Why brunch? It’s easy, there’s something for everyone and it’s relaxed.

Why is brunch so popular?

Brunch can fit into almost everyone’s plans. It’s not too early so that you have to get out of bed before you’re ready and not so late so that you don’t have time to still enjoy whatever activities you have planned for the afternoon. Most brunch parties start at around 10:00 am but you can play around with this time so it suits everyone.

How to plan your stress-free brunch party

Brunch is an in-between meal occasion so you can keep it simple. Keep the guests to around five or six; you’ll limit the number of guests who might have food allergies and keep the conversation flowing easily. When you invite your brunch guests (at least two weeks in advance), you can check with them to make sure they can eat everything you plan to serve.

Décor should be clean, simple but elegant. Grab something from your garden – flowers, some leaves, even some sprigs of parsley – to decorate your table. If you want to go a bit Nigella, put a single flower in each of several old glass jars and scatter them across your table.

Planning your brunch menu

Remember that this is supposed to be a low-stress event, so keep your menu simple. We love to see scones, jam and cream but also some savoury dishes like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Apart from the scones (and don’t try to bake scones if you can’t whip up a batch in 20 minutes), try to serve food you can prepare beforehand and warm up in the morning.

Eggs are your brunch staple and there are so many ways to prepare them ahead of time. Think frittatas, quiches or, for something spicy, heuvos rancheros. You can prepare these the day before; for huevos rancheros, add the eggs as guests arrive.

Most people, even the gluten-intolerant, love bread. Even if they can’t eat it, they love the look of some of the beautiful breads on offer so load up a basket with baguettes, croissants, sourdough or even bagels.

Freshen your table with cherry tomatoes, some colourful lettuces, and avocado. (Cover the guacamole with a thin layer of water or lemon juice to keep it looking appetising.)

To set off your table, set out a colourful fruit platter to crown your table.

What about drinks for brunch?

We love to see jugs of fruit juice, iced, but keep simple with maybe one or two types of fruit juice and one vegetable juice. And everyone will welcome water so place some frosty jugs of water within easy reach.

For fresh coffee, a drip filter machine is easier than trying to use your Italian-style Mocha pot. If you have a pod machine, let everyone help themselves.

For tea, we love ‘proper’ tea, in a pot, made with leaf tea. However, if you don’t have a teapot to suit, head to Coles or Woolies and pick up a variety of tea bag flavours. You’ll be sure to please everyone.

Should I serve alcohol at my brunch?

This is up to you. If your brunch is a celebration, you might want to add sparkling wine. Have some peaches chopped up and ready to go and make some classic Bellinis.

The main thing is keep your brunch party simple and relaxed – and to enjoy yourself.

Merry Christmas

As my first year in Gloucester draws to a close, I want to wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. And remember, if I can help with your property journey, give me a call.

If it’s been a long time between home sales, you might be asking where to start. That’s where we come in, guiding and advising you along your property journey.

One of the most common questions is about vacant possession. Many are unfamiliar with the term so they aren’t sure what they need to do.

What does vacant possession mean in NSW?

If you sell your home, you need to tell us and the buyer if there will be any roadblocks to buyers getting immediate access to use the property as they want. For example, a buyer might want to renovate, use the land for a different purpose or erect another structure on the site. They can do this usually only when they have ‘vacant possession’.

Vacant possession means no-one is living in the property, whether it’s the owners or renters. The property must be cleared of all possessions like furniture, rubbish or, if you’re selling a farm, old farm equipment that’s damaged and unfit for use (or equipment that is not included in the sale).

To help you and our buyers, if we see anything on the property that needs to be removed before the new owners take possession, we will need to include a special condition in the contract that specifies that the owners must remove those items before both parties can move to settlement. In this condition, we might also specify exactly what items and rubbish must be removed before settlement. One person’s trash is another’s treasure so it’s best to list everything that needs to be removed and a final date so all parties are clear as to what they need to do and by when.

This condition is important. Most contracts are worded such that sellers must provide vacant possession. If items remain that aren’t included in the contract, then the conditions for vacant possession haven’t been met. That would mean you as a seller have broken the contract and the buyer is no longer obliged to purchase the property.

Before we allow settlement to go ahead, we will take the buyer to the property for a final inspection to make sure nothing that shouldn’t be there is left behind.

What if I have a tenant?

If you rent your property, you can still sell it; however, you need to abide by NSW laws as to when and how often you can show the property, the notice you need to give to the tenants and what existing tenancy agreements you need to honour.

For example, if your tenant has a long lease, you and the new owner must allow them to remain in the property. If your tenant has a month-to-month lease, you must give them the appropriate number of days’ notice to leave. If you’ve put your property on the market, your tenant can end the rental agreement by giving you 14 days’ notice in writing.

Both the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2019 will explain the laws that apply to the sale of a tenanted property.

In cases where a property is tenanted, we make it easy for you and us to maintain a good relationship with your tenants as it will make it easier to agree on access for photography, inspections by potential buyers and set open-for-inspection days.

We always recommend that you speak to your tenants early if you decide to sell so they are prepared and can work with you. If you don’t communicate with sitting tenants, they can make it harder for you to sell your property.

Can I help with your property?

Having moved from Sydney and now based in Gloucester, selling lifestyle and rural properties, homes in town and surrounding townships, with many years of successful property negotiations behind me, I’ve seen it all. If I can help you with any questions you have about property, please give me a call.