The answer to this question can depend on a number of variables, such as the type of property you are selling, the street you live on and also the type of work that you would like to get done. Whether or not you actually have the money to invest in improving your property is another important question to ask yourself too.

 

There’s no denying that the better you present your home, the easier it will be to sell and the more you are likely to get for it, but in some cases, improvements will cost you more money than you are likely to get back.

 

If you are considering minor changes though, for instance re-laying carpet or re-painting, then this kind of small investment might pay off for you.

 

Presentation is a big thing when selling, so if you can make small improvements that can help make your home more visually appealing then they can be well worth it.

 

Before doing anything though, you’re best bet is to go and talk to your local real estate agent and ask them for their advice. They will not what sells in your area and what buyers are looking for, so that you can get a good idea of what you need to do to help make the most out of your property.

 

If you would like any further advice or you live in the Everton Park area and would like us to take a look at your property then please get in touch with one of the team at Professionals Keith Brady Real Estate.

 

If you answered yes to both of the above then you’re in luck, because there is going to be a beginner’s workshop in growing vegetables at the Everton Park Library this month.

 

The Beginners Guide to Vegetable Growing will be run by Annette McFarlane and she will be teaching vegetable growing tips and tricks for those who have small gardens, balcony gardens or possibly even large acreages.

 

The Beginners Guide to Vegetable Growing will be held on Saturday, February 11 from 10am until 12:30pm.

 

It’s completely free to take part and if you would like to reserve your place in the workshop then you should call (07) 3403 8888 to reserve your place.

 

With so many home loan choices available, we’re often asked whether or not it is a good idea to talk to a mortgage broker to help find the best loan.

 

Mortgage brokers can be great, but whether or not they will be useful for you, depends on how confident and savvy you are in finding a good home loan deal on your own.

 

If you don’t have a lot of experience with home loans and don’t want the fuss of having to research home loans for yourself, then a mortgage broker can definitely be beneficial. If you find a mortgage broker that is good, then they can save you a lot of time and money and help negotiate the best home loan deals for you. Using a mortgage broker can also help you get approved for loans that you otherwise wouldn’t have if you went directly to a lender.

 

On the other hand if you have already done your research and have found the best product on the market, then there is essentially little need for a mortgage broker and you may find it easier to simply go and speak to your lender of choice.

 

Whether you go to a mortgage broker or a bank though, don’t settle for any terms or conditions you feel uncomfortable with and make sure that ultimately you end up with a home loan that meets all of your requirements.

 

To start doing some home loan research for yourself, a useful home loan comparison website is www.infochoice.com.au or if you would like to talk to a mortgage broker then please feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to recommend somebody for you.

 

It’s fair enough that family members and friends want to help their loved ones get a step in the real estate door, but you need to remember that when you sign as a guarantor for someone else you could be risking the security of your own assets as well as risking your relationship with the person you’re signing for.

 

It’s important to carefully consider your choice to become a guarantor for someone. Ask yourself if the person you are signing for is trustworthy and if they are responsible enough to continue to make their own payments.

 

In the instance that a payment isn’t made you could get a default against your own name or worse your assets could be sold as collateral to recover the costs of the debt, it’s just the same as if you didn’t make a payment on your own loan.

 

If you are thinking about going guarantor for someone, it’s imperative that you know what you’re getting yourself into, because your own home could end up being on the line. Even changes out of the person’s control may mean that they can no longer make payments – what if they become ill, lose their job or have another financial dilemma?

 

It can be a tough decision and one that you should never feel pressured into. You don’t want to ruin a relationship over financial problems and you don’t want to be liable for somebody else’s debts, so make sure you’re aware of what you’re getting into before signing anything.

 

*Investment – One of the best reasons for buying a home is because it could come to be worth a lot more in the years to come. As they say, “rent money is dead money” because it is money you will never see again. Paying money towards a mortgage on the other hand can help you build up equity and long-term wealth.

 

*Community – When you own a home you often feel like you can settle in more and this gives you a better chance to get to know your surroundings. Homeowners often end up establishing better relationships with their neighbours and their local community in general, simply because they stay in the same place for a longer length of time. Having good relationships with neighbours has so many benefits and in general you’re bound to feel much happier with the place that you live in.

 

*Ownership – It’s a great feeling when you own a home and you realise you can do with it what you want. When you rent you are restricted in a lot of ways in that you can’t renovate or change the look of your home. If you own your home though, then you can paint, extend, renovate or maybe even add in a pool. However you imagine your dream home to be, you can help create it if you own the home you live in.

 

*Stability – Owning a home offers a lot more security than renting does in that you know there’s no chance your landlord is going to kick you out and you also know that there’s no chance that you will have to pay more rent when your lease runs out. Sure there are interest rates to think about, but if you opt for a fixed-term home loan then you can lock in how much you have to pay for the next five years, which will make it much easier to organise your finances if this is an issue for you.

