STORIA LIVING MAGAZINE VOLUME III

Welcome to the World of Storia

The cultivators of luxury real estate in the Bayside region.

06

08

10

INTRODUCTION

Storia Estate Groups & Joseph Lordi

LUXURY MARKET UPDATE

From Joseph Lordi

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHT

20 Esplanade, Wellington Point

12 YARN’S

Change & Culture in Every Roll

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24

25

30

31

36

40

CITRON BAYSIDE

Savouring Local Delights

CONVEYANCING IN QLD

By Rebecca Barrett

AIRBNB RENTALS & THE ATO

By Matthew Kuhn

MORTGAGE CHALLENGES

By David Lees

CREATING INTERIORS WITH SOUL

By Yasmeen Cathy

FAQ

With Storia Estate Groups

OUR SHARED STORIES & CONTACT

Welcome to Living - Volume III

Welcome to the distinguished third edition of Storia Estate Groups’ Living magazine. For those who may have missed last year’s publication, this refined magazine is proudly presented by Storia Estate Groups, the premier purveyors of luxury real estate in the Bayside area. Our expertise lies in curating exceptional properties, specialising in waterfront estates, expansive acreages, and multi-level residences adorned with breathtaking bay views.

At the helm of Storia Estate Groups is Joseph Lordi, a luminary in the realm of luxury real estate. Renowned for orchestrating the highest residential sale in the Redland’s, Joseph remains steadfast in his pursuit of excellence, consistently delivering optimal outcomes for discerning clientele along the local bayside.

Within the pages of this exclusive publication, you will discover an invaluable repository of knowledge encompassing the nuances of purchasing, selling, and renovating within the current real estate landscape. Collaborating with preeminent experts in their respective fields, we present their advice and profound insights tailored to the prevailing market conditions, guiding you on your property journey with sophistication and finesse.

Furthermore, anticipate an insightful exploration of key facts and predictions pertaining to the luxury real estate domain in the bayside region. Having an intimate daily engagement with some of the most exclusive properties in our locale, we are poised to unveil on-the-ground observations and elucidate pivotal aspects of the prevailing market dynamics.

We hope you enjoy the read.

Storia Estate Groups & Joseph Lordi

What a thrilling journey the past 12 months have been for Storia Estate Groups and myself.

In the preceding two years, our identity was Chapter until September 2023. We then took the pivotal business decision to evolve our name to Storia Estate Groups, which allowed us to truly focus on our strength – representing the most exclusive properties in the Bayside region.

Since the evolution from Chapter to Storia, we’ve had the privilege of showcasing many remarkable properties, including several multi-million dollar sales throughout our region. This has allowed us to meet with countless extraordinary individuals that has also enriched our journey along the way.

Under the banner of Storia, we have refined our skills and expertise in the premium marketplace, cultivating an unparalleled understanding of the properties we represent and how to strategically market them to the right demographic, ensuring optimal prices are achieved.

With a personable approach at our core, our aspiration is to consistently attain exceptional results and craft memorable stories for each of the clients we are honoured to serve.

As we present our third edition of the Living Magazine, I extend my gratitude to those who chose to work with us over the past 12 months.

For those considering the prospect of selling your home, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet with you and provide a service that stands us part in the Bayside region, ensuring you a unique and unparalleled experience.

Joseph Lordi - Founder/Director Storia Estate Groups

Annual Luxury Market Update with the Bayside's Leading Prestige Property Experts

In light of the substantial increase in interest rates observed over the past year, it is noteworthy to observe the sustained demand for upscale residences and lifestyle properties. Within the Bayside area, a total of 72 properties were successfully transacted at prices exceeding the $2 million threshold, marking a significant milestone in comparison to previous years.

One particularly notable transaction in 2023 was the sale of 47 Seacrest Court in Raby Bay, which commanded a considerable sum of $4,520,000 following an extensive 243 day period to secure an appropriate buyer. Similarly, within the enclave of Aquatic Paradise, exclusivity prevailed, with only two sales recorded, including the noteworthy sale of 15 Mainsail Street, setting the record for 2023 at $2,710,000.

Wellington Point emerged as a standout market, with my team facilitating the highest number of sales exceeding $2 million, each garnering substantial interest particularly from out-of-area buyers who demonstrated a willingness to invest approximately 10% more than their local counterparts.

