ he would leave the nest (as this question had been hanging in the air for approximately a decade), but ‘how’ my friend could make this happen!

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the median age for first leaving home for people aged between 18-34 years of age is 20.9 for men, and a slightly younger 19.8 for women. However to me, it seems that young people are leaving home much later that they did in my day – particularly in city areas. There also appears to be a growing tendency for children who have left home to return at a later date – according to the ABS, there is a 46% (nearly 1 in 2!) chance of your children moving out yet returning to live with you at least once before they turn 35. Just when you thought you could sell up and spend your retirement sailing the tropics….!

There are probably a myriad of common, as well as individual reasons why young people are leaving the nest later. Rising house prices, as well as the later median age for marriage (and more relaxed attitudes towards marriage and living together) are some that come to mind, as well as the increasing number of people undertaking tertiary education. Some cultures place more importance on extended family, and tend to live together as a larger family unit. However I am sure that for some parents (such as my friend) there comes a point when they are just about ready to leave a very succinct eviction notice on their 30-something child’s bedroom door!

So how exactly does one encourage ones spawn to stretch their wings and leave the nest? And how does one prepare them for this – so that they don’t come back defeated after a few short months?

Preparation and communication are key factors to consider. Talking about independence and responsibility, and giving your children household responsibilities at an early age are important here. Make sure that (regardless of their gender) they know how to do everyday household tasks and chores.  Doing everything for someone certainly doesn’t teach them anything!

Talking about money and budgeting strategies regularly with your children will assist them greatly when it comes to them managing their own. Prepare them for the responsibility of juggling their own finances by not always bailing them out. Sometimes they will have to miss out on that concert, or not buy that pair of shoes so they can pay bills and eat! However with responsibility comes great reward…i.e. they can play that death-metal as loud as they damn like in their own digs!

As everyone is already aware, last week saw the RBA make the surprise decision to keep interest rates stable at 3.75 per cent, which is good news for those in the Australian property market as it continues to recover after a rocky 2009. There is no doubt that most real estate agents are seeing the market continue its steady recover from where it has been, and the now stable rate is more good news for property market. How long that stability lasts, as far as the rates go, is yet to be seen however.

But while we wait to see what happens next, there is time for real estate agents, and those of us who are invested in the property market, to breathe a little sigh of relief and consider what great news it is. The group of people who are no doubt particularly pleased are those who are beginning to enter the property market in this new year.  

Many of the real estate professionals that I have spoken to since the rate decision was made public say they are already seeing a lot of activity in the market place, and that shows that people are feeling more financially stable.

The RBA’s decision to keep the rate unchanged will no doubt continue to help that, and will be another boost for those who want to get active in buying and selling property.

I actually think another increase was expected by most people, and even if that happened, the majority of home owners are much more financially prepared for a rise than they were a year ago.

Another group that seem to be reacting to market conditions are renters. Again, a lot of the real estate agents that I chat to through my work at Century 21 are saying that recent discussion of increasing rents has also acted as a motivator for people to re-enter the property market. Realtors out in the field are telling me that investors are a particularly active group, which again was predicted when we were all hypothosizing about the real estate market in 2010. Now that the year in question is here, the stabling of the interest rate for now will no doubt add to that trend.

Many of our local Century 21 experts are seeing a lot of investors who had been holding off on property purchases become active in the market. Many of our real estate agents are selling properties almost as soon as they’re listing them at the moment. There’s no disputing that the demand is there. After the RBA’s stable rate announcement I suspect it will increase, so if you’re considering selling, or just need some property advice, have a chat to your local property expert – a Century 21 real estate professional.      

Goodness it’s been a busy start to the year! Who can believe it’s already February? And the middle of its second week at that! I’ve barely had time to write my blog about the wonderful world of real estate and Century 21, which hopefully you have noticed and sadly missed. But never fear, here I am to talk about the intricacies of being a real estate professional in this day and age.

One thing that came to light recently, unfortunately not a winning lotto ticket, was that some realtors tend to try and sell in locations they don’t necessarily know well or understand. Whilst most real estate agents specialize in an area, and with good reason – you want someone who knows the neighbourhood you’re selling in or buying into – some stray a little further from home, and the results aren’t always great.

I know someone who knows someone (you know how the story goes) who went into the office of a real estate agent who had a property listed in an area they were interested in. However, said area was not the area the agent was based in, and was in fact about an hour away. Now that might not sound like much, but for anyone who has driven around NSW, you know just how much the landscape can change in the space of an hour. And buying a house near the mountains isn’t necessarily the same as buying a house on the fringes of the city. So this friend of a friend discovered. This agent knew very little about the suburb outside of their area, and as a result left this potential buyer with the impression they were unable to help them find what they wanted, unless they decided to change which suburb they wanted to live in. Which makes me think, we real estate agents should really stick to what we know. Yes, our whole business model is built on securing property listings, but even further into the core of our business is customer service. I know I preach often about how real estate agents are helping people through one of the biggest decisions they’ll ever make, but it’s because it’s true. The least you can do is have the courtesy of knowing what you’re talking about when someone comes to discuss a property with you!

