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Real estate agent divides internet with “sweet gesture” to hopeful homeowner

<p dir="ltr">A real estate agent has divided the internet after sending a hopeful homeowner a scratchie ticket along with a rejection letter. </p> <p dir="ltr">The anonymous wannabe buyer shared a photo of the letter they received from their agent with the scratchie card alongside it on Reddit, explaining how they had missed out on their dream home. </p> <p dir="ltr">The letter begins in capital letters, reading “Really sorry you missed out”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wanted to personally thank you for your interest in my recent listing and say how sorry we are that you missed out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know how keen you were to make it yours, and as much as we love our work, there are parts that are difficult.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Telling someone the bad news that they have missed out on a property they are very keen on, is certainly the worst part of our role.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wish we had more properties like this one for those who have missed out on this home.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I enclose a scratchie to try and soften the disappointment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The agent said they hoped the wannabe homeowner would win some cash so ‘next time you can extend your offer just that little bit more’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The $1 scratch card gave the unsuccessful applicant the chance to win $100,000 in a game of Tic Tac Toad. </p> <p dir="ltr">The gesture prompted a mixed response from commenters, with most readers calling out the agent for being “condescending”. </p> <p dir="ltr">One comment read, “Might just be poorly worded, but this comes across very condescending and patronising. ‘Lol sorry you’re too poor. Maybe if you win some money we’ll be able to take it from you.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another pointed out the agent’s potential grovelling to the buyer, saying “Absolutely no real estate agent is sending anything like this to mere tenants.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another frustrated renter wrote, “Great! Now if I could get a scratchie with every unsuccessful rental application, I wouldn’t need to rent.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A few commenters praised the real estate agent’s actions, believing they had good intentions by including the scratchie. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “They didn’t have to give anything but still did. The wording could’ve been better but still, something for nothing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One other person was shocked by the support for the agent in the comments of the post, putting it blatantly, “They said ‘so next time you can extend your offer just that little bit more’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Their intention is clear. They’re saying to offer more money. I genuinely am surprised by the comments on this post thinking this is a nice gesture and not blatant manipulation.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Reddit</em></p>

Real Estate

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Cruise secrets only travel agents know

<p><span>It takes a lot of time and planning to find a cruise that will suit your needs and meet your expectations.</span></p> <p><span>Even after you’ve booked your cruise, there are still plenty of extra choices for you to decide on.</span></p> <p><span>What kind of dining experience do you want? What shore excursions are you interested in?</span></p> <p><span>That’s why it can be helpful to get a cruise agent to help you organise your holiday and to lend their expertise.</span></p> <p><span>Product director and joint owner of cruise and tour specialist Bunnik Tours, Marion Bunnik, says cruise agents should get to know their clients before making recommendations.</span></p> <p><span>“I would never just reach for a brochure. You don’t want an order taker, you want a consultant who will do their best to meet your expectations,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>“Of course we need to know who is going, how many, whether it is a family cruise — that sort of thing. But most importantly, we need to know your interests. What you like to do, where you want to go, what excites you.”</span></p> <p><span>Jean Summers, director of sales at Clean Cruising, also believes an understanding of the client is paramount to planning a trip to suit you.</span></p> <p><span>“My big question is always, ‘Why are you cruising?’” said Jean.</span></p> <p><span>“I want to know what sort of hotels and service levels you are used to. I ask about previous holiday experiences, both good and bad. But everything comes back to the ‘Why?’ Is there a significant birthday, do you want time in the sun, lots of ship-time? What do you want to do on shore?”</span></p> <p><span>Marion explained that commonly clients end up booking a trip far different to what they originally intended.</span></p> <p><span>“People may have a particular cruise line or ship in mind,” said Marion.</span></p> <p><span>“But if they are open to alternatives, the choice of ship may depend on where they want to go and what they want on board. For example, Royal Caribbean is a good choice if you have children while couples might prefer Holland America Line, Celebrity or Silversea Cruises. It often comes down to their budget as some lines are more expensive than others.”</span></p> <p><span>Whether your cruise agent helps you plan an ocean or river cruise, Jean stressed how important it is to make sure you have travel insurance.</span></p> <p><span>“Travel insurance should be at the very top of people’s checklist and organised before they pay for anything else,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>“Research is crucial — you absolutely must know what you are covered for. Cruise agents should know which policies are suitable.”</span></p> <p><span>Do you use a travel agent when you book a holiday? Share your experience in the comments below.</span></p>

Cruising

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"It's blown up in our face": Estate agent's festive suggestion could NOT have gone worse