The acreage market in Chandler, Belmont, and Gumdale also exhibited robust performance, with standout sales such as our achievement at 69 Charleton Street in Chandler, achieving $4,300,000, and the remarkable $11,000,000 sale at 74 Bacton Road across these esteemed locales.

A discernible shift in buyer demographics has been observed, with an influx of purchasers relocating from prominent suburbs such as Bulimba, while strong demand emanates from Camp Hill and Coorparoo.

With regard to inflation and interest rates, a moderation is anticipated toward the latter part of 2024. Inflation has receded from 5.4% in September 23’ to 4.1% in December 23’, and experts anticipate a potential decrease in interest rates to as low as 3.5% by the conclusion of 2025.

The Australian property market witnessed commendable growth in 2023, with home values rising by 8.1%. Brisbane emerged as a front runner, boasting the second-highest growth nationwide at 13.1%, closely trailing Perth at 15.2%. Brisbane outpaced both Sydney and Melbourne by 2% and 9.6%, respectively, further solidifying its appeal among investors and homeowners.

For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis tailored to their specific locale, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for the read.

If you would like more tailored breakdown for your property, please reach out to one of our agents:

Property Highlight 20 Esplanade, Wellington Point

Designed by ThinkTank Architects, this one-of-a-kind property occupied two prestige waterfront addresses on Esplanade and Main Road Wellington Point. Completed with soaring high ceilings, panoramic easterly bay views and high quality finishes, this luxury residence oozes opulence, class and sophistication.

Unfortunately for buyers reading this, this home has now sold. However, if you are looking for something similar, please contact us as we have a vast range of executive homes on offer.

Situated on a north facing block, the owners brought this ultra-modern 90’s architectural masterpiece to a modern, eccentric family home to be enjoyed by many. With bay views, 2 en-suited bedrooms, large open plan living and an abundance of natural light, this property is a masterpiece in design.

With 6-metre ceilings, floor to ceiling glass windows throughout and tasteful bathroom designs - 20 Esplanade is a worthy feature in this edition of Living With Storia. If you would like any further information on this property, please contact Joseph Lordi.

Yarn'n:Weaving Change and Culture into Every Roll

A Friendship that Birthed a Vision

Conceived from the strong friendship and shared vision of Lane Stockton, a proud Wiradjuri man, and David Croft, a former Wallaby, Yarn’n embarks on a journey to Educate, Unite, and Inspire through its Indigenous-owned and operated consumer toilet paper. The brand stands out as a beacon of change and cultural celebration in the realm of innovative and socially conscious movements.

Yarn’n is not just a brand; it’s a testament to the strength of friendship and a shared passion for understanding modern Australia. Lane Stockton and David Croft, the minds behind Yarn’n, laid the foundation for this venture fuelled by a common goal: to bring First Nation art and culture into the intimate spaces of our homes.

Giving Back: Yarn’n’s Pledge to Yalari Foundation

Yarn’n’s mission extends beyond providing quality toilet paper. Our goal is to create tangible change, the brand pledges to donate 50% of its profits directly to the Yalari Foundation. Since 2005, Yalari has been offering full boarding school scholarships to Indigenous children from regional and remote communities. Yarn’n’s investment in Yalari aims to empower young Indigenous individuals, fostering leadership and shaping a brighter future for all.

One Core Mission: Educate, Unite, Inspire

Made in Australia from 100% recycled stock, we give 50% of profits to educate First Nations children in Australia’s top schools with Yalari.org. We see this as creating true generational change.

As an Indigenous-owned business, Yarn’n stands by three core pillars: Educate, Unite, and Inspire. Founded by two great bunji’s (mates), the brand weaves Indigenous art and culture into the very fabric of your bathroom experience, bringing positivity and us all together over one great yarn.

Australian Made and 100% Recycled Join the Bunji Mob: A Mission for Change

Yarn’n takes a strong stance on supporting local industries and communities. Being Australian-made is not just a choice; it reflects Yarn’n’s commitment to cultural understanding and contributing to the growth of Australian manufacturing. The brand’s dedication to protecting the environment is evident in its decision to be 100% recycled. But Yarn’n goes further, offering rolls double the length of traditional consumer toilet paper, ensuring value for money without compromising sustainability.

