Real Estate Myth Busters

If you sell and buy in the same market, all things are relative. Some people do well when they sell while prices are low, because when they go to buy a more expensive home, the upside is they spend less money on the new purchase. Whereas if you wait until your property value rises, you will be paying a much higher price again for the one you are buying.

— Tony Godden

Staging actually adds so much value to a home. Most buyers cannot visualise a home, the space, or how their future will fit into it. Staging helps connect buyers to your property in a way an empty room simply cannot.

— Heather Whyte

That’s false. Paint helps with presentation, and it makes photos and videos look a lot more appealing, which in turn helps with open home numbers. It just needs to be done to a good standard. Paint marks on the windows or on the grass will not do you any favours. Helpful, yes. A guaranteed 100k, no.

— Ben Moore

If you checked your online estimate today and renovated your kitchen next week, that online estimate will not change to reflect it. These tools do not know what has changed inside your home. The best way to get an accurate figure is to have a real estate agent appraise it for you.

— Nick Earney

Definitely a myth. The biggest thing that draws a buyer to your property online is the photos. The worst thing you can do is present your home poorly in the very first impression most buyers will ever get of it.

— Brooklyn Hayde

Fake news. Good homes can sell any time of year. Quieter times can actually work in your favour, since there is less competition from other listings for buyers’ attention.

— Babak Paymani

Anyone can open a door, but not everyone can create competition, negotiate under pressure and manage buyers the right way to get the best result for their vendors. A good agent also helps stop deals from falling apart along the way.

— Grant Paterson

Your neighbour’s sale gives context, not an evaluation as such. Different layouts, presentation, buyer motivation at the time, sun, parking and the contour of the land can all affect a sale price. Your home is not a carbon copy of the one down the road, and its value should not be treated like one.

— Jamie Barakat

Not every renovation adds value, and some sellers spend $50,000 to make $20,000. Often cleaning, decluttering, painting and good presentation will outperform expensive upgrades and cost a fraction of the price.

— Alli Walker

Thinking about buying or selling? Talk to one of our agents for advice tailored to your property and your market, not a myth.