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Nov 8, 2022
Improving curb appeal for your property value
How landscaping can impact a home's value in today's market. 2022 is still a seller's market and if you are looking to take advantage you must note what buyers have on their predetermined list as a home's must-have features when looking for value in a home. Good landscaping is seen as an essential good first impression for property owners, it sets the tone for the rest of the home. While poor landscaping or curb appeal can have a negative impact and decrease the property value by a substantial amount. If you are selling a home, you cannot overlook the importance of the first impressions, as this can impact the dollar value you receive. Adding certain landscaping elements such as healthy trees, grass, and flowers, can help raise property value. Key insights for adding value: Real estate agents say poor landscaping and hardscaping negatively affect property values Trees are predominantly the landscaping element that adds the most value to a home Adding one healthy tree can have a huge impact on the property value There is one sure way to decrease a home's value and that is to neglect your home's landscaping. Living in a harsher environment such as Perth, it takes that little extra care and time to present your curb in a manner that will provide that great first look and set the precedence for the rest of the home. Areas to focus on can include: General watering of grass and plants Remove weeds Add in colour and varying heights Keep grass well trimmed There’s no question that landscaping elements like trees, grass, and flowers add a lot of visual appeal to a home, but just how much does their absence affect what a home is worth? When buyers observe a neglected lawn or home without any additional curb appeal, potential buyers get can immediately get the idea that the home was not well maintained. This can set a pre-determined value of the home in their mind based on that and unfortunately it is usually not a good price. On the other hand, a neat, clean lawn puts the buyers' minds at ease. In today's elevated real estate market even a small decrease in price means a seller could be thousands of dollars worse off, just by not keeping their front lawn well maintained when getting the property ready for market. Buyers in today's market are generally time-poor and therefore expect the homes to be move-in ready when they purchase, the idea of having to do extra work on top of the move-in process can be extremely off-putting to the potential purchaser. The items that can add the most value to a home are trees, grass, and flowers while hard landscaping aspects such as decks, driveways, and outdoor kitchens can also positively or negatively impact the value depending on their perceived state. For more landscaping ideas and tips head on over to our preferred landscaper's page. More value-adding ideas here
Nov 4, 2022
Perth home values show resilience in October
Perth Property Market October Review CoreLogic’s Perth home value index decreased 0.2 per cent in October, the smallest decline out of all capital cities in Australia. REIWA CEO Cath Hart said the Perth property market continues to be resilient compared to other states and credits the strong Western Australian economy, resources sector and housing affordability. “It is pleasing to see Perth home values were relatively stable in October. To put things into perspective, Brisbane’s home value index declined 2.0 per cent and Sydney’s declined 1.3 per cent,” Ms Hart said. “The main drivers for this are the low level of stock and our affordability, with Perth median house prices the cheapest of any capital city - there is nothing in the Perth property market right now indicating that house prices will fall drastically any time soon.” The top performing suburbs for house price growth in October were Quinns Rocks (up 3.6 per cent to $570,000), Warnbro (up 2.5 per cent to $410,000), Hamilton Hill (up 2.2 per cent to $595,000), Currambine (up 1.9 per cent to $655,000) and Butler (up 1.9 per cent to $420,000). The other suburbs to record strong house price growth were Pearsall, Rockingham, South Perth, Stirling and Padbury. Listings for sale in October There were 8,169 properties for sale on reiwa.com at the end of October. This is almost identical to last month’s figure of 8,155 and is 5.9 per cent lower than levels seen a year ago. “We are still experiencing a housing and labour shortage concurrently, which is resulting in good outcomes for sellers but competitive conditions for those wanting to buy,” Ms Hart said. “With the population continuing to grow this is adding pressure on an already strained housing market, and it will remain this way until we have more housing stock. This demand for housing is expected to keep market conditions strong.” Time on market The median time to sell a house was 15 days during October. reiwa.com data revealed the fastest-selling suburbs in