What can a Buyer's Agent do for you? & 🌿 Biophilic Designs

Welcome to Property Hack! Shedding light on the complex world of property!

Buyer’s Agents - One seasoned buyer discusses why they will now always use a buyer’s agent.

Biophilic Design - 🌿 We explore how natural elements in building & interior designs can benefit us.

Snippets - Changes if you’re selling a home in the US, an $80m trophy home flip, and staying vigilant for online booking scams.

Let’s go!

Buyer’s Agent

Working full-time, looking after young children, plus trying to relocate and buy a new home - how do you fit in the time for research and viewings? For one young family, the answer was using a buyer’s agent. Now, after a very positive experience, they will always use one.

Lauryn has bought and sold a number of properties, but this was her first time using a buyer’s agent. Her initial thoughts went to weighing up the costs verses the benefits - what more could the buyer’s agent do that she couldn’t? What extra value could they add?

Having now involved a buyer’s agent, Lauryn describes how they were of very high value to her situation, with a number of key aspects that stood out for her.

Financial savings - The buyer’s agent had a clear understanding of the current market conditions, the property that was for sale and they’d already negotiated sales with local agents in the area.

They were able to confidently go in with a price they felt reflected the property and situation. That price was below the guide and was a very significant saving on what Lauryn had expected to pay; the buyer’s agent’s fees were minimal in comparison to what was saved.

Time constraints - travelling from the city to a regional area for viewings would take a large amount of time and effort. The agent was able to prioritise the properties that really met her brief, and therefore, justified an inspection.

Closing the deal - Having an agent negotiate and close the deal on their behalf was another big plus. Lauryn felt this allowed a comfortable separation from the negotiations, taking any emotional bidding out of the equation.

Sourcing the right agent? A combination of word-of-mouth referrals, researching buyer’s agent testimonials and an initial consult with the buyer’s agent all helped to decide that they were right fit.

The end result:

While a buyer’s agent might not suit everyone (and we’ll hear from a buyer where it didn’t work out as they’d hoped), for Lauryn, she had a positive experience and with a great result.

🌿 Biophilic design 🌿 

We’re being reminded of the importance of taking a break from technology and spending time in nature. Why? Research is highlighting the positive impact this can have to our health and wellbeing including studies on the benefits of shinrin-yoku and looking at greenery.

Biophilic design proposes that integrating natural elements (like light, materials and plants) into our built environments can also enhance wellbeing, through connecting people with nature.

In the healthcare setting, Dr Seyma Handan highlights the benefits of biophilic design.

What are some ways to implement this in an already established home or workplace?

• Creating views of nature - rearranging furniture to maximise views of nature + adding landscape artworks or nature murals.

• Maximising natural light - adding mirrors can reflect light and brighten spaces. Lighter curtains and opening spaces.

• Using natural materials and colours - finding the right tones to set the mood.

• Water features - aesthetically pleasing and to add relaxing sounds.

• Indoor plants - adding a splash of green, & surrounding yourself with nature.

• Promoting air flow and air quality - yes please to fresh clean air.

• Using organic, curved shapes, reflective of natural forms - we’re starting to see 70s curved sofas trending 🛋️

Snippets:

• A Sydney homeflip is predicted to have sold for around $50 million more than it’s 2021 purchase - find out more here

• On the back of a recent lawsuit against the N.A.R and to increase transparency and fairness, the US has just changed how sales commissions are agreed. Read about it in the NYT 

• Booking a holiday? Be wary of exactly what you are booking. One couple’s honeymoon accommodation turned out to be a fake listing. More here

Quote for the week:

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Sam & Jane

The Property Hack Team

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