January 2023 - Amanda Robertson

Why isn’t your Gloucester region home selling?

January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

You might think you did all the right things before you put your property on the market. Yet it’s still unsold after many weeks or months. Why? What could you have done differently?

Through 2021 and early 2022, we saw a ‘race to regional’. We couldn’t sell properties fast enough, at extraordinary prices. However, now the regional property market is rationalising, you need to do more to keep your property at the top of buyers’ wish lists. In this article, I give you tips for selling your property quickly.

What is key for a faster property sale?

Three main factors influence property sales. And these factors hold true whether properties are selling like hot cakes or the market is flat and buyers are more cautious.

These are price, presentation and promotion.

I’m going to talk about each of these separately; together, done right, they make a compelling property offering in any market.

Setting your property price

Setting the right price for the current market (whether in a boom or correcting part of the cycle) is vital. And that’s where we come in. As responsible real estate agents, we appraise your property to set a price in relation to current conditions. We know what buyers are willing to pay for a property and we set the price accordingly. We give you a 10% range of our estimated selling price and we work hard to achieve the top of the price range.

When you achieve a higher price after your property has been on the market for a while, it will generally be because the market has moved upwards anyway. That’s fine if you have time to wait. If you’re ready to move on to a new property or a new region, and you want a quick sale, the price has to be what buyers are willing to pay today. I learned from John McGrath of McGrath Real Estate that when a property fails to sell within a reasonable time, price is the issue. And I had to heed that advice in selling my own property in Sydney.

Presenting your property in its best light

I watch some of the British home shows and I’m still a bit shocked at how poorly the properties are presented. In Australia, we’re all watching shows like ‘The Block’ or ‘House Rules’ or any of the many renovation and makeover-style shows. We have certain expectations. If your home isn’t showing well in marketing photography, the home won’t allow potential buyers to make an emotional connection and imagine themselves living the lifestyle your home affords them. Remember that most buyers will search online first before they narrow their wish list to a few properties. You have around three seconds to impress them.

Promotion (marketing) to reach more potential home buyers

Don’t think you can save money by skimping on your marketing. When we market your home, we use professional photographers, sometimes even a videographer. We write compelling words to describe your home and give buyers plenty of information so they’ll shortlist your property. With online listings, social media, emails, newsletters and newspaper advertisements, we ensure your property is seen by the widest range of potential buyers.

When a buyer shows interest, we respond quickly and start building a trusting relationship with them to understand what their needs are so that we can talk about all the best features of your home that match their needs. We answer questions and prefer to take people through by private inspection; depending upon the property, we may hold special ‘invitation only’ open homes. We’re selling a dream, so we need to make buyers feel special. Once a buyer makes an offer, we negotiate with you and the buyer to ensure everyone is satisfied and feels they achieved a fair deal. We know from experience that buyers are devastated by an outright rejection of their offer so even if the offer isn’t what you expected, we work with you and the buyer to come to an agreement you’re both happy with.

With the right agent by your side, you can feel confident that they won’t undersell your home. Remember, we do this for a living, we know the market and we can read buyers’ intentions. When a buyer is serious about purchasing, they will often be willing to offer a slightly higher price to secure their dream home.

Need advice on selling your Barrington Hinterland property?

As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your home. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.

How to rightsize your life in the Gloucester region

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

As the holiday season comes to an end and we have to pack up the holiday house or camp site, our thoughts might turn to making a permanent change.
If you’ve owned a property for decades, this might be the year you choose to make the holiday destination your permanent home. Perhaps you dream of fishing the Barrington River for trout or bass, taking long walks to watch the sunset across the Bucketts or getting the boat out to continue exploring the river and lakes.
My husband and I made our move to Gloucester after several years of searching for the right place that met our dreams – and we’re so glad we chose to relocate.
However, many of us can feel overwhelmed at the thought of selling up and moving. Don’t worry. If you take it in easy steps, you’ll be there in no time.

What is rightsizing?

You’ve heard of downsizing? We prefer ‘rightsizing’ as this implies that you get all the dwelling space you need and none you don’t. You might prefer to move to a retirement village with a smaller space and no worries about maintenance. On the other hand, we’ve had clients who’ve moved from cities or towns to acreage because they have large extended families and want to be able to host huge clan gatherings.

Wherever you choose, think of rightsizing as future-proofing your life.

Where to start your rightsizing journey

There are steps to follow that will make the process easier for you.

1. Consider carefully where you’d like to move to

Although holiday towns are appealing for a few weeks a year, do they have the services and facilities you’ll need all year? Medical? Shopping? Theatre? Tennis club? Golf clubs?

2. Try renting first if you’re moving to a new area

This would mean two moves, of course, but you can get a feel for the area without a great financial commitment. You want to know of any issues in the street or suburb before you take out a mortgage.

3. Declutter your home or farm

It doesn’t make any difference if you’re moving to a smaller or a larger home; you won’t want to carry all the stuff you’ve accumulated for all the time you’ve lived on your farm or home in town.