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A real estate agent has been the subject of intense backlash, after asking his tenants whether they wished to buy their landlords a pricey Christmas gift.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael Kanik of Brisbane’s Kanik and Co sent a letter to renters with the offer to send Christmas hampers to their landlords on their behalf.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prices started at $AUD 50 for a basic White Wine Grazing Box and peaked at $AUD 115 for the All Things Golden hamper. Alternatives included a $AUD 55 Festive Sweets, $AUD 70 Self Care and $AUD 99 Foodies Hamper.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846338/brisbane-landlord-christmas-present-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c92bb31d954c4c4e85a8f12cdea4e451" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Reddit</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a screenshot of the email, shared on </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/rej48y/local_real_estate_encouraging_rental_tenants_to/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reddit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the agency wrote: “This year has been particularly difficult for both our tenants and property owners alike and we understand some tenants would like to thank their property owners for everything in 2021.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our team are happy to facilitate the purchasing of a gift and have it delivered to the property owner with a handwritten note to say thank you, directly from you.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The agent said tenants who wished to take part would be issued an invoice which would need to be paid within seven days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The letter </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/real-estate-renter-landlord-christmas-gift/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sparked</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> a furious reaction online, especially as one-third of Australians relying on a national scheme reducing the costs of rental properties live in Queensland, as reported by </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://thewest.com.au/news/housing-advocates-warn-queensland-will-be-crunched-by-support-scheme-expiration-c-4167432" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The West Australian</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One Twitter user who shared the screenshot on the platform wrote: “This agency is in Logan, where the average weekly rent has increased by 30 per cent in the last 5 years and the vacancy rate is 1 per cent”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both tenants and landlords shared their disapproval of the gesture.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> <p dir="ltr">Capitalism finally flowering into full-blown feudalism.</p> — Ancient Spoonbill (@AncientSpoonbil) <a href="https://twitter.com/AncientSpoonbil/status/1470177074379833347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a property owner who reduced rent and upgraded the internet connection at the property during COVID lockdown, I say WTF??” one user shared.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As another who did similar (instigated a rent-free period of three months and then reduced the rent going forward on the next lease), I just cannot get my head around this agent’s gift collection. If I was the LL [landlord] I’d be taking my property elsewhere for management,” another commented.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Right!?<br /><br />I initially read it as the RE Agent giving *owners* a choice of hampers to gift to their *tenants*. I thought, oh that’s nice.<br /><br />When I realised it was backwards my mind blew 🤯</p> — Damon O’Hara (@hara_damon) <a href="https://twitter.com/hara_damon/status/1470527004772499459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Oh god real estate agents really are something else. Like do they not realise we actually like them LESS than we like our landlords?” a third said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is outrageous- it should be the other way around, thanking their loyal customers,” another added.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> <p dir="ltr">Thank you me lord and lady for allowing me to work the farm fields with me plough and beast. Please accept a bushel as a sign of my gratitude</p> — righteous_bot (@BotRighteous) <a href="https://twitter.com/BotRighteous/status/1470214503564337154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, Mr Kanik admitted that he had made a mistake in sending the email out. However he insisted that he also sent a letter to landlords with the same offer directed to their tenants.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was done with the best of intentions but it’s blown up in our face,” he told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10303311/Michael-Kanik-Queensland-real-estate-agent-asks-tenants-buy-landlords-Christmas-hampers.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daily Mail Australia</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “We thought it would be a nice gesture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s quite disheartening. We’ve already had quite a few calls about it today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We sent out that blanket email saying if you want to participate, but there’s no obligation at all. We were just purely trying to do a nice thing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He added: “In hindsight, it was probably a mistake to send it to the tenants, but owners sending tenants a hamper is definitely a good thing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All our landlords that come back to us are happy to do so. But some tenants have taken it the wrong way.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Real estate agent forced to apologise for offensive, sexist post

<p>A blog post on an Australian real estate website targeting single women buying properties has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.</p> <p>The article titled "Buying as a single lady" was published on Bathurst Real Estate's website and was quickly removed after backlash on social media claimed the post was "sexist" and "misogynistic".</p> <p>The piece started off on a positive note, empowering women who are planning on purchasing a property: “You’re a single lady and you’re content not (to) have a ring on your finger”. But it then took a sharp turn that angered many people online.</p> <p>“You may prefer the emotional and financial back-up of a spouse,” the post reads.</p> <p>The article continues to suggest single women can "go wild when buying" as they are "responsible only for themselves".</p> <p>It also says women “are well known for reasoning with their hearts, not their heads - and many of us love to nest.”</p> <p>Women are then issued a warning, saying property buying can quickly go south “especially if there is no man beside you to offer logic to the situation”.</p> <p>The real estate agency swiftly removed the post from their website and apologised on Facebook.</p> <p>“This is so misogynistic it’s almost comical,” one woman who reposted the article on Facebook wrote.</p> <p>“Thanks so much for this super helpful blog post Bathurst Real Estate! I can’t wait for your next post on ‘Buying as a Single man’, Oh wait...</p> <p>“Next time I go to purchase anything I’ll be sure to bring a man with me to both pay for it and also offer logic, because as you said, women are well known for not using their head and I guess none of us have any money of our own!” the bemused woman continued.</p> <p>“This is the most offensive piece of s**t I have ever read,” another person wrote.</p> <p>“Holy s**t it had never occurred to me that buying a property would represent a big proportion of my hard work and savings! I thought it would be like buying a new eyebrow pencil or baking a cake!” another woman wrote sarcastically.</p> <p>“Does this mean that me and my partner aren’t able to buy a house because we are both women and don’t know how to use our heads?” a user asked.</p> <p>Men also seemed to be equally offended by the article.</p> <p>“I think they need a new password… surely this has got to be a hack from a sacked staff member,” one man suggested.</p> <p>Bathurst Real Estate claimed the post was written by a female from a content marketing agency who was outsourced to create content.</p> <p>The real estate agent apologised for any offence that was caused, claiming the article had gone live without their knowledge and they removed it as soon as they were aware of it.</p>

Real Estate

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James Bond is more than a (sexist) secret agent. He is a fertility god, a Dionysus of the modern era

