Buying Tips

Selling a home can be described as one of the most stressful times in your life.  Buying a home can be just as traumatic.  Here at Hope Island Resort Realty we try to help you along the way with some useful tips.

The best time to start looking for you new home is once you have decided that you would like to make a move.  Contact your nearest real estate agent for your area and ask for a Market Appraisal on your home.  This will give you a good indication as to helping you work out how much money you will have to spend on the new purchase.

It is much better to have a good look around your chosen area to see what your money can buy before you even contemplate making a move!

A good start is to browse through the internet.  Good websites to look at in Australia are www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au.  These websites will also direct you into the area of your choice and the agencies in that area that you may wish to contact.  Here you will also be able to find details of recent sales of properties in that area and recent properties that have gone under contract and a detailed mapping chart to show the properties exact location.  Some agencies advertise their services through banners where you are able to click on them for easy connection to their own agencies websites.

Once you have decided on an area, take a drive if possible and take note of signs and advertisements of properties for sale.  Pick agencies that advertise the most in that area and give them a call.  Tell them your criteria and that you are contemplating your move and that you would like to have someone to guide you through all aspects of the area and amenities.

A good agency will have agents that would be readily available to speak to you on any questions that you may have, and to make the time to show you some homes of interest for the future.  Give them full details of your criteria as they may get new listings and then they can keep in contact with you.

Ask agencies in your purchase area to put you on their mailing lists.  Stay close with the agents that keep in contact with you and the ones that you feel comfortable with.
They will know your requirements and be able to source properties on your behalf.

Did you know agents should be able to help you with any properties that you may have seen even if they are listed with another agency?  A good agent will have good rapport with other agencies and be able to conjunct with them on properties on your behalf.

Once you have sold your home and are ready now to look seriously, or perhaps you have actually seen the house of your dreams and are ready to make an offer, then make an appointment with your agent to tell them about the contract you have on your home and then they will be in a better position to help you in your future purchase.

Agents cannot help protect you if they do not know your true circumstances.  It is their duty to make sure that you are completely aware of your commitments.  This will enable you to purchase your new home whilst being completely aware of the responsibilities.

Once you have chosen your new home ask all the questions you need to ask. What is to be sold with the house?  Are there any easements?  How big is the block?  What is being built next door?  Is there Body Corporate?  What are the rates?  Is there anything I should know about this street?  Have there been any other offers made?  Is the pool cleaning equipment staying?  What about that expensive chandelier in the hallway? etc…etc…

A good agent should have all this information at hand.

Agents are here to help you secure your new home.  They will guide you through the contract process and also draw up a contract for you to either take to your Solicitors for his/her perusal before allowing you to sign or if you are comfortable to sign it with them.  This is a normal practice in QLD.

Signing a contract is not something to be taken lightly.

In order to draw up a contract, you will be asked for your purchase offer, your deposit sum, which is usually something less than 10% and also your settlement date.  You will be advised to have a building and pest inspection done on the property and also asked whether the contract would need to have any special clauses such as finance or subject to your house selling on a certain date.  Your Solicitor can be the person to set these clauses on your behalf.

Once the contract is signed, then the agent will take it to their vendor for their perusal. If they are happy with the amount and conditions then they will sign it and it is then legally binding for both parties.  If they are not happy then they have the right to change the amount or conditions.  The agent will then come back to you with the changes for your consideration.

Nothing is binding until both parties and have signed and agreed.

Once the agreement is in place and signed, then the contract deposits are paid into a trust account and the contracts are sent off to nominated solicitors for their actioning.  Your nominated solicitor will be in regular contact with you from then onwards until settlement, guiding you through the process.

A good agent will be in touch with you as well to make sure that everything is going smoothly.

The day before settlement, you have the right to a pre-settlement inspection.  Your agent will be with you throughout that to make sure that all is correct before the big day.

On settlement day your solicitor has all your keys and paperwork ready at their office.  Once settlement has occurred you are the new owner and are handed the keys to your new home.  A good agent will supply you with a detailed information pack about your area.

CONGRATULATIONS !

A good agent will call you after a few days to make sure that you are settled and to see if they can be of any help.  That agent should be available to you at any time in the future should you require any further information.

HOPE ISLAND RESORT REALTY IS NOT JUST HERE TO SELL YOU A HOME.   WE ARE HERE AS A FRIEND FOR THE FUTURE AND TO PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT YOU CAN RELY UPON AT ANY TIME.