When you work in real estate, priority one tends to be generating more leads. Real estate agents need real estate leads – it’s a very simple concept. The trouble tends to be that most realtors need more leads, but they don’t have a lot of money to spend on getting them. This is where the expertise of an international brand like Century 21 comes in, and because I’m such a nice guy I thought I’d share some of that knowledge today.  

That’s not to say that lead generation is anything other than a challenging and pretty much never ending process. We real estate agents know that as long as we’re in this game called real estate sales, we’re going to need leads. And lots of them. The good news is that if you think creatively about it, you can find leads everywhere. I know a real estate agent who received a wrong number call on his mobile, and when he said he wasn’t who the caller was trying to reach, he added “but I can help you buy or sell a house.” And he got business from it.  

Even though it may be exhausting to think of it this way, generating real estate leads can be a 24/7 activity. We realtors tend to love our jobs and we know it’s not a 9 to 5 occupation, but if you remind yourself that almost every interaction is a chance to secure a lead, you’ll realize how often you can build your business.  

And a busy, successful real estate agent tends to be the kind that new clients want to work with!

Happy New Year! So here we are in 2010 – a new year and a new decade. I hope you have recovered from your festive celebrations, or if they’re still going, I have to say I am mighty envious. Having a coffee cup in my hand at this time of day certainly doesn’t cut the mustard the way my early afternoon vino’s did, I have to say. But I should talk property! And on that note, as the dust settles from 2009’s volatile real estate market, it’s time to look ahead and make the most of the improving market conditions.

In the real estate game, many people have been asking what the year will bring and of course, no real estate agent knows for sure. However, at CENTURY 21, we do pride ourselves on being your local expert, so I like to think we can make some reasonable assumptions.

Currently the property market for the most part is still relatively quiet due to the Christmas holidays. It’s true that real estate gets slower around this time, and that’s understandable when you consider how many people skip town during the festive season. Real estate agents have still been incredibly busy however, and there are certainly people trying to buy at the moment, so the interest is there, and that’s why I’m confident the real estate market will continue to improve as this year goes on.

So as far as real estate goes, I’m expecting to see significant increases in property value in 2010, which means getting into the market as early as possible in this new year is a smart move. We have seen strong rental demand continue around the country for lengthy periods now, and I think it’s fair to say that this trend will also continue. All in all, I believe the real estate market is looking positive this year and I am anticipating that all of our Century 21 real estate agents will be run off their feet very soon if they aren’t already. Pop in to see your local expert and discuss real estate opportunities in your area. It’s the perfect time!

We are fast approaching the end of another year, and for many of us it’s a time for reflection, to take stock and decide what we’re going to do differently in the coming year. In the world of real estate, this last year has certainly been an interesting one as I am sure most real estate agents will tell you. For many of us realtors, 2009 was a time to reassess how we did business as we tried to roll with the punches that the property industry definitely dealt us. I think everyone in real estate should now be in a position to look forward and move forward in 2010.

I have posted often this year about how to make your business a success, and what makes a successful real estate agent, and a successful business isn’t only measured by how many clients you have. That’s why the end of a year gives people the perfect opportunity to take stock of where they are and decide where they want to be. Taking stock of your current position and business will allow you to move into the coming year armed with the plan you need to make next year an even greater success.

 A great way to assess what you should be doing in the new year is to ask yourself what you’ve done in this one. For example, have you taken advantage of professional associations and networking opportunities? Have you got a good website and are you keeping up with new media trends like facebook and twitter?

What about how you relate to your customers? How long is it since you bought or sold a property? Are you actually aware, firsthand, of what your customers are living through in their real estate transactions? Are you communicating with your customers, past, present and prospective? If not, why not?

Looking at where you’re at and where you want to be is a great way to get your business plan together for the coming year. Real estate success isn’t going to be handed to you on a silver platter, you need to put some effort into making 2010 your best year ever. Remember that the family at Century 21 pride themselves on being local experts, so if now is the time for you to buy or sell property, don’t hesitate to pop in to your nearest Century 21 office. And if 2010 is the right time for you to consider starting your own real estate business, or joining the world’s most recognized name in real estate, you also shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch.

I look forward to another successful year of real estate in 2010, and although I am about to depart for the holiday season, I’ll be back blogging in the New Year so will catch up with you then! Happy holidays! 

For many of us the festive season has begun. According to David Jones it began back in September I believe, but the rest of us have finally caught up. When it comes to real estate, Christmas is an interesting time, and by all accounts this year it looks like a very busy time for the property market. It seems that many do consider a new home for the new year and our Century 21 real estate agents are still as busy as ever – things definitely aren’t winding down for us!

As much as we real estate professionals love a busy festive season, Christmas also introduces an interesting scenario for sellers. Even if you are selling your home, you still want to enjoy a decorated house and a Christmas tree, and basically everything fun that denotes Christmas in a home. But if your house is on the market during the holidays, people tend to wonder if they should minimize the decorations, or go all out to really bring home the festive atmosphere and the warmth of the home.