<p>James Bond is more than a (sexist) secret agent. He is a fertility god, a Dionysus of the modern era</p> <p>“History isn’t kind to people who play God,” quips James Bond to supervillain Safin in the trailer for No Time to Die.</p> <p>The film’s release has been delayed yet again, to April 2021. It will mark Daniel Craig’s swansong as 007 and speculation continues as to who will be the next Bond. Will it be Idris Elba, Tom Hardy or perhaps a woman?</p> <p>Bond has long been criticised for his sexist attitudes, with even Judi Dench’s M in GoldenEye (1995) dubbing him a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur” . But what if we view him through the prism of Greek mythology? Is Bond, in fact, a contemporary incarnation of Dionysus, the god of wine, pleasure and fertility?</p> <p>In Greek mythology, the gods punish mortals for the sin of hubris. In our pop-culture pantheon, Bond is a deity.</p> <p>Dionysus travelled throughout the ancient world, sometimes by boat in the Aegean islands, sometimes in a winged chariot. Bond also circumnavigates the globe, equally at home on yachts or in helicopters. But his chariot of choice is an Aston Martin.</p> <p>Its logo? A pair of wings.</p> <p><strong>Secrets of wine – and martinis</strong><br />Wherever Dionysus went he initiated his followers in the secrets of wine-making. Wherever Bond goes he initiates the mixologist in the secrets of making the perfect Vesper martini.</p> <p>In Ian Fleming’s Diamonds are Forever (1956), Bond tells the bartender to combine three measures of Gordon’s gin, one of vodka and half a measure of Kina Lillet with a thick slice of lemon peel and poured into a deep champagne goblet. In Casino Royale (2006), he adds the martini must be shaken “until it’s ice cold.”</p> <p>Unlike mortals, Bond’s prodigious consumption of alcohol does him no harm, indeed he is hailed as “the best shot in the Secret Service.”</p> <p>In a study of the novels published in the British Medical Journal in 2013, researchers estimated Bond consumed an average of 92 units of alcohol per week with a maximum daily intake peaking at 49.8 units.</p> <p>There were days when Bond abstained – 12.5 out of a total 87.5 days – but mostly because he was being held prisoner.</p> <p><strong>Weapons of disguise</strong><br />Dionysus carries a thyrsus: a sacred pinecone-tipped staff wreathed in vines. The thyrus is a phallic symbol, sometimes displayed with a kantharos wine cup, denoting female sexuality.</p> <p>The union of the two created a powerful representation of fertility and rebirth. Dionysus also turned his thyrsus into a dangerous weapon by secreting an iron tip in its point.</p> <p>As a secret agent, Bond conceals his Walther PPK pistol in a hidden holster, but one of his most lethal weapons is disguised as a cigarette – a potent symbol of sexual union in cinema, where smoking a cigarette signifies the completion of copulation.</p> <p>In You Only Live Twice (1967) the villain makes the fatal mistake of allowing Bond “one last fag.” It turns out to be tipped with a rocket-propelled bullet, proving that cigarettes aren’t just lethal for smokers.</p> <p><strong>Gods of possession</strong><br />Dionysus was deeply attractive to his female followers, Maenads, who would drink themselves into a frenzy to be possessed by the god. Likewise, Bond is pursued by a bevy of beautiful women – Pussy Galore, Plenty O’Toole and Honey Rider – panting to be possessed.</p> <p>As with the Maenads, devotion to Bond comes with its perils. In Live and Let Die (1973), Bond girl, Solitaire loses her psychic powers after a close encounter of the passionate kind with Bond and becomes a target for heroin baron, Dr Kananga.</p> <p>In Goldfinger (1964), Jill Masterton is punished by the eponymous villain for betraying him to Bond, dying of skin suffocation when he covers her in gold paint.</p> <p>This puts a new spin on the Midas myth in which Dionysus granted the king’s wish to be blessed with the golden touch, only to discover that it is a curse making it impossible to eat or even embrace his daughter without turning her into metal.</p> <p><strong>Ecstasy and death</strong><br />In ancient Greece, the number seven was sacred and composed of the number three (the heavenly male) and the number four (the heavenly female). Bond’s number in the secret service – Agent 007 – is thus the perfect number to represent a modern-day fertility god.</p> <p>Like Dionysus who is depicted in a number of forms which range from an older, bearded god to a long-haired youth, Bond has appeared in a variety of guises from the debonair David Niven to the strapping Daniel Craig.</p> <p>Yet regardless of his age and physique, Bond’s dual Dionysian nature brings either divine ecstasy in bed, or brutal death to his foes.</p> <p>Dionysus almost dies before he is born but his father Zeus saves him. Later he returns from the dead after he is dismembered by the Titans.</p> <p>Bond says, “You only live twice: once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.”</p> <p>Like Dionysus, Bond is resurrected in Skyfall (2012) after he is accidentally shot by Moneypenny. The bullet penetrates his body causing him to fall off a train and into a waterfall where he sinks to the bottom. But Bond is immortal. He returns to save another day.</p> <p>When it finally reaches cinemas, No Time to Die will be the last hurrah for Craig, but gods do not die. Bond will live on.</p> <p><em>Written by Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/james-bond-is-more-than-a-sexist-secret-agent-he-is-a-fertility-god-a-dionysus-of-the-modern-era-131040">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Movies

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4 things you're doing to your home that real estate agents wouldn't