Yarn’n is on a mission to create change, and they invite everyone to join the Bunji mob in supporting positive transformation for First Nations peoples. Every purchase of Yarn’n is a step towards a brighter future, where cultural understanding, education, and sustainability come together in every roll. In your choice to bring Yarn’n into your home, you’re not just buying toilet paper; you’re embracing a movement that weaves change and culture into the very fabric of your daily life. Yarn’n: Where every roll tells a story of empowerment, unity, and inspiration. Let’s create change together.

Feature Sale

69 Charelton St, Chandler QLD

6 5 6

1

Sold by Joseph Lordi for $4,300,000

This palatial home caught the attention of the most astute buyers. Joseph and his team showed 5 high quality buyers through this home prior to utilising the advertising portals. They then received 3 offers from those inspections and sold the property for $4,300,000.

THE SELLER’S STORY:

“Joseph and his team were exceptional throughout the sale process. Their understanding of the luxury property market was extraordinary and it resulted in us receiving multiple offers at a price we were very happy with. We highly recommend Joseph if you are looking to buy or sell a quality home.”

- Lisa & Troy (Sellers)

CAMPAIGN BREAKDOWN

Method of Sale: Off-market

No. of Inspections: 06

Total Offers: 03

Feature Sale

224a Main Road, Wellington Point QLD

6 5 6

Sold by Joseph Lordi for $2,360,000

This was one of our favourite properties to represent in 2023. This property was previously advertised with 2 other local agencies for approximately 12 months before we started our campaign. When we took the property over, we implemented the correct marketing strategies using our unmatched luxury property knowledge, and sold the property in 14 days in a multiple offer situation. We also received the highest offer presented to the sellers in their entire 12 month tenure.

THE SELLER’S STORY:

“Joseph and Kaden did a great job with the sale of our house. We ended up with 2 offers competing with each other which in this market is no mean feat! All the the team at Storia went above and beyond what was expected, to not only ensure our sale, but to also assist us in the background with our next purchase. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough!”

- Val & Bob (Sellers)

CAMPAIGN BREAKDOWN

Mkt Campaign Included: $4,500

Method of Sale: Private Treaty

No. of Inspections: 12

Total Offers: 02

Days on Market: 20

Citron - Bayside Savouring Local Delights

Citron - Bayside

354 Main Rd, Wellington Point

Citron was opened just over 12 months ago and was created by Giorgina Venzin, with support from her mother Liz Venzin. Gina is a Redlands local, having spent her school life at Ormiston College, while Liz, originally from Bayside Melbourne, now lives in Wellington Point.

Citron’s Mediterranean menu is curated by their Head Chef Cristhian, who originally hails from South America, and has had a long-time passion for Mediterranean dining. Cristhian has been with Citron since opening, and enjoys showing his creativity in Citron’s menu and weekly specials.

Citron’s coffee is supplied by Giorgina’s brother Danny, who also launched Lost Race Coffee just over 12 months ago. Lost Race Coffee offers sustainably sourced coffees from Australia and Asia, roasted locally here in Brisbane on solar powered roasters – just down the road in Wynnum.

With the goal be one of the best little cafés in Brisbane, Citron offers its customers an all-day Mediterranean dining experience, with a menu focussing on a selection of light and coastal dishes, designed to share.

A lovely place to catch up with friends or locals, to see new faces and make new friends, Wellington Point locals love the community feel and friendly atmosphere of Citron.

Open from Monday to Sunday, step into Citron’s Mediterranean inspired bistro-style haven, where the magic of their Mediterranean cuisine comes alive against the backdrop of Wellington Point bay breezes.

For Bookings and further details: citronbayside.com.au

Feature Sale

37 Caravel Court, Raby Bay QLD

6 6 4

Sold by Joseph Lordi & Kaden Rogers for $2,520,000

Previously on the market with another agent for over 60 days, Storia took the property over and sold it in 30 days via the Auction process.

