Property Sales Direct

Increase in First Home Owners Grant

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:37:02 +0000

The Australian Government has announced a First Home Owner Boost, which supplements the State & Territories Government funded First Home Owner Grant Scheme. The Australian Government has annouced the following increases

First home buyers who purchase and established home will receive a grant of $7000 that will double to $14,000
First home buyers who build a new home or purchase a newly constructed home will receive an extra $14,000 to take their grant to $21,000

For Sale by owner Scam emails : from Rolland John

admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:13:28 +0000

I am from uk, A retired Politician/Senior Civil Servant. I wouldn’t want you to expose this investment due to the Government of uk is currently investigating the source of my wealth as there were embezzlements of Government funds in my office during my tenure.
I cannot travel down to your country to inspect the property for now due to the nature of the investigation, I need someone like you to handle the project on my behalf and when my case is over, I will relocate with my family to meet you. I am willing to give you 10% commission from the total investment funds, if you can handle this project perfectly. I have a total sum of ($16.10 Million) deposited in a Financial Firm ready for this investment. I shall hand over this fund to you once I confirm that you are capable of handling this project on my behalf.
Secondly, you must note that this transaction must be highly confidential because it is against the constitution of my country for any served political officer holder or retired civil servant to acquire properties outside uk.
Please my good friend, I will be very happy if you can help me achieve this investment plan. I will advice you get back to me immediately if you are willing to assist me. Also get back to me with details of further residential & commercial properties which we will invest the rest of the funds after purchasing your property.

Waiting for reply.
Thanks and best regard.

Rolland John

Another email that many of our FSBO listers have received

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:02:30 +0000

You’ve got a request regarding your listing # from the following user:
Name: rolland
Email: rollandjohnnl@gmail.com

Comments: Dear Sir, Hope you’re doing fine. With humility i wish to inquire more about your property listed for sale,kindly give send me your property pictures and the last best price. contact me via email:rollandjohn@yahoo.com Thanks and await your responses. Regards Rolland John

Scam Email -H.Glenn Logsdon

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:10:53 +0000

Please do not respond to this email:

I found your advert as it regards your Property you posted for sale. I am H.Glenn Logsdon. I presently work as a senior Accounts Director, Offshore Mortgage & Services with Barclays Bank Plc, London. I have an amount in Excess US$15,250,000.00 only, which has been lying in our suspense escrow account for safe keeping For over 5 years now. The unclaimed fund belonging to a “dead customer” a citizen of your country, who was a Contractor and have spent most of his life in London. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the US$15,250,000.00 left behind by the customer since you have same surname with him. My intention was to share the fund 60-40 with you, while i will use part of my share to purchase the Property you advertise for sale.I am also from America based in London and I am willing to e-mail you my American passport,Birth Certificate,Marriage License Certificate and my Driver’s License .These documents can be sent to you for you to be completely sure of who you are dealing with. Awaiting your reply Sincerely, Mr.Hillard Glenn Logsdon +447024013864

SCAM EMAIL-” CIVIL LAWYER, I HAVE A CLIENT WHO IS INTEREST IN BUYING YOUR PROPERTY”

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:06:41 +0000

PLease DO not respond to this EMAIL users have been receiving

HELLO,
AM A CIVIL LAWYER, I HAVE A CLIENT WHO IS INTEREST IN BUYING YOUR PROERTY ,PLEASE IF YOUR INTERESTED,CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS.
THANKS.
SMITH.JOHN
+447035919483

Scam Emails

admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:17:20 +0000

If you receive suspicious emails that you think are a scam we encourage you to report them or post them here:

This scam was received by one of our members recently:

You’ve got a request regarding your listing # XXX from the following user:

Name: MIKE BADAROU

Email: mike_badarou@yahoo.fr

Comments: Dear Madam I am very happy to write to you Is to let you know that i am very, very intrested of buying house in Australia and stay over there , If you can be able to keep this secret and help me transact the found $ 16.8M USD of my late Father King Badarou to your Bank Account and be the beneficiary from the point of deposit to australia for investment. I will give you 25% and additinal 25 kilo of pure gold . I am waiting to hear from truthfuly response .

Best regards

Mike

Tel +00233-276 752-271

NB:Please give me a call after reading my message

For Sale by owner Aggregation Sites

admin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:33:05 +0000

Many sites like Google base and classified.com are starting to aggregate realestate information from mulitple sites with mashups where content from multiple sites can be displayed on a central site. I

Usefull website for Buying a house NSW

admin — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:50:32 +0000

Did you know the NSW Department of housing can offer you info or advice on buying a house ? The following info has been taken from the following link :

http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/Home+Buying+and+Building/

“The NSW Department of Housing has put together the following useful, impartial advice and information to help people looking to buy a home, whether it be a new home, an existing property or vacant land on which to build. There is also helpful information on what should be considered when contracting a builder, as well as checklists, advice on housing finance and contact details for other home purchase-related organisations.

