HOME-GROWN Summer Edition 2020

HOME-GROWN ALBURY/WODONGA & SURROUNDS

SUMMER//EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome to our summer 2020 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 entertaining at home, without the stress. We also have our quarterly results, advice for selling your home in summer and creating an indoor garden oasis. 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.

ENTERTAINING AT HOME, WITHOUT THE STRESS SELLING YOUR HOME IN SUMMER CREATING AN INDOOR GARDEN OASIS QUARTERLY RESULTS NEW LISTING TENANT OF THE MONTH POSH PLONK ON MAIN LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT CHRISTMAS RECIPE DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

P I C T U R E D O N F R O N T - 2 6 0 B U T T S T R E E T, E A S T A L B U R Y

SOCIAL SNAPS

ENTERTAINING AT HOME, WITHOUT THE STRESS

7 T R E E C R E E P E R S T R E E T, T H U R G O O N A

ENTERTAINING AT HOME, WITHOUT THE STRESS There’s nothing better than creating memories with the people you love and sharing your hospitality, but entertaining at home can feel like a lot of work, and people often feel the pressure to put together something elaborate…

Hosting friends and family in your home is something people often simultaneously look forward to and dread. There’s nothing better than creating memories with the people you love and sharing your hospitality, but entertaining at home can feel like a lot of work, and people often feel the pressure to put together something elaborate.

Depending on the size of your event, consider whether you may need additional help on the day.

Over Christmas, if you are hosting a large amount of people you could hire someone for two hours to do all the dishes - it would make a huge difference.

When it comes to post event clean up, try and make everything as easy as you possibly can. Gather all The key is getting as much as possible ready ahead the plates and put them in the dishwasher over of the actual day of your function, allowing you to night, and then deal with everything else in the focus on the food and the fun on the day, whether morning. this involves getting additional chairs, considering the seating arrangement of the table or even just Ultimately, the most important thing about final decorative touches. Make sure you have your entertaining is showing the people you’re hosting house or venue ready a couple of days ahead of the that you care. The best thing about entertaining is actual event. Think about the details of the event. bringing people together. Everyone’s so busy, just to be able to relax every now and again with some Fresh flowers make everything better! good food is a great experience.

S E L L I N G YO U R HOME IN SUMMER

SELLING YOUR HOME IN SUMMER

Thinking about selling your house in summer?

We’ve got a few tips to get you ready for summer selling. Traditionally, spring is known to cater to the best selling conditions.

However, depending on your area, market conditions and your property type, summer might, in fact, be a more suitable time to sell. You’ll also have the chance to stand out from the crowd as there’s generally less competition at this time of the year. If you chat with Stean Nicholls, we’ll be able to let you know whether or not summer is the right time for you to sell.

Look after the garden: If your property is in a dry area, make sure you try and keep your grass and garden green. A well-kept outdoor area can make a huge difference to your property sale, especially if it’s already a selling point.

Style your outdoor living space: Impress buyers by taking your inside out. Let them envisage themselves relaxing outside or entertaining guests.

Here are some great tips:

Open up and take advantage of natural light: If it’s not too hot, you can open up your windows early in the morning and let the fresh air in. Opening your curtains or blinds will make smaller rooms feel more spacious.

Pick your inspection times carefully: It’s important to consider the festive season and public holidays when selling a house in summer. People are very busy, especially in December and January. If you’re holding inspections, make sure you have at least two or three so that all potential buyers can view the property. It’s also a good idea to hold them in the morning, especially in the hotter weather.

Keep viewers cool: There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the sweltering heat. So, when you’re holding your inspections on a hot day it’s a good idea to keep the air conditioner running at a cool but comfortable temperature. If you can’t control the temperature with an air conditioner, make sure your blinds are shut up until inspection time to keep the hot air out.

TIPS FROM: LOCAL AGENT FINDER

CREATING AN INDOOR GARDEN OASIS

CREATING AN INDOOR GARDEN OASIS An indoor garden is easy to create and something that can be added to over time.

But before you start it is beneficial to undertake some research.

