Tag: buyer’s advocate

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RENO ADDICT The Block

Block buyer’s advocate: renovating for your demographic

Did you watch the the buyer’s advocates tour The Block earlier this week? Here one of them, Greville Pabst, shares his top tips for renovating for your demographic. 

When renovating, one of the most challenging things is to ensure you appeal to your most important audience – the future buyer.

This Block season, we’ve seen some of the couples struggle to renovate with the potential buyer in mind in a style that’s suitable for the St Kilda market. As a part of The Block’s Buyer’s Jury, I advise contestants to ensure they early on establish the demographic of the area to make sure they are considering attributes that will add value to their apartments. Many renovators make the mistake of overcapitalising and spend too much money in areas that necessarily won’t add much value to the home.

Here are some of my top tips when renovating for your target market:

Know your market

Many people rush into renovations before really knowing too much about the area they’re in. Research the demographic and surroundings, who lives here and who will most likely be attracted to the area, for example is it downsizers, families or young professionals? Would the potential buyer be an investor or owner-occupier? For example, if you’re in a family area, the renovation should be approached with children in mind and focus on areas such as the kitchen, living rooms and backyard.

Your local area

Each area has its own personality where certain attributes are expected. In a Brighton house many people expect a pool and are willing to pay for that, but further out in the suburbs were people don’t anticipate it, it might not add any value to the home. If you’re in an area with many young professionals, a proper study may add value to the property instead of a third bedroom or an extra living area, as many professionals today tends to work a lot from home.

Consider your floorplan 


One thing that impacts many peoples’ decision whether to rent or buy a property is the floorplan. Many people look for a good flow between each area with an abundance of natural light throughout. Areas such as kitchen and living room should be facing north for maximum natural light. Avoid having the kitchen tucked away in a separate room, or having a bathroom that comes off the kitchen, not the hallway.

Spend money in the right areas


When you know your area and have the future buyer in mind, it’s time to start renovating. The research will help you avoid overcapatilising and spend money on features that may not add any value to your home for resale. Try to retain original features of the home, like cornices and original stained-glass windows. Updated heritage features in combination with modern touches are appreciated by many buyers.

I always say that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. These areas could cost a lot to renovate but remember that many updates can be made without blowing your budget, you might be surprised what a fresh coat of white paint or new tapware can do to the room. Other cost friendly updates include polishing timber floors, updating light fittings, replacing door and drawer handles, and when it comes to the exterior, landscaping and painting the outside of your home can add value. It’s important to have the front of the home well presented as we all know that first impressions do matter.

Even if you’re not planning on selling your home straight away, it pays to plan for the future to ensure you get the most return on your investment for the day when you do decide to put your home on the market.

–Greville Pabst is a leading expert in the Australian property market with over 30 years’ industry experience. He is the CEO of WBP Group, one of Australia’s largest buyer’s advocacy, property advisory and valuation firms. PropertyDuo gives home buyers and sellers the advice they need to make informed decisions. Don’t risk a guess, chat to one of their trusted associates to the get the information you need before starting your property journey.

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The Block

Buyer’s advocate shares his thoughts on The Block auctions

He successfully snapped up Josh and Elyse’s winning house for comedian Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes at the weekend. Now buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst shares his thoughts on the auction results and the series overall.

Season 13 of The Block has been filled with drama from day one and Sunday’s auction was no exception. Five beautiful homes went under the hammer, as many potential buyers gathered to try and get their hands on a great piece of real estate. The dream family homes are perfectly located between the Elsternwick and Ripponlea villages with public transport, restaurants, cafes and also one of Australia’s best schools, Caulfield Grammar, within walking distance.

Greville Pabst successfully bid on Josh and Elyse’s house for his client Dave Hughes

Bidding at auction can be very nerve-racking, hence these days more and more people are seeking advice and lead from a buyer’s advocate like myself. A buyer’s advocate can guide a buyer or seller through the process in order to get the best possible outcome. This season, every one of the homes was purchased by a buyer’s advocate, bidding on their client’s behalf. My client was the wonderful Dave Hughes.

