Dakota Peters
Inspections Officer
Traps to navigate when negotiating a property purchase. Advice from property experts Universal Buyers Agents.
NEGOTIATING property can be an exciting process.
But unless you have plenty of experience with the buying process, Universal Buyers Agent expert Simon Clarke said it can be hard to know how to approach a negotiation and what information you should and shouldn’t reveal to a sales agent.
“Negotiation is a really important step when buying a property,” Simon Clarke said.
“It’s a large sum of money, you need someone on your side, like a buyers’ agent to get the best possible outcome for yourself.
“A real estate agent’s job is to get the best possible price for the owner of the property from you, and they use hundreds of tactics and tricks that they are trained to use to get the best deal from yourself for their seller.”
While he insists real estate agents aren’t monsters out to get you, it is their job to make the best possible sale at the highest possible price for the vendor, and are not hired to represent the interests of the buyer.
“As such there are a few cards you should keep close to your chest to make sure you don’t come out on the worst end of the negotiation,” Mr Clarke said.
“Have you been asked what do you think this property is worth?
“Have you been asked are you pre-approved?
“What are you pre-approved for?
“What’s the most you’re willing to pay?
“They’re just a few questions an agent would use to get a handle on where you’re at in the buying process and how motivated you are to buy a particular property.”
He said it’s also important not to reveal you’re in a rush to buy or time frames you’re working in and to avoid using emotional statements about the property.
Revealing you’re unfamiliar with the negotiating process or don’t know the area are also to be avoided.
“Negotiating can be a daunting process, so it makes sense to engage a professional like a buyer’s agent to help navigate these questions and tactics so you’re not giving too much away and get the best possible deal for yourself.”
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professionalbuyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Find out why an increasing number of property owners are selling “off-market” with Universal Buyers Agents property experts.
AS many as one in three properties sold in Queensland are listed “off-market” and the number continues to rise.
But why are so many property owners choosing to sell “off market”?
“Often sellers want to be discreet, they might be going through a divorce, might be elderly, hold a well-known profile in the community, undergoing financial stress, whatever it is, they want to be discreet about the sale,” Universal Buyers Agents property expert Simon Clarke said.
“We also see a number of property owners who may have tried to sell in the past, had no luck and are now looking to sell it privately.
“Maybe they’ve got tenants in place and tenants don’t want groups of people traipsing through their homes.
“Or the main reason, that sellers don’t want to pay expensive marketing costs.”
According to Realestate.com.au, in 2020 the average marketing campaign in Melbourne costs between $6500 and $8000 and in Sydney the cost can range between $4500 to $10,000.
Mr Clarke said in Brisbane, costs can be a lower but it depends on the type of property and what marketing plan the seller is prepared to pay for.
“Particularly with COVID-19 lockdowns and consumer uncertainty, there are a lot of sellers who are asking themselves, why pay the marketing costs if the property may not sell?
“Selling off-market is a good way to test the market and check the appetite of buyers without costs.”
UBA has one of the largest off-market databases in Queensland, you can sign up here.
UBA hundreds of properties with a total value of more than $100 million and growing.
“We have a network of real estate agents and sellers we work with and can connect our clients to secret opportunities before they reach the general public,” Mr Clarke said.
“This is how we can get great deals which benefit both buyer and seller and simplify the buying process.
“Some sellers just want a fast, no fuss sale and this is a great way for them to get the ball rolling.”
“Talk to us about our off-market network, we work with sellers and real estate agents all over the state.”
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professional buyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Get advice on the right checks to complete before you buy from property experts Universal Buyers Agents.
COMPLETING the proper due diligence before buying a property can mean the difference between a happily ever after or a real estate horror story.
But knowing which checks are necessary and which aren’t can be tough to navigate, which is why Universal Buyers Agent property expert Simon Clarke recommends calling in the help of an expert.
“One of the mistakes a lot of buyers make when they purchase real estate is not doing the proper due diligence,” Mr Clarke said.
“Sometimes buyers overpay huge conveyancing costs doing every check under the sun, but more often than not buyers try to skimp on checks and end up paying for it later.”
He said homebuyers have been caught out buying in flood-prone areas and struggling to secure affordable insurance, buying next to a development site or finding out their home is hit with noise pollution.
“It can be as simple as not understanding where a sewage line might go through a particular part of a block,” he said.
“You may not think it matters now, but they then buy the property, go to put in a lovely pool and find out there’s a great big sewage line running through the block ruining their plans.
“It’s a really good idea to do the proper due diligence before you buy so you aren’t hit with surprises like this later down the track.”
Mr Clarke recommends checking things like noise pollution, steepness of the block, is it a character area, where things like the sewage line runs or if there are any development applications in the area.
“There are plenty of stories of buyers who didn’t do the proper checks who have bought only to find out that the quiet open home on Saturday afternoon was not an accurate portrayal of how loud the property because their street is a thoroughfare for traffic Monday to Friday,” he said.
