Author Archives: Professionals Fairfield

Get your garden into shape for spring

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Spring is upon us again and already the Professionals Fairfield Real Estate team have been noticing plenty of locals out in their front yards mowing their lawns and pruning their gardens to uncover beautiful spring flowers and plants.

If you would like to be doing the same but aren’t quite sure where to start then help is here as we have compiled a few garden tips to help rejuvenate Fairfield’s garden for spring:

  • The first step is to head outside and tidy up any rubbish that might be lying around, or any fallen leaves.
  • Next it’s time to mow overgrown lawns and prune back any plants that have flowered over winter.
  • Start weeding! Those weeds could be hiding and suffocating beautiful plants hidden beneath.
  • It might be a good idea to lay fertiliser to help improve the health and promote the growth of your plants and lawns. Remember to skip this step if you have an open home coming up.
  • Spring could be the perfect opportunity to plant your favourite herbs. You can create a herb garden out back, or maybe just a couple of potted plants inside to use in your cooking and spring salads.
  • While you’re outside you might also like to plant some new seeds for plants that will be ready to bloom in summer.

We’re sure there are plenty more ideas out there to get Fairfield gardens blooming this spring. If you have any tips then feel free to share them below or at our Professionals Fairfield Real Estate Facebook Page.

 

Is your home making the right first impressions?

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Despite the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”, many homebuyers establish opinions about properties based purely on what they look like from the outside.

Think about the last time you took a walk down the street – did you comment on what other properties looked like?

Many homebuyers like to drive or walk around a neighbourhood and inspect a property from the outside before they decide to look at the inside, so those first impressions really do count and may be the deciding factor on whether or not a property gets a call.

So take a good look at your house and ask yourself what first impressions it could be making.

–       How does the garden look? It’s a good idea to make an effort to regularly mow the front lawn and to prune trees and shrubs.

–       Keep pathways clear by removing leaves and weeds and by cleaning away any dirt.

–       Make sure that there are no unattractive items left laying out the front – this includes things such as kid’s toys, garden equipment, old newspapers and mail etc.

–       Check that your fences and gates are up to scratch. If they’re looking a little worse for wear you could replace damaged palings or possibly repaint the entire fence.

–       Don’t forget to make sure your front entrance is looking its very best. This can be done by cleaning up the front door and offering a welcome mat. If you have a doorbell, check that it is in working order.

Once your front yard is all cleaned up, stand across the street from your house and ask yourself if there is anything that looks out of place or catches your eye.

Perhaps there is something simple you can fix up to help your property give a better first impression.

If you would like any advice about improving the curb appeal of your property then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of the team at Professionals Fairfield Real Estate.

 

Spring clean your wardrobe during Op-Shop Week

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The Fairfield community is invited to get involved with this week’s National Op-Shop Week and recognise the vital role that local charity op shops play in Australia.

National Op-Shop Week is a joint initiative of DoSomething! and the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO) and their goal for the week is to help boost the stocks and sales of quality clothing in op shops and ultimately help charities raise more funds to help carry out their good work.

With spring just around the corner, Op-Shop Week serves as a timely reminder to spring clean your wardrobe and donate any clothing items that are in good condition but no longer needed.

The sales from Australia’s charity op shops help assist tens of thousands of people in need every year.

Op shops also help divert about 300,000 tonnes of clothing from landfill each year thanks to their clothing bins and in-store donations.

No doubt there are a lot of wardrobes in Fairfield that have unwanted clothing items in them, so to help others and the environment, why not go through your clothes this week and send all of your quality unwanted items to your nearest op shop or charity bin?

For more information about Op-Shop Week, head to www.dosomethingnearyou.com.au/op-shop-week.

Do you donate to op-shops in Fairfield? Or do you regularly shop in them?

Cabramatta Moon Festival 2014

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In just a few weeks time the Fairfield community will be out in force to celebrate the always-popular Cabramatta Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is recognised as one of Sydney’s biggest Asian celebrations, attracting more than 90,000 people from the local community and from all across the Sydney region.