October were Camillo and Golden Bay (five days), followed by Safety Bay, Warnbro, Langford, Orelia, Carlisle, Huntingdale (six days) with Seville Grove and the only north of the river suburb Padbury recording a median of seven days to sell. “We are still seeing Perth houses being snapped up at a remarkable rate, with no indication of it slowing down despite interest rate rises,” Ms Hart said. “In a balanced market the median time to sell a home would be 30-40 days, so a median of 15 days really means prospective buyers should have all their ducks in a row to avoid missing out,” Ms Hart said. Perth rental market Median rent price Perth’s median rent price was $500 per week during October, which is $5 more than September. “Rents will continue to rise in Perth while there is a rental shortage. We urgently need more investors in the market to help provide housing and ensure we keep rents affordable,” Ms Hart said. Median leasing times in October It took a median of 15 days to lease a rental during October. Suburbs recording the fastest median leasing times were Hamilton Hill and Hammond Park (seven days), followed by Quinns Rocks (eight days), then Port Kennedy, Coolbellup, Carlisle, Aveley, Beckenham, Applecross (10 days) and Nollamara (11 days). Listings for rent There were 1,658 properties for rent on reiwa.com at the end of October, down 3.8 per cent from September, and 23 per cent lower than October 2021. “The rental shortage remains a critical issue for the WA rental market. We have been working with the Government to achieve a sensible outcome to the RTA Review that updates the legislation without scaring off existing owners and would-be investors, as this would add even more pressure to the WA rental market at the worst possible time,” Ms Hart said. “Whilst the rental shortage continues to produce significant challenges for many West Aussies, we must not forget how resilient our property market is. We have one of the strongest economies in the world, and the most affordable housing market in the country. These strong demand factors coupled with the low supply suggest that any large price falls predicted for the east coast will just not be the case for WA.” Realising the potential of your property For more information follow this link to the REIWA website
Oct 28, 2022
Realising the potential of your property
Renovation for profit When this property came to us situated in the heart of Bicton we knew it was going to be very popular with the astute buyer. The seller was hesitant to invest in the property and was ready to move on. However, our sales agent saw there was so much potential and knew just what the property needed to make it shine. Our agents have the skill set, knowledge, and buyer insight to provide our sellers with an educated approach to selling their home to ensure it reaches their best and highest potential. By demonstrating this knowledge and experience our seller trusted in the process and was willing to make the change. With some great planning and efficient trades, we were able to turn this house into a home. Family Friendly Residence Our dedicated projects team took the time to assess the property and determine which upgrades and changes would have the greatest impact. These changes included: Painting internal and external, Kitchen splashback, Hybrid flooring, Tile removal and carpet relay, curtains & blinds. Check out the property before and afters here: And the figures: Want to find out more about this bespoke service that we offer as part of our selling process, then get in touch today. " It was an absolute pleasure buying our new home through Thomas. From the moment we met Thomas he was open with his knowledge and really made us feel informed and supported. Thomas is an agent who it is easy to tell really cares about his clients and has a passion for his job. Thomas will go above and beyond to assist all parties that he works with. He is adept at building a relationship with not only the seller, but also the buyer so that all the parties feel comfortable with the whole process. In the current market where, as a buyer it can feel overwhelming and rushed to make huge decisions, it was extremely reassuring to be dealing with Thomas who you felt you could get honest responses from. He was great at pre-empting any potential issues and his energy and enthusiasm is infectious, as well as being extremely efficient and thorough in every matter. I would highly recommend Thomas as agent to my own friends and family. Thank you Thomas for all your hard work making the purchase of our new home such a stress free and happy experience!" Find out more about Mi Casa here
Oct 18, 2022
North Perth Real Estate Character Area Proposal