CAMPAIGN BREAKDOWN

Mkt Campaign Included: $5,909

Method of Sale: Auction

No. of Inspections: 24

Total Offers: 05

Days on Market: 28

3 Dartmouth Court, Birkdale QLD

4 Zephyr Court, Birkdale QLD

Conveyancing in Queensland

Conveyancing in Queensland can be complex, and many things in a conveyance may not go as expected. To ensure a smooth transaction, you need to be well informed of the Special Conditions contained in the Contract, your obligations, whether it be quite simply the payment of the initial deposit, arrangement of insurance of the property regardless of whether it is an apartment \ townhouse \ house or the timing of other special conditions such as building and pest, finance, due diligence.

As a Buyer, you have an obligation to keep the seller informed in a timely manner of the outcome of these special conditions. Failure to do so, can result in you being in breach of Contract.

As a Seller, similarly if the buyer does not keep you informed, you may have rights of termination if notice is not provided within the time frame.

To help ensure a good outcome during your conveyance, it is always wise to not only keep your conveyancer informed and provide timely instructions but also the real estate agent. In order to do all of the above, it is recommended that you engage an experienced law firm / conveyancer who is available to meet your needs.

At RMO Law, we pride ourselves on being able to meet our client’s expectations throughout the entire process. We have multiple offices throughout Brisbane, including Cleveland, Mermaid Beach, Beenleigh, Jimboomba and a team of conveyancers as well as Property Solicitors that are available to cater to your needs, regardless of whether it is simply a “cottage conveyance”, “off the plan” or “developer Contract”.

In times of ever-changing legislation, it would be recommended that you engage a law firm that has your best interests at heart, and that also has the availability to review your proposed Contract generally as part of their standard fees.

Airbnb Rentals & the ATO

02. CGT issues

Property owners often use third-party platforms like Airbnb or Stayz to rent out their property for short-term periods. However, it’s crucial for owners to be mindful of the tax implications involved.

01. Income tax issues

Where a taxpayer is renting their home for a short-term period (such as when on holidays) or part of their home on a more constant basis, the property owner will need to declare the income received on their annual income tax return. Generally, deductions for expenses relating to the derivation of that rental income can also be claimed.

Where a property owner rents part of their home, a deduction can only be claimed for the expenses relating to that portion of the home. A reasonable apportionment needs to be undertaken for expenses that relate to the property as a whole. The ATO’s view is that expenses need to be apportioned based on the floor area solely occupied by the renter and add that to a reasonable amount based on the renter’s access to common areas. Areas off-limits to renters are non-deductible.

If a home is rented out on an occasional basis, then a timebased apportionment needs to be undertaken for expenses that relate to the property in general. The taxpayer would only be eligible to claim a deduction for the portion of the expenses relating to the period when they rented it out. However, if there are any expenses that relate only to renting out the dwelling to paying guests, then those expenses would be 100% deductible.

The ATO will disallow deductions for properties that are not used to derive rent or are not genuinely available for rent. In the ATO’s holiday homes guide, they lay out several factors that may indicate that a property is not genuinely available for rent such as advertising availability only for limited periods throughout the year, placing stringent conditions on renting the property (such as requiring references or not allowing children or pets), setting the rent too high to limit availability or refusal to rent to interested parties with no valid reasons. These factors generally indicate the owner does not have a genuine intention to make income from the property and may be attempting to claim deductions illegitimately.

A major implication for renting out part of a main residence is the loss of the owner’s ability to claim the full main exemption upon future disposal of that dwelling, however, a partial exemption will typically be available. The capital gain (or loss), if applicable, needs to be apportioned. As various other factors may come into consideration, you should maintain impeccable records regarding the property’s use during the ownership period to correctly determine any CGT issues that may arise.

03. GST issues

GST queries also often arise when a taxpayer is renting out their main residence or part of their main residence through Airbnb, etc. However, the GST position is often quite straightforward if the taxpayer is merely deriving rental income from a property that is classified as residential premises. In this case the rent should be input taxed (i.e. no GST thereon) which also means that even if the taxpayer was registered for GST, no GST credits can be claimed for expenses relating to the residential rental activity.

The main exception to this is if the property is classified as commercial premises (e.g., has features similar to a hotel, motel, etc.). This means that GST could potentially apply to some bed and breakfast operations or serviced apartments.

We recommend you speak with your tax agent regarding any tax implications that may apply in respect to your propertyboth during ownership or upon sale.

