This time of year is renowned for bright lights, nice weather and especially lots of entertainment.  Below is a hand-picked list, for the young and old, which includes some of the best upcoming, and currently running, events and to do’s in Sydney. Forget your traditional Sydney tourist attractions and things to do, this list is sure to make a true Sydneysider out of you!

Here is the Home Hunters guide to what’s on in Sydney in early 2012:

-        Australian Ballet, Sydney Opera House (ends 21 Dec 2011)

-        Field Day, The Domain (Jan 1 2012)

-        The Sydney Festival, Sydney CBD (Jan 7-29 2012)

-        Parra Opening Party, Parramatta CBD (Jan 14 2012)

-        Symphony in the Domain: The Young Ones, The Domain (21 Jan 2012)

-        Ferrython, Sydney Harbour (Jan 29 2012)

-        Big Day Out, Sydney Showground (Jan 26 2012)

-        Kanye West, Sydney Entertainment Centre (Jan 27 2012)

-        Harry Potter The Exhibition, Powerhouse Museum (ends 18 March 2012)

-        Picasso- Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso Paris, The Art Gallery f NSW (ends 25 March 2012)

-        Bondi Markets, Bondi Beach Public School (every Sunday!)

-        Rozelle Markets, Rozelle Public School (every weekend!)

-        Young Australian Designers Markets, Paddington Town Hall (twice a month, every second and third Saturday)

Even though this is only a small list, it is easy to see how diverse the city, and people, of Sydney is. See you in Sydney!

The tax basically means that the country’s main carbon emitting companies will now have a financial impost, if they emit over 25,000  tonnes of carbon dioxide into the environment.

But what exactly does this mean for the Australian real estate market? The Housing Industry Association (HIA) chief executive says that

“Inevitably, a carbon tax will impact on the cost of a new home, reduce housing affordability and reduce the competitiveness of Australia’s building material and product manufacturers against imports from countries that don’t have an economy-wide carbon tax. The tax will adversely affect jobs in residential building and manufacturing, and result in carbon leakage offshore as imported products are substituted for Australian-made.”

However Urbis managing director, John Wynne, argues that

“Based on many current practices there’s no doubt that the cost of building materials will increase with the tax. However a new door is opening and innovation is the key to responding to it. By improving the energy efficiency of new homes there’s the potential to reduce power costs significantly. This is by far and away the largest proportion of a home’s energy cost.”

The carbon tax has been debated by politicians until they are blue in the face, but there is still much speculation about what exactly the tax will impose on the country and all its industries- as whole. For now, we will have to wait and see.

Let Home Hunters know whether or not you think the carbon tax will impact the Australian real estate industry by commenting below.

To make sure that you give yourself the best opportunity at obtaining this rental, Home Hunters has put together some inspection do’s and don’ts. They are as follows:

Dos

• Look neat and tidy at the inspection. Looking like a good tenant improves the chances of the agent presenting your application to the landlord, who makes the final decision.
• Make sure you have ALL the appropriate personal documents needed to fill out any applications. It is important to be prepared for anything, in case the documents are unexpectedly needed right away.
• If there is more than one person on the lease, you will need to fill out an application for each person on the lease. This takes time so be prepared to have the relevant paperwork not only for yourself, but for EACH applicant.
• Become friendly with the agent, make small talk and contact them every 3-4 hours to chase them on your pending application. Ask the agent what needs to happen to ensure your application gets approved, for example bringing the start date forward. An interested, organised tenant is more likely to receive lease on the property.
• Ask the agent how many applications have been submitted. If more than 2, offer 2% more, if there are 5 applications offer 3% more and so forth. This is recommended for a quick response, and 95% approval rate.

Don’ts

• Do not bring your children to the inspection unless they are above12 years old. Young children running around the property are not appealing to the agent.
• Do not apply for a property unless you, a friend, relative or a relocation agent have viewed it. Not only will it be waste of time, as most agencies will not accept an application unless it has been viewed, but disappointment is the only outcome in the long run.

For a list of all the relevant documents needed for a lease application, visit our previous blog, “Finding a Property before Christmas?”

Luckily, Home Hunters Relocations has some handy tips to help you find your dream rental as promptly and pain-free as possible.