<p>Every day, real estate agents come upon cringe-worthy things homeowners have done to their homes. Leopard-print fabric wallpaper in the bedroom – yep. DIY electrical repairs – shockingly true. Sure, it’s your castle, and you can decorate or DIY to your heart’s content, as well as skip certain projects you just don’t think are important. But there are some smart reasons why real estate agents wouldn’t do the following things to their own homes.</p> <p><strong>1. Ignoring kerb appeal</strong></p> <p>You worked for months on the interior of your home, and now that it’s Instagram-worthy, you’re too tired and uninspired to care about the shabby lawn and cracked walkway. Shake off the sawdust and swap out your tool belt for some gardening tools. “It pays to hire a professional to get some advice to ‘stage’ your yard, too,” says real estate broker Kelly Parks. “A bonus is that while you live there, you will also love it.”</p> <p><strong>2. Planting trees too close to the house</strong></p> <p>Leafy trees, flowering bushes and colourful perennials instantly add a welcoming and homey touch to that all-important kerb appeal, but if you plant trees too close to the house, you might regret it down the road. Trees with long root systems can uproot the ground and your budget, and large limbs can fall on the roof or damage siding. “Roots over time can damage underground plumbing, foundation and driveways,” explains realtor Maya Madison. “It may look nice at first, but when you go to sell it in a few years, those roots will cause very expensive damage.”</p> <p><strong>3. Over-customising</strong></p> <p>A house is transformed into a home-sweet-home when you add personal touches, but if you’re thinking about selling your house down the road, you might want to rethink going all-in with your favourite motif. Broker Melanie Everett loves animal prints, but she’s not going to wallpaper her house with it. “I opted to buy some beautiful pillows instead,” she says. “Plus, I can take these with me to my next home, and I don’t have to worry about overwhelming a potential buyer.”</p> <p><strong>4. Hiring non-licenced contractors</strong></p> <p>It’s probably not a big deal to DIY a loose floorboard or hire your cousin to install a ceiling fan, but when it comes to the major housing components like plumbing and electrical, you should hire licensed, bonded contractors and possibly get permits. “This is very important because real estate agents know the value of being able to say that a licensed contractor or expert did the work,” says Parks. “This gives a potential buyer peace of mind, knowing that things are right, and the same is true when they go to sell the house later.”</p> <p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.rd.com/home/things-real-estate-agents-wouldnt-do/"><em>RD.com</em></a></p> <p><em>Written by Lisa Marie Conklin. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/diy-tips/13-things-youre-doing-to-your-home-that-real-estate-agents-wouldnt">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></em></p>

Home & Garden

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Four ways to find the right travel agent

<p>Today more than ever, people are enabled to travel, almost anywhere, at almost any time.</p> <p>What is it that attracts us to embark on holidays and seek experiences outside of what’s available locally?</p> <p>Why do we invest our precious time and hard-earned financial resources, leave our homes, and journey across the globe?</p> <p>Gavin Tollman, Trafalgar’s CEO, believes that travel is a vital element of the human experience.</p> <p>“It’s the introduction to new places and stimulation from meeting new people that is energising. With each moment of discovery, your world opens wider and your life changes forever,” he says.</p> <p>“There is one constant for all of us: once the travel bug bites, there is no cure.”</p> <p>But where do you start when turning these dreams into reality?</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7830560/trafalgar-native-hero-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7658dff91fca4986b9780eac14a85d1e" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Trafalgar CEO Gavin Tollman</em></p> <p>Based on an independently commissioned<span> </span><a href="https://blog.trafalgar.com/wonder-lost/">research study</a><span> </span>last year, Trafalgar found that 89% of consumers are overwhelmed by the abundance of choice they have when it comes to travel decision-making.</p> <p>With an overwhelming amount of travel resources available – the internet, newspapers, social media, magazines, books, television and word of mouth, it’s no wonder that trying to bring your travel dreams to life can turn into a<span> </span><a href="https://blog.trafalgar.com/2018/09/28/take-stress-out-travel/">stressful and time consuming</a><span> </span>exercise, and one that is easy to give up on.</p> <p>In this environment of complexity, this is precisely why the services of a professional travel consultant, who can help navigate the journey, has become more valuable than ever.</p> <p>But how do you even know which one to choose? Skill levels vary, as do areas of expertise and it’s quite likely that your travel inspiration and actual travel desires may not align. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative to find an expert in travel who knows the world, is passionate about travel, and understands your needs.</p> <p>“Nowhere in the travel world is there any debate around the relevance and value today of travel agents,” Tollman continues.</p> <p>“The secret to finding a holiday that meets your needs is finding a travel agent who truly understands who you are, what you need and dream of in a holiday, and how to get you there. Literally.”</p> <p>“A good travel agent takes the time and trouble to listen to what you want (and don’t want), makes thoughtful and relevant suggestions that reflect your holiday aspirations in all ways, adjusts to ensure that the holiday is a genuine ‘fit’, and makes it happen according to your defined resources of time and money,” Tollman concludes.</p> <p>“At the heart of a good travel agent experience is simply this: They do the work, all you do is dream, pack and go. “</p> <p>Tollman gives his four-step fit for finding the right agent for your travels:</p> <p><strong>1. First and foremost, EXPERTISE</strong></p> <div id="page2" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>First-hand knowledge, from the places they have been or learned their customers and fellow agents. By nature, a great travel agent must be inherently inquisitive. They don’t just sell a destination – they travel, they ask questions, read, discover, research and experience the places for themselves. Quality travel agents travel for work, absorbing every detail of the guest experience. They don’t have to have personally been where you want to go, a colleague has, or their preferred tour operators have. They know the hidden gems in a given destination. They take feedback seriously. Every time they travel they are focusing on these details – so their customers can just dream about their destination and not have to worry.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"><strong>2. Access</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"> <div id="page3" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Always accessible when you are on the road – an imperative when we are subject to the vagaries of travel – cancelled flights, weather, personal circumstance. If something goes wrong, a travel agent can help make it right. And quickly, with minimum of fuss. They answer their phones and respond to their email no matter where you are on the planet. Importantly, they must have clout – they will have developed personal relationships with individuals at the companies they sell, and this gives them leverage you can’t get on your own.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"><strong>3. Value</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"> <div id="page4" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>This is their lifeblood. Do not begrudge them for it. You are paying for their service and their credibility pays dividends. Generally, I have found that it will not cost you any more than doing it yourself. Their ability to benefit from travel relationships, access and resulting discounts will, with good travel agents, benefit you. If your travel agent charges a fee, the value you receive should be greater than what you would have paid going it alone. We may have the world at our fingertips but a good travel agent cuts through the clutter. And eradicates risk of your holiday dream becoming a nightmare. Remember in travel, there are no do overs.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"><strong>4. Endorsement</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"> <div id="page5" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Choose a travel agent in the same way you would other high-value service providers such as doctors or lawyers: trust the opinion of others. Since travel choices are personal decisions that reflect individual desires and lifestyles, you will want to visit or call a number of consultants to find the one that best suits your needs. One of the largest changes, has been a shift to many different agency models. Look for the ones that best work for you. Trust your instincts – but pay attention to a travel agent’s willingness to listen and answer questions. And never forget that the best agents want to establish a long-term relationship with you, one that will be a true partnership in which your holiday dreams are fulfilled beyond expectation and is not just seen as a sales-oriented transaction.</p> <p>Sharing is a wonderful and consistent element of a great holiday. Investing in finding the right travel agent – the right partner – who can share and guide you is one of the greatest investments you can make. We only have one life, one in which there is no time nor money to waste. After all, travel dreams fulfilled are priceless.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/four-ways-to-find-the-right-travel-agent/"><em>This is sponsored content brought to you in partnership with <a href="https://www.trafalgar.com/en-au">Trafalgar</a>.</em></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Travel Tips