Feature Sale

42 Marlborough Rd, Wellington Point QLD

5 3 5 1 1

Sold by Joseph Lordi for $2,000,000

An iconic Wellington Point residence with an eye catching tennis court. Located on Marlborough road and completed with top shelf finishes, this property was hotly contested and we welcome the new owner to our beautiful region.

CAMPAIGN BREAKDOWN

Mkt

Mortgage Challenges & Key Considerations

It has been a tough year for most with the highest number of interest rate rises in history over a short period time. Not only have these rises increased home loan repayments for most borrowers, it has also decreased borrowing capacity in a dramatic way for everyone. As the ASIC mandated assessment rate is still 3% above the actual interest rate, some borrows are stuck in high interest loans. Even though they can easily afford their actual repayments, they fail serving with the additional 3% on top.

Some of the banks are now offering lower servicing rates for refinances to assist this group of borrowers. The criteria is slightly different to the conventional requirements, in that borrowers credit history conduct must be perfect, and the loan can only refinance a home loan and cannot be used to consolidate other loans such as car loans and credit cards. However, overall, it does provide borrows opportunity to look at more competitive rates and reduce their monthly repayments.

Another new policy for a number of banks is self-employed company wages. These banks will now accept wages paid to directors instead of company and personal tax returns. This has been a great introduction for self-employed borrowers as it dramatically reduces the paperwork required for the loan application as well as can assist in servicing, as under this policy, company debts are excluded.

A majority of economists are predicting we are at the end of the interest rate cycle and rates may even ease next year. The reserve bank is still heavily focused on inflation and hopefully the better-than-expected November data continues and removes the need for any further rate rises in the future.

At Mortgage Advantage we specialise in difficult and complex lending scenarios. With many years of experience and out of the box thinking, or lending specialists are focused on solution based advise.

Yasmeen Cathy Interiors Creating Interiors with Soul

Every home is unique. Our homes reflect who we are, where we dream, live, and gather our loved ones. Our ability to portray this to the buyer will create an emotional response.

Preparing your property and staging it correctly is vital to a successful sales campaign

To start the process, we need clear goals. This requires understanding your buyer, the property you’re selling, when the sales campaign will start and what your living arrangements will be during this sale process. Your trusted and experienced Real Estate Agent and Property Stylist are essential in providing fresh eyes for your property during this time.

Once these goals are defined, we begin by de-cluttering/ depersonalising the property, cleaning and performing unfinished maintenance jobs. This will show the property has been well looked after and give the buyer space to dream of living here.

Renovations, while requiring an investment, can significantly add value to your property. Things to consider are time frames, budgets, and the buyer you are trying to attract. To maximise your return on investment, renovations must create the right look and feel. They must create a better flow and eliminate roadblocks. Choose materials and finishes that appeal to your buyer without overspending.

The right Property Styling can give your property soul. It can help a buyer better understand a room’s volume, flow, and design. It can explain the lifestyle the property offers. A luxury waterfront property will draw buyers’ attention to the water and entertainment space.

The family home will showcase the multiple living zones the family can grow into. Staging a property can correct layouts, highlight different areas of a house, and make a property look and feel cohesive.

Property Styling can also make a property more appealing by using current design trends. 2024 has seen people looking for earthy colours and textures with luxury touches. Throughout the interior, natural materials play with contrast, from cool marbles to fluted columns and timbers to rattans and gold accents. Our colour palette features earthy hues, blues, greens, and blood oranges with accents of electric pastels, such as Pantone’s Peach Fuzz. When styling start with a neutral space, adding texture, pops of colour and plants will bring life to the space.

Preparing your property for sale is the foundation of a successful sales campaign. When partnered with an experienced agent who understands relationships. You can expect a shorter marketing time and a higher sales price.

DAVID LEES

Managing Director

T. 1300 554 870 M. 0414 985 735

www.mortgageadvantage.com.au

Owner & Designer

M. +61 449 117 119

E. yasmeen@yasmeencathyinteriors.com.au

www.yasmeencathyinteriors.com.au

Feature Sale

10 Keel Street, Birkdale QLD 4 2 3

Sold by Joseph Lordi for $2,600,000

With the lack of available listings in Aquatic Paradise last year, we were working with an abundance of high quality luxury buyers eagerly seeking a waterfront residence. When we received the go ahead from our clients, we showed buyers through nearly instantly and the property was sold the day of inspecting. We would like to welcome back the new owners to Aquatic Paradise.