For homeowners in North Perth or those looking to buy and renovate a home it is worth considering some proposed guideline changes to a small number of houses on Orange Ave and Hope St. Firstly, just what is a Character Area? Not quite the same as heritage listing a Character Area is a group of houses in a street or suburb that is regarded as having a strong aesthetic value to the community. The homes in the area have their own planning controls or guidelines about development in the area, particularly parts of homes that are facing the street. Submissions for input and feedback into the proposed guidelines have just closed and are now being put before the Town of Vincent Council. What does this mean for homeowners of those looking to buy a home? It means that there may be certain restrictions in place for what developments will be approved with considerations to things such as the height of new developments and even materials used for new homes. Let's take a look at some of the proposed Character Area Guidelines. Primary Street Setbacks - Deemed to Comply Ground floor primary street setbacks to be an average of the two directly adjoining properties on either side of the proposed development. Walls on upper floors setback a minimum of 4 metres behind the ground floor predominant building line (excluding any porch or verandah), as determined by the City. Primary Street Setbacks - Local Housing Objectives The setbacks of dwellings should reflect the predominant streetscape pattern and be consistent with adjacent properties. First floor development is to be adequately setback to maintain the predominant single storey appearance of the streetscape. Primary Street Setbacks - Deemed to Comply Loft additions must be contained wholly within the roof space and shall not result in a visible change to the dwellings appearance from the street. Building Height - Local Housing Objectives The wall height of new dwellings, particularly, the portions in view from the street, should approximate the street’s typical wall height to avoid an under scaled squat appearance. Garages & Carports - Deemed to Comply Carports may be considered in front setback areas but only where no alternative location exists and a minimum setback of 1.5m from the primary street is maintained. Such carports shall not be fitted with any style of roller or tilt up panel door. Where carports are considered appropriate in front setback areas, carports shall be open in style and allow an unobstructed view of the dwelling from the street. Garages and carports must match the existing dwellings’ predominant colour, scale and materials and must be complementary and subservient to the dwelling. Carports and garages forward of the dwelling or within the front setback area shall have a maximum wall height of 2.7 metres. Carports and garages located within front setback areas shall have a maximum width of 5.5 metres (internal) or one-third the frontage of the lot, whichever is the lesser. Garages & Carports - Local Housing Objectives Carports and garages should be located so as to maintain the absence of car parking facilities within the streetscape. Car parking facilities located within front setback areas should ensure that the predominant character elements of the dwelling are visible and unobstructed. Car parking facilities that do not unduly impact the presentation of the dwelling to the streetscape. General Building Designs - Local Housing Objectives New development is sympathetic to and complements the character of the existing dwellings within the streetscape. New development shall ensure that unsympathetic contrasts in scale, mass and materials are avoided. Additions visible from the street shall be compatible with and respectful of the existing dwelling and the predominant character of the existing streetscape. The roof of new dwellings is to be consistent with the predominant roof form in the existing streetscape in terms of scale and pitch. Each street facing window should have a style that suits the predominant character of the street and architectural style of the proposed dwelling. General Building Designs - New Provisions to Meet Local Housing Objectives (New Proposal) The built form of any new dwellings shall complement the style, scale and form of the dwellings within the existing streetscape. The materials of any new dwellings as viewed from the street shall be consistent with the prevailing materials of the streetscape. Additions to an existing dwelling when viewed from the street shall complement the architectural style, form, colour and materials of the existing dwelling. In the case that the dwelling is not an original dwelling, additions shall complement the architectural style, form, colour and materials fo the prevailing streetscape. The floor levels of new dwellings shall match or mediate between the floor levels of dwellings on either side of the proposed dwelling. The roof pitch of new dwellings or upper storey additions is to be between 30 degrees and 40 degrees. Street facing windows include inner sections with a height of at least 1.6 times their width. Windows to the front facade of an upper storey addition shall reflect the shape and configuration of the original dwellings’ windows when viewed from the primary street.