Your real estate agent should be able to advise you but I am pretty sure their advice will be this – and it’s the same as the advice you should be getting regardless of when you’re selling – your home should look tasteful and uncluttered. If that means culling a few of the decorations for this one year, that’s what you need to do. You may need to keep the decorations to a minimum, because as much as you may live them, prospective buyers are entering your home to look at the house, not your attempt at Santa’s grotto.

If the festive season is totally your thing, and reducing the Christmas trimmings in your home is a bitter pill to swallow, at least be reassured by the fact that it’s likely to be worth it. Buyers that are out in December and early January tend to be serious about buying. Those people committed to purchasing property over the festive season rather than taking holidays away or time to do nothing usually mean business, and if you are a buyer, you’ll be pleased to know that some sellers are keen to get their house sold before the end o the year which means the process can often be an easier and more beneficial process for all parties involved.  

We all know that I have blogged on occasion about the thoughts people have about real estate agents. Which makes a lot of sense really when you consider that I not only work for a real estate group, but that this blog is about real estate. One thing I haven’t touched on is the dilemma we real estate agents often face in regards to how aggressive you need to be in the sales process without becoming pushy. As a real estate professional, you need to be able to negotiate, and as a customer of a real estate agent, you want to know that your realtor is going to go in hard for you, but it’s a fine line between assertive and negotiating and just becoming an aggressive twat.

I think we’ve all had experiences when shopping, and I don’t necessarily mean for property here, when a salesperson has just come on way too strong and it’s totally off putting. Sometimes enough to make you leave and try to find what you want elsewhere. Similarly, if you encounter a salesperson who doesn’t try hard enough, the same reaction can result. If someone can’t be bothered trying to sell to you, often it’s annoying because it means a lack of service.

Real estate agents need to be able to play hardball in order to get the best result for their customers, which means as a realtor you must pay attention to if you’re not being strong enough to be a convincing salesperson. I wonder what your customer would find worse – you being a little too aggressive or being a pushover. I believe that at Century 21 our real estate agents have found the middle ground and don’t tend towards either but are a happy balance of the two. Which is why we can claim to be your local real estate expert.

I read something recently which made me laugh, and was actually very apt. It was in reference to retail stores, but I think this most certainly applies to real estate offices, or even your website in this day of technology and ecommerce: if someone is in your shop (or real estate office) it’s going to be for one of 3 reasons – to use your phone, to use your toilet, or to buy something. So if there’s someone in your real estate office who isnt using your phone or your loo, you better be selling them something! Oh how I laughed. Hopefully you did too… 

There are a few situations in life that most of us agree are pretty stressful, and moving house is one of them. As a real estate agent, it’s our job to assist people with what can be such a difficult and emotional time and try to make the process a little bit easier. If you have pets, moving house can be even more stressful and the wellbeing of your furry (or feathered or scaled) friend should be paramount, along with your own safety and happiness and a smooth transition. Sheesh just writing about moving is stressing me out.

So being the helpful guy that I am, and you can expect this level of helpfulness from any of our real estate professionals at Century 21, I thought I’d give you some tips on how to make moving with pets a smidge less stressful. One of the most important things to do is to source a new vet in your new suburb. You don’t want to be faced with driving back to your old hood if something suddenly goes wrong with your little friend. Also before you move in, prepare your new house for pets. Animals can get frightened in new surroundings and you should get all of your pets familiar things out and in place as soon as you can so they know they are at home. It’s also wise to give the new owners of the home you left your number and a photo of your pet in case he or she finds their way back there. Unless you’re moving continents of course, and then that’s a rather unlikely scenario.

For most of us, being deceived by someone isn’t a positive thing. Unless we’re talking about Santa, the Tooth Fairy etc, because of course that kind of trickery doesn’t count. What I’m talking about is deception when it comes to business, and although this may sound like a bad thing, sometimes it’s not.

What I mean is that sometimes in real estate, like other businesses, you need to lie to yourself a little. Of course when you tell yourself little fibs, you already know full well that you’re telling porkies, but amazingly it has actually been proven that lying to yourself can promote, more efficient work habits and practices. And that ultimately makes a better real estate agent. 

White lies such as falsifying deadlines can have a great impact on the amount you get done and your timeliness. Change the dates or times for your key activities, such as returning calls, to well ahead of time, or how about promising yourself a half day if you get through more than you usually would in a day? We real estate agents know that of course we’re unlikely to ever get an extra day off really, especially considering most real estate professionals work 6 days every week, but if you can convince yourself of your own little lie, you are likely to find yourself cramming more into your day than you would have otherwise.  

Although the short term effectiveness of fibbing to yourself may get you out of a pinch, and make you even more of a star real estate agent than you already are, in the long run, it’s not really a substitute for hard work and building smart work routines. But when you’re in a tight spot, a little bit of self-deception can be a handy little pick-me-up.