Hi, depends on the size really. Supply only from $1000- $3000 (one was huge).  I get the cupboards assembled. I hate assembling things. They will install for a good price.

We get white poly doors C224 longline handles. Lately we have changed to pure mineralstone matt finish benchtops. Looks clean and fresh.

Our first couple we just painted, replaced the carpet in bedrooms, polished floors. One we painted the kitchen doors, put on new handles and put those timber look stick on strips on the floor in the kitchen.
These are easy things that you can do in a week and don't cost a fortune.

Adding/removing walls, new kitchen, bathroom all add value but…[Read more]

Sydney Kitchens and Bathrooms at Villawood. Can't beat them for price and quality. We have bought over a dozen kitchens off them. Take your drawing to them (not on Saturday as you can't move).

203 Woodville Rd Villawood NSW 2163‎
(02) 9725 7200

Sounds great. We typically spend $15K (no restumping or built ins- well sometimes one and we usually polish floors- except carpet bedrooms) and full painting. But we pay a tiler to waterproof and tile and a builder a few days (my hubby's too rough).

Why Vinyl wrap doors??   We go poly, much nicer finish.  Where do you get your kitchens? Flat…[Read more]

Yes you can just move but the contract doesn't run out. Read the contract and see how much notice you agreed to give them.

If you are going with another agency they will handle the changeover. Some even pay the 30 days to the other agent so you don't get hit twice.

It is not worth your hassle dealing with an inefficient PM. Move on.

When you pay a bill you get a receipt number.  Write the receipt number on the bill. That should suffice.

Even if you were audited I doubt they'd go through your bank accounts and ask to see where it was debited from.

I write the receipt number and where it was paid from. eg Bpay St George.

Some people just want everything for nothing.

A friend of mine (a teacher) has a friend with a daughter who was having difficulty at school and asked my friend if she could help her.

My friend picked up the friend's daughter 2 days a week when she picked up her own daughter from school. She took her to her home and tutored her for an hour, then …[Read more]

Why is the title Sydney Market update?

Who's Uncle Zally and Karen? Sounds like this should have been a personal message to someone??

Mark Coburn wrote:
A woman walked up to me in a cafe, introduced herself (local Doctor's wife) and said that her friend (who she had been sitting with) had said that I was the person to talk to regarding an investment property transaction (don't laugh yet).

She said "I don't want anything for free and I'm happy to pay you for your time".
So I…[Read more]

From what you have listed you don't need council approval.

Do you mean to replace the whole kitchen and bathroom? 
If so get the bathroom stripped first. This takes the longest (not that you need to worry with 3 months). Why so long?

We generally completely renovate a 3-4 bedroom home in 5 weeks (mostly nights and weekends as we still work).…[Read more]

Hi, sounds like you are thinking along the right path. Keep reading and you will find things that click with you.

Don't forget that rents go up too.

I remember Nathan Birch telling me that his initial goal was to buy 10 properties. He planned on putting the rent up $10pw on each one every year, so after 10 years he'd have $50,000 a year to live…[Read more]

Doesn't sound too good to be true to me. Sounds good but not alarming. Why is it not selling?

Have you compared it to others in the same area? Just check that it's not a company title or a serviced apartment.

Where is it located?  That will make the difference to me. If it's regional and you don't experience CG then it's not a good investment…[Read more]

brmiau wrote:
Idealy in 2 years I would like to have between 5-10 properties and in 5 years maybe 20 or so, maybe more if it is all going well. Looking at retiring from work to concentrate on property within 3-5 years after that with around 50 properties. Hopefully earning $4-5k a week.

I know it probably seems a bit ambitious or naive or…[Read more]

The loan you take out on an investment is fully tax deductible. If you pay it down then the amount is reduced. If you then take money out of it to spend on (say) a car or a new home that amount is NOT deductible as you spent it on personal items.

If you have the same account but with an offset you put any extra money into the offset so in effect…[Read more]

Hi Willis, I'm assuming you live in your dream home then and never plan to upgrade or spend extra money on a car or a holiday?  

Because if you do you will be paying non deductible interest on the new home. The thing is you never know when you might need that excess money. If you lose your job or need the money then you will be withdrawing money…[Read more]

There is no legal obligation for an agent to tell you a sold price.

If you subscribe to RPdata this information is freely available. Having said that I've noticed of late a few people are not releasing sold figures so the price is not updated on RPdata. But it does have the buyers name and sold date at least. You look up the address and it tells…[Read more]

Put your concerns and revised offer in writing and give it to the real estate agent. As others said- depends on how the market is as to whether they will accept.

No harm in asking but decide whether it is a deal breaker for you.

I used to do mine when it was simple. But property rules are ever changing.

I don't have time to keep up with the rules. I want my properties to give me passive income. I get it ready and know what's going on but I'd rather pay someone else to get it all organise for me and check that I am getting everything I am entitled to get.

I've got better…[Read more]

You need a mixture of both CF and CG unless you earn big money and can afford large out of pocket expenses.

Sometimes people have some of both. That way the +CF helps ease the pain of the -CF. You can only hold so many -CF properties before you can't afford to hold them.

Also what's your end goal. Mine was to buy quickly then retire quickly so I…[Read more]