Similar festivals are celebrated in cities around the world, and the date of the festival (Sunday 7 September) is usually based on the equinox, which is the day of the year when there is equal amounts of daylight and darkness and when the moon is said to shine the brightest, however this year the festival is taking place a couple of weeks early to coincide with Fathers Day.

Some of the features of this year’s Moon Festival will include a fishing show, monster truck, lion dances, children’s lantern parade, traditional foods, fireworks and entertainment from Dami of X Factor fame.

The Cabramatta Moon Festival always makes for a great day out so don’t forget to mark it in your diary.

For all further information about the Cabramatta Moon Festival you can visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/moonfestival.

Will you be spring-cleaning your Fairfield home this year?

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Spring is almost here, which means we can all look forward to longer days and flowers out in full bloom.

For many, spring is also about the all-important spring clean up and so now is as good a time as any to start stocking up on cleaning supplies and garbage bags and boxes to throw away all of those things you have been accumulating in your home throughout the year.

If your home is in need of a serious cleanout, you may also need to arrange for a skip bin, or an upcoming trip to the tip.

Once you have all of your supplies, it’s time to start getting into your cupboards, draws and rooms and sorting through everything you no longer need or want.

Trying to decide what to keep and what to throw away can be difficult, so don’t do it alone. Ask someone to help you out and be there to tell you when you’re holding onto something that you’re really never going to use again.

If there are some items that are still in good condition but that you don’t want anymore, then consider selling them on eBay or perhaps even asking your friends on Facebook if they’re interested in taking it off your hands.

Once you’ve de-cluttered, it’s time to start cleaning.

A spring clean calls for all of those jobs that you don’t do in your regular cleaning such as deep cleaning carpets and rugs, cleaning out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry, replacing batteries in smoke alarms and making sure that everything is in general working order.

You may also like to use this time as a chance to redecorate and give your home a fresh new spring look.

If you’re finding it hard to get motivated to spring clean this year, then consider motivating yourself with a reward at the end. Maybe you could buy new linen or accessories for your home? Another idea is to turn your clean up into a party by turning up your favourite music and inviting your friends over to join in.

If all that fails, then think about that great feeling you’ll have when your home is clean and looks like brand new again.

Spring might not officially begin for another week, but there’s no harm in getting in early, especially if you plan on selling your property this spring selling season.

For more home tips and advice you can keep following our posts at Living in Fairfield.

Of if you’re looking to sell your home this spring selling season then feel free to give us a call at Professionals Fairfield Real Estate.

Auction vs. Private Sale – Which is best?

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A common question asked by sellers is whether it is better to sell by auction or by private sale.

Every real estate agent is likely to give you a different answer, but in truth both options have their pros and cons and the most suitable type of sale for your property will depend on a variety of factors.

Why go for a private sale?

–       A private sale can be cheaper as you won’t need to pay for a specialist auctioneer or possible extra marketing costs

–       You can take your time with a private sale, which is useful if you want to wait and see what offers you will get or if you want special sale terms such as an extended settlement period.

–       This type of sale is generally a lot less intimidating for buyers and sellers as both have more time to consider offers.

–       If you’re a particularly private person then you may prefer to have a sale away from the public eye.

Why go for an auction?

–       In general auctions are quicker because a set date is given and buyers feel a sense of urgency to make their decision right away.

–       You may attract a higher price with an auction as competition amongst buyers can push the price well above the expectation of the seller.

–       Auctions often get the attention of casual buyers who may turn up unannounced on the day and decide to join in on the bidding.

–       There are set terms for sale at an auction which is good for sellers who want an unconditional sale (no cooling off period).

Overall it is important to do what suits your property, so ask your Professionals Fairfield Real Estate agent what they recommend and they will be able to offer you the best advice based on your individual situation.