In decluttering your home, you’ll learn what possessions you appreciate and what you can discard. We recommend the four-pile process and go room by room.

- Pile 1 is what you definitely want to take with you into your new life.

- Pile 2 is for Undecided. You can revisit this pile once you’ve done each room.

- Pile 3 is for items you want to give to your family or friends, or to donate to local charities. Keep in mind that decluttering can be an emotional process so give yourself enough time to do it well or you’ll end up with boxes of possessions you don’t need in your new home.

- Pile 4 is for stuff you need to shred (like old documents you won’t need), stuff you’ve hung onto because you think you’ll fix it one day and stuff that isn’t fit for anyone else to use. Remember that most sales require ‘vacant possession’ and you’ll need to remove all equipment and rubbish before settlement.

Hot tip: Take a photo of each room in your home before you declutter. Most people I know regret not doing this and wish they’d kept photographic memories.

4. Hire some help

If you can’t find anyone to hire, phone a friend. We’ve all got that one friend who can move in like a bulldozer and get you sorted. Get your children involved if they’re old enough. The point is, doing it on your own can feel overwhelming.

5. Don’t rush

While sparkling ocean views or the peace of a riverside home might appeal and draw you strongly to make a move as soon as you’re back from holidays, think carefully about what you want your life to look like in the future and remember that preparing your home for sale always takes longer than you expect. Talk to me about selling; I’m here to guide and advise you.

Need help rightsizing and selling your home?

As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of rightsizing and selling. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.

Our beautiful Barrington Coast region

January 12, 2023January 2, 2023 by Amanda Robertson

Using Gloucester as a base, the Barrington Coast offers so much to visitors and residents alike. In this article, I can’t talk about everything that makes this place so special. Instead, I’ve picked a few hinterland favourites.

What areas does the Barrington Coast cover?

Good question. The name ‘Barrington Coast’ is relatively recent and comprises what used to be the three separate districts of Great Lakes, Manning and Gloucester. The region runs from Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest in the south to Diamond Head to the north and to Barrington Tops in the west. See the map.

Top five activities for the Barrington Coast hinterland

With so many activities to choose from including the magnificent Barrington Tops and the Barrington National Park, you’ll be spoilt for choice. I thought we’d look at the top five activities for the Barrington Coast hinterland.

1.Mountain biking

For thrills and hopefully not too many spills, pack up your mountain bike and head to the Barrington Bike Park, a 30-minute drive from Gloucester. Downhill trails run through and under rainforest, giving you more bush for your buck. Tracks are graded from easy to difficult and if you’ve made it down to the river unscathed, you’ll find a camping ground. To avoid crowds on these trails, you must book in advance as park authorities keep numbers limited.

2. Waterfalls and swimming

Be warned that these spots are not patrolled by any lifeguards so all swimmers need to take care.

Our waterfalls tend to be in out-of-the-way spots and you’ll need sturdy legs to get to most of them. Some close to us in Gloucester include the stunning Gloucester Falls, just over an hour from Gloucester. To get to the falls, make your way down the track to the first level of the falls. It isn’t an easy route so wear good shoes. To get to the bottom of the falls, you’ll need to hike further to the rock pool where you can swim right underneath the waterfall.

If you prefer to swim where the platypus play, the best swimming holes are close to Gloucester, with spots designated along the Gloucester River, Barrington River at the Barrington Reserve and Rocky Crossing or head out to the Manning River, Bretti Reserve, where the Barnard River joins the Manning River.

3. Camping and kayaking

Enjoy camping the way we used to at The Steps Barrington Campground. Located right on the rapids of the Barrington River, this camping site boasts a brand-new amenities block with hot showers, flushing toilets, disabled access and filtered river water for drinking. Surrounded by the bush, you’ll feel you’re a million miles from civilisation.

If you’re after a challenging white-water experience, the Barrington River is the place to hit for kayaking. The Barrington is rated Grade 3 in the upper areas, Grade 2 around the Steps and Grade 1 below Rocky Crossing. Or if you want to try something completely different, the guys at The Steps have a new fleet of river sleds; float along the ponds or chance some white-water excitement on the rapids.

4. Scenic drives

We have a Morgan car, so we love driving and the short scenic drives around Gloucester are fabulous. If you’re into motorbikes, Thunderbolts Way is a biker’s dream, a beautiful drive with spectacular stops like Carson’s Pioneer Lookout. And if you are after the best coffee in the region, drive to Walcha.

5. Stays in peaceful retreats

We have some great accommodation options, from top camping spots to charming Airbnb properties. Enjoy the peace of a riverside cabin, indulge in a high-end farm stay or hike into the wild and camp under the stars.

PS. Did you know Barrington Coast recently won double Golds at the 2022 NSW Tourism Awards?

Need help choosing a Hinterland Barrington Coast activity?

As a proud local, and supporting our community, I’m here to help, whether you want suggestions on outdoor activities, you’re looking to buy in our region or selling your property in the Gloucester region, I’d love to talk to you.