HOME-GROWN Summer 2019 Edition

HOME-GROWN ALBURY/WODONGA & SURROUNDS

SUMMER//EDITION

Unit 1, Suite 19, 669 Dean Street, Albury 02 6021 5233 www.steannicholls.com.au

IN THIS ISSUE AL FRESCO LIVING Welcome to our Summer 2019 issue of HOME-GROWN. An Albury-Wodonga based Real Estate Magazine, keeping you up-todate with the latest listings and information as well as current local market statistics. In this special Christmas/New Year issue, we have a great article about Al fresco living.

We also have our quarterly results, top tips for a Summer sale and 2020 kitchen trends.

We hope you enjoy reading our eighth issue of Home-Grown as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you! Here’s to a great Summer.

TOP TIPS FOR A SUMMER SALE 2020 KITCHEN TRENDS QUARTERLY RESULTS NEW LISTING TENANT OF THE MONTH BACKYARD VINEYARD STAFF RECIPE LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT STEAN NICHOLLS PROJECTS DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

P I C T U R E D O N F R O N T - 7 9 A L P I N E S T R E E T, T H U R G O O N A

SOCIAL SNAPS

AL FRESCO LIVING

82 SILK LANE, ALBURY

AL FRESCO LIVING

With warmer weather here it’s time to scrub down the hotplate, check the gas bottle and fire up the barbecue once again.

Cooking al fresco has been part of Australian culture for…well, forever. And why not? Our climate lets us enjoy the outdoors for most of the year and who wants to cook indoors on warm summer evenings?

Benchtops, of course have to be weatherproof.

Many compound materials suitable for indoors are unsuitable outdoors because they won’t withstand UV radiation. This makes natural stone an all-round favourite for its beauty and practicality.

Nowadays, however, we’re taking our outdoor cooking to another level of sophistication, with the Apart from a top-of-the-range barbecue, your typical premium outdoor kitchen might also include growing trend of full outdoor kitchens. two to four side burners, sink facilities, a pizza oven, In recent decades, Australians have changed their a smoker, a spit, waste and recycling bin cupboards attitude to what was a backyard with a stand alone and a full-size refrigerator and freezer. And, of barbeque on the lawn to an outdoor room featuring course, a dedicated fridge for the champagne. dedicated design, cabinetry and appliances.

The outdoor kitchen is fast becoming a must-have for new homes and for backyard renovations with many builders having the foresight to get the electricity, gas and waste pipes installed ready for one in the future.

TOP TIPS FOR A SUMMER SALE

TOP TIPS FOR A SUMMER SALE

Vendors need to keep it cool when preparing for a summer sale.

Keeping gardens well-maintained is one of the key tips to nailing a result in the warmer months. Ensuring gardens look healthy when selling in summer is the number one tip to help boost a property’s appeal. A healthy garden is aesthetically pleasing and appealing to buyers.

Utilising and planting drought tolerant plants can be helpful throughout the summer period as they can survive with less water – Agaves are a great low maintenance option! Try to use mulch where possible as mulch ultimately will help to prevent the top of the soil drying out, keeps the soil moist, and can reduce watering by about 60 per cent.

Some other tips are: Change up the colours: Remove heavy curtains, rugs and cushions in darker colours and replace them with a brighter and lighter palette that is more suited for the summer.

Create an oasis: If you have a pool, you have to make sure it’s well-maintained and looks it’s absolute best.

Replace the old: Updating the mailbox, front door, fence and adding a fresh coat of paint to the exterior will make wonders for the overall first impression of the house.

Outdoor dining: Stage your alfresco or patio area with nice furniture to feel big and inviting, so that people want to eat every single meal of the day out there.

TIPS FROM: GREVILLE PABST

2020 KITCHEN TRENDS

2020 KITCHEN TRENDS

Kitchens are the heart of the home. Not merely a space for cooking, they’re hightraffic social areas too, meaning your design should pose the perfect balance of function and style.

Here are some top tips for embracing key kitchen 2. Keep abreast of the latest intuitive tech trends in 2020: We couldn’t possibly talk about 2020 without touching on the breadth of futuristic kitchen technologies on the horizon. Even if you don’t have 1. Don’t be afraid of colour a smart appliance budget, it’s definitely worth Now is the time to experiment with colour in the doing your research to ensure you’re not investing kitchen! Feel free to add some personality to your big money in tech that’s so last year.

space with your own choice of unique colour and Socially, technology more broadly is trending material combinations. simpler. It’s about making life easier so we can Open plan kitchens have set a standard for kitchen enjoy the task at hand more, or get back to doing style needing to keep up with the colour, interest, something we love. Kitchen tech is no different. and range of textures seen in the rest of your home.

In other words, your tech should be doing half the Darker tones, mid- or green greys through to rich work for you. ochres will take centre stage, paired with natural stones and timbers. This season will see warm tonality combinations.

