A crossroads is what the Australian property market seems to be at presently. On one hand, several indicators point towards the market bottoming out, and on the other hand, there’s a looming uncertainty that further decline may be ahead. The recent reports from CoreLogic and BrokerNews shed light on this rather unusual and uncertain state of the Australian housing market.

According to CoreLogic’s Home Value Index, the downturn in Australia’s housing market appears to be over. After a drop of -9.1% between May 2022 and February 2023, the national home value index started to show a promising upward trend with a half percent increase in April, following a 0.6% lift in March.

Tim Lawless, Research Director at CoreLogic, observes a positive shift in several indicators, including auction clearance rates and home sales, which are now trending around the previous five-year average1. This trend is occurring even as interest rates remain above average, a phenomenon last seen during the mid-to-late 2000s’ mining boom.

On the flip side, a significant increase in net overseas migration, combined with a lack of housing supply, is creating an imbalance in the market1. This is supported by data from a survey by Send Money Australia, where 65% of respondents expressed concerns about rising house prices and rents due to higher immigration.

Nathaniel Truong, director of Loan Lounge, echoes these concerns, stating that while migration supports population growth and fuels economic activity, it also puts pressure on housing prices and supply.

In these conflicting circumstances, what should vendors do? Wait for a clear market direction or act now?

Spring, traditionally known as the selling season in the real estate market, often sees a surge in property listings. This increase in supply can impact market dynamics significantly. A sudden oversupply of properties could potentially soften prices, as buyers have a wider range of choices. Conversely, if buyer demand continues to be strong, this oversupply could be absorbed without significantly impacting prices. This annual cycle, coupled with the current market uncertainty, further complicates the decision-making process for vendors.

Given the current uncertain market future, vendors should not wait to transact. The market today is swayed by media narratives, economic factors, and property data that project different outcomes. This confusion could create opportunities for vendors who decide to act swiftly.

Lawless suggests that the current market conditions could be influencing a broader perception that the market has bottomed out, making it an opportune time to buy. This sentiment, backed by the potential end to the rate hiking cycle, may offer sellers an advantage at the negotiation table.

Moreover, the increasing demand from migrants for housing and investment properties is a driving factor for property prices, construction growth, and investment opportunities. Despite the challenges, this demand could help vendors get ahead in the market.

Uncertainty can be daunting, but it should not paralyse action. While we navigate the current market’s unique position, vendors have the chance to seize the opportunities that this uncertainty presents. Waiting for a clear market direction could mean missing out on these opportunities.

It’s essential to note that selling in the current market presents unique opportunities. Transacting in a down market at the same level means that changeover costs, such as stamp duty, are reduced, providing a financial advantage to sellers. Moreover, those looking to upsize can reap significant benefits in the current market conditions. If the market continues to slide, sellers can take advantage of further upside on their next purchase.

Selling a property does not exist in a vacuum. It’s often a precursor to buying another property. Therefore, the financial implications of selling in a down market extend beyond the selling price of the current property. They also relate to the potential value and cost of the next property. In a downward market, the price gap between lower-end and high-end properties tends to shrink, making it an opportune time to consider upsizing. The cost difference may be less than in a booming market, making the move more financially achievable.

On the purchasing side, buying property now ensures that you don’t miss the potential upswing. While short-term market fluctuations may cause concern, it’s important to remember that the long-term trajectory of the property market has historically been an increase in value. Real estate is generally considered a safe and reliable long-term investment. Buying now can safeguard against the risk of being priced out of the market if prices rise significantly in the future.

Regardless of market conditions, owning a property serves more than just an investment purpose. It’s a place to call home, to raise a family, and to create memories. These intrinsic values are immune to market fluctuations.

Furthermore, purchasing now allows buyers to take advantage of historically low-interest rates. While they are slightly above average, they remain relatively low in the grand scheme of things. Buyers can lock in these rates, reducing their long-term financial burden.

