Matthew Gobbo joins the team at MBR.

Welcome Matthew!

MBR are proudly donating their jumping castle to local charities, sporting clubs and schools as a thank you for the support from our community!

Any enquiries contact Michael Ball directly on 0414 264 668.   

National Geographic Channel ran a series called 'The Indestructibles', of which 1 episode covered the crash into our High Street office.

Watch part of the episode here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1mZoMwAvU0.

Please be advised that some people may find the footage disturbing.

See the piece that channel 9's, A Current Affair, did on the car that crashed into our High Street office. Our surveillance cameras caught some amazing footage which was used to tell this miraculous story of survival.

Please be aware that actual footage of the accident is shown and some people may find the footage disturbing.

Go to http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/video/ and search for 'Miracle Crash'.

Preparation is always the key to success and this certainly applies to selling your home. You want your house to look its best in the photos used in the advertising and especially when prospective buyers inspect your property. The first step in preparing your home is giving it a good spring clean inside and out. Start by getting rid of clutter and things you really don’t need anymore. Cleaning walls, floors and carpets are a must and make sure you give your kitchen and bathroom extra attention because this can make all the difference.

Once the inside of your home is sparkling, you need to take a good look at the yard and the exterior of the house. Make sure your lawns and edges are kept neatly trimmed, get rid of any weeds in the gardens and rake up any leaves or twigs around the yard. Flowers make a yard look inviting so make sure they are watered and healthy or borrow some pot plants if you don’t have any of your own. A tidy yard gives a great first impression which is so important when selling your home.

The next step in the selling process is hiring a Solicitor to draw up a Contract for Sale that you need to give your Agent. If you do not already have a Solicitor it is a good idea to ask friends and family if they can recommend a Solicitor or Conveyancer to you, if not then some Agents have someone they can recommend. Your Solicitor plays an important role in the process because they not only create your Contract of Sale but they can also coordinate all the legal aspects of selling which takes some of the pressure of you.

Once you have found your Solicitor and the Contract of Sale has been given to the Agent they can begin their marketing campaign to sell your home. Be aware your Agent cannot legally show or advertise your property until they have the contract in their office.

The asking price you and your Agent decide upon is one of the most important decisions you will make throughout the selling process. Your Agent will have the information regarding current listings and recent sales in your area. The economy, as we all know, fluctuates and this affects the property market which in turn affects property prices. It is important to discuss all these factors with your Agent so that the price you decide on is not only realistic but also attractive to prospective buyers. For a fee, you also have the option of hiring a registered valuer to give you an independent price.
Your Agent will ask you to sign an Exclusive Agency Agreement which will detail the following:

• Estimate of selling price
• Price property is to be listed at
• Length of the agreement
• Commission rates and fees
• Advertising costs

Make sure to read this agreement carefully before signing and question anything that you don’t understand or agree with, as this agreement becomes the foundation for your sale.

Choosing an Agent can be difficult, especially when there are so many to choose from. The first thing you should do is ask friends and relatives if they have someone they can refer you to. Trust is important between you and the Agent of your choice, so if you cannot get a referral from someone, interview at least 3 Agents and get as much information as possible before you decide. There are some questions you should ask each Agent and these are:

• How many properties did your company sell last year?
• How many buyers are you working with at the moment?
• May I see an example of your marketing campaign?
• How often will I get feedback?
• What are your office hours and are you available outside of office hours?

If your main concern is cost, you must be aware that Agents work for commission and they may put less effort into your property sale to compensate for a low commission rate compared to another with a higher commission.

There are two options to consider when selling, you can hire an Agent or you can sell your home privately. Agents are trained to sell; they understand the property market and know the steps it takes to get the best price for your home. A good Agent will organise all your advertising, find buyers and take control of all negotiations between you and the purchaser. Working for commission guarantees they will do everything they can to get you a good price as quickly as possible.

Selling your home yourself is a big commitment to undertake; firstly you would need to research the current market in your area. An independent valuation would be a good idea to help you set a price and you would need a Solicitor to advise you on the legal issues of selling privately. The hard work starts when you need to advertise your property, be available for inspections at odd hours, keep track of interested buyers and handle all the negotiations yourself. Selling privately is something that should be thoroughly investigated and fully understood before going ahead with it as an option.

Selling your home can be a difficult and stressful process. Organisation can play a pivotal role in helping you through all the steps it takes to sell your property. The first decision to be made is ‘When is the right time for you to sell?’ The three main options you have are:

• Sell your home before you purchase a new one
• Buy your new home then sell the old home
• Buy and sell at the same time

There are risks involved with all of these options, such as bridging loans, being unable to sell quickly or selling your home before you’ve found a new one. It’s up to you to decide which option suits you and your family; it may help to discuss these options with the Agent you choose to sell your home.