Aug 30, 2022
Staging your home for sale
How to Stage a House ready for Sale (While Living In It) Staging a vacant house is easy because you have got a clean slate and can choose the style, but staging a house for sale while still living in it can prove to be more difficult. We are going to use our knowledge and expertise to help you successfully stage a house to sell while you’re still living in it. Even though staging a house for sale while living in it can be a challenge, it is worth the effort because a well-staged home is listed with a top real estate agent because it opens the potential for faster sales and higher offers. When you’re staging a house for sale, you want to showcase a clean and spacious space where buyers can visualize the property as their future home. Does Staging Help Sell Houses? Yes, staged homes sell faster because they provide a strong first impression and stand out from the other properties on the market and it allows buyers the opportunity to visualise themselves in the property. Staging can also impact the amount that buyers are willing to spend on a property. It can also greatly decrease the amount of time a home spends on the market. In addition to this, TV programs have noticeably impacted buyers’ expectations of a potential property. More buyers are expecting homes to look like homes staged on the tv shows they are bingeing on, causing more disappointment in how homes appeared. If you have a house that satisfies their expectations, you’ll be the one to get the offer! Can You Stage a Home While Living In It With Kids or Pets? Even if you have pets or children, you can still stage a home for sale while living in it. And you should! Many buyers only take seconds to decide whether they are interested in your home or not. First impressions count. Here is a guide that will provide you with the tips to confidently list a staged home while you’re still sleeping, eating, and living there. How Do I List My House While Living In It? In today’s market, many people don’t have the option to move out during the sales process so are trying to sell their house while still living in it. People moving up in house, downsizing, or moving to a new location often list their house for sale while still living in it. To successfully sell a house while living in it, follow these six steps: Mentally move out Declutter, declutter, declutter Deep clean Stage Keep it tidy with quick cleans Stay busy outside of the house 1. Mentally move out Even if you’re physically living on the home, if you’re listing it for sale, you need to mentally “move out.” Change your mindset from this being your home to this being someone else’s house. This is the key goal after all. By mentally perceiving your house as the next project to become someone else’s house will help you more easily: Use these key points to “move out” of your property and get it ready for sale: take pictures off the walls and shelves pack away treasured collections remove children’s artwork from the refrigerator 2. Declutter Many people think of adding things to help stage a property, but removing things (aka decluttering) is actually a key step in successfully staging. You want your home to have just enough furniture and decor for buyers to see themselves living there, putting their feet up on the couch by the fireplace, enjoying the peaceful front patio or back deck, and sleeping in the cosy bedrooms. What to do with the rest of the stuff? Pack it away in neatly stacked boxes, somewhere like the garage, or even better at friends’ houses or a storage unit. You want to be able to showcase the space, so potential buyers can envision their things and future memories in your staged space. How to involve your kids This is a big step for them too, so make sure you keep them involved in the process. Allow kids to pick a few of their favourite toys to keep out during this time your house is on the market and available for home opens. When it’s time for home opens, have a designated shelf or spot for them to put away. Allow kids to pack up special artwork for the next house and put it in a special box so they know it’s not going to be lost or left behind. After mentally moving out and physically removing a lot of your items, you should be left with a house that looks like someone lives in it and has neutral decor. Then it’s time to add the finishing touches, light sheer curtains, a fresh front door mat, and fresh flowers or plants are easy ways to freshen your house ready to sell. Next, you’ll want to make sure the house shows well in pictures and for showings by making sure it is really clean! 