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3 reasons to trust a travel agent when booking a cruise

<p>Cruising with a travel agent may not have been who you were thinking of turning to when you decided you wanted to book a holiday.</p> <p>Afterall, there are many options already available at the touch of a finger. Online directories, websites and information pages are just some of the many options available when you want to book a holiday.</p> <p>However, there is a level of expertise and passion for finding what is best for a prospective traveller that you just can’t find anywhere else.</p> <p>Here is why travel agents make booking a cruise that much better.</p> <p><strong>1. They know more than you do </strong></p> <p>If you’re not a regular cruiser, there are a number of things you may not know about booking a holiday or ways to make it the best one possible.</p> <p>A good travel adviser is extremely important when booking a holiday, as they can match your interests with the right cruise to make sure you have the best options possible.</p> <p><strong>2. They’re on the ball</strong></p> <p>New itineraries, deals and bargains are usually released to travel agents first.</p> <p>Those looking for a good cruise steal that works for them and their needs are better off opting for one of their local travel agents who have the most up-to-date information.</p> <p><strong>3. They organise <em>everything </em></strong></p> <p>Once your cruise is booked, your travel agent has access to some of the best extras as well. A travel agent is able to look after you from start to finish -whether that is flights, pre ad post-accommodation packages and even visas.</p> <p>Will you use a travel agent when booking your next high seas getaway? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Cruising

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JFK's agent speaks out on 55th anniversary of assassination: "I should have been faster"

<p>The secret service agent, who leapt to shield President John F Kennedy after he was shot, has spoken out about the unforgettable turn of events on the 55th anniversary of the assassination.</p> <p>Agent Clint Hill was the first to react, jumping out of a following car and jumping on the back of the presidential limousine, after former marine Lee Harvey Oswald pulled the trigger at President JFK three times.</p> <p>However, before Mr Hill could position himself as a human shield, a bullet pierced the President’s head.</p> <p>In an interview with <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/"><strong><u>The Sun</u></strong></a> </em>on the anniversary of the assassination, now 86-year-old Mr Hill said he will never be able to forget the day that changed history.</p> <p>“One thing that I’ve never been able to erase from my mind is being on the back of the car looking down at the president, who was lying with his face in Mrs Kennedy’s lap,” Mr Hill said. </p> <p>“The right side of his face is up and I can see that his eyes are fixed. There’s blood everywhere.</p> <p>“I can see the gunshot wound. In the room that’s in the skull I can see that there is no more brain matter left,” he said. </p> <p>“That is something I could never, and have never been able to, erase from my mind.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 405.6666666666667px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822094/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2cdb89303572412e8d02e6d3b4fd492c" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Clint Hill</em></p> <p>“At the time I never thought ‘I might be killed’ or ‘I won’t see my kids again’,” Mr Hill said.</p> <p>“I didn’t think of that at all. That was the farthest thing from my mind. My goal was to get there to form a cover for them so no more damage could be done.”</p> <p>The former secret service agent also discussed the guilt he still feels today for not being fast enough.</p> <p> “I think I should have been faster,” he said. </p> <p>“My job was to protect them and I was unable to do that.</p> <p>“If I had been slightly faster I may have been able to prevent the president’s fatal wound and that has bothered me ever since. It always will - I’m sure.”</p> <p>Mr Hill also discussed the impact the assassination had on his personal life after suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.</p> <p>From 1976-1982, Mr Hill cut himself off from everyone in his life except for his wife and two children.</p> <p>"I self medicated with alcohol during that period of time,” Clint confessed. </p> <p>“I just didn’t care about anything and I didn’t want to have any contact with anybody.</p> <p>“Friends would come by and I wouldn’t even acknowledge that they were there. I just ignored everything.”</p> <p>In 1982, he was slowly able to reclaim his life back.</p> <p>“I quit drinking, quit tobacco, started to work out a little bit. And I began to gradually get better and better,” he said. </p> <p>“And finally by 1990 I was able to go back to Dallas and walk the streets of Dealey Plaza up into the Texas School Book Depository and look up at the sixth floor window where Oswald shot from and then come away knowing that I had really done everything I could do that day.”</p> <p>Mr Hill said the secret service have a much harder job to protect the President today.</p> <p>“The challenges are much greater to protect the president, whoever it might be,” he said. </p> <p>“And the fact that President Trump does generate a great deal of animosity from various sections of society, it is something that is very concerning."</p>

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Why it’s still worth using a travel agent

