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Homes for lifeDoncaster 03 9842 1477989 Doncaster Road Doncaster East VIC 3109

Ringwood 03 8870 2888139 Maroondah Highway Ringwood VIC 3134

Mitcham 03 9874 3355483 Whitehorse Road Mitcham VIC 3132

Videos show 400% jump in viewsInteractive videos used by PhilipWebb’s sales team are kicking goals for vendors throughout the eastern suburbs.

Statistics show that properties which use video presentations as part of their marketing campaign attract 400 per cent more buyers visiting internet listings than those without a video.Vendor, Tom Aleksovski, said the video of his Mitcham property was vital in attracting 78 groups to inspect the property. Five bidders competed at the auction which sold the property for $23,000 above the reserve price.“The video certainly worked for us,” Mr Aleksovski said of the sale of his four-bedroom house in Haven Court, Mitcham, for $643,000.“The video shows the house from all angles. You can have three or four pictures of a room, but it’s not the same as having a video going around picking up every angle.”Mr Aleksovski said the video provided realistic views for buyers and helped them to gain an emotional attachment to the property.Sales consultant, Mike Muncey, said videos

helped to showcase a property’s unique selling features and highlight aspects which were often not visible with static pictures.“The proof is in the pudding,” Mr Muncey said. “Our internet sales data shows that video sales produce a 400 per cent increase in buyer traffic over those without a video.”Mr Muncey, who has been using videos for his clients’ properties for more than two years, said videos allowed buyers to feel more familiar with a property.“Nowadays, people want transparency and with a video there is nowhere to hide anything,” he said.With Mr Aleksovski’s house, the internal spaces were larger than they looked from the outside and the video was the perfect tool to show this, he said.

Philip Webb, Director

Best regards,

Insider’s view: Videos have proven to be hugely successful in selling real estate.

facebook.com/philipwebbre philipwebbrealestateblog.com.au @PhilipWebbRE

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One in five landlords are planning to buy another investment property in the next 12 to 18 months.With interest rates at historic lows and prices stabilising, investors are surveying the market to make their next move.A survey of 500 landlords found that six per cent of property investors make

enough money from property to give up their jobs. The BDRC Jones Donald Australian Private Property Investor Study also found that landlords were more likely to make profits and less likely to suffer major costs from bad tenants if they used a professional property manager.

Investors planning to buy

APRIL 2013

This year we embarked on a bold strategy aimed at consolidating PhilipWebb as a real estate industry leader and saving money for our valued clients.For decades, real estate agencies have advertised in newspapers to sell property. But this year we dared to be different. With the overwhelming push towards the digital age, we have all but stopped newspaper advertising and put our energy where our research told us it should be – in the internet and new technology.I am pleased to report that more than three months on, buyer inquiries are as strong as ever – without our clients having to pay for costly newspaper advertisements.The past month has been busier than the previous few months, which is a positive sign for the market. And that’s good news for the autumn sales campaigns we are launching on the internet, with videos, iphone apps and through social media.

Cheap fees can be a waste of money

WEG’s house on market

New agents join team

PhilipWebb: Victoria’s largest non-franchise real estate company.

Low fees charged by some property managers can create a false economy for landlords, according to PhilipWebb’s departmental manager, Virginia Sier.“Cheap fees often result in poor service,” Ms Sier said. “And if your property manager is happy to reduce their fees, will they be just as quick to cut corners when dealing with your property?”PhilipWebb has a 41-year history of providing first-class service, which sets the company apart from many in the industry. Here are the top 10 differences that distinguish PhilipWebb’s service as top quality. 1. Personalised professional service.

PhilipWebb is not a franchise and we manage properties all over Melbourne. We will consider tailored fee packages for landlords with more than three properties.

2. We take our work seriously. We have the largest rent roll in the eastern suburbs and we manage almost 6,000 properties.

3. An award-winning team. PhilipWebb was rated among Business Review Weekly magazine’s top 50 best places to work in Australia in 2011. The company has won seven statewide and national customer service awards, and was recently named ARERA Property Management Team of the Year.

4. We guarantee our services. At PhilipWebb, we pride ourselves on providing a high standard service which sets us apart from our competitors.

