Buying a house with a Pool? Get the right inspector before you jump in.
It's the wonderful Australian summer, and if you're looking for a house with the ability to cool off whenever you like, then what better addition to your ‘must haves’ than your very own swimming pool? However, unlike a strata or cooperative-managed joint tenant, you will need to take extra care to ensure that th
Why you should hire an interior designer to help sell your property: Part 2
In part 1, we saw how an interior designer can bring a new perspective and focus - as well as a great selection of props to help stage your home. But they bring a w
Why you should hire an interior designer to help sell your property: Part 1
As one of the most unprecedented years of relentless house market appreciation comes to an end, many people are looking to sell their homes. As a number of factors converge to reduce the pressure on the housing market (increased costs of mortgages, lower clearance rates and reduced affordability) it is increasingly
3 essential pieces of technology that all Pest Inspectors should have
Australia is known for being home to many of the most dangerous animals in the world. From some of the most venomous snakes and spiders on the planet to crocodiles and sharks, they make them tough on this sun-scorched land. And the same is true for the pests that would like to make a new home in your new home. White
Three ways to cut down on the costs of powering your home
When we find the property of our dreams (or just the one that we afford!), we often just base our decisions on the macro financials. Can I afford this house? Yes! Then we search for the best mortgage deal we can get, and if it's approved, we go for it and hope that interest rates don't rise too much
Property prices continue to climb as buyers see leverage return
According to the latest data released by CoreLogic, house prices continued to rise across that nation in every major city except Darwin (which saw a 0.4% decrease).As we broadly predicted last week, Brisbane’s home values continued to surge, rising 2.9 per cent in November, the
Brisbane Property Sales Surge despite Bank rate increases
Bad news for first home buyers looking to apply for a mortgage. The largest major Australian banks have already begun to increase the rate of interest for all new fixed home loans applications. This was to be expected. You might be forgiven for thinking that the banks would only need to do this when the
What I DIDN’T know about Real Estate Conveyancing
Recently, I bought a house in rural Beechmont. As the writer for www.pestbuildlegals.com.au, I used this purchase as a genuine opportunity to test our services, as a real buyer. You see, in some ways, it’s like poker. If you are playing for fake money, you a
What I DIDN’T know about Pre-purchase Building Inspections
As the old saying goes, there is simply no substitute for experience. It is in the undertaking of an activity that you really get to appreciate what you actually know, and moreover, what you might not know! After writing about a pre-purchase pest, building and conveyancing for
What I DIDN’T know about Pre-purchase Pest Inspections
At Pest Build Legals, we are known to repeat the age-old saying “knowledge is power”, and when you’re buying something as significant as property, you want to know as much as possible. Not only is this one of the most significant investments most people will make, but it’s also a layered process to get to th
Brisbane's Property Market: Full Steam ahead or Running out of Steam?
According to the last quarterly property market report from www.domain.com.au, Brisbane properties have risen to an average of $702,455, up by $30,000 in the last three months alone. If one was to calculate this return in business days, that would be a $500 inc
Material Shortages Slow Building Boom
Are you considering purchasing a home off-plan? Or perhaps building may be the best way to get the home you really want. Perhaps it's just an extension. Whatever your motivations, be forewarned, it could possibly be the worst time to build in recent history. Currently, Australia, New Zealand and most of the develo
My experience 'test driving' Pest Build Legals..
Recently, I bought a house. Like it is for most people (especially in a runaway market), it was a most interesting and occasionally stressful experience!It was also a direct opportunity to put into practice many of the recommendations that I have wr
What will new Lending Restrictions mean for the Housing Market?
As we discussed in last weeks article ‘Is the Financial Regulator about to tighten home lending rules?’, the banking regulators has indeed done, well, exactly that.
Is the Financial Regulator about to tighten home lending rules?
As every man, woman and child is aware, the Australian housing market is white-hot right now. Compounded by a variety of factors, the reality is that across Australia, house prices have
How to Stay Cool When House Hunting
Stressed at the thought of buying a house? You’re not alone, in fact, Allianz Australia conducted a study in 2019 which found that “searching for a new home affects the mental and emotional wellbeing of more than half (51 per cent) of Aussie home buyers,
Thinking of building a Granny Flat? Here's what you need to know.
Perhaps you would like an elderly relative to be nearer you whilst keeping their independence, or you want more space for young adults or teens in the family. Maybe you see the potential to make some extra income. Whatever the reason, more and more Australians are considering building a second dwelling,
Is the Melbourne housing market about to bounce back?