The auctions were off to a great start and I was able to place the winning bid on the greatest house of them all, Josh and Elyse’s, which Hughesy was very happy about. Josh and Elyse’s, or now Hughesy’s house, is located on the best spot of them all being a corner block facing north, with the smart roller garage door that opens onto the backyard, an impressive hallway with soaring high ceilings and solid hardwood floors. To top it all off, the Dave Franklin designed garden with plunge pool is simply stunning. I actually expected it to go for a bit more, so we are both happy with the final price.

The second house up for auction was Jason and Sarah’s, which also received a great result. When I brought buyers through the houses in the lead up to the auction, houses one and five were the most popular. I’m not surprised that they ended up in the top two with Josh and Elyse being the winning couple.

After the first two auctions, tensions increased when Sticks and Wombat reached $130,000 over reserve. The bidding continued to slow with a thin buying pool, so I’m not surprised that the remaining houses did not reach a better result. I’m actually more surprised that Ronnie and Georgia’s house was the only house that got passed in.

The past weekend was one of the busiest auction weekends in Melbourne history, with over 1,100 properties up for auction. This made the competition even harder, especially when five houses in the $2.5+ million price range are being auctioned back to back. It doesn’t normally happen, and if the auctions would have been staggered over a few months, we would likely have seen more competition and higher results.

Taking a quick look at the results of last year’s season, we can see that the auction order has a huge impact on the result, with the winners being the first ones up for auction two years in a row. 

Greville Pabst

There are many variables when placing the winning bid on auction day, here are just a handful of my tips and tricks:

  1. Before the auction, it’s important that you have all your financials sorted and have set a clear budget. It’s good to have an uneven number as your final limit, as it would be very frustrating to lose a property for just a couple of thousand dollars.
  2. During the auction, make sure you have a clear view of the auctioneer and can keep track of each bid that comes through to have good eye contact.
  3. Stand in a position where you can see your competition and be able to read their body language, it will reveal more than you think.
  4. Sometimes it’s all about the timing and knowing when to enter the bidding, when to pause, hold back and when to walk away. I tend to sit back and get a feel for the competition before making my first bid.
  5. An auction can be very nerve-racking, but the more prepared you are prior to auction, the better you will feel during the auction. Keep a relaxed face, show confidence and don’t let the opponents know your limit.

It’s been a great season of The Block and I’m very excited to see the transformation of The Gatwick coming up in 2018…

–Greville is CEO and executive chairman of WBP Group and one of the buyer’s advocates on The Block. He is a regular commentator on Sky News and the daily papers such as Herald Sun, the AFR and The Australian, helping everyday Australians make better property decisions.

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Expert Tips The Block

Block’s Greville Pabst shares tips ahead of Sunday’s auctions

Greville Pabst

By Greville Pabst

This season of The Block is about to come to an end, but we still have one main event left before we say goodbye to the beautiful houses on Regent Street in Elsternwick. The contestants have been working very hard for three months to save five houses from demolition and transforming them into dream properties.

If you are thinking about selling your home, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the best possible outcome on auction day. Here are 10 tips and tricks you should consider before putting your home on the market:

Restore the old: The front part of the houses on The Block are old period homes and the contestants have done a great job in restoring these original details that have a charm that can’t be replaced, such as fireplaces and crown moulding. Hannah and Clint have even kept the bulky old-fashioned light fittings, but given them a modern touch that ties in well with the period charm.

Add more light: Many of the contestants have done this really well by making the most of the natural light. I was impressed by the large cathedral ceiling and skylight that Sarah and Jason added in their hallway, as it gives you that wow factor and also creates a bright welcoming feeling as soon as you step through the front door.

Jason and Sarah’s light-filled hallway

Fresh curtains and blinds: The sun can easily make the colour fade and it is a quick DIY job to install some new modern ones.

Replace outdated fixtures: A quick, easy and cost-effective fix that will make a huge difference to the look of the house, is to replace old doorknobs and handles. Such a simple change in the kitchen and bathroom can make a massive difference.

Light zones: In four of the five houses, the kitchen, living and dining area is one large open space. Ronnie and Georgia took their open area and created a different mood in each zone by using clever lighting. Carefully planned lighting creates space and purpose to an area.