 

As you can see there are many benefits that come from home ownership and it’s rare to meet people who regret their decision to buy.

 

If you would like any advice about getting into the property market, then please feel free to get in touch with us at Professionals Keith Brady Real Estate in Everton Park for assistance.

 

During the school break some of our local schools have had either additions or improvements to current facilities, and there are further improvements on there way for some schools too.

 

At Everton Park State School for instance, there were renovations to two of the older classrooms and later in the year a $137,577 State Government grant will see an upgrade to the swimming pool change rooms and the installation of new hot showers.

 

The swimming pool upgrades are great news for the school as they will mean that the school will be able to host more events throughout the year, and students will no longer have to suffer through cold showers during winter.

 

Here are some other improvements that have taken place or are about to take place at our local schools:

 

• McDowall State School – extension to hall
• Eatons Hill State Sschool – new staff room
• Albany Creek State School – new quadrangle and outdoor learning area
• Mitchelton Special School – new classroom
• Prince of Peace – new Junior school playground, shade and seating area
• Northside Christian College – new library and multipurpose hall
• Albany Hills State School – new safety warning lights
• Albany Creek State High School – new safety warning lights and planning for new arts centre

•Mt Maria College – redevelopment of secondary campus at Mitchelton

 

Hopefully all of the students are enjoying all of the new improvements and it is great to see that funding is being put into improving their learning environments.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about schooling developments in Queensland you can head to education.qld.gov.au or if you would like to find out more about your child’s school then you should be able to find out more by visiting the school’s website.

 

If you’re buying a home that predates 2007 however, it’s not compulsory for it to come with a water tank, although in the last few years it has become increasingly popular to have a water tank installed.

 

If you’d like to have a water tank, it can add value to your home, but make sure you’re installing an appropriate size, and have it connected by certified trades people. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re doing the right thing only to find out that the installation has been done incorrectly!

 

That means you may require building approval from the Brisbane City Council if you’re planning on putting in a water tank. It is always a good idea to find out what your obligations are before committing to any works on your home, and before you fork out for a new water tank! You can seek advice from the council or a BSA licensed building certifier on this.

 

So if you like the idea of having a water tank, know that if the home you buy was built circa 2007 onwards, it will come with one, but earlier built properties may not. There are plenty of benefits of installing one though, so don’t discount properties without a water tank.

 

One of the easiest ways to find a rental is to start searching online. Websites like www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au are a great place to look for rental properties and you can narrow down your search based on items like number of rooms, bathrooms, or whether or not pets are allowed.   If you are trying to find rental accommodation in and around the Everton Park area you can search at the Professionals Keith Brady Real Estate website by clicking on “Browse Properties” in the “Rent” tab.

 

If you still haven’t found a rental you can also try searching using Google. Simply type in words like “Everton Park rental properties” or “rental accommodation Everton Park” and you should be able to find a number of accommodation options. 

 

Newspapers and notice boards in shops and universities are another great place to find available rental accommodation. It is also a good idea to let all your family and friends know when you’re on the hunt for a place to live, because you never know who might have a room available somewhere.

 

Similarly, when you are looking for a rental property don’t forget to let your local real estate agents know as they can send you email alerts whenever a new rental becomes available and you might even be lucky enough to hear about a rental before it gets advertised.

 

If you are having problems finding a rental in the Everton Park area, then please get in touch with the Professionals Keith Brady Real Estate office and we’ll do our best to help you in your rental accommodation search.

 

That’s because next Thursday is Australia Day and it is an opportunity for us all to take a break from our daily lives and take the time to appreciate all of the things about Australia that make it such a great place to live.

 

Australia Day was originally the day that celebrated the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia in 1788, but now it has become a day widely known for its backyard barbecues, outdoor cricket or a trip to the beach – basically a day where we can celebrate all of those things that are characteristically Australian.

 

However you choose to spend Australia Day though, I hope that you have a fantastic day celebrating all of things that make you proud to call Australia (and Everton Park) home.

 

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t explore what is in your own neighbourhood though, then you may be missing out! In Everton Park for instance, there are some many wonderful local businesses that produce some of the best products around, and they are right on our doorstep!

 

I’m talking about places like our local bakeries, butchers, fish and chip shops and little cafes that make super tasty and great value food that you just can’t find if you travel anywhere else.

 

A lot of people talk about great spots to go to in the city, but there are always lots of hidden gems in our own backyard.

 

So I would love to hear from locals or maybe those from out of town, about the local businesses in the area that they think are super special and that they think everyone in the area should try.

 

Where are your favourite local places?