Having clocked up over 200 days of lockdown since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, Melbourne is no newcomer to this new way of life, but there is anticipation across the real estate industry that this is about to change.Is the Melbourne real e
Renovation Rules: What Permissions Do I need to Renovate?
So, you’ve seen a property that you feel has great potential to be renovated into the perfect home or investment property. Let's say it is a stand-alone, three bed, one bath single storey on a 580 square meter block. The home has had one owner for 30 years and requires modernisation. 'Perfect!', you think to yours
6 more costs to consider when selling property
Congratulations! You have sold your home. It feels like yesterday that you moved in, and now the property has settled and you moving on to bigger and better things! All the costs of marketing the property, renovations and touch up as well as legal fees are now all a thing of the past. However, there are still
5 Upfront Costs of Selling your Property
When we decide to sell our homes, most of us are naturally focused on getting the best price from the sale, tying up loose ends and arranging our next move. With house prices at record highs, it could be a great time to sell. However, before counting the capital gains you will most likely make from selling your pro
What next for the 'White Hot' Brisbane Property Market
Everyone agrees that the Australian property market right now is white-hot. With record auction clearance rates, huge demand and limited supply, there seems to be no end to increasing property sales - and values. The short-term outlook: Any sentiments that the COVID-19 epidemic would negatively affect the housing market are no
How the Qld Real Estate Industry is responding to the latest Covid-19 lockdowns and measures
At the time of posting, Queensland is in its 5th day of the latest lockdown, due to end on Sunday the 8th of August. During this time, all onsite auctions that were due have either been postponed or conducted exclusively online. Home inspections were limited to one person at a time (plus the agent). Despite this,
What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance?
As Australia’s insatiable appetite for property continues to push house prices to record levels, more and more buyers (especially first home buyers) are finding that their precious and substantial deposit is simply not enough. With house prices increasing faster than many can save, it can seem like an impossible t
Pre-Purchase Building Inspections: What is the Strata Inspection Report? Part 2
In Part 1, we considered the financial and legal implications of the Strata Report and why it is essential before purchasing a property. However, this report h
Pre-Purchase Building Inspections: What is the Strata Inspection Report? Part 1
When buying a property, it is vital that you arrange Pre-purchase inspections, which generally consist of Pest and Building inspections as well as Legal reports. Pre-purchase inspections are essential to ensure that you are aware of any major or minor defects with the property
What to consider when making a Pre-Auction Offer
We know the feeling. You have found the one place that you really, really want, but now you have to wait for the auction day and hope that you have the winning bid. For many of you, you may have already attended and lost out at previous auctions. This is at least disheartening - and costly (before auction you will h
What's included in a Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection Report?
When you decide to make an offered property, you will often hear people say "congratulations - have you arranged your pest build legals yet?". This is basically them asking if you have had the building and pest inspectors in, as without their thumbs up, you will not be able to proceed with the purchase! &
The quick guide to Surveyor's Reports and Building Certificates
At PestBuildLegals, we always advocate for putting together the best team to ensure that you buy the perfect home. This includes a good local building and pest inspector, as well as a property conveyancer. However, before you buy a property
5 Cost effective ways to add value to your home before selling.
Ask most estate agents ‘when is a good time to sell’ and you will likely receive the same answer as the one when you ask ‘when is a good time to buy'. The response is always now. But whilst it can be a mental minefield to attempt to navigate the Australian property market, house prices a
The Best (free) tools and tips to help you find the perfect home
Whether you are buying your first property or adding to your property portfolio, we have collated the best on and offline resources that can help target and speed up your search efforts.
10 Steps To Take When Buying Investment Property: Part 2 Find And Buy Your Property
Armed with a clear plan and the dream investment team you are already set to make more informed and financially viable decisions. Unfortunately, this does not negate the need for you to do your homework. There are multiple factors that combined can make or break an investment property. As a potential investor, you will want to be as informed as
10 Steps to take when buying Investment Property: Part 1 Building your team
So you find yourself in a position to consider buying a property as an investment, Congratulations! Considered and researched property investment is an excellent way to both create and grow wealth. But how do you know what actually is the right property to invest in in the first place? Step 1: Have a goal and make a plan
Is Now the Time to Buy Your Dream Apartment?
While we all know that house prices are going through the roof at the moment, you might want to take a second look at that prime-location apartment overlooking Surfers Paradise. That’s right, while Australia is bouncing back from COVID-19, many countries around the world are struggling to recover, so tourist hot-spots across Australia (
Huge Prices or Tiny Houses?