The historic former home of much-loved cartoonist, the late William Ellis Green – better known as WEG – is on the market.WEG, who produced AFL grand final posters from 1954 until his death in 2008, lived half his life at the house in Aringa Court, Heathmont.PhilipWebb has listed the four-bedroom house with a swimming pool on a 2650sqm block for private sale.The National Trust has described the house as architecturally, historically and socially significant to the region.“The house is a particularly complex example of the work of Chancellor & Patrick, one of the most noted architectural firms of the 1950s and 60s in Victoria,” says the trust’s description of the house. PhilipWebb sales consultant Gavin Findlay said the house, built in 1963, featured parquetry floors and high ceilings and it could be brought back to its former glory.

Five new sales agents have joined the growing PhilipWebb team.Experienced estate agents Ross and Michelle Maxwell, who have owned and operated their own real estate agency for several years, have joined the Doncaster sales team.Rob Forbes, who previously worked with the Maxwells, has become part

of the PhilipWebb sales team based in Ringwood.Tony Duckworth, who has previously been a sales manager in Greensborough, has also joined the Doncaster team along with Jason Starchenko, who brings his

experience from the Blackburn area to join PhilipWebb.Sales Manager, Anthony Webb, said it was satisfying to see experienced professionals keen to join PhilipWebb as it continues to grow in the eastern suburbs.

5. Our vacancy rate is one of the lowest. PhilipWebb has a designated leasing team to ensure inquiries from prospective tenants are responded to efficiently which means we lease more properties, more quickly.

6. Leasing property made easy. We advertise on five major websites and have exclusive tenant booking software which ensures that tenants see properties promptly. We never hand out keys and we update landlords promptly following inspections.

7. Leaders in the industry. PhilipWebb has won more customer service awards than any other agency in Victoria and General Manager, Sophie Lyon, is Vice President of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.

8. Our procedures are tried and tested. We strongly encourage tenants to be on direct debit and owners are paid daily.

9. Knowledge is the key. We conduct regular investor nights and focus groups to help clients build their property education.

10. We help you achieve financial success. Rents are reviewed regularly. We make recommendations to owners to increase their returns. PhilipWebb also has an investment sales team dedicated to our property management department to provide owners with free market sales appraisals without obligation.

History on sale: The architecturally designed former home of the late William Ellis Green (WEG).

Jason StarchenkoTony DuckworthRobert ForbesMichelle MaxwellRoss Maxwell

PhilipWebb: A trusted name in real estate for 41 years.

Owners who list their properties for sale with PhilipWebb will benefit from a training program which the company’s sales team attended recently.PhilipWebb’s entire 34-person sales team flew to Sydney for two

days of intensive training under the leadership of real estate trainer, Michael Sheargold.Sales Manager, Anthony Webb, said the training was part of an ongoing commitment to maintain agents’ skills at the top of the industry.

The training involved strategies to maximise the sale price of clients’ properties, sales and marketing techniques, technology, and market trends across Australia.The training also helped agents to brush up on their customer service skills and prepare their sales programs for the year ahead.

Sydney training helps vendors

Smart work attracts tenants

Extra service seals two deals

As first-time landlords, Ingrid and Matthew Shakespeare were not exactly sure what was going to happen when they offered their Ringwood house for rent.They certainly did not expect the overwhelming success they achieved at their first open for inspection when 10 groups of tenants visited and eight of them applied to rent the property.“We thought it would take a couple of inspections at least,” Ms Shakespeare said. “We were pretty pleased it went so well.”The couple was also stunned to find that the tenant who rented the two-bedroom house in Wantirna Rd offered $15 a week more than the $330 advertised price to secure it.PhilipWebb’s new business team leader Dane Seeley said it was uncommon for tenants to offer more than the listed rental price, but some did when there was

When international ballet dancer, Sharon Fernandez, called PhilipWebb to inquire about selling her Mont Albert apartment, she got far more than she expected.Salesman, Thi Nguyen, not only sold her property for tens of thousands of dollars more than some of her neighbours’ properties, but he also helped Ms Fernandez secure her next home for less than the reserve price.“It was like a dream come true meeting him,” Ms Fernandez said of her contact with the Doncaster-based sales agent.“Thi pretty much did what I thought was impossible. He took the reins which was what I needed.”At their first meeting, Ms Fernandez explained that she planned to buy

a three-level townhouse nearby the following weekend – and Mr Nguyen offered to assess its value and bid for her at auction.With Mr Nguyen doing the bidding, the property was passed in and he negotiated to buy it after auction for $618,000 – far less than the reserve price of $650,000.The same night he listed Ms Fernandez’ original apartment for sale, and sold it within two weeks.“I thought I would get $450,000 if I was lucky,” Ms Fernandez said of her two-bedroom apartment in Whitehorse Rd, Mont Albert.The property sold for $475,000, while two similar properties in the same complex sold for between $420,000 and $440,000 and a third was still for sale months later.