While uncertainty might be the watchword for the current Australian property market, it’s also a time of unique opportunities. For those who have the financial means and are not looking for short-term gains, buying or selling property now can offer significant long-term benefits. As always, each individual’s circumstances are unique, and it’s important to consider personal financial situations and goals before making any decisions.

Let CampaignFlow help you fund your sale.

In conclusion, the property market is a complex and dynamic entity, swayed by a multitude of factors. Amidst the current uncertainty, vendors are encouraged to make informed decisions and act now rather than wait.

References:

CoreLogic (2023). CoreLogic Home Value Index: Further evidence Australia’s housing downturn is over.

Available at: https://www.corelogic.com.au/news-research/news/2023/corelogic-home-value-index-further-evidence-australias-housing-downturn-is-over

BrokerNews (2023). How will higher immigration affect the property market

Available at: https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/how-will-higher-immigration-affect-the-property-market-281973.aspx

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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If you’re a homeowner, you may be wondering whether now is a good time to sell your property. With the current state of the real estate market, it may seem counterintuitive to consider selling. However, there are some compelling reasons why now could be the right time to make a move.

With interest rates on the rise, many Australians are starting to feel the financial pressure. The recent rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is the tenth in a row, adding significant monthly repayments to variable rate loans. But, according to Domain Home Loans data, about 35% of Aussie borrowers on fixed-rate contracts have been shielded from the rate hikes.

However, as three-quarters of homeowners on fixed rates roll off the stability of those deals and into a variable rate environment by the end of the year, they will freshly feel the financial burden. Another two to three interest rate increases are predicted, and the true impact of this tenth rise is yet to be seen. Borrowing power has been reduced by higher interest rates, which has dragged house prices backwards.

So, with all this uncertainty and fear around interest rates, is now the time to sell?

If you’re a homeowner and considering upsizing your home, it may seem counterintuitive to sell during a down market. However, it may actually be a good time to sell. During a market downturn, the cost to upsize your home may be less because the value of your current home and the more expensive home you want to buy are likely to both decrease by a similar percentage. Additionally, you may also pay less in stamp duty, which can lower the overall cost of the move. This can make the financial burden of upsizing more manageable, and may be a good opportunity to move up the property ladder.

Low supply of listings compared to the same time last year has made auctions and private negotiations competitive, which has put a floor under prices. Real estate has not become as cheap as some buyers might have hoped. However, the proportion of properties nationally that are selling before auction day is at its highest since April last year, indicating that “nervous” vendors and bullish buyers are meeting in the middle.

But there is a risk that if vendors wait until later in the year to sell, an influx of properties may come onto the market, causing prices to fall. According to Ray White economist Nerida Conisbee, auction activity is still strong despite the rolling financial pressures. Participation is near to what it was before interest rates started lifting last year.

It’s important to remember that the decision to sell should not be taken lightly. There are several factors to consider, including your financial position, the current state of the property market, and your personal circumstances. It’s important to seek professional advice before making any decisions.

In conclusion, with interest rates on the rise, now may be the time to sell if you want to upsize. The market is trending down, and the changeover cost is likely to be less. However, it’s important to consider all factors before making any decisions. With professional advice and careful consideration, you can make an informed decision that’s right for you.

Let CampaignFlow help you fund your sale.

We understand that home renovations may seem like a daunting process as it involves   investment and much larger risk. However, with the right styling, marketing and advertising, you can also attract more competition and can make a significant difference to the final result of your sale. However, the upfront investment costs of this may seem intimidating.

CampaignFlow empowers your Agent to showcase your home in the most appealing way possible while taking the burden of upfront marketing costs off your shoulders.

To learn more about CampaignFlow, you can contact us here – we can discuss your options and provide more information about preparing to sell.

Data referenced from the following Domain article.

Read article here – More than 30 per cent of Aussie mortgage holders have escaped rate rise pain but that’s soon to end

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The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

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As recently featured on Eliteagent.com.au, we shared our views on why agents need to take action with auctions to get the best results. Selling under the hammer remains the best approach in all market conditions! While some agents tend to shy away from auctions in weaker markets, now is the time to embrace this method of sale.