Apart from the aesthetic pleasure gained by a beautiful indoor garden, growing plants indoors can also benefit your health and wellbeing. Connecting with nature is proven to reduce stress and anxiety and the very way plants photosynthesize takes carbon dioxide from the air and replaces it with oxygen. Some plants can act as an air-filtration system, removing toxins from the air while you sleep. Even your hip pocket can benefit.

An indoor garden is easy to create and something that can be added to over time. But before you start it is beneficial to undertake some research. Some indoor plants prefer shade while others thrive in sunlight. Many plants require little attention while there are others that will need more constant care.

If you have plenty of space to fill, then large leaf varieties such as Fiddle Leaf Figs or Monsteras will make dramatic a statement, while requiring little A spectacular indoor plant can create the same watering or maintenance. These types of plants visual appeal as a piece of artwork for a fraction tend to grow towards the sunlight so they will of the cost. need to be moved or turned occasionally.

To create a green oasis in a smaller context, shelves or bookcases are the ideal place for plants with hanging foliage. Strategically placed plants such as Philodendrons or Devil’s Ivy can have the effect of a “green wall” as the foliage cascades over the shelves below.

If you prefer plants of a more practical nature, then an indoor herb garden is the perfect solution.

Herbs such as mint, rosemary, parsley, basil and thyme can be grown successfully inside on a kitchen window ledge where they can be easily accessed for cooking.

MW LIFESTYLE 2020

QUARTERLY RESULTS

QUARTERLY RESULTS

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST JACK STEAN 0434 588 664 LACHLAN HUTCHINS 0457 888 212

NEW LISTING Wo n d e r f u l Wa t e r f r o n t L i f e s t y l e 419A LAKE ROAD, BETHANGA

4

3

4

TENANT OF THE MONTH

Address: 409 Kiewa Street, Albury Phone: (02) 6021 0662 Email: habitat@habitatplanning.com.au www.habitatplanning.com.au

Habitat Planning is a town planning and urban design consulting firm who are proud to have been servicing the Albury-Wodonga region for 25 years.

Habitat collaborate with people in the Albury Wodonga region and beyond to deliver practical and purpose-driven town planning and urban design outcomes.

Habitat advise on development opportunities, prepare planning reports to accompany applications for all types of residential, commercial or industrial developments, subdivision or rezoning and obtain planning approvals for developments of all types and sizes.

The team of expert planners guide clients through all stages of the development process including site investigations and devising and deploying the right approval strategy to achieve the best possible development outcomes.

Habitat believe that the best outcomes are a result of active collaboration with clients and other professionals, understanding the context and deploying the right combination of expertise.

Habitat work with designers, architects, surveyors, engineers, builders and other industry professionals to develop inspired solutions that are both practical and add value.

Habitat are industry leaders and your partners in planning.

POSH PLONK ON MAIN

A BETHANGA winery is branching out with a state-of-the-art cafe Cellar Door in the heart of historic Chiltern.

Posh Plonk Wines will open Posh Plonk on Main in Having had their first Posh Plonk sales in 2016 and the original Masonic Hall (circa 1903) building on adding a cellar door at the Lake Road vineyard two Friday, December 4. years ago, the couple said the cafe renovation had taken shape during the past four months.

The cafe and event space will feature a Posh Parlour, Posh Platform, Posh Picnics and Posh Pods “We’ve used a lot of heavy industrial materials, for scenic outdoor dining. which talk directly to Chiltern’s history and the early Gold Rush days,” Mr Daly said.

Posh Plonk Wines co-owners Matt Daly and Karen Crook said the venture had been in the pipeline “We’ve counted nine layers of paint used on the since earlier this year. building over the past 115 years.”

Albury-raised Mr Daly said Chiltern was perfectly placed to help them showcase their wine brand.

Ms Crook said diners would be able to enjoy pizza, grazing platters and picnics in different zones on “I’ve always had a fascination with Chiltern and its the premises. rich history,” he said.

“For us to be able to grow our brand and showcase Posh Plonk this close to Albury is very exciting.”

She said four specially-engineered Posh Pods would be situated on a raised outdoor area with stunning views in all directions.

