YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND
BY DEBBIE THORPE
The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 August 2008
An ingenious business takes the hard slog out of finding a new home.
A busy lifestyle led Charlotte Winston and husband Guy to enlist the help of property consultant Janne Sutcliffe two years ago to find them a new home.
The neat inner-city terrace she eventually secured was perfect for a young professional couple. Now the proud mother of 11-month-old triplets, Charlotte is busier than ever, so she again turned to Janne to find her a new home.
This time the brief was for a big, traditional family home a stone’s throw from cafes and shops. ‘I can honestly say that I wouldn’t buy a house now without Janne,’ Charlotte says.
‘She takes all the stress and emotion out of buying a new home. When we bought the first time we were both working full time and weren’t prepared to give up every Saturday for a year to look for a house. Janne basically does all that for you.’
A film producer and qualified real estate agent, Janne started her own business, Change of Address, when she realised there was a gap in the real estate industry.
Although there was a plethora of agents and a growing number of people involved in relocation, Janne identified a need for someone who would act solely on behalf of purchasers – someone who effectively did all the legwork for them.
When you are buying a house it is really emotionally charged. Most people don’t know how to deal with real estate agents and it can get very stressful. They are also too emotionally involved, which makes it hard to be objective,’ Janne said.
Starting with an interview to gauge her clients’ lifestyle and taste and come up with a brief, Janne takes over all the business of finding a new home, from dealing with agents and property viewing to negotiating deals and auction bidding.
With her extensive knowledge of the industry, Janne is superbly placed to find properties, sometimes before they go on the market officially. ‘An awful lot of properties are sold off market,’ she says.
She is often able to negotiate a deal before auction.
Once she knows exactly what her clients are looking for, Janne will shortlist properties to be viewed, but not before she has seen them herself.
Janne says she often relies on her perceptions to match buyers with homes.
‘Sometimes what people tell you they want is different from what they are really looking for. Sometimes they get so fixed on something they can’t see other alternatives.’
Janne’s fee is usually 1% of the purchase price of the new home. A $500 retainer paid up front to cover costs is deducted from the fee on completion.
As well as helping to find a new home, Janne will also help with interior design and oversee renovations.
She will also help people looking for a property to rent.
Although she specialises in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Janne works across Sydney.