3. Deep clean Set aside enough time to deep clean your entire house. You can do it yourself or hire someone to do it, but make sure you get everything from dead bugs in the window sills to spider webs under the eaves. Dust Shelves, Furniture, & Surfaces Vacuum Floors, Window Sills, Rugs, and Garage Wash Windows & Mirrors Sweep Mop Wipe Down Counters Wipe Down Appliances Clean Toilets (inside & out), Mirrors, and Showers 4. Stage From our experience and knowledge, the most important rooms to be staged are the: Living Room Master Bedroom Kitchen Dining Room So if you’re limited on time and energy, make sure you focus on those four areas first. If you want to present the best property possible, here are staging guidelines to follow: Outside Make sure your home also has great curb appeal. A warm, clean, and inviting front of the house will invite more buyers to come in and want to view the rest of the house. Mow grass – including the verge Weed flower beds and lay down fresh mulch Fill in empty beds & window boxes with small shrubs & seasonal flowers (the colour is key) Freshen up the paint on window trim and front porch Sweep front porch & remove cobwebs Paint the front door and/or shutters a lively colour that coordinates with the rest of the home colours Replace your welcome mat Clean & arrange patio furniture – a couple of chairs on the front porch is always very inviting Replace cushions, if needed Pick up all pet waste Repair damaged deck boards & fencing Pressure wash the house & driveway Inside Inside, your goal is to showcase a bright, organised, and clean home, so before pictures & showings: Turn on all lights and lamps Open all blinds & curtains to let in as much natural light as possible Clean windows Open doors to bedrooms, offices, etc. Closet doors do not need to be opened, but closets should be tidy because buyers will look inside to see what space is available! Trust us, they do look. Living Areas Group furniture surrounding a coffee table and anchor with a rug Face the couch toward the focal point in the room or toward the first line of sight when walking into a room, as if to welcome guests to “come and sit for a while” Replace worn-out pillows and rugs Pack away personal items like photos and knick-knacks Remove extra furniture to showcase space Remove stacks of paper, magazines, mail, etc. Neatly stack books and simple decor on the coffee table and side tables Plants and flowers add colour and life to the room Hang light sheer curtains Bedrooms Make beds & fluff bed pillows Replace heavy drapes with sheers Clear nightstands of clutter. Pack away personal items & photos Leave or hang a few pictures with neutral tones Organize closets by colour Donate all clothes and shoes you no longer wear to showcase more closet space Kitchen Pack away rarely used small appliances and occasional crockery Go easy on buying groceries and use up items in your pantry to showcase more space Declutter countertops Before pictures and showings, tuck away soap, sponges, napkins, paper towels, and dishes Scrub counters, backsplash, and appliances Remove personal items like fridge magnets, photos, and children’s artwork Change outdated hardware for something more modern Consider giving your kitchen cabinets a facelift and brightening up your kitchen by painting your cabinets white Empty the trash often and before every showing. Funky smells do not help homes sell! Bathrooms Store daily items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap out of sight Put down toilet seats and lids Hang a simple, plain white shower curtain Keep a white hand towel and throw rug to put out before showings (not for kids to use!) Tidy up open shelves Put a fresh, small bouquet of flowers in a vase on the vanity 5. Keep your house clean & tidy Once you get your home show-ready, little things each day can help you keep it that way…or close. We know living with kids and pets can make this challenging, but being intentional and vigilant about a few simple routines will help your home stay looking staged even while you’re still living in it. Daily Routines: Make beds every morning Clean shower when you’re showering Wash dishes after every meal or run the dishwasher every evening Wipe down counters and bathroom vanities after use Schedule robot vacuum daily (or manually vacuum daily if you don’t have one) Tidy up morning and evening putting everything back in its staging place Involve kids in the clean-up as much as possible to share household chores. Explain the importance of a neat home for your family’s quest of selling the house! Empty litter boxes and pick up dog waste in the yard daily Use silicone bibs with a catch-all scoop for babies/toddlers to minimize food on the floor Open windows when the weather allows to let out unpleasant smells and let in fresh air 6. Get out of the house The more time you spend in the house, the more you, your kids, and your pets will undo the hard work of keeping it show-ready. What Should You NOT Do When Staging a House Don’t stage alone! Our agents love helping you get the most out of your home, so don’t be afraid to ask us for help. We’re eager to help you achieve your goals and we are pros in knowing what sells (and what doesn’t). Don’t empty everything out of the house. A well-staged home typically sells better than a completely empty home. Don’t take it personally! If you’re working with a real estate agent, your home sale is our job. Please don’t be offended if we offer to help stage or suggest things be removed, repaired, or replaced. Living in a home and staging a home for sale are two different things. Your goal is to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Following our proven methods will greatly increase the likelihood of your success. Home Staging Before and After Here are pictures from recent home staging before and after by our Mi Casa Property Agents.
