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Oz Free Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Listings in Australia - Ozfree now gives you the best houses available in the whole territory of Australia - apartments, rooms, flats, garage, parking spaces, lots are also available


Welcome to the part of Oz Free Real Estate Blog where you can get useful information about buying and selling properties. Our blog is composed of articles from different contributors around the world. If you'd like to submit to our blog, please send your work to: erfdelferro@ispx.com.ph. We may have to check your articles for accuracy to keep with our standards of providing valuable information to the readers.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Guide to Selling Commercial Real Estate



Article Written and Prepared by: Barbara Thorp


Commercial property for sale is gaining popularity more than ever, but is still a difficult venture especially for the newbie real estate agent. This can sometimes cost an enormous amount of money. Which is why free classifieds offers a place for you to list your commercial property, whether you are a real estate agent or a private individual.


The following article offers you some methods in exposing your commercial property without spending a fortune on advertising.


  1. List Your Property Online For Free



  2. Many online classifieds allow free ad posting for your property for sale. These sites even lets you list your properties in bulk, without restrictions. Often, Australian real estate listings online get you more exposure quickly without asking you to pay huge prices compared to traditional classified ads in your local paper. Also, they provide more marketing and advertising options for your convenience. Sometimes it is worth putting a little money into some ads if it means the difference between having to pay a commission and pocketing it for yourself.


  3. Invest in a Quality “Commercial Property for Sale” Sign



  4. A good quality “Commercial Property for Sale” sign is an excellent way to make people know and get interested in your property. If you are situated on a major road, a good sign attracts passing traffic and locals looking for property to move their business. Basically, your sign targets those people who may not have gone through the Net for Australian real estate, or those who may have missed your real estate listing. In successfully advertising commercial real estate for sale, you have to explore all available options, whether online or offline.


    Many people are unaware of the properties around them and do not have the time to go looking. By placing a large visible sign on your property, you can draw attention and create excitement in the property.


  5. Free Real Estate Publications



  6. Many suburban areas have ‘free’ local publications that include real estate for sale in the area. Contact these publications and see if they take advertisements free. Since most are looking for ‘free’ content to add to their publications, they are usually very willing to work with you.


    If this doesn’t work for you then you may need to contact a commercial real estate agent and work with them to get your property sold. Many sites provide information on property brokers in different areas and they can assist you to find a professional who will be able to help you too.


    No matter what, keep your ads going. It can take quite a while to sell your commercial property depending on your area, but continue to provide information in publications and websites, and your efforts will bring rewards in no time.














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Barbara write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com - this piece she made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.


Saturday, March 24, 2007

Finding The Right Real Estate Agent



Article Written and Prepared by: Barbara Thorp


Buying and selling real estate can be a tedious and stressful time. At some point during your search to buy or sell real estate, you will need the services of a real estate agent. Selecting an agent can be confusing.


There is a way to determine who is most likely to succeed in helping you get your most favourable price and terms when selling, or finding the perfect house when buying.


QUESTIONS TO ASK A REAL ESTATE AGENT

  • Do you work full-time or part-time as a real estate agent?

  • Do you work full-time or part-time as a real estate agent?

  • How do you market your properties?

  • Do you have a full-time assistant to see that no details are overlooked?

  • How do buyers contact you?

  • Are you marketing real estate for sale on the Internet?

  • If I choose to auction off my property, are you experienced in such transactions?

  • In what ways will you encourage other real estate agents to sell my home?

  • Do you have a system to follow-up with other agents so that we get valuable feedback after every showing?

  • How many properties have you sold within the past 30 days? 90 days? 6 months?

  • Do you have a list of references whom I may check?

  • Are you available in the Internet so that my real estate property is exposed to millions of buyers instantly?

  • What is my property worth?

  • What price do you recommend?

  • How did you arrive at that price?

  • Can you assist me in purchasing other homes for sale?

  • Do you have a written marketing plan designed to sell my real estate property quickly and for top dollar?

  • Do you guarantee my satisfaction by allowing me to exit the selling agreement at any time if I am not happy?


If the agent you are interviewing does not answer the above questions to your satisfaction, find another agent who does. Hundreds of reputable real estate agents are out there, with brilliant track records and willing hearts. Get your contacts through word of mouth, or if you want to be a little techie about it, consult real estate classifieds.


Location


You have no control over the location of your present home, and your home's location and setting influences its value to some degree. OzFreeOnline.com has rental properties if you are between houses with numerous listings in many areas.


For instance, a home inside a quiet court or a new subdivision may sell for more than the identical home on a busy street or close to a freeway or railway line.


Remote country areas typically sell for less than inner suburban and well-established homes. Even streets in the same area may have different values too. Views, rivers, and trees, schools, churches, and shopping centres all come into play when homes' prices are determined.


When working with concrete your goal is to remove 100% of the adhesive. But with hardwood floors, simply remove what you can then clean the area by vacuuming or sweeping the debris.