<p>With hundreds of booking sites at your fingertips, travel agents might seem as obsolete as the printed map.</p> <p>But even experienced travellers should consider sitting down with a specialist to plan their next adventure.</p> <p>We talked to travel consultant Samantha Johnston of YOU Travel Taupo, who was named Rookie of the Year at the TAANZ National Travel Industry awards.</p> <p><strong>Tell me - why should I use a travel agent instead of the internet?</strong></p> <p>"Obviously you think if you're doing it yourself, you're cutting out someone else and must be getting the best deal - but it's so untrue," Johnston says. "Anything you can find yourself, we can find better."</p> <p>Basically, travel agents have access to special deals and software that the public don't. They can build an airfare by piecing together flights from different airlines to create one ticket.</p> <p><strong>I don't know if I trust you guys…</strong></p> <p>But you think the faceless bot at the other end of your computer cares about your holiday?</p> <p>"Third-party websites don't want to help you," Johnston says. "You forgot to include your luggage? You'll be on hold for hours. Nobody wants to answer your questions."</p> <p>Travel agents should be as excited about your holiday as you are. They should know everything there is to know about your destination, including niggly bits like visas and time zones.</p> <p>"We get so many people who have booked flights to Rarotonga, but forget that when you fly to Raro, you go back a day. So when they book their accommodation, they've booked a day too late. They come in saying, 'Oh my gosh, can you fix it?'"</p> <p>Travel agents are on call 24/7, and can be lifesavers if something unexpected happens before or during your holiday.</p> <p>"We might have someone whose mother has just passed away, so they can't go anymore. They make one phone call to us, and we fix everything - cancel reservations, talk to the airline, get any money back we can."</p> <p><strong>Isn't it more expensive?</strong></p> <p>Nope. Getting a quote is totally free. If you end up booking, you're not paying any extra for the travel agent's service.</p> <p>But you've also got to remember when booking a holiday, cheapest isn't necessarily best, Johnston warns.</p> <p>"I could find someone a nice, 4.5-star holiday package to Fiji, and they'll want a better deal. Sure, I can give them a 3-star package that might be cheaper - but they might not end up enjoying it like they would have the 4.5 star.</p> <p>"It's all about getting better value for your money. You want to have a good holiday, and you want to enjoy it."</p> <p><strong>How does that commission thing work, anyway?</strong></p> <p>Travel agents make money from the commissions they receive from hotels, cruise lines or tour operators - not from the customer who's paying the price, Johnston says.</p> <p>Your travel agent shouldn't push you towards a certain company because it means a bigger pay cheque for them, either.</p> <p>"You've got to get to know the person you're dealing with so you know which cruise line or airline they'll enjoy," Johnston  says. "If you do well by them, they'll come back. It's a repeat business and word of mouth carries on."</p> <p><strong>What if I get the travel agent to do all the hard work and prepare an itinerary for me… only so I can jump straight back on Skyscanner?</strong></p> <p>You might think you're being economical with this dastardly plan, but there really is no advantage to doing it yourself.</p> <p>"We sometimes get people coming in for a quote, going home and using the information provided to book it themselves," Johnston says. "I find it quite funny because we're here to help. If they need to change something, or add on accommodation, we can do the whole thing. Whereas if you've booked on a third-party website, we can't deal with it."</p> <p>When you book through a travel agent, your funds are secure through a bonding scheme and protected by law - whereas booking via foreign websites offers no protection.</p> <p>"We have exactly the same prices, and with that, you get all the service we provide, free of charge," Johnston says.</p> <p>"If you see a good deal, just bring it in, and ask, 'Can you get this for me?' Because 99 per cent of the time, we can."</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Do you agree with this advice?</p> <p><em>Written by Siobhan Downes. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Flight Centre agent plays funny prank on man who lost ID

<p>A Flight Centre agent has played a funny prank on a man who lost his identification after a rowdy night out, sending in a letter in the mail that appeared to be a booking confirmation for first class return flights to the Maldives.</p> <p>After losing his ID on a night out on the town, UK resident Will Armstrong was shocked to discover a letter in the mail which made him believe someone had used his mislaid license to book the first-class flights, worth £5,000 ($A8,500).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">so I was pretty drunk the other night and I lost my ID, then this turns up today... <a href="https://t.co/TX0CHttfnT">pic.twitter.com/TX0CHttfnT</a></p> — will (@willarmstrong__) <a href="https://twitter.com/willarmstrong__/status/927958251551055872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Fortunately, Armstrong quickly found out that it was a ruse from a cheeky Flight Centre travel agent, named Steve, who had found the missing ID just outside his store.</p> <p>Armstrong tweeted images of the prank, and even popped instore to visit Steve, which have since been retweeted more than 60,000 times around the world.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">here's the man himself, thank you Steve! <a href="https://t.co/D0ctqiSXlY">pic.twitter.com/D0ctqiSXlY</a></p> — will (@willarmstrong__) <a href="https://twitter.com/willarmstrong__/status/928269821170651136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>What are your thoughts? Funny prank? Or did it go a little too far?</p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Save money with Over60 Travel Insurance. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a></span> Or for more information, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p>

Travel Tips

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Travel agents share silliest complaints from travellers

<p><span>Holiday goers save up all year for their annual break so it is no surprise that when things go wrong, they like to let everyone know.</span></p> <p><span>Travel agents receive a variety of complaints from tourists who wish to highlight the hiccups they encountered during their trip.</span></p> <p><span>It is expected that people will complain about shabby hotels and long delays, but sometimes the complaints can be quite ridiculous, like one traveller who complained that they were disappointed to find every restaurant serving curry in India.</span></p> <p><span>Twitter page Holiday Complaints has shared the most ridiculous complaints made by travellers.</span></p> <p><span>1. “On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food at all.”</span></p> <p><span>2. “No one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled.”</span></p> <p><span>3. We had to cut our trip short to Yellowstone because we were informed that they don’t cage the animals at night for our protection.”</span></p> <p><span>4. “Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women.”</span></p> <p><span>5. “The beach had too many fat people. It was gross.”</span></p> <p><span>6. “We went to a Mexican restaurant in Rome and the waiter was Italian. You said Italy was the best place for an authentic food experience.”</span></p> <p><span>7. "It rained. We didn't know it ever rained in Spain."</span></p> <p><span>8. “Why doesn’t everyone speak English? We went to Spain and no one understood English. We will never go back there again.”</span></p> <p><span>9. "It was expected that you tipped the waiters even though the hotel was all-inclusive."</span></p> <p><span>10. “The water in the Gulf of Mexico was too salty. No one told me that there was going to be salt in the water. It was gross.”</span></p> <p><span>11. “It’s lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time — this should be banned.”</span></p> <p><span>12. “You said the town was next to a volcano, but we went and there was no lava. I’m pretty sure it was just a mountain.”</span></p>