Mar 15, 2022
Mi Casa - Who we are | What we do | Why we care
Mi Casa Video: Who we are | What we do | Why we care We are excited to share this video with you, it shows the passion that we have here at Mi Casa. The passion for our business, the passion for what we do and the passion for being agents for change. We hope you enjoy it. Click our logo to watch. Transcription: As a parent, I wanted a company that allowed me to do the things that were most important and that mattered, like school drop-off or school pick-up. That didn’t mean that I was going to work any less hard In fact, I probably work more I love coming to work (Mi Casa ) every day for our team, our people. The passion, the drive they have to be able to deliver the best service to our clients is what’s really important to me. Being an owner of the company, it’s important that I trust the people that I have on my team. The traits that we are looking for are honesty, integrity, authenticity within our team members, and going above and beyond for our clients. They allow you to be a mum and still work, or they might allow you to bring your dog into work if that’s what makes you happy. Mi Casa Package – All in one What’s been really important to Mi Casa as well is making sure we have the right skill set to support each of the individuals, whether that be marketing, finance, sales, or property management. We have all those things packaged up to provide a really high level of service and knowledge to our clients. The Mi Casa Experience Some of us are a little more mature and then we’ve got the younger ones coming in and I think it’s nice sometimes, as we work in a team. I’ve been working with Tom, one of our newer guys lately. His energy is amazing, and I think that makes our buyers and sellers feel at ease because they’re getting the different pieces of everyone that comes together to make the whole rounded Mi Casa experience. Doing what we love and helping people I guess one of the things I love about working with Mi Casa is about not just the directors, but the people It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. We help people every day of the week and we get to do what we love. Your family is our family I think it’s just us and our natural selves, the need to want to look after our clients as if they’re our own family. To look after them, do the very best that we can and get them the best results possible. We’re here to help them every step of the way and that isn’t just about getting the property sold or leased, it’s to hold their hand. We’re their soundboard, we are their everything throughout the whole process. Love what you do ‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life’ A lot of people go to work because they have to work. I personally come to work because I love my job and I think when you come at it from that angle, you are providing a different level of service. You’re doing it because you want to and you want to help people. Our charity – Look forward; give back - For each of us, our true purpose is to help others. Mi Casa really genuinely care about each other, about our clients, and most definitely about our charity. St. Pats. St. Pats community center is an incredible organisation that supports people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. This year they had an amazing event in Fremantle town hall and we were able to be a part of that and brush up on our old waitressing skills. To us, it’s not just about giving money. It’s about giving time and effort and focus to those organisations in our community that need our support. For each of us, our true purpose is to help others. Everyone needs a home. Having our charity partnership with St. Pats is really important to us to allow us to help make a difference. That was a way for us to be what we truly believe are Agents for change. Want to chat with us more about what we do, then get in touch today.
Jun 16, 2021
The first offer is the best offer!
The first offer is the best offer. In most scenarios, this is the case and here is the reason why... It's all about the timeline (as well as price, property and location!). When your property has just been listed for sale, it's considered a fresh listing and buyers that have been looking for some time (normally 3 months and the early days are their research days) see your listing straight away and will act on it quickly if the property is of any interest. These buyers are motivated and know what they want. If they have missed out on other properties, they know they will need to make an offer ASAP and put their best foot forward. Most sellers are not ready for this and feel the property has just hit the market so a higher offer might come the following week. This may or may not happen. In a seller's market, multiple offers are common and the seller will be in control to get the best price possible. In a buyer's market, offers may be submitted one at a time and spaced with some time apart - this puts the buyer in control. So if you receive offers early and there are multiple offers - that is fantastic. The buyers will know there are other buyers interested and all should put their best offer forward so you can pick the best of the lot to move forward and negotiate with (you can receive multiple offers, but can only negotiate with one buyer at time). Take advantage of early interest and prepare yourself for offers early on by being educated about the current market and recent sales. Your agent should help prepare you for this. The longer your property remains on the market, the risk of it becoming stale. At that point, all motivated buyers would have purchased elsewhere and new buyers coming through may have just started looking and are in research phase. For more information about early and multiple offers, please feel free to book in a free call with us via https://www.micasapropertyboutique.com.au/
Jun 3, 2021
Perth’s property market is approaching a new all-time high!
While the overall Perth median house sale price in March 2021 failed to eclipse the market’s 2014 peak, parts of the region have reached historic highs. According to new data released by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA), Perth’s property market is on track to overtake its previous record median sale price of $545,000. The REIWA said that 20 Perth-based suburbs have now overtaken their 2014 counterparts when it comes to the median sale price, with 12 suburbs now valued at over $1 million or more. “While the market still has a way to go before it is back to its 2014 peak, the signs are very encouraging that we will achieve that before the end of the year, which will be welcome news for Perth owners and sellers,” REIWA president Damian Collins said. “When the Perth market hit the bottom in the June 2020 quarter, the Perth median house price sunk to $475,000. A lot of home owners lost value in their properties during the downturn, so it’s pleasing to see the quick gains that have occurred over the last eight months.” The WA-based institute previously forecasted a 15 per cent price rise in the state by the end of 2021. However, they now believe that a 10 per cent growth in property prices has already been achieved across 20 suburbs in the region.