“There are even buyers who have purchased without checking development applications only to find out that enormous apartment buildings are going in next door blocking their views or creating noise.
“It could end up costing you and hurting your long term investment.”
Universal Buyers Agents help navigate the research and due diligence process using their expertise and partners to evaluate a property’s potential.
“It helps to have someone in your corner,” he said.
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professional buyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Selling methods explained: Universal Buyers Agents explains the difference between common selling techniques and how to succeed.
THERE’S more than one way to sell a property, some are more straight forward while to hers can leave prospective buyers scratching their heads.
Navigating the terminology and sales methods may seem like the best way to get ahead, but Universal Buyers Agents property expert Darren Piper said the most crucial things buyers should do is their homework.
“One of the questions we’re constantly asked is how to navigate the growing number of selling methods,” Mr. Piper said.
“And there are plenty; on sale, by negotiation, tender process or best offer, auction and offers over.
“What we always say to anyone looking to purchase property is that the method of selling is secondary, as strange as it may sound.
“What it really comes down to is doing the right homework.”
Mr Piper said his network for buyer’s agents focus on doing research on the area, what other properties have sold for, due diligence on issues and opportunities and understand the true value of a property.
“Real estate agents use a variety of strategic plays to achieve the highest price for their vendor,” he said.
“What we do is cut through the smoke and mirrors and determine the correct value of a property so you don’t end up paying too much and buy a property on favourable terms.”
Auctions are one of the most daunting selling methods, especially for first home buyers. That’s why many buyers engage the help of an expert to pre-plan, do their homework and handle the bidding process.
Unlike a typical market sale, properties sold at auction have no cooling-off period so it’s important to do your due diligence and inspections prior to auction day and have your deposit ready at the time of sale.
A private treaty sale is the most common selling method and gives both buyer and seller the most clarity and flexibility to negotiate price and purchase conditions.
The property is listed for sale and prospective buyers can make offers on price and selling conditions.
These selling methods are usually associated with high-value properties and require you to make a written offer which is passed to the owner through their agent for consideration. Often the price isn’t advertised and you will be competing against other buyers but will not know what ballpark their offers are in. Properties are normally sold to the highest bidder.
This selling method is used by agents to start a conversation with buyers about price without revealing what the seller will accept. It’s a way to scope out interest for a property and get a sense of how high the property could sell for. Buyers should do their research and scope out how much similar nearby properties have sold for to get an indication of value.
Designed to pique interest and encourage competition among buyers, “Offers over” is used to lure buyers in with the chance of a bargain by listing a property with offers over a set value. For example: offers over $500,000.
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professional buyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Buy property without remorse and avoid the 8 common mistakes almost all first home buyers make with the help of Universal Buyers Agents.
BUYING property will be the most significant spend of your life and will either have you sitting pretty on the property ladder or steer your finances towards some pain.
If it’s your first home, chances are you have little to no experience in the world of real estate so the margin for error can be even greater.
That’s where the help of an expert can help.
“A lot of the pain points for first home buyers are not knowing the process, not knowing the area they are buying in, fear of overpaying, not wanting to deal with agents and not knowing what due diligence to do,” Universal Buyers Agent property expert Darren Piper said.
“A lot of the first home buyers we deal with tick some of those boxes, if not all.
“But we’re here to streamline the process to make sure you buy well, save your time, save your money and get the right result that fits your brief and your strategy.”
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professional buyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Eliminate the pain points of buying your first home with a buyer’s agent. Avoid overpaying, navigate the real estate process and find the right property for you.
BUYING a home through a buyers’ agent used to be the preserve of the rich and famous, but first home buyers are among a growing cohort of property investors seeking the expertise of property experts to find their dream home.
Unlike real estate agents, buyer’s agents work exclusively for the buyer. They act as a buyers’ advocate to search for properties, evaluate them and negotiate with the seller (or their agent) to seal the deal at the best possible price.
“Purchasing your first property can be quite a daunting experience,” Universal Buyers Agents property expert Brad Weston said.
“But we’re here to save you time, we’re here to make sure you do pay the right price and we’re here to ensure you do all the checks you need to on the property such as flood plains, zoning and character overlay.”
Buyers agents can help with a range of different services including:
Why a buyer’s agent can help
Getting your foot in the property market can be a daunting and long drawn out process, especially if you’re new to the buying process.
Buyers agents can help demystify the process and provide up to date expert advice:
Universal Buyers Agents offers an experienced and professional buyer’s advocacy service for those looking to buy a home or property. Contact us now to find out more information.
Inspections Officer
Property Manager
Business Development Manager
Buyers Agent
Searcher and Sourcer
Searcher and Sourcer – Team Piper
Client Concierge
Associate
Buyers Agent