Bathroom updates: Whitening the grout between bathroom tiles will make a noticeable difference and instantly make the bathroom feel more fresh and clean.

Refresh and repaint all doors: It is particularly important to pay attention to the front door, as this is one of the first thing a potential buyer will see when walking up towards your house. You can make an impressive entrance just by repainting the door and updating the door handle. Jason and Sarah added a beautiful double door, while Hannah and Clint painted their door in a light pink. Have a look around the street you’re in and see what is suitable for the street appeal.

Hannah and Clint’s front door

Replace old yellowing electrical covers: While you’re at the hardware store, pick up some fresh, bright new covers for your light switch and power point covers – throw out the old yellowing ones covered in dust and the kids’ fingerprints. Again, this is quick, easy and cost effective, and will make the house look fresh and modern.

High pressure clean: Make sure to clean the house properly before inspection. And remember, it’s not just the inside that matters — a high-pressure clean of the driveway/paved outdoor area can make a huge difference.

Landscaping improvements: More often than not, an auction is held out the front of the property. This is where first and final impressions happen. Make sure you have trimmed the trees and bushes and cut the grass to make the property inviting. All the contestants restored the period features of the front properties, except Ronnie and Georgia, who gave it a more modern look by painting their house black and adding tiles to the veranda. 

Ronnie and Georgia’s bold facade

With the auction only a few days away, I am sure the contestants are getting really excited (and nervous) about the outcome. There is nothing like The Block auctions — anything can happen!

–Greville is CEO and executive chairman of WBP Group and one of the buyer’s advocates on The Block. He is a regular commentator on Sky News and the daily papers such as Herald Sun, the AFR and The Australian, helping everyday Australians make better property decisions.

Greville Pabst

The Block auction is on Sunday night at 7pm on Nine. We’d love to know who you think will win and why? Please comment below!

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Design RENO ADDICT

How to create the perfect designer walk-in wardrobe by The Block’s Frank Valentic

Whether you have an abundance of space or an area that requires you to be smart with your storage options, there’s always ways to improve the efficiency and functionality of your walk-in-wardrobe. Here’s some tips from Block buyer’s advocate Frank Valentic to assist you if you’re thinking of renovating and adding a walk in wardrobe to your home, or even just altering your existing space.

Ayden & Jess Walk in Robe
Ayden & Jess’ walk-in wardrobe
  1. Shelving: For anything that’s accessed regularly, shelving is the perfect idea as it’s quick and easy to grab in a hurry. Shelving also allows you to customise the space to suit what you are storing. It’s a great idea to try to ensure your shelving size caters to the item you’re storing so as to not waste any space. Always ensure there is a good variety in size to cover everything from shoes, hats, handbags and folded up items to long dresses, coats and pants. Interchangeable shelving space for this reason is perfect for this type of storage as it allows you to adjust space for the seasons and means it’s not too personally customised and will appeal to buyers if you are planning to sell the property in the future.
  1. Light: This is a room where good lighting is essential, natural light is a great accessory in deciding what to wear but make sure you have good quality blinds that can be closed when the room’s not in use to ensure your clothes don’t fade. A window that can be opened is also ideal for allowing fresh air and circulation in what’s often a small/tight space.
Josh & Charlotte Walk in Robe
Josh & Charlotte’s walk-in wardrobe
  1. Drawers and Dividers: Drawers are essential to put away everyday items like underwear and socks. Segmenting drawers will make your space just that much more efficient and is a great idea for items that can easily become a bit of a mess such as jewellery. Again, adjustable dividers are a great idea to give you the ability to change the size and shape of the space.
  1. Hooks: Don’t waste space on walls and doors, add hooks as they are a great way to get accessories such as jewellery, scarfs and ties out of the way.
  1. Mirrors: A mirror or two is not only essential for this particular space, but they will also make the room appear larger and more spacious.
Tim & Anastacia Walk in Robe
Tim & Anastasia’s walk-in wardrobe
  1. Neutral colours: Sticking to a neutral palette in this space is best to ensure clothes and accessories are clearly visible and it will make it more efficient in selecting items to wear. Lighter colours if you have a small space will also make the area feel larger.
  1. Practical positioning: Give the room a flow effect and order items in the way you would make your selections on a daily basis, for example, position accessories closer to the exit so you can quickly and easily grab them on your way out.