House prices! Just when you think that surely they can’t go up anymore, they go up! The Australian housing market remains red hot, and increasingly properties are going for well over asking price, as many first time home buyers get blown out of the water by those with bigger budgets. Australian house prices are rising at the fastest ra
What To Know Before You Purchase a Fixer-Upper
Often reserved for buyers with building experience or the very bold, a ‘fixer-upper’ property can often prove to be an opportunity for not only a bargain - but a chance to create something that’s totally bespoke!If you’ve spotted a home that needs a little (or a lot) of TLC, we’ve got the low-down on what you need to know
What is a Property Conveyancer and what do they do?
You’ve spent endless hours online, attended countless inspections, and finally, you have found the perfect home for you. You email the real estate agent your offer and that same day you hear that it’s been accepted! Attached to this great news is your ‘contract of sale’.
Five MORE factors to consider when buying the perfect building block for your home
Locations of adjacent properties In most cases, you will be buying a block of land that is adjacent to other lots, which may or may not have existing dwellings on them. If you buy a block that is next to a pre-existing home, this will determine where you build your home and what type of building you can build.Conversely, if the
Five factors to consider when buying the perfect block to build your home
It really is the classic Australian dream - to buy the quarter-acre block on which to build the perfect home. You kinda have a picture in your mind about what you’d love to build, so now all you need to do is find the perfect block right? You’ve searched online and found some great options, and some that seem too good to be true. Ten a
Auctions vs. Private Treaty Sales. What's the difference?
Shortly after beginning your property buying journey, you will have quickly noticed that houses for sale are priced and sold differently. For example, some homes advertised for sale may say “Price on Application”, “Offers over X amount” or simply say “Auction”. The reason for these differences depends on the w
The Final Checklist: What to arrange before the final move
When buying a property, there are so many things to consider that at some point you will likely find yourself relying on a good old fashioned checklist to ensure that you don’t drop the ball. A solid checklist doesn’t just prevent forgotten tasks, but will also make sure things progress as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
4 Big things to consider when buying a beach house
Wouldn’t it be nice…The crisp sea air accompanied by the soft sound of waves greeting you every morning as you stumble out of bed. Not even thinking about shoes, you take the short and lazy stroll to the beach. It really is the classic lifegoal, to get that dream house by the beach and enjoy all that it has to offer. What could be m
The Insider Guide to Buying the Great Australian Queenslander
With ongoing lockdowns and border uncertainty, there is a well-publicised increase in the number of Aussies looking to relocate to the great Sunshine State. And who can blame them? Glorious weather, easy-going people and vast tracks of space, Queensland is increasingly the place to be! And what could be more ‘Queensland’ than the Icon
The do's and don'ts of finding the right Building Inspector
Buying a home or property is an exciting but often complicated process! At PestBuildLegals, we strongly believe that the key to a successful purchase is to engage the best team of professionals from the start. From a property conveyancer, a mortgage broker to a pest inspector, it is always worth doing your research. After all,
Three inexpensive ways to build your Property Conveyancing Business in 2021
The Australian property market has continued its blistering finish to 2020 with continued growth, record sales (and prices!) into February 2021. Indeed, clearance levels are beating all reasonable forecasts, and it is clear to those in the industry that the market remains red-hot to date.
Combining Facebook and Video To Generate New Business
Now more than ever, it is essential that businesses that want to survive and thrive ensure that they have a consistent flow of new clients. This is especially true in real estate. Homebuyers overwhelmingly turn to the interne
What is a buyer’s agent and do I need one?
Ask almost anyone who has bought a property before (especially a first home ), and they will tell you that it can be a difficult and challenging process. However, not that many people can claim to have purchased a property during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic! Not only is demand falling in some areas (such as inner cities), but demand
5 Essential things to look out for when viewing a property
At PestBuildLegals, we are huge advocates for ensuring that you get the best team together to ensure the best outcome when buying your home. Therefore, any quote that you receive through us is always from a provider that we have personally verified. But even before you get quotes for a pest or building ins
Living in Dignity: A look at the future of Disability Housing
You will often hear people saying that buying a house is one of the most stressful things that you will ever do in your life. This is because there is so much to do and a lot of uncertainty around the whole process. Will I find somewhere I can afford? Is now a good or a bad time to get on the property ladder? The list goes on and on. N
4 Big Reasons why Brisbane’s Property Prices will Finish 2020 on a High
In a year like no other, house prices, property demand and supply have fluctuated, making accurate property price trends more difficult to assess than usual. However, the significant forecasted drops in house prices across Brisbane since the onset of Covid 19 have not materialised. In fact, according to
The 7 ‘Hidden’ Costs of Buying a Home: Part 2
Yes, there is a part two! In the last article, we broke down some of the biggest costs that are associated with buying you home. Why? Because for many of us (especially us first home buyers), buying a home is scary enough without being blindsided with unexpected bills and expenses. Indeed, at PestBuildLegals, we always recommend that y
The 7 ‘Hidden’ Costs of Buying a Home: Part 1
When you buy your first home (or even your second or third!), it can be easy to lose sight of the many ‘additional’ ( and mostly unavoidable ) costs that are not always obvious when you are first starting out. So, apart from the mighty feat of accumulating your d
Do I need a Pre Purchase inspection when buying a new build?
