Bidding can be exciting but stressful. To help you through it, here are our top bidding tips:

1. Come to the auction with a positive attitude. Even if you would have preferred not to compete at auction, look on the bright side. Unlike private treaty negotiations, you will know exactly what price your competitors are offering and once the hammer falls, the sale is final
2. Bring some photo ID. This is required for you to register to bid. Your ID must be issued by a government or financial institution and show your name and address. Examples include a driver’s licence or a council rates notice
3. Bring your cheque book – you have to sign the contract and pay the deposit immediately after the auction
4. If you are among several registered bidders, be glad. Take comfort that other people also think this is a great property! If you are the sole registered buyer, don’t assume you’re the only interested buyer. Other buyers might not be able to compete on the day due to delays with finance or their own homes not selling. Their circumstances could change within days!
5. Arrive with plenty of time to spare. Being rushed will make you more stressed. Go to the registration desk as soon as you arrive to register and receive your bidder’s card. If you like, you can pre-register with us before auction day
6. The auctioneer is entitled to make one bid on behalf of the seller. This is called a ‘vendor bid’. It is often used to start an auction if no one bids, or to raise the bidding to a level that is closer to the reserve price set by the seller
7. Show confidence. Bid in a loud, clear voice and be mindful of your body language and raise your bidder’s card high!
8. If you are going to make the first bid, be realistic. The auctioneer has the right to refuse any bid that is not in the vendors’ interests
9. If the property is going to pass in, make sure you are the highest or last bidder. The highest bidder is offered the first right to negotiate immediately after the auction. If no one bids, five other people could approach us immediately afterwards and you will end up in a quasi auction anyway!

For a list of our upcoming auctions click here

Set at the entrance of the peninsula which culminates in dramatic South Head, Watsons Bay has grown into an exclusive family address. Until the 1950’s, it was very much a peaceful fishing village, but in recent decades its sublime harbour and ocean views, immense character and relaxed ambience have seen it transformed into a prestigious suburb.

Live

Casual sophistication is the order of the day at its most famous restaurant, the iconic Doyle’s, and the neighbouring Watsons Bay Hotel (known as ‘Beach Club’). Commercial development has thankfully been contained here, and the waterfront is limited to a few small cafes and takeaway shops, with the odd eclectic specialty store thrown into the mix.

Love

At 11km from the CBD, it’s the outermost Eastern Suburb, but its boutique beaches, harbourfront parks, clifftop walks and spectacular views ensure that on a hot weekend it can be packed with locals and tourists. During the week however it’s lovely and quiet and retains that traditional ‘old Sydney’ ambience.

Sell

Many of its charming original weatherboard fisherman’s cottages have been lovingly restored and are dotted among some historic sandstone manors and luxurious contemporary mansions. Just head to the shores of idyllic Camp Cove and you’ll get a glimpse of the handful of luxury properties lucky enough to enjoy direct access to its serene shores.

There’s nothing better than flopping down on your bed after a long day to unwind. Feeling the soft mattress, fluffing up your favourite cushion, and surrounding yourself with the serenity.

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Creating the perfect ambience in your bedroom isn’t rocket science  – it’s all about personal taste. However, just like every other room in your house, your bedroom should be constantly evolving to reflect not only your life but popular trends that emerge. Sometimes a whole-room overhaul may be needed – especially if you haven’t updated your room in a while ­– but other times it can be as simple as buying new linen or adding new soft furnishings.  In this blog, I’ll be discussing bedroom colour trends for 2016.

And the colour of the year award goes to…

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This year’s Pantone Colour of the Year is  – for the first time – a blend of two shades; Rose Quartz and Serenity. These two softer shades, the Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute Leatrice Eiseman, said “demonstrate an inherent balance between warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as a soothing sense of order and peace.”

I don’t know about you, but that description sounds like the perfect atmosphere for a bedroom. By following this colour scheme for your bed linen, throw rugs, pillows, cushions and other furnishings, you can create a harmonious atmosphere.

Now, just because the colour(s) of the year are these soft blue/pink shades, doesn’t mean you need to convert your room in to a nursery.  The last thing you want to create is a room that is more suited to a baby! Soft pastels are popular in children’s rooms as they do create a tranquil environment. So, how do you utilise these colours and still maintain a sophisticated, adult bedroom?

Less is best

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“Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.”

So we’ve established these tones are perfect for a bedroom, but don’t feel inclined to change EVERYTHING in your room. As these two shades work perfectly with neutrals, work with what you’ve already got. For example, if your bed linen is mostly beige/white/cream, then add a throw rug in Rose Quartz and maybe a few throw cushions in Serenity. If you have heavy curtains on your windows, maybe think about adding a lightweight layer in one of the Pantone shades. This will add a whimsical element, yet not too dramatic. A few subtle changes can make a huge difference.

Add some sparkle and texture

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Following on the same colour scheme, another design trend that is making an appearance is rose gold. Metallics have been gaining popularity in bedrooms, living areas, kitchens and bathrooms. Adding a little bling in the form of a rose gold lamp, mirror, photo frame or even hat stand can accentuate the tones of the soft furnishings in your bedroom. Don’t go overboard, one or two shiny pieces will be enough.

Texture can add another dimension to a soft palette. Velvet is luxurious and provides an air of extravagance. Why not experiment with having one piece in your bedroom – an arm chair or cushion – covered in Rose Quartz velvet?

Have fun and play around with this year’s colours. As always, make it your own to enjoy and ensure you create a space for calm and relaxation.

It’s hard to believe it’s already March – where does the time fly?

I know what I’ve been busy with – buying, selling and leasing properties across the Eastern Suburbs.

My first impression of the year confirms to me that the market will remain strong, though hopefully the spectacular percentage increases experienced in 2014 and 2015 will be modified to a more reasonable rate of growth in the 3-5% range. If the number of enquiries we have received since the start of the year are anything to go by, then the Eastern Suburbs property market will be in good shape.

However, I’d be remiss not to inform you all about the biggest change in the way real estate agents operate. This new practice is as a result of new government legislation, which was introduced on 1 January 2016. This new legislation was designed to combat ‘under-quoting’.

So how will this effect the way we operate? Well, we will no longer will we be allowed to say “more than $X” or “between $2.5–$3 million”. The maximum range we will be legally able to ‘quote’ will be a 10% variance. In other words, if the property is quoted at $1,000,000, the range we can quote up to is $1,100,000. So we will not allowed to say “over $1million” or “low one millions”.

While it may seem pretty straightforward, it will not be an easy task. You see, the valuing of real estate in the Eastern Suburbs is a very inexact science and it can be difficult to predict within 5% either way the value of a property.

However, it could be worse! Imagine, if like our northern neighbours in Queensland, we weren’t able to – in the auction process – quote any price! I couldn’t imagine our savvy clientele putting up with that!

The new law doesn’t, however, force an agent to quote a price. This can be advantageous as it is often very hard to quote a price until several open houses have occurred. An agent is permitted to provide interested potential purchasers with “a list of comparable sales” which can help determine an agent’s estimate of market value for a property. Another area the law does not affect is putting any constraint on a reserve price by the seller.

Whatever new legislation is enforced on the real estate industry, you can feel reassured I will guide buyers appropriately and keep all my vendors fully informed.