Make sure to keep in mind that while having a large area for a walk in wardrobe is almost every women’s dream, it should not come at the cost of space in your master bedroom or ensuite. Getting your proportions right is vital for a functional home design and could be a costly decision if not balanced well when it comes time to sell your property.

— Frank Valentic, buyers’ advocate judge on The Block and director of Advantage Property Consulting. 

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Competitions Expert Tips Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Greville Pabst says the next Block auctions will have much happier endings

With the intense time pressure, the late nights and the limited funds, I can’t be the only one who wonders how The Block’s contestants can actually create high-end properties. Especially when you add to the mix that this series they’re renovating in the wealthy suburb of South Yarra… well it truly makes me beg the question: are these townhouses even going to sell?!

Profile shots - Greville Pabst 004 - crop

But rather than speculate I decided to go straight to the source and chatted to one of The Block Triple Threat’s newest faces, buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst. “It was my perception at first that buyers may be apprehensive about the quality, but the contestants do go back and fix all the abnormalities. There are really two aspects to The Block, there’s the television reality aspect and then there’s the presentation for marketing and sale. The contestants have a certain amount of time to prepare for reveal but after the feedback is given, they fix any issues.”

frank, greville, nicole interiors addict
Greville, with buyer’s advocates Nicole and Frank

Greville also believes this series’ auctions will have happier endings than years past, thanks to the properties being so unique (four-level townhouses with double garages and cellars) and the involvement of himself and fellow buyer’s advocates Frank Valentic and Nicole Jacobs. “The contestants are really valuing our feedback and taking it on board. A classic example is in Josh and Charlotte’s bathroom, I walked in and said ‘Where’s the ventilation?’ and Josh immediately took it on board and said ‘Yes, I’m going to put it in!’.”

And Greville should be listened to! With 30 years in the property business, he is the CEO of WBP Property, one of Australia’s largest property valuation companies. He also frequents ABC Radio as a property expert on their Saturday Morning program and for the last eight years, has written a property column in Melbourne’s Herald Sun. Television, however, is a new realm for Greville, and he’s finding out all the tricks of the trade!

“What’s been really interesting is how much footage they take. It normally takes about five hours to shoot just one reveal! They film so much that at the end of the day, none of us know which part they’re going to use. So the fun thing is you get to see how they slice and dice that particular day. It’s been interesting watching it and so far, I’m really happy.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”NSuhGRySgSADHbF8ugjyOufuTd6k5rRO”]Greville is also enjoying the experience for the fact he gets to share his learnings with the public, believing he can help give buyers the right advice when it comes to making such a big investment. As after all, though many of The Block’s rooms are beautiful, one shouldn’t go buying a property based off cushions and pendants!

“I really liked being on the show as we’re giving a different perspective to the interior designer judges. They’re looking at the furnishings and all those other things, but as a buyer’s advocate — in most cases — when you buy a property, all those dressings aren’t included. So while we look at them and see they look nice, they really don’t come into play when we are making a buyer’s decision. Rather, it’s the floor plan, orientation, light, aspect, size and quality of renovation.”

Find all The Block latest here.

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Design DIY RENO ADDICT

Your how-to renovation guide from Block buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst

A well-executed renovation can add considerable value to your property when it comes time to sell it, but home renovations are not for the faint hearted. Renovating your home is a significant undertaking with many things to consider before you’ve even picked up the tools. That’s why we decided to create The WBP Renovator’s Guide to Property, to make all those tough decisions, easy!

Profile shots - Greville Pabst 004 - crop

Each property is unique and needs to be judged on its own merits, including its location, style and size. Taking these factors into consideration will help you decide where your money is best spent.