3. Mix function and style

4. Balance soft and hard lines

When considering a layout for your kitchen that is so-2020, function should be at the centre of your planning. Everything should be easy to access and navigate. For instance, try to store your pots and pans near to your stove. Keep mugs within reach of the coffee and tea station. Place a rack or hook for a hand towel near your sink. These simple choices will make a kitchen experience easier.

Kitchens tend to have hard lines. Just think of all those straight-edged benchtops, sinks or appliances, like fridges and microwaves.

If you’re not about to change any big-ticket kitchen items – like countertops or larger appliances – you could express a softer style via those smaller, easily changeable accents, such as door handles, tapware, chairs or stools, small appliances or other decorative features.

PRESENTED BY: NESPRESSO

QUARTERLY RESULTS

QUARTERLY RESULTS

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AUCTION LACHLAN HUTCHINS 0457 888 212 JACK STEAN 0434 588 664

NEW LISTING Exceptional Quality And Superb Design 7 9 A L P I N E S T R E E T, T H U R G O O N A

TENANT OF THE MONTH

MEAT TALK Address: Volt Lane, Central Albury NSW 2640 Phone: (02) 6021 4183 Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm Saturday 7:30am to 2:00pm www.meattalk.com.au

Meat Talk are always happy to trim, slice, dice and tie meat to your specifications.

Our butchers come with years of experience in cutting and preparing assorted meats. We believe friendly staff make for happy customers & tasty products. Our dedication & commitment to “We take pride in what we prepare and sell delivering a butcher with premium meats means that you will see the rewards at the dinner table, to our valued customers.” as well as your wallet. We work hard to ensure Wade Thompson that our meat is of the highest standard, so that Owner/Manager of Meat Talk you receive consistently tender, juicy & tasty meat.

At Meat Talk you can be assured you are getting quality meat.

High quality locally sourced meats, friendly FREE Local Delivery Available. staff, competitive pricing!

Meat Talk won’t sell you old cow as yearling, small beef as veal, or mutton dressed as lamb. We believe in product integrity. Our sausages are handmade using quality ingredients, and can be made to order if you have special dietary requirements. We have a wide selection of fine cuts from our butcher, giving you the best out of each type of meat.

Wade says “Butchering is in the family going back to my Great Grandfather who had ten children, they all followed in his footsteps becoming Butchers.

I started working in a Butcher Shop after school and Saturday mornings when I was 13 and left school at 15 to do my apprenticeship 1994 to 1998 and have been butchering ever since.”

BACKYARD VINEYARDS

As you sip a glass of lovely crisp Riesling beside the pool, do you ever wonder – “could we grow our own vineyard?”

The answer could be yes!

success in viticulture and winemaking is preparation – and then some more preparation.

Jen Doyle is vigneron for Jansz Wines and winner of the Viticulturist of the Year at the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards. Jen emphasises the key to

Still sceptical it can’t be done? Stean Nicholls sold 119 Hovell Street in Howlong, complete with a century old grapevine!

“Physical, chemical and biological soil analysis, rainfall, sunshine, frost, seasonal temperatures, irrigation, nutrition, fertilisers, compost, protection You don’t have to live in the Yarra Valley or from fungi, insects, birds, etc….the list goes on,” she Mornington Peninsula to grow grapes and as we says. increasingly appreciate the subtle nuances that go along with the making and appreciation of wine, a But if you’re prepared to do your homework and lay mini backyard vineyard is a wonderful addition to good groundwork, there’s no reason why you can’t look forward to harvesting your first crop of grapes your home. after two to four years.

Practically anywhere in Albury is suitable – after all, grapevines in backyards are already a familiar sight, “Track down information that matches grape trailing over trellises to provide us with Summer varieties to specific climates,’ she advises, “you can shade, but they can also be grown for wine making. also do your personal research by drinking specific varieties from specific regions and understand what It depends on how much space you want to give you like. You don’t have to be an expert to make it over to your personal vineyard, but it isn’t as much work, but good knowledge and understanding helps as you might think. The typical quarter acre (tenth it work well!” of a hectare) Melbourne backyard can, surprisingly, produce enough fruit to make maybe a thousand A lot of effort, perhaps, but well worth it when you and your partner are sitting down to a beautiful bottles of wine. dinner with friends and proudly pouring your first The key to success is to become knowledgable of the bottle of “Chateau Nous”. whole process, from planting to fermenting.

STAFF RECIPE

CHANTELLE’S SUMMER BOLOGNESE

Ingredients 400G spaghetti ¼ Cup (60ml) olive oil 500G beef mince 3 Cloves garlic, crushed 2 Tablespoons thyme leaves 2 Teaspoons dried chilli flakes Sea salt and cracked black pepper 2 Teaspoons caster (superfine) sugar 2 Tablespoons tomato paste ½ Cup (125ml) dry white wine 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 400G mixed cherry tomatoes, halved Basil leaves, to serve Finely grated parmesan, to serve

Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 10–12 minutes or until al dente. Drain and keep warm.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over high heat.