View the Elite agent article here.

As an agent, you know that auctions have been the key selling method over the last few years

Thanks to the real-estate boom over the past decade, auctions have become an increasingly popular way to sell property in Australia. The huge demand generated by a surging market prompted agents and vendors to take properties to auction as a way to sell quickly and for exceedingly high prices.

For the last few years, news headlines reported record-breaking prices as the hammer went down across Australia.

But things are starting to change – will auctions too?

As interest rates have risen in recent months, demand has started to decline, and the market is showing the signs of cooling.

In May, the number of Sydney homes sitting unsold for six months or more increased 9.6 per cent, while new listings slumped 5.9 per cent nationwide.

As house prices trend downwards across Australia, most agents typically shift their sales strategy away from auctions towards private treaty sales, believing this is a better strategy.

Because vendors in a shifting market need to be educated.

“The home down the street sold for $2.5M last year. Mine should sell for more!”

Who has heard this a few times? This kind of thinking can be quite confronting for agents, especially in a cooling market.

At times like this, the expectations of vendors who opt for private treaty sales often do not align with the current state of the market. Having anticipated the same sky-high prices and swift sale speeds that were the norm when demand was high, it is not uncommon for vendors to receive an abrupt awakening when their property languishes on the market for months and they are forced to entertain offers well below their expected asking price. 

Then, who do they blame? Their agent.

No homeowner wants to lower their price or sit back and watch as the market dips even lower, which is what makes auctions so powerful. Auctions create urgency among buyers during a declining market in the same way they do during boom times, and are the best way to demonstrate to vendors the true value of their property.

Not only do auctions encourage vendors to overcome their (possibly unrealistic) expectations but can secure a sale much more quickly than waiting around for months for the right buyer to come along. Although we may be seeing a decrease in buyer demand, that does not mean that buyers aren’t out there – they simply need some encouragement. 

Auctions do just that.

Don’t sit around and wait – take action with an auction

Whether the market is strong or weak, auctions remain the best approach for realising the true value of a property. Equally, however, going into an auction unprepared is a sure-fire way of missing out on a potentially lucrative sale. 

So how do you prepare for an explosive auction even in this market?

Promotion, promotion, promotion!

Maximising buyer awareness is the key to a successful auction, and as always, requires high-impact marketing and strong promotion in the lead-up to the auction date. However, the problem that many agents encounter when it comes to promoting a sale is that vendors are either unable or hesitant to cover the large upfront cost of vendor paid advertising (VPA).

Where does that leave you as an agent? If a vendor doesn’t want to cover the cost of promotion, your only option is to go to auction without the necessary promotion – something that will hurt the vendor’s sale, as well as your commission.

However you look at it, that’s not a great outcome. If only there was another way…

CampaignFlow makes marketing your auctions easy

Luckily, you can now overcome hesitant vendors with the help of CampaignFlow.

CampaignFlow is a financial product that frees vendors from the burden of funding their marketing costs upfront and allows agents to focus on the crucial job of promoting the property. With CampaignFlow, vendors have three options for financing the cost of marketing their property:

1. Pay Upfront: Exactly as it sounds – the vendor pays CampaignFlow and marketing costs are paid directly to the agent before the campaign launch.

2. Pay On Success: Offering the ultimate peace of mind to vendors. A dynamic risk fee is paid upfront and the marketing funds are transferred to the agent upfront. These funds are repaid by the vendor upon the settlement of a sale and are not repaid of the property does not sell – it’s simple. This is an exclusive option to CampaignFlow.

3. Pay Later: As a fully accredited and regulated lender, CampaignFlow offers competitive rates and a fixed fee for vendors who don’t want to pay for their advertising costs upfront. All costs and interest are paid at settlement, with a variable interest rate so vendors pay less if they make a quick sale. This way, the marketing funds are transferred to the agent upfront but the vendor can repay the funds later.