Travel Tips

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Controversy over retired MI5 Agent who confesses to Princess Diana ‘murder’

<p>John Hopkins is an 80-year-old retired MI5 agent and has made a series of controversial claims since being told he has weeks to live.</p> <p>An article from <em>YourNewsWire.com</em> has said that since being released from a hospital in London on Wednesday, John has claimed to have been involved in 23 assassinations for the British intelligence agency between 1973 and 1999, including Princess Diana.</p> <p>John worked for MI5 for 38 years as an operative and has claimed that he was used as a hitman to discreetly assassinate individuals considered a threat to the security of the UK.</p> <p>The 80-year-old has said that during the period of June 1973 and December 1999 when he was involved in the assassinations “the MI5 operated with less external oversight”. John said he was part of a cell of seven operatives who carried out political assassinations on people such as politicians, activists, journalists and union leaders.</p> <p>John claims to feel “ambivalent” about Princess Diana’s death but according to him she was placing the British crown at risk.</p> <p>“She knew too many Royal secrets. She had a huge grudge and she was going to go public with all sorts of wild claims."</p> <p>"I’d never killed a woman before, much less a princess, but I obeyed orders. I did it for Queen and country.”</p> <p>John has also said that the Palace also took control of the media to <em>“</em>square their stories, make sure everybody was on the same page. It was a well run operation.”</p> <p>“British journalists all answer to editors who answer to oligarchs who all want knighthoods from the crime family at Buckingham Palace. There is no free press in Britain,” said Mr. Hopkins.</p> <p>“We got away with murder.”</p> <p>The claims of John have gone viral with Royal fans around the world fearing the conspiracy theory may hold some truth.</p> <p>Fact check website <em>Snopes</em> have denounced the claims of John Hopkins, however, millions of Diana fans have already shared the article online.</p> <p>For years conspiracy theories have spread over the death of the beloved Princess. </p>

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16 things airline gate agents wish they could tell travellers

<p>There are some things gate or ticketing agents at the airport — whether for job security reasons or to keep hundreds of anxious fliers happy — just can't tell travellers.</p> <p>But that doesn't mean they don't want to. In fact, many of these things could be to their or your benefit, if only someone would speak up.</p> <p>So we asked airline customer service reps to weigh in on the one thing they'd love to tell passengers but can't.</p> <p>We've anonymously included some of the more constructive thoughts here:</p> <p><strong>1. 'No, we can't just give you a free upgrade'</strong></p> <p>'Different airlines have different rules, but a change or upgrade can get you fired these days. And it's not worth our jobs. The airline computer system tracks everything, and big brother can be watching us.'</p> <p><strong>2. 'This job is more stressful than you know'</strong></p> <p>'I've been assaulted twice during my decades of working with the airlines. The stress of this job can be compared to working in any emergency room.'</p> <p><strong>3. 'We are under a tremendous amount of pressure.'</strong></p> <p>'Many agents have been physically attacked by customers, including myself.'</p> <p><strong>4. 'Be more considerate of your fellow travellers'</strong></p> <p>'Cutting your toenails, flossing your teeth, putting on nail polish, and talking loudly on your cell phone shouldn't be done in public in the gate areas while you're waiting for your flight.'</p> <p><strong>5. 'Just relax -- deep breaths'</strong></p> <p>'Is your issue really as serious as the stress you are causing to yourself and others?'</p> <p><strong>6. 'Stop waiting 'til last minute'</strong></p> <p>'If you show up to the airport with 20 minutes to spare, you might miss the flight. It is not like taking the bus. Plan ahead.'</p> <p>'Take responsibility for your actions. Don't be late.'</p> <p><strong>7. 'No'</strong></p> <p>'Travellers think we are being rude when we tell them, 'No, you can't do what you want to.' We tell them no because we are enforcing the rules that have been made up by our company, not by us personally. The rules are there for a reason -- not to make travelling harder, but to make it safer.'</p> <p><strong>8. 'It's not all about you'</strong></p> <p>'You're not the only person here.'</p> <p><strong>9. 'We can't change the rules'</strong></p> <p>'Most of the rules were made for safety reasons. Travellers think the rules are a nuisance or trivial, but they are rules for a reason. It's to keep the passengers safe.'</p> <p><strong>10. 'You need my help?'</strong></p> <p>'Treat me right and you will get the best I can give you.'</p> <p>'You get more with honey than with vinegar.'</p> <p>'If you are rude and yelling at me, do you really think I want to help you?'</p> <p><strong>11. 'You don't need to pack everything and the kitchen sink'</strong></p> <p>'Inexperienced international travellers don't realise the size of taxis and public transportation in the cities they are visiting. That extra large suitcase is not going to fit in a trunk of a cab. And you might often have to walk a distance to your hotel, which means dragging all your luggage with you. You really can get by with less when you travel.'</p> <p><strong>12. 'Stop blaming us for flight cancellations'</strong></p> <p>'No, we don't have spare planes to use if there is an cancellation.'</p> <p><strong>13. 'We're doing a lot'</strong></p> <p>'We are responsible for ticketing, handling baggage, boarding, deplaning, dispatching flights efficiently and safely. We handle complaints, cancellations, lost luggage, weather delays, and travellers' problems -- all while trying to make our passengers' process easy, efficient, and less stressful for all.'</p> <p><strong>14. 'Don't keep bugging the gate agents with questions they have already answered in their announcements'</strong></p> <p>'They are working with a time crunch, and all those extra questions are keeping them from doing their work.'</p> <p><strong>15. 'It is a federal crime to assault (and that includes credible verbal threats) an airport worker'</strong></p> <p>'If you threaten us, you can be arrested. We will call the police and you will not fly. The punishment for assaulting us is a fine of up to $US250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.'</p> <p><strong>16. 'We as airline agents and we as travellers all need to be more considerate of each other'</strong></p> <p>'We are trying to do our jobs as best as we can. We realise travelling isn't fun and easy as it used to be. But we all need to try to make it easier for each other.'</p> <p>Do you feel more sympathy for airline gate agents now?</p> <p><em>First appeared on <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a></span></strong>. </em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To arrange a quote, click here.</span></a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p>