Home Prices


Your home must be priced within the appropriate range. You must actually ‘sell’ your property twice: first to the purchaser and also to the property appraiser. The buyer is more subjective and compares the amenities of your home to those of the home they live in at present and other homes in the same price range.


The appraiser is more objective and compares age, size, and cost-identifiable features in your home against other real estate properties, which have been sold in the area.


Good real estate agents use their experience and expertise to fine-tune the price by taking into consideration all of these variables.


Most uninformed home buyers go about the process backwards. That is to say that they spend several weeks, months and sometimes years, looking at real estate ads, driving neighbourhoods and attending open houses looking for the perfect homes for sale.


Once they've found the house of their dreams, they place an offer to purchase it subject to obtaining finance. Then they shop around for a loan. More often than not, it is above their means and they lose the house because they can't afford it.


Condition


New homes enjoy a marketing edge over resale homes because they are shiny and clean. Builders enhance their appeal by offering model homes for sale, clean, bright, and decorated in popular colours and amenities for prospective buyers to examine on display.


Finance and Basics


These days, buyers of Australian real estates are wising up on the correct way of purchasing homes.


The ‘savvy’ buyer of today shops for finance first and only when they know exactly how much they can afford will they inspect a real estate property for sale that are only within their affordable price range.


There are two methods of doing this. The standard way is to call or meet with a loan agent, whether it’s the bank or building society. Tell them your financial and credit history, have the agent do a check on your credit rating , after which the loan agent discusses with you the amount you qualify for.


Sometimes though the borrowers ‘forget’ to reveal late credit card payments, their new boat payment or car payment or they may even resort to inflating their income figures beyond reality.


The preferred method is to complete an application, provide income, taxation and employment records. The loan agent runs a credit check, and then submits the file to a lender for countersigning and approval. Then they will provide a commitment for a loan to you.


This is also a powerful negotiating tool when presenting an offer to purchase. Real estate sellers prefer to accept an offer from a buyer who already has a loan commitment than from those without.


So to wrap up, here's the correct order when you set out getting a new real estate property: Get a loan commitment first, and then find your dream house. It' up to you if you're going to sell your house through a real estate agent or by yourself. Lots of free online classifieds are out there where you can list your home for free. The advantages of selling your house on your own is that you have full control of all aspects and details, and you get to keep the profit all to yourself because you don't have to for commission.


But if you don't want to spend the time and effort in putting up your homes for sale, then a real estate agent will gladly do the job for you!










_________________________
Barbara write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com - this piece she made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.


Saturday, March 17, 2007

How to Gracefully Live with Your Pet in Apartments for Rent



Article Written and Prepared by: Neoli Marcos


Renting with a pet can be a difficult task, and up to this time, the property for rent market is not exactly a pet-friendly place. And for a good reason. After all, staying in apartments for rent inevitably means having to live among other people who a. may be allergic to animal hair, b. has had previous troublesome experience with animals, c. may not be an animal lover, and many other reasons. So let's respect them.



But now that there are more pet owners in the rental property market, property owners have seen the demand for pet-friendly apartments for rents, and have become more flexible. In the first place, as you look for property for rent, only approach those listings that expressly allow pets.



While some property owners may be swayed from their "no pets" policy, most can't be due to Corporate Body rules. Here's how you and your pet can move in a house for rent in no time: Get a letter of recommendation from your former rental property owners for proof of your responsible pet ownership. Include your past property owners' names, addresses, phone numbers, in chronological order.



Gather your pet's veterinary records and recommendations, including all up-to-date vaccinations, worm and flea control, and general good health, council records and any other positive details you may wish to include. In essence, you are preparing a pet resume.



If your dog has had any special training for obedience or showmanship, include them in your pet resume. Also, it pays to do some research on how you can get your prospective property owner's nod to your pet.



Include a picture of your pet with your resume. Ideally, don't take your pet with you to the premises of the property for rent as you meet the owner for the first time. Unless you are asked to do so. If the property owner wants to meet your pet, it helps to exercise the dog well before the meeting time to release excess energy, which will put your pet in a more calm condition.



Lastly, provide a written statement that you will always keep your dog on a leash when outside, and that you will clean-up after your pet.



When all else fails, offer to pay a “pet deposit” if required. This is not a bribe of course. Consider it a last ditch effort.



It may take hard work on your part to search the right apartment for rent for you and your pet. Understand that some property for rent have strict policies about pets and you have to respect their refusal. Otherwise, you're better off saving for the future so that the next time you browse online real estate listings, you'll be looking for homes for sale, instead of apartments for rent.



Now, that's a place where your pet is always welcome!



























_________________________
Neoli write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com - this piece he made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.


Saturday, March 10, 2007

Preparing Homes for Sale by Getting Rid of Linoleum



Article Written and Prepared by: Barbara Thorp





Renovating your home, or just preparing your home for sale? How to get rid of the existing linoleum? Like all things renovation wise, it can be a tough job, but that doesn't mean you have to immediately drag in the professionals. You can do it yourself, and take all the praise later.