Talk to us to overcome vendor hesitancy in a shifting market

If your vendors are failing to see the value of an auction or property marketing in the current market, CampaignFlow can help. No matter what payment option your vendor chooses, CampaignFlow releases the funds to you upfront so that you can start promoting a property quickly and getting the result you deserve.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you overcome vendor hesitancy and secure strong sales in a shifting market.

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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When you’re trying to sell properties, presentation is everything – especially when you want to make a strong impression on potential buyers.

This is why property marketing plays such a crucial role in attracting buyers to drive up competition and consequently, the sale price of homes.

Campaign Flow recognises how important vendor paid advertising (VPA) is for agents and their clients, however, the upfront costs can be intimidating. That’s why Campaign Flow provides smart financial options to reassure vendors and boost their property marketing investment which then helps you achieve a faster sale at a higher price (a win-win for both agents and sellers!).

Campaign Flow in action for Mark Brudenell from Harcourts

Recently, the Tasmanian Mercury and REA highlighted the potential Campaign Flow offers to agents and vendors in a real case study which showcased how our platform supported Mark Brudenell from Harcourts Signature and his client list a phenomenal unit ready to make a big impression on more buyers.

The article can be found [here].

It would definitely not have been that way without Campaign Flow. Here’s why.

How Campaign Flow simplifies upfront finance for marketing when selling properties

To improve the selling success for both you and your vendors, you need to ensure their properties stand out in the market. This involves a comprehensive property marketing campaign that includes advertising, home styling, minor repairs, home improvements, landscaping and more.

The list is endless. But are the funds?

Unfortunately, not all vendors have the upfront cash flow to optimise marketing for their listings. Most of them are expecting the money after the sale, so they can’t afford to pay upfront for renovations and styling.

This is where Campaign Flow enters the picture.

At Campaign Flow, we empower your vendors with more financial freedom to invest in property marketing. Whether they choose to Pay Upfront, Pay On Sale or Pay On Success, we can organise the funds within 24 hours to enable you to do what you do best – that is, promoting their homes with confidence, attracting lots of buyers and selling them for the best price.

Here’s one of our success stories from Tasmania

As featured in the Tasmanian Mercury and on REA, Campaign Flow was able to help real estate agent, Mark Brudenell from Harcourts Signature and his vendors prepare their two-bedroom unit at No.18/14 Ashfield Street in Sandy Bay for sale.

“We were recently able to help the owners by assisting to arrange a significant property upgrade including painting, new carpet, a full electrical upgrade and cleaning. The best part being, they were able to defer these costs until settlement through a third-party provider – Campaign Flow,” he said.

Through Campaign Flow, the vendors were able to obtain around $17,000 ahead of the sale. These funds allowed their agent, Mark, to improve and market the unit in a way he believed would achieve the best result – and in a way that would never have been possible without upfront funds from Campaign Flow.

“By spending around $17,000, we are now confident that the property will achieve a far better sales price than if the work had not been completed,” Mark Brudenell added.

Campaign Flow made this possible.

With less time needed to negotiate with the vendor about marketing expenditure, minimal upfront costs, and funds being available within 24 hours, Mark has been able to concentrate on selling the property and get the best outcome for his vendors.

Currently, the property is priced at “offers over $595,000”.

View the listing [here].

Let Campaign Flow make marketing and selling properties as easy as Harcourts Signature

Created by agents for agents, you can trust that Campaign Flow is here to help you fund vendor-paid advertising for property listings and secure a better sales outcome, faster.

By offering different VPA financing options to your vendors, we enable both of you to scale up your property marketing investment without any significant upfront costs or vendor reluctance.

To learn more about Campaign Flow, you can contact us – we can discuss your options and provide more information about preparing to sell. 

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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Selling a house in Australia is a pricey venture for most vendors. Between agent’s fees, conveyancing, marketing and preparation expenses, the costs can quickly add up.

The costs of selling a property can be substantial and cannot be determined by one figure alone, given there are so many variances. The costs vary from one property to the next and from state to state. To make your journey less stressful, understanding these costs before beginning the process is essential. This way, home sellers are not blindsided by any extra or unexpected expenses.