“Posh Plonk will partner with 16 regional producers to allow people to choose up to 10 ingredients to build their own platters,” she said.

Having teamed with Cofield Wines to make their five varietals and using Bordeaux oak barrels, Mr Daly said Posh Plonk had maintained quality and consistency.

He said it also fared well amid the coronavirus crisis where there had been exponential growth in gifting.

“We have the most gifted bottle of wine in Australia; 15,000 people have received a bottle of our wine,” he said.

As to the origins of the brand name, Mr Daly said: “As a kid I was out to dinner in Albury with my family and my dad had asked the waiter to bring some of their posh plonk to the table. It stuck with me. Thirty years later, we’re using it as our business name.”

Aside from Posh Plonk Wines, the drinks list will feature regional wines and craft beer from Bridge Road Brewers and Billson’s Brewery.

Posh Plonk on Main will open weekdays from 10am (excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and weekends from 9am.

- BORDERMAIL

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

The Essential Ingredient Albury is the home of quality foods, professional-grade cookware, culinary books and much more.

Barry and Carol Young have operated the store in Dean Street Albury since May 2016.

We are proud stockists of well known brands: De Buyer, Le Creuset, Cope Ceramics, T2 Tea, Koko Black.

Our store has everything you need for your cooking endeavors and our foodie team is always happy to answer any question you may have. Come in for a chat about our exceptional product range.

473A Dean Street, Albury (02) 6041 4111 www.essentialingredient.com.au

@essentialingredientalbury

CHRISTMAS RECIPE PAVLOVA PINA COLADA

We’ve taken your favourite dessert and turned it into the most delicious summer drink - meet the pavlova pina colada!

Makes 4 Cocktails Ingredients

Method

250ml (1 cup) coconut water 16 mini meringues, plus extra, to serve 1/2 ripe pineapple, peeled, chopped, plus 4 slices extra, to serve 500ml coconut ‘ice-cream’ (or frozen coconut dairyfree dessert) 80ml (1/3 cup) white rum Fresh or dried coconut flakes, to serve

STEP ONE Pour the coconut water into ice-cube trays and place in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight, until frozen.

STEP TWO Combine the meringues, chopped pineapple, ‘icecream’, rum and half the coconut ice-cubes in a blender and blend until combined, smooth and frothy.

STEP THREE Divide the remaining coconut ice-cubes among four 250ml (1 cup) serving glasses. Divide the pineapple mixture among glasses. Top with extra meringues, extra pineapple slices and coconut flakes. Serve immediately.

- TASTE

DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

Healthy rainfall, great buying conditions and an exodus of major capital cities to the Albury Wodonga area have seen some great results over the spring period of 2020.

The ongoing effects of the pandemic have led people in population dense areas to evaluate their lifestyle and in many cases, they have decided to make the move to a more regional area that still has all required amenities and resources. This in turn has brought the Albury Wodonga region into the spotlight.

We expect this enquiry to continue into the new year as more people relocate to the area over the Christmas period to start new job opportunities in 2021.

From all the team at Stean Nicholls we hope everyone has a safe and happy festive season and new year!

This shift has seen the median sales price in Albury alone scale from $540,000 to $585,000 over the past 12 months as an increased buyer pool competes for properties. The builders grant has also seen a major surge in land sales and in turn has stimulated local building trades, creating job opportunities throughout the region.

Local rental and property management has also experienced a surge in demand. Over the course of October Stean Nicholls had a 0% vacancy rate, meaning all properties were fully tenanted. This in turn has seen increased rent yields as prospective tenants contend for available properties. Many homes have also been leased before the previous tenant has vacated and prior to the property being advertised.

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

The beginning of a dream - SOLD AT AUCTION 92 Old Sydney Road, Table Top

Frank lending a hand at Saturday’s open homes and auctions

SOLD AT AUCTION - 6 Anita Court, East Albury

SOLD AT AUCTION - 331 Charles Street, Albury

It’s always a fun time doing our Christmas photo shoot with Threefold Studio

SOLD - 397 Day Street, Albury

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.

Copyright Š

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

/steannicholls @steannicholls