Hi Fredo!

I am so glad you have posted this!
 
Does anyone know how much staging cost? Say, for a typical 3 bedroom home – all rooms staged. My realestate agent gave an approximation of $3,000. This does not sound a lot for the benefits gained. And where does one look for a staging company? Some of them charge $100 per hour for consultation (when looking at google results). Should I ask if they have some sort of credentials? Ie. interior design… or is that too anal?  

Auctions are defiantly worth effort, NBS!

I am going to stick up for auctions – I like them. I have bought and sold in QLD and VIC and they seem to work in VIC better than QLD.
Rule No1 – EVERY realestate WILL underquote which is why always add 10-15% on top of the quoted price and THAT will be price that the owners want to sell. If this is too much then save your time and effort.
ALWAYS work out your ceiling, stick to it (yes it feels like you have won when you walk away from it at the end) and do not bother bidding until the property is on the market.
NEVER bid against the vendor’s bid – they can do this but only once and it is not a real bid but a technique to ramp up the price. (I attended an auction where someone placed a bid, then the auctioneer did a vendor’s bid and then the SAME guy placed in another bid! I guess he did not realise that he just bid against HIMSELF!)
WATCH who is bidding – never ever let the auctioneer accept bids from a pot plant behind you. Don’t be afraid to interrupt the process by asking who was the last bidder. (In fact feel free to do this to break that nasty rhythm that makes people panic and bid more.)
Remember that most people hate auctions – THIS IS GOOD because if people are turned off them it eliminates competition.

The reason why I like auctions as opposed to private sales is because it gives you a much better FEEL of the market. Is it booming? Is there a lot of interest in the area? What type of people are looking to buy? How eagerly are they spending (are they bidding by reluctant lots of $100 or galloping $10,000)?
At the end of the day auctions are open, transparent and in a sense more honest way to purchase. In private sales you are always told that there is always someone else who is interested in the house. How do you know that this is not a load of bull if you can’t see the person yourself?

I have a house for auction at the moment and our first open day is tomorrow. One other benefit as a vendor is that by attending auctions in the area i know how eager the market will be for my popery. I know exactly the date that my house will be sold and can guess when the settlement will happen. I can plan ahead, which is a luxury.

Too right! I think more people should do what you did and test the quality of their PM.

Take a look at Seddon and I agree with the above that some pockets of Footscray are worthwhile (careful though of council housing areas).

Funny how the grass seems greener… we are currently in VIC but are looking to QLD as a place for better opportunities.

Agree that mail redirection sucks. We only have the one P.O.Box (currently in a different state where we are now!) which redirects all. Avoid giving out the ‘current’ residence to lessen the confusion when its time to move.