Pre-Sale preparation

Before selling a property, it is very important to make sure that the house is in the best possible condition. This often means attending to maintenance tasks both inside and outside of the home.

A house that appears run-down will struggle to sell. Repairs don’t cost a fortune but can add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of your home. Anticipating and rectifying maintenance issues that may appear in a building and pest report prior to listing, can save lots of headaches and tough negotiations.

Maintenance works may include having pools and tennis courts professionally cleaned, painting the interior and pressure cleaning the exterior and driveway. A professional real estate agent will advise you on what maintenance works are crucial and what can be left for the new owners.

Legal Fees

Just like when you’re buying a home, you will need to engage the services of a conveyancer. They will prepare the contract, liaise with potential buyers’ legal representatives during the campaign and attend to settlement of the property. Depending on the property, the circumstances and the complexities surrounding the sale, the conveyancing cost can vary between $500 to $3000.

Agents commission

When it comes to selling your property, it’s a good idea to work with a real estate agent who can represent you and get you the best possible sale price for your home. This might require you to ‘shop around’ to make sure you find the right agent – not just the cheapest option.

When it comes to selling a house, the agent’s commission makes up a key component of the overall cost of selling. A real estate agent is engaged to provide their industry expertise and exclusive contacts to help sell your home for the maximum price in the shortest selling period.

There are two common ways in which a real estate agent charges for their service. The first is a flat fee where the agent and vendor agree on a fixed fee no matter what the property sells for. The second option is a real estate agent commission can range from 1 to 3 percent of the sale price of the home.

There is also a bonus structure that some real estate agents suggest – if the property sells at a higher price than the set reserve, then the agent can receive an agreed percentage of the difference between the reserve price and the price it actually sold at. This incentivises agents to push for a higher sale price.

Although real estate agents can be costly, they can help you to get the best final sale price for your home.

Marketing and promotion

When selling your property, a comprehensive marketing campaign will put your home in front of active and passive buyers, with the idea that the more interest you generate, the more people that will bid, resulting in a higher sale price. According to realestate.com.au, the average marketing campaign in Melbourne costs $6,500 to $8,000. In Sydney, the marketing costs can range between $4,500 to $10,000

Your real estate agent will recommend a campaign that will include photography, copywriting, advertising, letterbox drops, online property listings, signboards, social media and other special strategies to help the property stand out from the crowd.

Auctioneer’s Cost

If you have chosen the auction process as your preferred selling method,  then you will undoubtedly have to take their fees into account. While some auctioneers may be free of charge, payable via your real estate commission, you will generally find there is some fee involved.

The cost for using an auctioneer will fluctuate between $200 and $1,000.

Styling and Staging

Whilst real estate agents are essential in the selling process, a property stylist may solve the layout and floor plan problems, make homes more beautiful and win over the hearts and minds of potential buyers. Professional styling gives the home a broader appeal. Stylists know how to present rooms and utilise space to show the home’s fullest potential, ultimately driving the sale price up.

Stylists will introduce the right combination of colour and texture using furniture, art and soft furnishings, which immediately adds value through the eyes of potential buyers.

Depending on the size of your property, whether the property is empty or existing furniture is used, Canstar says the cost can range between $2,500 to $20,000 plus.

Moving fees

Don’t forget to take into consideration your moving costs as these can easily be forgotten.  You will need to consider the charges for the transportation of your belongings once your house is sold if you are not planning to do it all yourself. Prices vary between $500 and $3,000 depending on the distance and access.

Taxes

According to the Australian Taxation Office, when you sell certain types of property, you could potentially be paying Capital Gains Tax, which is the difference between how much you paid for it and how much you sold it for. This can have implications for you, especially if you have investment properties, so speak with the Australian Taxation Office and your accountant when selling your house about your tax obligations.