THE

SELLER’S STORY:

“Joseph and his team were excellent and achieved the desired sale price. He had worked with us well before we were ready to put our property on the market, by keeping us up to date with the current value of surrounding properties and what we could potentially expect to receive once we sold.

His knowledge of the value of properties in our suburb exceeded any other local agent and that was reflected by the sale price.”

- Simone & Chris (Sellers)

CAMPAIGN BREAKDOWN

Method of Sale: Off-market

No. of Inspections: 02

Total Offers: 02

Frequently Asked Questions

01. Should I sell my home off-market?

We run the off-market process for nearly every property before we launch it on the advertising portals. We only recommend to sell off-market if we are receiving an ‘above market price’ or ‘dream price’. Some agents may argue that the property is not showcased to every buyer so there is a risk it could be undersold. I tend to disagree in some instances. If the agent that is bringing a buyer has a broad market share of homes similar to yours, it is highly probable that agent may already have the buyer for your property on their books and that agent may have sold homes comparable to yours.

We also recommend the off-market process prior to advertising to yes try and sell the property, but it is also a brilliant way to gain market feedback from real buyers in regards to price and presentation. Using this strategy, we are able to make minor changes to a home IE paint, repairs, before investing money into a marketing campaign. In my experience, my clients that have opted for this service reaped the rewards by achieving an optimum sale price.

02. Auction or Private Treaty (For Sale)?

There are positives and negatives to both options here. There is a common myth that it cost more to go to Auction. But the truth is, the only extra cost is the Auctioneer fee. However as an example, the properties we take to Auction at Storia, I am the Auctioneer and I don’t charge my clients so it is a ‘free’ auction. Auction has many pluses; no conditions on the contract (better known as a ‘cash deal’), opportunity to create competition, usually a 30 day settlement and because of the strict no price guide law, it is impossible to put a ceiling on the price you can achieve through an Auction.

On the contrary, some buyers in QLD do not attend Auctions as they do not have their finance organised or just don’t like them, period. As a buyer, I personally love the transparency of an Auction. No real estate games (we have all experienced them) and I know what the buyer next to me is willing to offer and it is up to me on whether I want to pay more. However, I have noticed over the years more and more buyers are happy to be involved in an Auction and are getting more comfortable around the Auction process.

In regards to private treaty, we often run an Expression’s of Interest campaign. We have transacted a number of luxury homes in the region using this process and it does work extremely well.

With this campaign, we take price out of the equation and drive the price up by receiving multiple offers or ‘Expression’s of Interest’. However, with the private treaty method, it does depend which route you select. IE Offers over, Fixed price etc. Each option better suits different homes. If you have a luxury home ($2m+), I recommend advertising without a price to gain buyer enquiry.

All in all, this does work on a case by case basis. It is imperative the agent you are speaking with has the right experience in multiple ways of selling property to ensure they are recommending the right process for you and your home and not just the process they know and understand.

03. How many agents should I call in?

I recommend to call in 3. Anymore, it gets confusing. Any less, you don’t have enough to compare. It is also important homeowners call in the right agents that match your property. What I mean by that is if you have a luxury property, call in agents that consistently sell homes in your price point. They will be able to provide you the right advice on sale method, presentation and should be working with active buyers in your price point. Or if you have an acreage property, call in agents that consistently sell acreage.

04. What is the best way to advertise?

There are many ways to advertise in 2024. Fortunately with this digital age, homeowners don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to reach the right demographic of buyer. I always work off the expected sale price of the home.

The higher the expected sales price, the less buyers there are so more advertising is required to ensure you capture 100% of the buyer market. More buyers, more competition = a higher sales price. There are some agencies that do offer cheaper advertising and that is fine, I have just seen more than once that homeowners may save $2,000 upfront, but will miss the buyer that would pay them an extra $50,000. Using the large ad on realestate.com.au as an example (Also known as a Premier ad), is approximately an extra $2,000 than the cheapest ad available on their portal. However, there are statistics that show 30-40% of the buyers looking for a home won’t see your small advertisement.

When we are talking a homes sales price in the million or multi-million range, I don’t think it is worth the risk to save small upfront but risk losing big at the end.

