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If you're considering selling your house, then that's great news! There are many things to consider, but one of the most critical factors is timing. Therefore, determining the appropriate time to sell your house is crucial. So when is the best time to sell your house?

The answer: when you are ready, not the market or any other influencing factors. Only three things really influence your 'readiness' to sell your property and a successful sales outcome – price, presentation, and marketing. Aligning these three elements and you will attract buyers who are genuinely interested in transacting.

Pricing

Pricing your home correctly is critical when attempting to sell, as it can determine whether your home sells quickly or remains on the market for an extended period. Setting the price too high may turn away potential buyers, while pricing too low could mean shortchanging yourself. Thus finding the "Goldilocks" price is imperative.

In today's market, with varying changes across different areas, it's essential to consult with one of our C21 Living Local agents who have experience and expertise in the area. We can provide you with recent sales prices of comparable properties, which will give you a good indication of the price range your home should fall into. Once you have a suggested price range, you can perform online research to see what similar homes in your area are currently listed for.

If you've made significant upgrades or renovations to your home since purchasing it, you might consider having a professional valuer assess your property. A professional valuation can provide you with an estimate of your home's current market value, which can be useful for loan approvals for prospective buyers, as well as for adjusting your expectations regarding sale price.

Presentation

When selling your home, presenting it in the best possible light is essential. It involves ensuring that it's clean and tidy and addressing any repairs or maintenance needs. Making some cosmetic changes, such as painting, staging furniture, and gardening, can also enhance the appeal of your home to potential buyers.

Marketing

Many home sellers lack experience in property marketing and rely on their real estate agent's expertise. A knowledgeable agent can help price your home correctly and create a targeted marketing plan for maximum exposure. A good agent-client relationship facilitates a smoother and more successful selling process. Marketing and pricing are two key elements in successfully selling your home; trust your agent to help you navigate them both.

A termination of a tenancy is, simply put, the legal process of removing a tenant from your property.

This can be done for several reasons, the most common being failure to pay rent or utilities. It is important to know that a termination/eviction is not something that can be done on a whim - there are specific steps that must be followed in order to make it happen.

The first step is to give the tenant notice. This notice must be in writing and must state the reason for the eviction. The amount of time the tenant has to vacate the premises will depend on each states legislation, but is typically either 7 or 14 days. If the tenant does not leave within this time frame, you will need to lodge an application to your local civil tribunal for a termination.

Once the this has been lodged, the tenant will receive a notice of the hearing. At this hearing, both sides will have a chance to present their case. If the judge rules in your favour, they will issue a termination order. This order will give the tenant a specific amount of time to vacate the premises - usually between 24 and 48 hours sometimes more if you agree upon it.

The termination is accompanied by a warrant for possession, on the date of the end of notice you will be accompanied by a local police authority to ensure your safety. They will enforce the removal from the premises if the tenant resists. It is encouraged to also have a locksmith on hand to change all of the locks whilst the police are present. It is important to be on top of your toes throughout this entire process, as there are many deadlines that must be met. Missing just one can significantly delay the possession.

Preparing for an termination and possession can be stressful, but it is important to be prepared for anything. With the correct steps followed, you will be able to remove your tenant quickly and without incident.

Tenants and property managers/owners are being urged to know their rights when it comes to emergency repairs in a tenanted property.

The tenant should contact the property manager/owner or the nominated repairer (listed on the tenancy agreement) about the problem. It is a good idea to put the request in writing as evidence of notification/request.

If an emergency repair is needed and the tenant is unable to contact the property manager/owner or the nominated repairer, the tenant may arrange for a suitably qualified person to carry out the emergency repairs up to the value of 2 weeks rent.

Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 the Act states emergency repairs as:

• A burst water service or a serious water service leak
• A blocked or broken lavatory system or fittings
• A serious roof leak
• A gas leak
• A dangerous electrical fault
• Fooding or serious flood damage
• Serious storm, fire or impact damage
• A failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply to the premises
• A failure or breakdown of an essential service or appliance on premises for hot water, cooking or heating
• A fault or damage that makes premises unsafe or unsecure
• A fault or damage likely to injure a person, damage property or unduly inconvenience a tenant of the premises, or
• A serious fault in any staircase, lift or other common area which inhibits or unduly inconveniences residents in gaining access to or using the premises

Emergency Repairs are allocated as our highest priority as they should be carried out within a reasonable timeframe, normally no more than 7 days as a rule of thumb.


The landlord is contacted as soon as the notification is received, and the appropriate action is carried out swiftly. The outcome of the emergency is then communicated to both the landlord and the tenants.


The tenant should not stop paying rent to ensure repairs are made. Non-payment of rent is a breach of the agreement.


Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act), property managers/owners must ensure rented premises are safe, secure, in good repair and fit for living.

Here's everything you need to know.

From keeping across legislative requirements to ensure compliance, to doing regular inspections, to managing complex financial accounts, property management is anything but simple!

What is Property Management?

Property management refers to the process of managing all aspects of a residential property.

"Property Management Is Just Collecting Rent"

A common misconception! Property management is much more than this. Ensuring the property is in good order and that tenants are happy is an artform and a whole lot of work.

Property Management Services Include:

• Advertising the property for rent;
• Managing & attending viewings;
• Screening tenants, including doing reference checks & reviewing rental history;
• Managing the condition report process from start to finish;
• Managing the tenancy agreement process & handling questions;
• Collecting & managing rent from tenants;
• Managing financial accounts related to the investment property & providing regular reports;
• Inspecting the property regularly;
• Organising tradespeople, in negotiation with the landlord, for urgent repairs & regular maintenance;
• Providing suggestions & advice to the landlord;
• Staying up-to-date with tenancy laws to ensure compliance.

Having a property manager means that you, as an owner, know that someone is "there" for your property should something go wrong. On top of the essential services listed above, here are some added benefits that a good property manager can offer.


Added benefits:


• Great local insights about the industry
• Detailed knowledge of local laws & legislations
• Trained professionals that "know" what to do and how to respond in any situation

In a nutshell, property management is about all thing's property in the time-frame between when you've bought the investment property, all the way until you sell it.


There's a reason why 80%+ of Australian property investors choose to bring on board a property manager.


80%+ Of Australians Use Property Managers Because:


• Self-managing a property is extremely time-consuming. It's obviously not worth it to quit your job to become a full-time property manager when you can hire a property manager to do it for you for a couple hundred of tax-deductable bucks a month.
• You have to settle disputes and issues yourself. It's an uncomfortable process and difficult to keep emotions out of it, meaning it can be hard to make rational decisions in this process.
• You have access to fewer resources and databases compared to that of a property manager.
• You're not always positioned to make the best decisions. Property managers can use their rich experience and expansive network to source better solutions for many situations.