HOME-GROWN Winter Edition 2020

HOME-GROWN ALBURY/WODONGA & SURROUNDS

WINTER//EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE COVID19 AND THE CURRENT MARKET Welcome to our Winter 2020 issue of HOMEGROWN. An Albury-Wodonga based Real Estate Magazine, keeping you up-to-date with the latest listings and information as well as current local market statistics. In this JAM-PACKED issue, we have included some great articles, in particular we discuss the current market and how to embrace winter.

We also provide our quarterly results, a spotlight on local business and an awesome Winter recipe. We hope you enjoy reading our tenth issue of Home-Grown as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you!

Here’s to a great Winter.

HOME FLORAL TRENDS FOR 2020 WARMING UP TO THE COOLER MONTHS QUARTERLY RESULTS NEW LISTING TENANT OF THE MONTH DIY DISASTERS ON THE RISE INTRODUCING EMMA CLEMENTS LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT STAFF RECIPE

PICTURED ON FRONT - 591 David Street, Albury

DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE SOCIAL SNAPS

COVID19 AND THE CURRENT MARKET

COVID19 AND THE CURRENT MARKET

“there have been multiple offers on some properties as there has been less to choose from for buyers”

Buyer confidence varies between demographics and can also depend on individual circumstances. Many have been bolstered by government incentives, whilst some government employees, teachers, medical practitioners, and defence workers have often been presented with more job security. The mature age Sifting through the inundation of information about demographic of buyers looking to downsize are not the current market and the effects of COVID 19 as dependant on short term economics and are more can be a difficult task, particularly when trying to likely to base their decisions on whether the home find information that is relevant to our local area. meets their requirements moving forward.

Economists’ predictions vary across the board, from those predicting a possible boom when the situation On the other hand, the process of arranging finance starts to ease, to those predicting a 20-30% drop in has become more drawn out as lending criteria has the capital cities. So, what is really happening? changed and buyers will often need to reconfirm The situation is certainly “unprecedented”, (a saying that has been thrown around often lately) which means predicting the future is virtually impossible.

What has become evident is that there has been a shortage of properties coming onto the market as some owners have decided to hold off the selling process during this time. This scenario is coupled with the general decrease of newly listed homes during the winter months. This decrease in volume has led to a stabilisation in sale prices, in some cases resulting in increased competition with multiple offers on some properties due to the shortage of properties to choose from.

their status. It can be a good idea to reconfirm your finance stand point before you fall in love with your perfect home but are unable to act.

In general, transactions between willing and capable buyers and sellers are still occurring, as opposed to sales due to distress. This activity has commonly been seen during a recession. Great buyer incentives, government financial support and the likelihood that interest rates will remain unchanged for some time, present good opportunities for those looking to buy. Those looking to sell can take advantage of the current shortage of competing properties on the market combined with growing confidence as restrictions loosen, creating an ideal situation to sell.

HOME FLORAL TRENDS FOR 2020

HOME FLORAL TRENDS FOR 2020 When selling a home, flowers provide an important final touch in styling and presenting a property.

Flowers are an elegant and easy way to provide the final flourish in any interior space. Whether you’re entertaining guests, hosting family for dinner or just aiming to brighten up your bedroom, flowers provide a vibrant focal point for a room that can be easily changed, altering the character of the entire space.

When it comes to dressing a home for sale, having a lot of greenery throughout the home can make it look more lush and inviting.

In addition to adding to the visual aesthetic character of a home, flowers can also provide a fresh, natural fragrance to the atmosphere, providing an immediately positive first impression upon entry.

Hanging floral arrangements are becoming increasingly popular, particularly if they’re dried and don’t have to be kept in water.

When selling a home, flowers provide an important final touch in styling and presenting a property.

Bringing nature from the outdoors into the indoors can make a big difference on the feel of a home. It creates a nice sense of flow.

Dried flowers are a huge floral trend in 2020. Last year it was all about greenery, and while that’s still happening a lot in floristry this year, dried flowers are huge at the moment. They’re long lasting and you don’t need to put them in water, which make One way of creating this relationship between them low maintenance compared to some other inside and outside is by using flowers from your floral arrangements. own garden in interior arrangements, to make a direct connection between the home and its Along with dried flowers, wild looking arrangements garden and pay tribute to the home as a whole. are also currently in vogue.