Do you have any stories to tell about Cabra-Vale Memorial Park?

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The Fairfield City Council is calling out to anyone who might have memories or photos to share of the Cabra-Vale Memorial Park.

The Cabra-Vale Memorial Park will be celebrating its 100th birthday in October this year and the local council is putting together a book of memories to mark this special occasion.

The book will include stories, memories and photographs of the park and of the people who have built, used and maintained it.

There will also be an event later this year to commemorate the official opening of the park, which occurred on October 31, 1914. The council’s book will be included in a Time Capsule event on the day.

If you think you have something to contribute to the book, you can contact Marilyn Gallo (Local Studies Librarian) on 02 9725 0347 or you can email mgallo@fairfieldcitynsw.gov.au.

Do you have anything you think you could contribute to the book?

Do you have a long-term financial plan?

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Are you hoping to buy a new home but haven’t figured out how you are going to afford it yet?

If you don’t have the finances to pay for a property now, then it’s time to start saving. That means setting yourself a specific target and figuring out how much to put away each week in order to reach your goal.

A lot of people put off buying their first home or their dream home simply because they think they can’t afford it, but one of the biggest problems is that many don’t make a financial plan now that will allow them to invest in the property they want for the future.

If you want to save for a home mortgage, start looking at ways you can save more money. Can you get extra work? Can you make lifestyle sacrifices to get ahead?

It’s not a bad idea to sit down and figure out what your property plans are and how much you will need to afford them.

Sure, it might take a few years before you can afford the property you want but you have to start somewhere and it is better to start saving today rather than being in the same position in a few years time with still no savings to your name.

If you’re looking to start saving for a new home it doesn’t hurt to get advice from professionals. Talk to financial advisors who can offer the best advice on how you can start growing your funds to help reach your goals.

 

What will Fairfield residents spend their tax returns on this year?

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It’s tax time again and while most of us dread having to fill in our tax forms, it’s always a nice bonus if we get a tax return at the end.

According to a survey by Homeloans.com.au, more than 64% of Australians are expecting to receive a tax return this year.

So what will most people be spending their tax returns on?

While a lot of us will be dreaming about holidays and shopping sprees, it looks like the vast majority of Australians will be spending their money on more sensible things.

The survey showed that 33% of respondents plan to spend their tax return on repaying debt not including mortgage, which was the choice of an additional 21% of respondents. Another popular option by respondents was investing, which was chosen by 26% of respondents.

Going on a holiday was still a popular option however, with 18% choosing to spend their tax return on a getaway, and there is likely to be a lot of home renovators around this year too, with 13% of respondents choosing to spend their money on home improvements.

Other items that Australians might be spending their tax return on this year include HECS debt, bolstering maternity leave savings, childcare or school fees, weddings and honeymoons, council/land rates, and buying solar panels for the home.

If you want to see the full results of the survey, visit www.homeloans.com.au/customer-centre/enewsletter-july14/tax-refunds-for-debt-reduction.aspx.

What do you plan to spend your tax return on this year?

Work Begins on Fairfield’s Adventure Playground

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Works on Fairfield’s new Adventure Playground at Fairfield Park have now begun!

The highly anticipated $1.4 million project will hopefully be ready for the next summer holidays, giving Fairfield families an exciting new place to visit.

Once complete, the playground will feature including an 11-metre high giant climbing net, a sky bridge and slide combination (one of the tallest of its kind in Australia), and a 33-metre long double flying fox.

The playground will also offer natural shade of new and existing trees, and the park itself will be given foosball and table tennis tables, as well as barbecue and picnic tables.

The park will be a great place for the whole family to visit, and the playground itself will be suitable for those aged in their early teens, making it particularly unique as most playgrounds are geared towards younger children.

The team at Professionals Fairfield Real Estate are looking forward to the competition of the playground, as we’re sure it will make for a great new attraction in Fairfield.

If you want to find out more about the playground then you can find details at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.