Linoleum floor can be clingy. And the difficulty in removing it depends on its age and how it is fixed to your floor. If your current linoleum is still in good shape, with almost unnoticeable cracks, and soundly fixed to your floor, you can leave it in place and just cover it up with your new floor material. If you think that's cheating though, and you don't want your real estate buyers discovering the cover-up later, then just remove the linoleum and start from scratch.




This will take sweat on your part. Once you get the linoleum up, you'll have to deal with its adhesive material. The best tip when removing linoleum is to work in small sections. Cut the linoleum in workable sized strips or squares as you go and then peel them off. Not only will you remove the majority of the surface layer of linoleum but it will help you in getting to the adhesive as well.




You can further attack the adhesive using a paint scraper or razor blade scraper. The razor blades work much easier, although hard stubborn adhesive and concrete floors take several blades as they blunt eventually.




Now that you've removed the majority of the linoleum and its backing, you can proceed with the applying a solvent or chemical remover. Make sure you follow instructions and read the warnings on the label, and wear skin and eye protection, such as gloves and glasses. Again, proceed by doing small sections at a time.




If you prefer not working with chemicals, a low-cost method of adhesive removal involves just boiling water. Pour directly on the remaining adhesive, in small sections, allow it to set a bit, and then scrape.




If you are working with hardwood floors and are worried about damaging it, simply remove the adhesive and remaining backing with a hair dryer or heat gun. Since hardwood floors are highlights in real estates for sale nowadays, it's all the more reason for you to proceed with caution. Try a test area such as in the pantry. Simply use the hair dryer to heat up the adhesive and then scrape.




Don't scrape against the grain of the wood because this will result in hot and sticky debris. Also, make sure you have a heat resistant container ready for the clean up. If you're using a heat gun, make sure you don't apply too much heat or else you burn the wood. Remember, the rule of thumb is: work in small sections, apply the heat in a moving motion versus static, and scrape each area as you go.




When working with concrete your goal is to remove 100% of the adhesive. But with hardwood floors, simply remove what you can then clean the area by vacuuming or sweeping the debris.




After you've successfully removed the backing, lightly sand or damp-mop the area using mineral spirits or a similar product to prepare the floor for its new finish. Now, your real estate property boasts of a new, elegant, and sensible floor—all because of you. And it's now ready to be listed in the online real estate market.










_________________________
Barbara write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com - this piece she made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.


Saturday, March 03, 2007

Sure Fire Ways of Getting the Most For Your Home For Sale





Article Written and Prepared by: Neoli Marcos





Of course, the above title is easier said than done. After all, in these days of fluctuating prices and unstable real estate market conditions, it's hard to make a clear profit. And oftentimes, the people who consistently rake in profits in real estates for sale have been working in that field for years and are using proven strategies in order to minimize risk. Care to know their secrets?





Achieving High Profit.




The most sensible rules apply. First, keep your costs low. The more you can save on materials and labour, the more money you will make when your property is finally sold.




Obviously you will sell to the highest bidder, and of course you mustn’t be afraid to negotiate ‘down’ to a lower price. Make sure though you privately keep a minimum threshold price which you won't allow to get any lower so that your sale will still be profitable.




Do It Yourself.




You can do much of the labour yourself in order to save a vast amount of money. For example, you can get a license to inspect buildings. This way, you won't have to pay inspectors ever again. A good inspection can save you thousands in the form of foregoing falsely attractive deals and providing bargaining chips when you are making the deal. Also, you can advertise your home for sale at any online classifieds offering free real estate listings. This way, you reach out to a broader range of prospective buyers. Once there, take your time looking for property, other real estate for sales, lenders, title companies, insurance brokers, agents and more. The more you shop around, the better!




Repairs Equal Big Money.




Even the simplest little details like washing the windows or freshly vacuuming the carpets can add thousands to the value of the home. Of course, if there is a real repair that needs doing, and if you aren't licensed, don't attempt to do it. No one expects you to be a good sales associate and an inspector and an electrician and a plumber all at once. Low quality roofing and good paintwork should help boost the value of your home for sale significantly.




Outsource.




You can be a bit thrifty when paying for labour. Get two of your friends to help do the yard work and pay them for a job well done. Professional landscaping companies charge by the hour. Once you’ve selected the lesser-known companies you will outsource to, don't passively accept unnecessary fees with ridiculous prices. In today's world, it's absurd to pay $50 to deliver a few dozen papers across town, but tacking on charges like that is common practice.




Haggle.




Don't be afraid to haggle on the price of a property. Of course, this doesn't mean you should negotiate in bad faith or try to trick people into selling for far less than their asking price. Homeowners that feel they have gotten the bad end of a deal might find other ways to wreck your projects in ways you only discover later.




Finishing Touches.




Buy some low cost flowers and have your property cleaned professionally. Leave lights on during the day to brighten up rooms. You can even play some buyer-inducing ambient music at a low volume or put out snacks for visitors.
























_________________________
Neoli write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com - this piece he made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.