- LIFESTYLE 2020 (MW)

WARMING UP TO THE COOLER MONTHS

WARMING UP TO THE COOLER MONTHS As we enter winter this year when many of us are unable to escape to a warmer climate, we have the chance to discover the unique charm of Albury’s cooler months. From viewing the beautiful autumnal panoramas in many of our leafy streets, to cosy entertaining outdoors in our own backyards, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy winter at home.

Fire Up for Winter Entertaining

Productive Winter Gardens

As the weather gets colder we are tempted to spend more time indoors but year-round outdoor entertaining is a definite possibility. An outdoor heater, either freestanding or attached to a pergola, is a surprisingly effective way to take the chill out of a winter night. Nothing beats an open fire, though, for atmosphere and romance. Builtin outdoor fireplaces require quite the investment, but much the same effect can be achieved with a fire-pit or brassiere.

During the stay at home period, many people who had never spent time in the garden before took up planting edible gardens. Now the autumn growing season is coming to an end though, it doesn’t have to mean the end of the back yard garden.

There are still plenty of plants that thrive in colder temperatures. It is now the perfect time to plant a variety of vegetables and herbs including Bok Choy, Spinach, Oregano and Rosemary.

Secrets To Embracing Winter

WEAR BRIGHT COLOURS

In this period it is especially important to savour those small moments. No time for negativity, just focus on making winter the best it can be. Keep reading to discover ways to embrace winter and to get the most of this wonderful, magical time of the year by focusing on the little things.

so why not add bright colours into your wardrobe to

The colours we surround ourselves with affect our mood, brighten up winter? For a mood-boosting effect, choose happy colours such as yellow, orange, pink or red or calming shades of blue and green. Do not be afraid to stand out.

CATCH UP ON YOUR READING LIST

GET A SAD LAMP

There is nothing better than to be snuggled up with a

SAD stands for seasonal affective disorder, and these

blanket and a good book on the couch when it’s cold and

lamps are designed as a form of light therapy to help

dark outside. And since we do tend to spend more time

improve your mood and get you through. A great way to

inside during this time of year, catching up on that long

soak up artificial sunlight while fighting off the winter

reading list is a great way to spend our time.

blues.

ENJOY SEASONAL TREATS

And last but not least, do remember that it will end;

Whether that means baking them or just buying them

with each day that passes it gets lighter a little earlier

ready (because sometimes you do not have time to do it

and winter will eventually turn into spring. Something to

all and that is totally fine), occasionally treating yourself

keep in mind when winter feels endless‌

can help lift your mood. During winter there are so many delicious seasonal treats, so why not start baking and fill your home with the lovely smell?

QUARTERLY RESULTS

QUARTERLY RESULTS

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FOR SALE: CONTACT AGENT JACK STEAN 0434 588 664 LACHLAN HUTCHINS 0457 888 212

NEW LISTING L u x u r i o u s To w n R e s i d e n c e 3 / 5 7 M A R Y L A N D W AY, A L B U R Y

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TENANT OF THE MONTH

3 Hempel Street, Wodonga, Victoria 3690 (02) 6024 4045 sales@blazedisplays.com.au Monday – Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 2:30pm Instagram: @blaze.displays www.blazedisplays.com.au Nestled away in Hempel St Wodonga our small (but mighty) team design and fabricate custom made Wedding and Event signage. Specializing in acrylic, we love coming up with jaw dropping installations that lifts your event to another level.

Our lead designer, stylist and all round go-getter Jen is your one stop point of contact to plan your epic signage. You can count on her to take the stress out of the whole process as she works with you and your chosen vendors to bring your vision to life.

We have put together a range of Wedding Packages that offer the best value for money and all the signage you could ever need for your big day. Our packages start at just $480 and are designed to be adapted to your personal style. Our packages can include welcome signs, seating charts, table numbers, wishing wells, bar signage, and much more!

We welcome loved up couples to view our showroom - appointments are available on request.

DIY DISASTERS ON THE RISE

DIY disasters are on the rise across Australia during coronavirus crisis.

Home owners were often very embarrassed when calling the professionals to fix up their “handiwork”, making up over-the-top excuses or blaming The number of dodgy DIY projects across the country someone else for the mistake. is on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic, as would-be tradies try their hand at renovating while These DIYers were often using the wrong sized wire, the wrong connections or wrong powerpoint for stuck at home. electrical work and were putting themselves at risk Professional peak bodies have reported receiving of electrocution or of burning their house down. double the number of callouts they normally would to fix up home improvement projects that have Mr Richards said he had heard stories of people using YouTube to learn how to do electrical work, gone awry. including how to install a new power point.