Researching your suburb and understanding the needs of the demographic of the area is critical to determine where to allocate your funds and maximise the value of your property. For example, residents of lower density outer suburbs will be influenced by different features to those living in higher density inner city areas.

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Our guide to renovating property lists increasing a property’s physical floor space by adding bedrooms, an additional bathroom or a modern kitchen as some of the surest ways to add value. These additions do come at an expense though, so buyers need to avoid overcapitalising — costs should not exceed the value added to the property.

Other features that add value to keep in mind are having manicured gardens and building a garage, all of which can add up to $100,000 to a property’s value.

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Before renovating, engage an architect for guidance, source quotes from a local builder and seek property advice to determine market value before and after the proposed renovation. Following these simple guidelines and planning ahead can help save you time and money and significantly maximise the value of your property.

WBP Property Group’s Renovator’s Guide to Property is available here.

— Greville Pabst is the chief executive of WBP Property Group and one of The Block’s new buyer’s advocates.

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RENO ADDICT

How to stay cool at an auction: by The Block buyer’s advocate Nicole Jacobs

The Block Triple Threat buyer’s advocate Nicole Jacobs, shares her five top tips to buying at auction…

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Even as a seasoned professional, an auction brings butterflies to my stomach, and I love that feeling. It keeps me alert and ready for the auction. Harnessing this energy positively is one of your keys to a successful outcome.

1. Pre-auction homework 

Before the auction, you will need to have had the Contract of Sale looked at by a solicitor or conveyancer to make sure all questions have been answered. You will have your finance sorted (know your limit) and you will have done your homework on the area (recent sales of similar properties) and attended several auctions so you know the process.

2. Is it a referral or non-referral auction?

Know the difference, know the signs and ask the question. This is something you need to know.

A non-referral auction means the auctioneer will not break for a ‘quick chat with my vendors’. Once he/she has reached the vendor’s reserve price they will keep going until the last bid is offered, count it down three times and sell it under the hammer. If you were waiting for the half-time during this auction, you could be leaving without even putting your hand up.

A referral auction can play out two ways. The auctioneer will break when the bidding slows to a halt and ‘refer to their vendor/s’, come back and either declare the property ‘on the market’ or say ‘we are very close’ or something to that effect. They will continue and hope that the reserve price is met and keep going while the bidding keeps coming. Often, one of the agents assisting will go inside and come back out and give a nod of  ‘it’s on the market’ to the auctioneer and they will knock it down three times when the bidding has stopped.

If throughout either of these processes you are confused, don’t be afraid to ask the question ‘Is the property on the market?’. If nothing else, it will slow proceedings and allow you to think if the pace has been faster than you can calculate!

3. Stand in a prominent position where you can see the whole crowd and the auctioneer

Positioning yourself well at an auction is crucial. You need to see where the bids are coming from so you can watch their body language and you also need to be in clear view of the auctioneer.

Body language is an amazing human trait, especially at an auction. A couple that start to shake their heads or discuss whether they can go up another $1,000 has clearly not come to the auction with a firm limit and an auction strategy.

4. Bid and bid with confidence

An auction where no one bids is crazy. If the property passes in on a vendor bid, then a ‘behind the doors’ auction goes on and then you have no idea if there is actually another bidder at all.

If it is going to pass in, then let it pass in to you. You will then have the right to hear the vendor’s reserve price that you will either be happy to pay, or be able to negotiate for a good 15 minutes while everyone else is outside wishing they were you.

Every auction is different. Whether you come in at the start, halfway through or at the end, you need to bid with confidence. If you know your prices, then a strong first bid can often knock out half the competition right there and then. While many auctions have been won on a bid of just $1,000, it is often not the strongest tactic to employ, going up in $1,000 lots.

5. Don’t end on a round number

Try not to have a finish limit that is a round number. Sometimes this is because the bank or finance broker has said ‘you can go to $1,200,000’. If you have a limit of, for example $1,205,000, you may just be able to put in your additional $5,000 strong bid at the end and win the auction.

–Nicole Jacobs is a member of the buyers’ jury on The Block Triple Threat and director of Jacobs Buyers Advocates in Brighton, Melbourne. She has worked in real estate for more than 15 years.