05. What preparation should I do to get my home ready for sale?

This is an interesting question and one get asked every day. On a basic level, removing all personal items such as family photos, removing all clutter, ensuring everything in the home is in working order (Have you fixed that leaky tap?), and new mulch in garden beds is a great place to start.

I don’t recommend renovating a property to sell; for example completing a new kitchen or bathrooms. I do recommend however, paint, carpets and sometimes light upgrades to LED’s. You will be surprised on the difference it can make to a home. We would make the right recommendation based on our clients budget, the demographic of buyer we expect to attract and of course the expected sale price.

Just recently in St James’s Park Birkdale, we had a listing and started showing people through prior to advertising. We gained tremendous market feedback such as the house was ‘very dark’. The highest offer we received for that property initially was $1,600,000. After taking on the feedback from the market, we painted the property a bright white, completed some light upgrades and then sold the home for $1,770,000 just a few weeks later.

06. What’s a fair commission percentage?

A touchy topic for some, but something I enjoy discussing with homeowners. The average commission rate has dropped slightly in QLD according to reports. Previously, it was sitting at approximately 2.75% including GST but it has now dropped to approximately 2.2%-2.5% including GST. Some agents even charge as low as 2% Including GST. You will tend to find agents that have a shortage of listings will discount their rate to get your business.

My team and I actually like to offer incentive commission structures such as a sliding scale. We charge our top rate if we achieve a clients ‘dream price’ and the rate lowers the further away the sale price is. Our recommendation to homeowners is select an agent that you believe will achieve you the best price and not the one who offers the cheapest marketing or commission. If you look at the bottom dollar, the difference between 2.2% - 2.5% in some instances is only around $5,000. If your agent has experience, a proven track record and has the right process, they should be able to achieve $5,000 and more in negotiations with your potential buyer.

Our Shared Stories

“Extremely knowledgeable”

From the very start of meeting Kaden and Joseph, they advised us options and a realistic plan in marketing our property. They recommended to do some costeffective cosmetic changes that positively affected our sale price. They are extremely knowledgeable, confident and have an extremely high work ethic. Kaden effectively communicated with us throughout the entirety of the campaign and kept us up to date every step of the way.

We would without a doubt 100% recommend Kaden, Joseph and the Storia Team if you are thinking of buying or selling.

One thing that really stood out to us is that they always answered their phone and were extremely helpful. If we could give more than 5 stars, we would. We can’t wait to work with them again - thanks guys!”

- Ashley Knight, Seller of home in Birkdale

“The experience was impressive”

We purchased our property through Storia with Kaden Rogers. The whole process was very professional & we could not recommend them any higher. Negotiations were handled honestly & frankly. All questions were promptly & thoroughly followed up. The other staff including Joseph & Angie were equally professional. We don’t usually post reviews unless the experience was impressive - this was one of those!

- Barry Parsons, Buyer of home in Aquatic Paradise

“Professional yet personable”

Our experience with Joseph and Kaden was one that can’t be faulted. They were professional yet personable and friendly throughout the entire process of selling our first home. Their strategies proved to come from a very experienced background as we achieved our ultimate sale price goal.

- Tenae Hammel, Seller of home in Ormiston

“You won’t be disappointed”

Joseph and his team were exceptional. From assisting in our house preparation, to their negotiation techniques for our sale, we couldn’t fault their expertise and professionalism. If you are looking to sell or buy, look no further than Joseph and his team at Storia. You won’t be disappointed.

- David & Edyta, Sellers

“The Best Experience”

Joseph has established the best agency in the Redlands. Hands down. His knowledge and expertise in the industry are objectively unmatched. We simply wouldn’t deal with another agency after the best experience with him and his team.

- Dimity Patterson, Seller of home in Thornlands

We invite you to experience the difference.

P. +61 448 323 441

E. hello@storiaeg.com.au

Closing Message

Before we close the third edition of Living with Storia, I would like to thank all of our past, present and current clients. It has been an incredible 12 months here at Storia and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Living. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or just want to say hello; my team would love to hear from you.

Joseph Lordi - Founder/Director of Storia Estate Groups

+61 448 323 441

hello@storiaeg.com.au

STORIAESTATEGROUPS.COM.AU

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respect to Elders, past, present and emerging, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.