You’ve found your future home, you’ve made an offer, and it's been accepted! At this point, your contracts are drawn up and the responsibility falls upon you, the buyer, to ensure that there are no hidden defects, pending repairs or structural issues with your new property. Your contract will be conditional on pre-purchas
5 Financial Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying Your First Home
There’s no end of things to bear in mind when buying your first home. In fact, it can be easy to be overwhelmed. In our experience with home buyers over, we’ve noticed that there are many lessons that are often only learnt once the property purchase has been completed. Indeed, like many things in life, we often look back and wish we
The ‘who’s who’ of the Real Estate World
There’s no end of things to bear in mind when buying your first home. In fact, it can be easy to be overwhelmed. In our experience with home buyers over, we’ve noticed that there are many lessons that are often only learnt once the property purchase has been completed. Indeed, like many things in life, we often look back and wish we
How to save more than 50K when buying your first home
Buying your first home is no doubt one of the biggest investments most people make in their lives. Ensuring that your finances are in order is one of the first and biggest challenges to overcome. It is therefore helpful to know that there may be some unique avenues of support available exclusively to first time home buyers. If that’s you,
PestBuildLegals What Verification means
PestBuildLegals provides home buyers with easy quotes for pre-purchase building and pest inspections, as well as real estate legal conveyancing. As we approach the official launch of PestBuildLegals on October 1st, we have been busy verifying local service providers so that they can join our platform and help us service these home buyers.
Facebook Ads Vs PestBuildLegals leads
Before we specialised in digital marketing, the team at PestBuildLegals had a long history within the Real Estate, Building and Insurance industries (you can read more about our backgrounds here! ). Over the years, we have worked with businesses of all siz
Taking the lead in an uncertain housing market
Many businesses are feeling the effects of uncertainty created and fuelled by the ongoing pandemic. In one way or another, all sectors have been affected and this is no less true in the housing market (and greater real estate sector). Predictions are changing as quickly as lock down restrictions, and so to say the least it's more difficult
Cost of a lead Vs The Value of Life Time Customer
You do not want to leave anything to chance with your business, and this doubly true when considering the cost of acquiring new business. If you put an ad in the newspaper, you would want to know how many calls it generated, how many calls became real customers and how much each customer was worth (in terms of revenue for the business).
5 Tips to converting enquiries to lifelong customers
Anyone who runs their own business will know that it often feels like this is a never-ending list of things to do! On top of providing a great service, there is the valuable time required to ensure that your marketing is actually working i.e. that you are getting a consistent flow of high-quality enquiries th
Build your business even in the quiet moments
There is no such thing as a “bad time" to drum up new business, yet with so much going on locally and nationally, you would be forgiven for wanting to simply batten down the hatches and weather the storm! However, time and time again history shows us that businesses that continue to grow and diversify during ti
What are "Pest, Building and Legals", and why do I need these when purchasing a home?
They say that buying a home is one of the most stressful things that you will ever do (after getting married!). From the long search for the dream home, to arranging finance and then making an offer , it's no wonder that fifty-one percent of first home buyers surveyed found the process “stressful”, while 42% described
7 Essential Steps To Buying A Home
After a long search, you have finally found a home that you love, and so now it’s time to take the essential next steps to secure that property. We know that buying a home can be a confusing and even stressful process, especially when doing it for the first time. However, it does not have to be that way. The most important part of buying
The Team Behind PestBuildLegals
The team behind PestBuildLegals have extensive experience working across the Real Estate Industry. Not only that, but they have all bought their own homes and know how daunting the process can be! PestBuildLegals was founded on the idea that buying a home doesn
