Professionals Real Estate 
Perth home owners stay in their properties for 8.5 years on average, before moving to a different house according to Shane Kempton, CEO of Professionals Real Estate Group.
Mr Kempton said that RP Data figures showed that Perth home owners changed properties more often and other capital cities such as Sydney where the change-over rate was 11 years.
“The higher change over rate in Perth can be accounted for the fact that we have a very high level of migration and this creates a ripple effect through the local property market thousands of people arrive every year seeking accommodation. At the same time, our property market is relatively affordable and this creates the opportunity for new people to buy homes while at the same upgrade at a much faster rate than other capital cities such as Sydney.”
“Currently, Professionals is finding that upgraders are now a growing part of the local property market due to the fact that the bottom end has performed more strongly than the mid to upper end. In particular, we are finding that property owners in the sub $500,000 price range and now upgrading to homes priced between $600,000 to $900,000.”
“Historically low interest rates are also encouraging this trend and we expect the upgrader property market to remain strong during the coming year. The demand for property still remains very strong even during the winter months with many of our offices throughout the State recording high levels of sales. Therefore, anyone who is considering selling their home could find that now is a terrific time to list their property for sale,” he said.
Mr Kempton outlined a number of key issues that sellers should consider which would enhance the attraction of their home to property buyers during winter months.
Street Appeal
Make sure your gardens are well presented during the winter months because the street appeal of the property is generally a big selling point for a home. It is a good investment to fertilize your lawns regularly to keep them green and strategically placing plants in the garden which bloom during the winter months.
Light
It is proven that people react more favourably to property shown under bright light than dark. Because there is less light during the winter months, you have to work harder to maximize the light entering your home. The following steps should help you keep your home as bright as possible.
- Have home opens around lunch time or early afternoon when sunlight is at its peak.
- Keep windows clean.
- Use adequate wattage in light bulbs.
- Consider replacing older fluorescent lamps, which darken with use.
- Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of light and space.
- Use light wall colours.
- Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showings.
Heating
Your home should be warm and inviting. If you have heating in your home make sure that it is working during home opens and the air temperature in the home is at a comfortable level. If you have natural fires, considering operating them during the home open to give your home added atmosphere.
It is also worth investing in internal flower arrangements to enhance the atmosphere of the home during the winter months.
Finally, take a flexible approach to home inspections because attendance during weekend home open times can be low due to bad weather.