These projects include adding new power switches to walls, trying to hang doors, or even adding a “It’s just too dangerous to do these things without bidet to toilets that could cause a serious illness if qualifications,” Mr Richards said. not installed properly.

It was a similar story for those looking to upgrade Master Electricians Australia chief executive their plumbing - fixing wayward home maintenance Malcolm Richards said members had reported a huge jobs has been on the increase during the COVID-19 restrictions. spike in callouts to fix up dodgy electrical work.

“Anecdotally we’ve had double the number because And while there was a nationwide race for toilet there’s a lot more work being done from home,” Mr paper during the early stages of the pandemic, some people went further with their toilet solutions, Richards said. attempting to add a bidet.

by MELISSA HEAGNEY (DOMAIN)

INTRODUCING EMMA CLEMENTS

EMMA CLEMENTS Leasing Manager Emma joined the Stean Nicholls family in February 2020 and brings with her extensive property management experience, having commenced her career in real estate in 2008.

Emma holds a wealth of knowledge of the real estate industry and is very familiar with the Albury Wodonga region having moved to the area in 2014. Emma’s key focus is providing excellent customer service by going above and beyond the minimum expectation of her clients, an emphasis on upfront communication and a confident approach, which defines every decision she makes. She has built strong and lasting relationships and has proven that hard work, dedication and honesty is the key to success.

On weekends, Emma enjoys spending time with family, playing rugby for Albury Wodonga Steamers and exploring our region.

The staff at Stean Nicholls welcome Emma to her new role as Leasing Manager.

Emma has taken over from Sheryle, who retired in February after 25 years at Stean Nicholls.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

AKIMBO Architecture is a new and exciting addition to the architectural community of AlburyWodonga. In 2019 Carly Martin, the Director of AKIMBO Architecture, returned home to Albury to establish a local choice for high-end residential and commercial architecture projects.

After ten years in Sydney practicing with highly awarded Casey Brown Architecture, Carly has extensive experience, managing highly detailed projects on budgets of up to $13 million, which have won numerous international awards.

At AKIMBO we are design led and believe in creating architecture that enhances the human experience. It should improve your interaction with spaces, complement the environment and have a quality that endures. We are known for our imaginative designs, attention to detail and considered materiality. Our team has the strength of local knowledge, broad experience, and world class design excellence.

M: 0400 668 771 E: hello@akimboarchitecture.com.au W: www.akimboarchitecture.com.au

@akimbo.architecture

STAFF RECIPE

MADELEINE’S SPICY PUMPKIN AND COCONUT SOUP

Ingredients 1 small fresh red chilli, seeded and chopped 1 stem lemon grass, white part only, sliced 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger 2 cups (500ml) vegetable stock 2 tablespoons oil 1 onion, finely chopped 800g pumpkin flesh (cubed)

Place the chilli, lemon grass, ground coriander, ginger and 2 tablespoons vegetable stock in a food processor, and process until smooth.

*you will need to buy 1.5kg of pumpkin with the skin on to yield 800gm of flesh

Add the pumpkin and remaining vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 1520 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. Cool slightly then process in a food processor or blender until smooth.

Return to the cleaned pan, stir in the coconut milk, coriander and palm sugar, and simmer until hot. Garnish with the extra coriander leaves.

1 ½ cups (375ml) coconut milk 3 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves 2 teaspoons shaved palm sugar or soft brown sugar Extra coriander leaves to garnish

Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the spice paste and cook, stirring for 1 minute.

Serves 4

DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

The Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients and colleagues for their patience and support in what has been a challenging time for many people and businesses in our community and around the world. It has also been logistically challenging with most of our staff working from home, and we appreciate the understanding of our clients in this regard. We are so grateful to live and work within a strong and supportive community and in particular we would like to recognise the hard work of the doctors, nurses and emergency services on the Border.

The Directors would also like to thank all of the staff for their terrific work ethic and amazing ability to keep active both mentally and physically. In particular, two of our staff members completed a challenge, walking 300km in 30 days!

We hope everyone stays warm and safe this winter!

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

Stean Nicholls staff farewell Sheryle at Atura Albury at the start of March.

SOLD! Look at this gorgeous family - this is why we love what we do.

Chip can’t resist grabbing a stick whenever he goes for a walk.

Stean Nicholls staff walk to work on a rainy day - while maintaining social distancing.

Sienna Sears - the winner of our Boredom Busters Competition Kids Section.

Our Assistant Office Manager, Frank, turned 2 in April.

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