“I was overseas for six weeks while my property was for sale and Thi organised everything. All I had to do was go into the solicitor’s office to sign the documents,” Ms Fernandez said.“I got a great price for my property and he arranged both settlements on the same day which was perfect.”

strong competition for a property.The location, presentation and quality of the property ensured interest from tenants and when a large number of them attended the inspection, the crowd generated competition, Mr Seeley said.The result was reward for the Shakespeare’s hard work in presenting the weatherboard house so neatly and with attractive features, he said.

The couple installed a split system air conditioner in the lounge, a dishwasher and stainless steel oven in the kitchen and built-in wardrobes in the second bedroom to complement the low-maintenance garden.Their smart work has enabled the Shakespeares to make a smooth transition from home owners to investors. After buying the Ringwood property in 2007 with an eye on possibly being able to hold it as an investment, they have now bought a four-bedroom house in The Basin to live in with their two-year-old daughter.“We’re not too concerned about it all,” Ms Shakespeare said. “PhilipWebb is very professional - we would never manage it ourselves. We’re pretty sure we would be able to rent it again quickly, so we’re pretty comfortable with it all.”

Neat and tidy: Presentation always wins hearts with tenants.

Slick work: The Whitehorse Rd property sold for $25,000 more than the vendor expected within two weeks.

Homes for lifeDoncaster 03 9842 1477989 Doncaster Road Doncaster East VIC 3109

Ringwood 03 8870 2888139 Maroondah Highway Ringwood VIC 3134

Mitcham 03 9874 3355483 Whitehorse Road Mitcham VIC 3132

If this property is exclusively listed with another agent, please disregard this communication. 5933

SALES

ProPErty mAnAgEmEnt

SPotLight on PricES

Positive signs of strengthBy ANtHoNy WEBB, SALES MANAGER

Investors Club launches By SoPHIE LyoN, GENERAL MANAGER, PRoPERty MANAGEMENt DIVISIoN

Property owners or tenants planning to buy an investment property or build their portfolio will be interested in a new initiative - the PhilipWebb Property Investors’ Club.The club has been formed to help PhilipWebb clients achieve their property goals and will leverage off the company’s broad contacts in the finance, banking, accounting and legal professions.As a free service for our clients, we will sit down with you and discuss your investment goals, what type of property you want and the price range, and then our staff will provide possible matches

After 22 property sales in a week last month across the PhilipWebb network, we are starting to see positive signs of strength returning to the property market.At PhilipWebb, our auction clearance rate is 87 per cent so far this financial year, which is well ahead of the industry average of about 70 per cent. The clearance rate, which is seen as a barometer of the real estate market, has not been above 70 per cent since 2010.International buyers are also returning to the market in growing numbers which is a sign of confidence in real estate in the eastern suburbs.

to your requirements, either through the PhilipWebb sales team or a property for sale off our vast rent roll.PhilipWebb sees this as a logical next step for many clients who have been with us for many years and are looking to

It is too early to say that the market has turned into a vendors’ market after a couple of quiet years, but there are signs that the market is improving.Our agents recently sold a property in Donvale in an off-market campaign for

build wealth for their retirement. Many of our clients, both landlords and tenants, are keen to build an investment portfolio and we see this as a way to help.Anyone interested should contact Sophie Lyon on 9955 2604.

$1.5 million and we’ve also sold another in Serpells Rd, Templestowe for the same price.Smart investors have noticed the improvement in the market and are starting to become more active.

DoNCAStER DEC 2012 DEC 2011 DEC 2010 DEC 2008 DEC 2006Houses $708,000 $674,000 $786,000 $639,800 $488,250Units $482,500* $609,000* $535,000 $617,500* $480,000HEAtHMoNt Houses $533,875* $495,000* $531,250* $411,444* $336,750*Units $420,000* $435,000* $456,500* $345,000* $240,000*BALWyN Houses $1,250,000 $1,260,000 $1,503,000 $956,000 $865,000Units $560,000 $607,500* $665,000 $560,000* $476,000LILyDALE Houses $421,250 $512,000 $460,000 $364,500 $355,000Units $330,000* $375,000* $351,000* $286,500* $199,000*

*Indicates less than 25 sales per quarter. Source: REIV quarterly median prices

WANTEDProPerties to seLL

Call ANTHONY WEBB

0408 578 771

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