International Travel

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Why you should always use an agent when selling

<p>When it came time to sell his mum’s house in Coogee, author and Aboriginal tour guide operator Grant Hyde decided to sell it himself, using a friend who is an auctioneer and putting up advertising.</p> <p>Eventually, he gave up and put her home with a professional real estate agent.</p> <p>“One hundred per cent you need an agent,” he says of his experience. “When I tried to sell the house myself, I just missed too much of the market, we missed out a lot of the places where we should have advertised and all those potential buyers that agents have on their books already.</p> <p>As well, we’d done a lot of renovations to the house but one website listed its pre-renovation value as $1.3 million – and a lot of buyers kept quoting that to us, and we didn’t know how to counter it.”</p> <p>Hyde, 46, the co-founder of Kadoo Tours, ended up with one offer for $1.45 million, and that, he didn’t feel was a particularly firm offer. He then put the property with an agent, Brooke Marshall, of Belle Property Randwick, and ended up selling for $1,765,000.</p> <p>Sales agents certainly agree they’re worth their weight in gold. Debbie Donnelley, of Phillips Pantzer Donnelley, says their most important role is being the person in the middle between buyer and seller.</p> <p>“Sellers are very reluctant to say to an owner that they hate the kitchen, but they will be much more open with the agent,” she says. “So that means we can find out what they really feel and then negotiate.”</p> <p>She’s regularly had calls from owners about buyers who’ve turned up late to an open, and been let in and say they “love” the property. But when she phones them, she often finds the reverse is true.</p> <p>“We also, nine times out of 10, know how much a buyer has to spend,” she says. “That’s also very helpful for a vendor’s sale.”</p> <p>The president of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, John Cunningham, says the main reason sellers should use agents is because “selling is 80 per cent an emotional decision and 20 per cent a logical decision”.</p> <p>“The emotional side of the transaction cannot be underestimated, that is why you need the deft hand of a professional to guide you through the process,” he says.</p> <p>“At the end of the day the agent is a trusted advisor who is their to maximise your sales price.”</p> <p>Ivan Bresic, of BresicWhitney, agrees an agent is absolutely necessary to maximise a sale price. “It’s like if you’re going to be in court; would you represent yourself, or get a professional, a lawyer, to do it?” he asks. “It’s the same for a house sale. You need someone who’s a professional in the business, who does this every day, can give you the right advice, can negotiate and advise on marketing and presentation and professional photography.</p> <p>“It’s also about time. A sale can take one day or 90 days. You need someone dedicated who’s going to give it all the time it needs. An agent is important too to take the emotion out of the sales process. It’s not like selling a car or boat; it’s a home, and it’s very easy to let emotion cloud your judgment.”</p> <p>Even buyers’ agents like to deal with a professional sales agent. Simon Cohen, of Cohen Handler, says: “It is very wise for sellers to use a real estate agent. Everyone is exceptionally emotional about their own home, and you need someone to show you the facts and manage the process.”</p> <p>He says he has bought properties cheaply in the past from sellers who didn’t use an agent. “Without an agent it’s difficult to get a realistic understanding of what it’s worth,” he says. “But on the flip side sometimes sales won’t go through because sellers won’t budge from what they think their house is worth, even if it’s not worth that much.”</p> <p>Mr Cunningham says the role of the agent is to successfully implement the seven key selling strategies:</p> <p>1. Presentation Strategy: How to make the property stand out from the crowd.</p> <p>2. Marketing Strategy: Embarking on the right marketing program to maximise the eventual sales price.</p> <p>3. Pricing Strategy: Working out the appropriate estimated sales price.</p> <p>4. Communication Strategy: Ensuring the buyer is across feedback from the market and buyers.</p> <p>5. Buyer Nurture Strategy: Engaging with and nurturing buyers into commitment mode.</p> <p>6. Negotiation Strategy: Dealing with multiple buyers to get the best deal for the seller.</p> <p>7. Auction Strategy: If the home is going to auction, the agent’s job is to create an environment that will yield the highest result for the seller.</p> <p>How have you found the home selling process?</p> <p><em>Source: REINSW President John Cunningham.</em></p> <p><em>Written by Sue Cunningham. First appeared on <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/why-you-should-always-use-an-agent-when-selling-your-home-20151208-glixv0/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/02/more-secrets-of-worlds-most-money-savvy-senior/">6 more secrets of the world’s most money savvy senior</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/01/4-things-you-must-do-if-your-bankcard-goes-missing/">4 things you must do if your bankcard goes missing</a></strong></em></span></p> <p> <em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2016/12/5-tips-for-a-successful-garage-sale/">5 tips for a successful garage sale</a></strong></em></p>

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