You see many homes today marketed by Auction, Tender and Deadline Sale/Set Date of Sale.
This is because these sellers are serious and buyers understand they are serious about a result. They also know this because properties marketed using these strategies have strong marketing campaigns, another indication the seller is serious, and buyers love serious sellers.
Let’s look at the benefit of setting a Deadline;

• Everyone knows the date you want it sold by. You, your agent and the buyers. Everyone is focused on a result. After that the buyers may have missed out.
• Three, four or five weeks on the market maintains interest and stops the property rolling into that danger zone of too long on the market.
• No price is published so buyers don’t know your maximum.
• They all have strong marketing to identify all potential buyers.
• It also means we can structure a sensible marketing campaign investment because we know the expected time on the market.
• The deadline makes buyers do their homework, such as Valuations and Building Inspections prior to the sale, so there maybe less conditions. Remember Auction is always unconditional.
• Any sign of competition should have buyers making their best offer and if need be, removing any conditions that weaken their offer. We all like certainty.
• You know that open homes won’t go on for week after week, you know you are sold, you can make your next move comfortably knowing the best campaign to find the best buyer for your property has done its job.

There is also no doubt that some properties languish on the market for months. One clear principle in real  estate marketing, is that time on the market erodes value. 

Therefore, when selling your property, it is vital to get it right first time. The things to get right are:

• Your property.  Prepare your property to look it’s best.
• Get the price right! The most buyers for any property are in the market in the first 10-14 days. Don’t wait and see and drop your price later. The best buyers may have been and gone. If you can’t agree on the right asking price sell by Auction or Tender.
• Your Marketing: You only have one chance to make the biggest impact. Launch with the biggest and best campaign you can. The first two weeks are critical!

94% Success Rate for January 2011

At this time of the year many people ask if it is a good time to sell their  property. The reason they ask is because the Christmas break is coming along and they are not certain if their  house will sell before Christmas and what happens over the holiday period.
Upon further examination their concerns are about the issue of less real estate publications being published and that many buyers may be out of town on holiday. Whilst both these factors are relevant there are others to consider:

• If you really need to sell, or want to sell, you need to be on the market.
• Buyers on transfer for work are more active over this period.
• The internet is advertising your property 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• If the timing is right, build your campaign to launch with the last real estate publication of the year (two-three weeks exposure) and then in first one in the New Year, or
• Decide now, list now, but launch in January

Over the last Christmas and New Year months we put together a special marketing campaign to help our clients get their home or property sold.  We had tremendous success with 94% of the properties marketed this way SOLD!  We believe that the time is now right for another campaign and invite you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity.

While the Rugby World Cup was an economic success for many in the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors, it was, unfortunately, a bit of a distraction to real estate sellers and buyers.  Next  up we have the 26th of November election – all indicators are that following the election we can expect continuity of leadership and direction for another three years.  With interest rates for borrowing continuing to be available at attractive, low rates this should encourage people to make major buying decisions.   The demand for property on the North Shore is very strong.  Here at Harcourts Cooper & Co we manage over 1,100 residential properties and last week we only had one vacant property on our books.  This situation is driving more buyers to the market as demand for rental accommodation is clearly overpowering supply.

Our 94% record from last year shows how well the Christmas and New Year campaigns can work.  Our management and sales team are keen to successfully sell your property and have committed to being available right through December and January to ensure that the buyers who see your property advertised through our special marketing campaign can be immediately introduced to your property.  If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity and be part of another huge success, talk to any of the Harcourts Cooper and Co team today.

SUCCESS IS CONTAGIOUS!

Tony Alexander

I still have a struggle reconciling the negative reports in New Zealand media- both the press and on TV, about the real estate market. The are simply out of touch with the reality of a great real estate market here on the North Shore.
It’s quite simple. Buyers are in the market and actively buying homes right now. These are the results from recent auctions I have conducted
13 Katui Street, Castor Bay

over 60 groups attending open homes, 70 at the auction, 6 buyers, 3 bidders….sold $1,300,000, unconditionally.
1 Trafalgar Road, Milford

over 60 attending open homes, 50 came to the auction, with strong bidding by 3 parties up to $780,000.
9 Sandford Street, Campbells Bay

50 groups attending open homes, 50 at the auction, 4 buyers, 3 bidders, strong bidding up to $760,000 and then someone mad a king bid and took it away for $825,000.
Over the last two months the Harcourts Milford office has sold 65 homes with a total value of over $40,000,000.

These are exceptional results and while we are a great office with exceptional sales people, right now there is a shortage of homes on the North Shore. I have reported this to you before. And the problem is not going to go away. So prices are going to go up. If you are buying, take advantage of the lowest interest rates we have had for many years. If you wait til next year both interest rates and prices will be higher.
If you are thinking of selling give me a call, we have a pool of buyers looking for family homes in Campbells Bay, Castor Bay and Milford. Its likely you will have multiple buyers interest.
If you have any doubts, read what Tony Alexander, The BNZ Chief Economist had to say recently…”What those factors tell us is that although prices are high by world standards construction costs are rising, an aging population will drive average occupancy down, building standards keep getting lifted, councils won’t free up land on their outskirts, non-housing assets like shares tend not to be favoured by Kiwis, banks are newly easing their lending criteria, funding for new subdivisions has structurally declined, and from late this year we expect a period of labour market strength. Offset by the depreciation allowance change from April 1, weak sentiment, and easing net migration inflows we  get a picture of a market likely to produce rising turnover then rising construction then capital gains from late this year led by Auckland.”
Tony Alexander, BNZ Economist, BNZ Weekly Overview, 17 March 2011
On the North Shore this recovery is starting early and will continue. Later this year, the World Cup will be in Auckland, and the North Shore will stand to benefit. The rebuilding of Christchurch will start and the National party will be re elected. ( sad for a green like me!) but good for business confidence. I feel very strongly that this renewed and stronger real estate market is here for a while yet. You can be assured that now is the hour if you are buying, you certainly don’t want to wait for the reserve bank to raise interest rates and for prices to rise.
Seller should be confident that now is a great time to sell, with confident buyers with low interest cash in their pockets. Here’s a link to help you get  a great price for your house.