Before the search even begins, it is important to have all the relevant paperwork ready. While the following list may look long, it is essential to ensure all these documents are easily accessible in case they are needed without delay. The documents include:

1. Scan of passport
2. Scan of drivers license
3. Scan of health card & C/C or bank statement (black out numbers)
4. Letter of offer that states your position and salary with HR Details for contact
5. Previous employment history- position, term & salary with contact details
6. Proof of current residence- rates notice or ledger, tenant reference
7. Previous residence details- term, last landlord if applicable
8. Two referees in Australia- names and contact details
9. Emergency contact details- a relative or friend
10. If you have pets- a photo and reference if possible
11. Car rego number if available

After you have obtained all your personal, significant documents, the search may begin.

Searching for your idea property online is usually the most popular method of finding a rental. The problem with this is that properties that you see online may have already been leased. To avoid wasting valuable time on already leased properties, give yourself a couple of days to catch the market, don’t rush into anything.

Once a potential property has been found, make sure to always attend the first inspection and make polite, friendly conversation with the agent. This will not only begin a relationship with the agent, but gives you a chance to inspect your competition.

Let us imagine that this property is THE one. You love it, it is perfect for all your personal needs and you want to secure it right away. In this case, the best thing to do is hang around until the end of the inspection. Ask the agent if you can fill out the application right away at the local agency. Inform the agent that you already have the deposit, and are able to pay that day. This may entice the agent, and encourage him/her to speed the process by seeking landlord approval quickly.

Because you have all your personal documents handy, the application can be filled out right away, with no delays whatsoever. This shows the agent that you are a serious, organised applicant, which will help cement a good reputation with the landlord. Make sure that your paperwork is filled in neatly, as the process moves faster if an application is easy to read.

Remain around the agency while the application is reviewed. Inform the agent that you are going to grab a coffee or bite to eat while you await his/her phone call. Remaining close by shows the agent that you want to get the process done as quickly and smoothly as possible, and will get him/her started faster.

If your application is approved, go back to the agency right away. Pay the deposit and organise a time right then and there to sign the lease and pay the remainder of funds.

It is important to note again that this time of year is a busy and stressful time for any industry. Ensuring that you are constantly on top of the agent is the key to making sure that the process is completed in a timely fashion.

The Hassan family has a son named Izak, who is a paraplegic. When Izak was four years old, it was evident to the family that they would need a new home. They were living in a two story house, with many stairs, which would soon become a problem as Izak would need to access the entire house freely and with ease as he got older. That is when the Hassan family sought out our help in order to find them a home best suitable for their particular needs.

In reality, there is not an abundance of rental properties, or properties to purchase, that are designed specifically for wheelchair access. Also, having someone who is in a wheelchair viewing properties takes time and effort and can be, logistically, very difficult. For this reason, we do the searching, we qualify the properties and only take clients to the properties that they are able to live in comfortably with minor modifications.

We were ecstatic when Mr Hassan told us that, “Izak had a 300 percent improvement after our relocation. At home he isn’t disabled, he can move around freely. It is easy to buy a single story house, but the house needed to be specific to renovate in the future. You guys knew all the specifics needed.”

It was so nice to hear from the Hassan family. We are delighted that they are happy and comfortable in their home, and wish them all the best in the future.

Due to great demand in the Queensland market relocating to Brisbane can now be all the easier, as Home Hunters has now expanded to the Queensland capital. Home Hunters Relocations is very happy and excited about our expansion to Brisbane, with Mark Wood leading the Queensland team.

Relocating to Brisbane is a big step when considering the massive cultural difference, especially if you’re used to being a big city dweller. In contrast, when relocating to Brisbane you could have a similar experience to that of Mark Wood who upon going South East Queensland in the 1980s, fell in love with the region and its more relaxed lifestyle.

Either way, what is for sure is that relocating to Brisbane can now be completely taken care of by the Home Hunters team- from start to finish. Mark’s love and expertise of the area cannot be topped. Like the initial Home Hunters Relocation team in Sydney, Mark is happy to assist with any advice or opinions needed regarding anything about your new lifestyle in Brisbane.

Whether you are relocating to Brisbane because of work commitments, family commitments, or just need that change of pace, Home Hunters Relocations is there to give you that extra helping hand.

Spread over three levels, this massive apartment (approx. 110sqms!) is a must to view.

Located on a prized, ultra-convenient street, you’ll be close to Central Station & vibrant Crown Street!

For more details visit; http://www.homehunters.com.au/propertyDetails.php?property_ID=9brumbyst&pageIndex=1

3 Level Apartment

So many furnished properties do not supply new pillow protectors, mattress protectors and dry cleaned soft furnishings!

Advise: Contact Property Management prior to arriving to your new destination to sort this situation out! And confirm if the property is fully furnished or partially furnished to avoid dissapointment.