Lender Fees

If you have a mortgage on your current home, you might need to pay lender fees in the form of either mortgage discharge fees or early exit fees (sometimes associated with fixed term loans), as well as settlement fees. Depending on which lender you are with, these charges can vary, so it’s a good idea to get an understanding of what they are before you list your property on the market.

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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It’s tough out there!

It’s noisy, cluttered and a little saturated. Living in today’s digital age, everything seems to have been ‘discovered’ already. The use of generic and traditional ways to market your agent brand have all been seen by customers which makes them easy to ignore.

This means that real estate agents have to be different to be noticed for the right reasons. This involves brainstorming marketing ideas that push the boundaries in clever and practical ways.

How?

To stand out, you need to reconnect with clients and understand their needs to make sure your marketing keeps you relevant and appealing. This is where unique marketing initiatives come in.

That’s all well and good in theory, but what does this actually look like?

We sat down with real estate guru and Director of O’Brien Real Estate Chelsea, Stavros Ambatzidis, to ask him about what ideas he has come up with recently to break boundaries and get his business out there.

Here’s what he said.

1. Think outside of the box – literally.

“Most agents use doorknocking and marketing emails. These are necessary, but often lead to unsubscribes, people ignoring you or doors being slammed shut in our faces.”

So Stavros thought of an innovative strategy that would subtly let their business ‘inside’ of people’s homes in a way that people loved: “through pizza!”

Yes, you’ve read that right! He partnered with his local pizza shops around the area to feature his agency’s branding inside their boxes so the first thing people see as they open their pizza boxes is their O’Brien logo.

“It puts our branding in the same moment of pleasure as people have when they go to eat pizza. Also, pizza is a very local thing and that also reinforces that we’re locals too.”

But Stavros and his team went one step further. They included little coupons along with each pizza that people could redeem by calling his office. This way, his team can track which calls are coming from their pizza box strategy. Brilliant!

“It’s working very well. It’s raising our brand profile without disrupting people. It’s a great form of marketing for us.”

2. Get your brand on the streets doing good deeds

Stavros asked himself, “what do homeowners often think about? When people speed through their streets!”

He realised this was a great opportunity to get his brand out there by giving everyone in his local suburbs branded speed sign stickers that they could place on bins. Stavros found that people were more than happy to put them up to add an extra safety reminder to drivers, and with the number of cars passing through every day, they were a real “head-turner”, making his brand synonymous with that community.

3. Be a bit playful!

When it comes to marketing your brand, it’s a chance to be creative.

That’s exactly what Stavros and his team did. They came up with an idea to put their brand on a well-loved family board game that ties in closely with real estate –Monopoly.

O’Brien created their own local suburb Monopoly boardgame which featured streets and surrounding areas in Chelsea, and even included some chance cards where players can actually redeem deals from the local shops – creating strong relationships in the process.

Not only is this fun and creative way to promote your business, but this also makes an impact on clients and leaves a lasting impression.

4. Reach out to the community.

Belonging to a community is crucial for real estate agents. After all, you’re a local business surrounded by other local businesses and residents. Forward-thinking agents know how advantageous it can be to collaborate closely with a network like this.

Stavros Ambatzidis took this one step further.

“Chelsea has a strong Greek community and, given my own Greek background, I reached out to them through local Greek radio programs. This solidified my branding and made me relatable.”

This was an excellent way to connect with locals and earn their trust through relatability, resulting in a lot of recommendations amongst their family and friends.

Have Stavros’ ideas inspired you and your marketing?

Promoting yourself as an agent is an exciting opportunity to be both practical and creative. With all the potential possibilities out there in the market, it’s important to come up with unique ideas that will set you apart from your competitors, while making you accessible and memorable.

This doesn’t mean that you need some extravagant idea to get the results that you are aiming for. Start by doing what Stavros Ambatzidis of O’Brien Real Estate Chelsea and his team did – by getting to know your target clients on a deeper level.

Only then you can come up with effective marketing strategies that will cut through the clutter and earn the results you deserve.

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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As a real estate agent, you’ve probably memorised your list of marketing and advertising costs to pitch to your Vendor – advertising packages, styling, maintenance and so on.