I heard Alistair Helm, the CEO of realestate.co.nz reporting that if you want to sell your property before Christmas and are not on the market now…its too late! I was reading the paper today and learn that our opposition have had their worst month in nearly two years!

Well, if you are thinking of selling you North Shore home  maybe you shouldn’t call them.  Your property deserves enthusiasm, professionalism and a positive attitude. Here’s the thing, you can sell a North Shore home  before Christmas, and there is a window of opportunity, we can help!

We have had some very successful auction evenings where many homes have been sold, and we have opened your last chance for the year to get you on your way! For just $1699, we can advertise your property and sell it for the price you want, at our last auction evening for the year on December 13. Just drop me a line here.

We have had quite a few of these evenings and our next is on November 15. We have 25 homes to be sold at Winger Suzuki in Wairau Road. This promises to be a huge evening and we are all excited. Here’s the line up, it’s a biggie.:

First group – 6pm

173C Mokoia Road, Birkenhead

9a Park Hill Road, Birkenhead

174 Foley Quarry Road, Albany

32B Knightsbridge Drive, Forrest Hill

15 Ludlow Tce, Glenfield

4 Dey Street, Mangawhai Heads

23a Forrest Hill Road, Forrest Hill

183 East Coast Road, Milford

7a Manuwai Road, Olde Torbay

3-241 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna

42a Acacia Road, Torbay

60 Joy Street, Albany Heights

2^nd Group – 7.30pm

Unit 1.2 & 3/132 Onewa Road, Birkenhead

B206/525 East Coast Road, Browns Bay

96 Selman Road, Dairy Flat

21 Becroft Drive, Forrest Hill

41a Shanaway Rise, Hillcrest

4 Wolsley Ave, Milford

1/153 Shakespeare Road, Milford

6 Exmouth Road, Northcote

1 Bundoran Way, Pinehill

29 Glenvar Road, Torbay

57 Glamorgan Drive, Torbay

Original Ian Athfield Design from 1978

Homes designed by architect Ian Athfield don’t come up for sale very often, and when they do, they generally go to new owners who share a respect for the design ethic. Part of that ethic is a belief that a house is a dynamic entity that can and should evolve with the changing needs of the inhabitants.
In 1978, a young couple embarked on an adventure to build a very special home on their bush-clad Castor Bay site. They stumbled over the architecture of Wellington based Ian Athfield, who offered to personally design a home that was within their means. They gave him free reign, and so the journey began. Athfield insists on a close relationship with his clients and a high degree of involvement in the building process (like digging the foundations). 14,000 bricks were personally sourced, collected, cleaned and wheelbarrowed onto the site by the enthusiastic couple. Any time they heard of a building being demolished, they were there to collect the raw materials. Many of the internal doors once graced the homes of Devonport villas. Recycling and sustainability may be fashionable catchwords right now, but they have always been integral to Athfield’s work.

The painstaking journey to completion lasted nearly 3 years, and the resulting home bears testament to the “blood sweat and tears” that accompanied the process. While the home nods to New Zealand’s colonial past with its corrugated iron, red brick and native timbers, it can clearly be placed at the forefront of this country’s architectural revolution. It can’t
be easily described as a series of rooms, and bears little resemblance to a conventional house. It is totally innovative and endlessly interesting; it has a profusion of nooks and crannies, rooms are often curving and boudaries between rooms are blurred.
Externally, the building appears to rise up out of the ground, with a variety of shapes, textures and angles that compel you to walk around the structure much as you do when admiring a sculpture.

Athfield’s designs are significant architectural works, and this house is no exception. Bold and unique, it demands a response. This is a home to stimulate your imagination, to nurture you, to invite you to enjoy an easy interaction with the outdoors.The design is sensitive to the natural environment: every room has access to decks and garden; the interior is filled with sun and natural light; the conservatory extends the kitchen out to the lush greenery of  the garden and provides a year round, all weather dining nook. In midsummer, you’ll be lured out to the welcoming shade of the flame tree, or to dine amongst the kauris. Inside, there is a natural flow from one space to another, and each room has unique characteristics. The intimate lounge, rounded at one end, has a series of low windows which
frame the garden beyond. This is a room to snuggle in on winter evenings, cosy by the open fire. The home has 3 double bedrooms and an office, with plenty of storage space, as well as a loft over the double garage,ideal as an art studio or teenage retreat.
This very special home is now offered for sale for the first time in its 30 year life. There is much to be discovered here – adventure, magic and a joy in architecture.

Price: $859,000

For details on viewing times, call Tony on 0800 61 8888 or go to the Harcourts listing here.