Add the mince, garlic, thyme and chilli and cook, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, for 6–8 minutes or until browned. Add the salt, pepper, sugar and tomato paste and cook for 4–5 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring occasionally, for a further 3–4 minutes or until the liquid is reduced.

Toss the pasta with the remaining oil, lemon juice and vinegar. Add the mince, and tomatoes and toss to combine. Top with basil leaves and sprinkle with parmesan to serve.

Serves 4–6.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

ZEN DAY SPA & SALON is Albury’s ultimate spa destination since 2006, with a grand new space nestled in the heritage block of 452 Swift Street, Albury. Offering everything from hair, beauty, skin & wellness to make your YOU TIME completely Zen. Passionate & proud to stock all Australian made & owned products.

To allow us to do our magic visit our website or call into our beautiful spa.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a wonderful new year. ❤ Bianca & the all the ZEN girls 452 Swift Street, Albury (02) 6021 0779 www.zendayspa.com.au @zendayspaalbury

THE HAMILTON APARTMENTS, ALBURY

THE HAMILTON

team and Barker Group who have consistently worked together to make this opportunity happen.

Exciting times lie ahead as construction for The Hamilton has now commenced, with the With 75% of residential apartments sold, the opportunity to secure one of these state-of-thecompletion programmed for the end of 2020! art residences is becoming rarer and rarer. The Stean Nicholls have been working closely with ground floor commercial areas are fully leased and the Barker Group for over 2 years to achieve the there are now only eight apartments remaining for presales to see The Hamilton move forward to purchase with a mix of 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms available. construction phase. Building a Central Albury There are two outstanding office spaces available multi storey apartment style living complex has on the first floor, with Office 1 totalling an area of only been made possible through the hard work 392m2 and Office 2 totalling an area of 341m2. and dedication from the Stean Nicholls Projects Contact: Jack Stean

SADIE LANE, ALBURY

SADIE LANE The exciting new Central Albury land subdivision is expected to be complete by Christmas 2019. With only 11 residential allotments (with architectural plans & approved by council) available and marketing to commence in the new year, the expectation is that they will sell fast.

tenanted by march 2020. Three further residential residences (backing onto the park) will commence construction in the new year (January). The most exciting recent development is the cafe and the commitment from the dynamic original owners of ’The Proprietor’ and ‘Frankie’s’ committing to the space, creating the ideal environment for not only the Sadie Lane residence but the area as a whole.

The three commercial buildings have been sold and With well proportioned land and architecturally construction is well underway, with completion designed plans for each allotment, Sadie Lane is of the double storey buildings to be finished and the rarest of opportunities.

Contact: Geoff Stean

DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

As the weather heats up and Spring nears a close, it generally marks the end of the busiest period in the real estate market. Our Spring sales campaigns have produced some amazing results for this quarter, in particular we achieved a fantastic sale result for Splitters Creek at 9 Griffith Drive, which sold at auction for in excess of $1,400,000. This result is an example of the consistent confidence within the Albury/Wodonga market seen through Spring which we expect to carry through to the Summer period. The upturn of the Melbourne and Sydney markets has provided an injection of buyer confidence to the residential property market, confidence that has remained steady in our region throughout the whole of 2019 and at present, Albury’s current median sale price is sitting at $540,000, which is up from $522,500 in 2018.

Historically, during the festive season many vendors are typically reluctant to put their property on the market.

With many buyer’s hopeful of entering the market postChristmas, this trend tends to lead to a build-up in demand which creates the opportunity for some highly competitive results in the Summer selling season. For any vendors considering selling in the Summer market, our advice is to get your property listed before Christmas, as there has been some fantastic “off-market” results

recently for some vendors, allowing a quick and private sale before entering the market.

Throughout 2019, our residential property management department has had consistently lower vacancy rates than in 2018. Recent buoyant enquiry has enabled some properties to be leased without advertising, and we have seen a higher than normal number of prospective tenants searching for properties over $350 per week. We expect this enquiry to continue into the new year.

From all the team at Stean Nicholls, we hope everyone has a safe and happy festive season and New Year for 2020!

Geoff Stean 0413 888 788 geoff@steannicholls.com.au

Nicholas Clark 0439 215 293 nicholas@steannicholls.com.au

Jack Stean 0434 588 664 jack@steannicholls.com.au

Lachlan Hutchins 0457 888 212 lachlan@steannicholls.com.au

SOCIAL SNAPS

Some of our “fur babies” had a photoshoot for the Albury Wodonga Animal Rescue Calendar.

All four lots SOLD at 1035 Table Top Road, great work Geoff and Jess.

Congratulations to Hayley, Josh, Ruby and Isabella on the arrival of River Ivy Warren. Isn’t she beautiful!

Thurgoona Preschool are the Grand Champions in our “My Dream Home” Art Prize.

It’s that time of year - the annual Stean Nicholls Team Christmas Photo.

Congratulations to one of our Directors, Nicholas, who completed the Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney.

Home-Grown is a Stean Nicholls publication. All opinions are our own.

Compilation of statistical data relies on information from a number of external sources.

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