In today’s competitive environment, these essential marketing investments really help expand your visibility and extend your reach to interested buyers, attracting higher levels of competition.

After all, it pays to make a property stand out if you want that killer bid or record-breaking hammer fall.

Given there are so many property marketing options out there, we did a bit of research to learn more about the sizes and dynamics of campaigns out there.

Here’s what we found.

General property marketing guides

Most agents generally use a combination of channels, called omnichannel property marketing, to boost the exposure of their listing, all of which come with varying price tags.

From our experience at Campaign Flow, agents and Vendors tend to agree to invest around 0.5% to 2% of the property’s total value on marketing, preparation and advertising costs.

Keep in mind that these are average figures based on our observations.

Depending on what kind of home you’re selling, these amounts can include preparing the home for sale, styling and a bit of maintenance for gardening or internal areas. After all, it’s harder to get results from advertising and marketing if the home isn’t up to scratch in the first place.

Ok, so let’s move more to the typical marketing avenues.

Common property marketing methods and costs

There are two most common ways agents typically choose to advertise properties and bring them closer to potential buyers: traditional marketing and digital marketing.

As agents, we’d obviously love to go all out to make a huge impact. Imagine the potential of throwing expensive Property VIP launches and thousands on advertising! However, marketing properties comes with costs that Vendors have to consider – because ultimately, they have to foot the bill in the end.

So what campaigns do you put together to get that goal price?

Here are some property marketing examples and some of the ballpark cost averages we typically see from agents around Australia.

Traditional Marketing

Traditional property marketing is composed of offline, tangible promotions that aim to reach the right kinds of buyers. Many of these are ‘oldies but goodies’ and still have their place, despite the digital era we’re in today.

The pros are that you can’t do without the staples, like a signboard and printed brochure. Some of the more novel types like magnets, DLs and cards are pretty hard to ignore when in the hands of buyers. After all, there’s something local, nostalgic and tactile about traditional marketing like this.

However, the cons are that their results are difficult to track and they can look dated if not done well.

Some costs involved in traditional marketing are:

• Local newspaper advertising: $1,000
• Features in real estate magazines: around $1,000+
• Property signboards: $100 to $350
• Printing flyers and brochures: Around $200 to $400

Digital Marketing

Due to our huge technological shift, digital marketing has become wildly popular in broadening your audience reach especially on website portals and social media.

The pros of digital marketing is that it’s relatively affordable (depending on your choices that is!), the return on investment can be more accurately measured, and the reach is very powerful, when executed well. The cons are that it can be easily ignored amongst the noise if done poorly.

Some digital property marketing can include:

The basics

• Professional photography: $300 to $1,000
• Photo, video and drone package: $1,500 to $2,000.
• Floorplans: $300 to $600
• Advertising Copywriting: $150 to $300

Website-related costs

• Online property listings on the real estate portals: there are a range of products being offered here, and the different levels of exposure determines both the level of exposure and cost. These typically range from $500 to $3,000+
• Invest in Pay-Per-Click advertising expenses like Google Ads: you can set your own budget here, so it really can be from $50 to $500 for a month of search engine ads.
• The major portals and many new digital players have developed targeted ads on products that seek out buyers based on online user behaviour. These targeted adverts are usually at an additional expense but deliver a really high return on investment due to the data driven approach. Typically these tend to be around the $800+ mark, but there are packages.

Social Media

• Creating promotional content for social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn: $500+ for design fees
• Paid social media ads: just like Google Ads, these can be from $50 to $500 for a month, but you can really set your own budget.

So, how much does it cost to market a property?

Essentially, all of the marketing costs will depend on your approach and the strategies that you apply, as well as how you build your campaigns for each property.

We’ve seen some agents choose either traditional or digital, but most combine both to give their properties the most cut-through so they can perform well in the competitive real estate market.

In the end, it all depends on your creativity as an agent and the willingness of your Vendor.