The Department has established the Home Purchase Advisory Service to provide free information on all aspects of home purchasing.

Whether it’s advice on the steps involved in buying a home, how to get a home loan or what government assistance is available, the Home Purchase Advisory Service can help.

To contact the Home Purchase Advisory Service please telephone Freecall 1800 806 653 during business hours or e-mail the Home Purchase Advisory Service. ”

Tips to help market you home

admin — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:06:46 +0000

1. Photograph the Front

Most home buyers begin a home search online, so good photos are essential. Listings without a photo or with only an exterior shot are often passed over and ignored. Buyers are visual. Follow these tips and your house photo will look ten times better than the competition’s:

Crop out sidewalks and streets.
Remove vehicles from driveway / front of home.
Shoot up-close & angled photos.
Avoid shade on the house.
Clear away vegetation blocking front door or path to door.

2. Exterior Photographs

If you own a condo or townhome without a yard, then take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts. If you have a yard, however, buyers will want to see it.

Emphasize space and shoot long.
Mow the lawn & trim bushes.
Remove evidence of pets.
Put away children’s toys.
Avoid shooting into the sun.

3. Interior Photographs

Take photographs of every room. Even if you suspect the room won’t photograph well, shoot it anyway because the photo quality just might astonish you and be useable.

Open drapes & blinds
Turn on lights.
Focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle.
Remove trash cans & close toilet lids in bathrooms.
Use floral arrangements in kitchens & dining rooms.
Avoid shooting into mirrors because your image will reflect.

4. Virtual Tours

Virtual tours aren’t just to showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have a virtual tour, even if it’s only two spins. Buyers love, love, love virtual tours.

A good virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead her from room to room, showing a 360-degree view.
Depending on the tour company, you can add sound, music or an exciting, professionally written description that scrolls with the movement of the tour.
Virtual tours can also include individual photos available for download or to print.

5. Signage

Signage encourages home shoppers to immediately call you or your agent. It’s free advertising! If your home is a corner lot, put up two signs.

Some homeowner associations prohibit real estate signs.
Some HOAs allow only window signs.
Try talking to a neighbor whose home is located at the corner of a busy street, asking for permission to put a sign in that yard with an arrow pointing toward yours.
Agent signs should include the phone number of the closest office (if the brokerage operates multiple offices) and the agent’s cell or voice mail number.

6. Print Advertising

Print advertising reaches buyers who read newspapers. Online ads reach the rest. If your neighbors say, “Everywhere I look, I see your home advertised,” you’re doing a good job. Puts ads in:

Major newspapers. Find out which days pull the most readers. Typically it’s Sunday but some newspapers also publish “picture classifieds” on other days.
Local newspapers. You can probably run a larger ad for less money that will more closely target those looking in your area.
Real estate publications. Check on press date; can you wait?
Every Web site you can find. Most online listings are free.

7. Direct Mail

If you’re an unrepresented seller, you can buy mailing lists from list brokers. If you are represented by an agent, ask about a direct mail program. I prefer oversized four-color postcards because they are inexpensive to mail and eye-catching. Here are three places to mail:

Neighbors. Everybody has friends and relatives who might want to move near them.
Agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood.
Buyers who live in other areas and often relocate to your neighborhood.

8. Open Houses

Not every home is suitable for an open house due to location or other factors, and sometimes the only way to determine that is to try it. If nobody comes, that’s probably a good indication. However, if your home is located near a high traffic area where buyers often swarm, then it’s a good candidate.

Place open house signs throughout the area directing buyers.
Advertise in the newspaper.
Advertise open house times online.
Invite the neighbors; they’re going to come anyway.

9. Host Broker / Agent Tours

If you’re planning to sell your home without representation, then skip this step. However, since most buyers are represented by an agent, it’s a good idea to draw as many agents and brokers as possible to view your home.

Agents who linger in your home will better remember details to later describe to buyers.
The best way to entice an agent to hang around is food. Doesn’t need to be expensive, sandwiches will suffice.
As agents munch and network, the hope is they will admire your home and bring back a buyer.

10. Send E-Flyers

Technology has made it very easy to create and send electronic flyers. You can also include multiple photographs of your house. Costs vary but it’s generally less than $100 to produce. Here are ideas for recipients:

Real estate agents who sell in your area.
Friends, family and coworkers.
Out-of-area brokers and agents who represent buyers in your area.