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P 298 7717 F 298 6361 M 021 157 7707 [email protected] | www.harcourts.co.nz Fiona Senton You talk, I’ll listen. Buying or selling, I will work for you! Checkout my NEW website: www.fionasenton.co.nz 10 Mack Place Marketed & sold by Fiona 99E Settlement Rd Marketed & sold by Fiona 1/7 Onslow Rd, Opaheke Sold by Fiona Good neighbours look out for each other. No one is home 24/7 so getting to know the people who live around us is crucial to help deter crime and keep our streets safer. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a crime to motivate neighbours to band together but increasing numbers of Kiwis, supported by New Zealand Police, are getting a step ahead of criminals by setting up Neighbourhood Support Groups. Consisting of 10-15 houses, members have everyone’s contact details and display street signs and window stickers to deter burglars. Groups are encouraged to arrange a social event twice a year. Getting to know your neighbours and developing a plan to deal with suspicious activity is important. If you’ll be away arrange for someone to collect your mail. Keep your lawns mown, hang washing on the line and have a neighbour park in the driveway so your place looks occupied. Of key importance to reduce crime is removing temptation for would-be burglars. You’d be surprised how many people overlook the obvious. Lock all doors and windows when leaving home. Keep garden sheds and garages secure too. And never leave valuables in your car. How Good Neighbours Fight Crime Does Your Salesperson Affect Your Selling Price? Interestingly, recent research from the University of New South Wales shows that good looking real estate agents eek, on average, an extra 2.3% from buyers ($11,500 on a $500,000 home). However, when interpreting these findings, it is also important to note that top performers always take pride in their appearance and personal photography (on which the research was based) so good looks may not be as big a contributing factor as the research suggests. I believe the price you achieve for your home is far more reflective of your salesperson’s two key skills – marketing and negotiation – than their eligibility for the catwalk! Although it may appear real estate salespeople are simply a go between buyer and seller, not dissimilar to a mortgage broker, this is not the case. The principal goal of your salesperson is to find you the buyer that will pay the most then make sure they do! A simple but effective tip to check on suspicious strangers at a neighbouring property is to ask, “Are you looking for Betty?” (or some other fictitious name). If the answer is affirmative tell them that she won’t be far away. Call 111 immediately. Police are always interested in suspicious activity and would rather arrive to discover the “stranger” is a legitimate tradesperson than to later discover a crime took place. So don’t hesitate to call 111 if you see something out of the ordinary. And get to know your neighbours. You never know when you might need them; even if it’s just to borrow a pinch of baking powder for those last minute date scones. When neighbours know each other it is easy to recognise suspicious activity. Continued...