While your Vendor can often see marketing as an expense, we like to consider it more of an investment, as the right advertising and preparation can make all the difference when it comes to the final result.

What property marketing and advertising packages do you offer your Vendors that gets their property noticed? We’d love to hear your ideas and property marketing strategies.

Did you find this topic interesting?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The team at Campaign Flow work alongside forward-thinking agents like you to help you get your Vendor the best outcome when selling.

If you have ideas for future topics for us to write about, contact us at info@campaignflow.com.au.

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When looking to sell your home a real estate agent may suggest in order to maximise sale price and appeal to as many buyers as possible you might like to consider a strong marketing campaign and look to make some improvements to your home. But having the cash on hand to be able to do this well can be a challenge for a lot of sellers.

To fill the gap to cover these costs, VPA finance from Campaign Flow can be a great solution. Our finance solutions are there to cover the real estate marketing and advertising costs on behalf of vendors. As a vendor, you will not have to pay for our services until your settlement as there is no deposit or upfront payment required. We can fund up to $40k per campaign, giving you the freedom to invest in the perfect marketing campaign.

So what exactly can VPA finance fund?

Advertising costs

A solid marketing and advertising campaign can make or break whether your property stands out from the crowd in a competitive market. You want to ensure the campaign is wide enough to get as many buyers as possible interested to attract competition and ultimately achieve a higher sale price.

A good real estate agent will provide you with guidance on the best strategy for your property and may recommend a mix of the following advertising options:

• Signage
• Local newspaper ads
• Ads in real estate magazines
• Online advertising including on social media
• Flyers and brochures

Professional photography

The first thing people will see when searching for a new home is the images of the property. To get over the first hurdle of getting people to come to an open inspection you need to ensure you have photos of your home that show it off in the best possible light.

Particularly with temporary restrictions on open homes during the coronavirus pandemic, the use of video walkthroughs and virtual tours, as well as the addition of drone photography to showcase the home, has proved increasingly popular too.

Professional Staging

Styling your property can be one of the most beneficial things you can do when selling a property. Professional house stagers are exactly that… professionals. They know exactly what the buyers will be looking for and will be able to stage your house to look both beautiful and immaculate. Professional styling is almost always worth the investment.

Painting

Fresh paint can completely transform the look and feel of a room. Maybe the paintwork on the outside of the house needs a touch up too? Whether it’s painting inside or outside, our VPA finance can help.

Electrical work

Having faulty or mismatched power outlets is something vendors may need to get fixed before selling their home, as a buyer may notice even small details like this. It won’t cost too much money to have fixed and it’s worth making sure all outlets work safely and match.

Minor repairs

Dents, cracks and marks on walls are usually one of the first things buyers notice when viewing a property. While some people have the skillset to quickly fix them up themselves, others are not so lucky. You might also have some minor plumbing repairs such as leaky taps that need to be replaced or repaired before putting your home on the market. With all the costs of preparing to sell and move, we get that the list of bills can just keep piling. So we can help to fund any minor repairs that need to be done.

Landscaping

You would be surprised at how much fresh mulch, plants or grass can transform your outdoor area. Give a good impression of the lifestyle your property provides. Tend to your lawns at the same time. VPA finance can help to cover the costs of ensuring your house makes a great first impression.

How VPA finance works

When an agent is selected to sell a property, they will discuss marketing costs with the homeowner. You might discover through this process that some improvements to the home as well as a solid marketing strategy are needed to get the best outcome for your sale.

This is because a tailored, well-funded marketing campaign will:

• put a property in front of more potential, qualified buyers
• generate competition
• reduce the time the property is on the market
• deliver a stronger sale price outcome

Your agent can apply and have approval for up to $40,0000 for you to fund these costs. And best of all you’ll not need to repay a cent until the settlement of the property.

Meaning you can list your property sooner and not rely on sourcing funds from credit cards or your mortgage or have your credit score impacted. With no compromise on marketing spend, you can sell with confidence.  Speak to your real estate agent about how Campaign Flow can help.