Tips – The Property Writers

Getting yourself through December and beyond

November 30, 2016 No Comments

The silly season is in sight - you may be on permanently on your feet, but make time for treats.

Are you feeling it – the increase?

Chances are, if you work in marketing, advertising, real estate or retail, among many other industries, you’re feeling a pinch heading towards the silly season.

And it can be ever so silly.

While some industries wind up and audible sighs of relief can be heard all round, come mid-December, some others have that final surge. A surge that requires boundless energy, a smile to remain on your face, albeit pasted at times and an ability to stay on task.

You may need to be prepared for extra work, tighter deadlines and days that will leave your phone battery flat.

So, how to get through?

Given here at TPW we have worked in a variety of roles, including legal and freelance, ranging from smaller businesses, through to international companies, we have gleaned a few hot tips.

Our experience of now working for our own business has in turn made us really look at the different patches throughout the year. We are often reflecting on how we can best manage these to serve our clients and additionally remain fresh ourselves.

In no particular order, some ideas for surviving the end of the year without coming out the other side extremely frayed:

Combine your work and leisure calendars side-by-side to minimise over-committing: The work parties can start in November. Be prepared for clashes with family and friends. Have your ‘Thank You’ and ‘Sorry’ cards at the ready – chances are you will miss a birthday, engagement or farewell. (Us December babies are used to this though, don’t worry, ahem.)
What can you outsource? Even if it’s only for the month of December. Because no-one wants to be that person martyring themselves ironing at midnight, because the days are too jam-packed. If your budget can stretch, be it office, or personal, outsource some tasks that seem particularly overwhelming come a busy spell at work.
Get.Your.Shopping.Done-Now! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, if you do have gifts to buy for late December, why not make this year the year that you do get it all done now? I know some people hold off until those super-special sales in those last few days, but a little (not so) secret: ‘those’ sales are already on – now! It actually seems that they now start in October.
Keep a reward in sight, to help you breathe through particularly frantic days. If you are taking time off around the end of the year and/or early January, keep that in mind. Some days are bound to have hiccups, particularly if you are a real estate agent, broker, or similar. But, guess what – you’ve almost made it through the whole of 2016! Sleep-ins and slow, sunshine-filled days aren’t far away. Hold on, you’re almost there.
Stop and breathe. You’ll come out the other side soon, with space to stretch your wings.
With the above in mind, don’t neglect your health. If you are working longer days at the moment and are missing out a higher quantity of sleep each week than typical, you need to check in with yourself each day. What could you do, each and every day, to ensure that you are filling your tank? Maybe you need to buy one of those kind of fancy 3-litre drink bottles from a sports/health store, and ensure you’ve drunk it by the end of each day. Or perhaps, it’s allowing for one extra fitness class each week. It may seem like it’s adding, not subtracting, during a busy time. But if only an extra hour of something that is going to boost your day/week overall, allow it to happen.
Fill YOUR cup!
One final point to consider is that this time of year can be a particular strain for people, financially, emotionally and otherwise. If you’re busy working and feeling overwhelmed, maybe grab perspective and remember: if you’re working, succeeding and achieving, in a sense you are fortunate. Being mindful and thankful, even if only for a minute, can do wonders for changing a negative mindset into a positive one. And a positive mindset is a much-needed thing when a busy work year is winding up!
Don’t forget your passion, your drive and why you work in your role in the first place.

And if there is anything you can do to help others who may not be as fortunate as you, make time for that too. It could be an absolutely wonderful and fulfilling way to finish off your 2016.

Behind the scenes, Copywriting, Marketing, Tips

What I learnt at Jane Austen’s House

September 14, 2016 No Comments

I’ve been on a journey of sorts whilst working from the U.K. and Paris throughout the last three weeks. Change is as good as a holiday and this working holiday has meant a dramatically different work backdrop.

It’s been a treat writing up marketing copy for properties in Australia, whilst the Seine river and English country gardens have been just beyond my laptop.

Tanya was born in England and spent her childhood here, whilst I lived here previously in my early twenties for a short time. While here I enjoyed a fancy-free extended working holiday, with more trekking about Europe than work.

This time around, it’s been different. In addition to chasing dreams, forming goals and applying myself to research/bettering our business, I have been inspired.

What inspires people is of course dependent on individual taste. Me? Each time I visit Paris, I visit Joan of Arc in Notre Dame.

In London, I see the Globe Theatre on the Thames, even if it’s just passing by on foot or river cruise.

Writers typically are habitual folk by nature and I’m no exception, so these places need to be ticked off.

For the first time however recently, I visited the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton.

14383454_10154582317963413_926525969_n — An informal portait of Jane

Well, as a writer and particularly a female writer, I scolded myself for not having gone sooner.

I took my time and wandered through the gardens, watched the introductory video in its entirety and took in plenty of details in the house.

Her bedroom!

I looked upon the home and information within it from the perspective of a writer.

As someone who is hired to provide marketing content, which I/we seriously enjoy, I do typically feel the need to separate this work from my additional creative works.

SO much harder than my iPad

Immersing myself in Jane’s world however, I took on board a few lessons. Upon leaving, I realised that all can be applied to both realms of work.

What I learnt “from Jane” can be considered when creating both professional marketing content that we produce for clients and my own projects.

These are my lessons I took on board:

1> Your environment affects your work

Jane had a recognisably unproductive period when she was upheaved from the comfortable, familiar family home and moved to Bath. Whilst in Bath, she didn’t actually write much and certainly didn’t have work published. Even though in this day and age we are fortunate to be able to “work/write on the go” and anywhere really, it’s true that our surroundings and circumstances play a big part in what we create. An inspiring environment, or perhaps just a familiar one, depending on how you are inclined, is key to producing good work.

2> Walk!

Jane would walk in and around Chawton for around two hours every afternoon, rain or shine, mostly with her sister, Cassandra. The exercise, fresh air and time to brainstorm and discuss her ideas was paramount to her moving forward with her works. Interestingly, at the recent and BRILLIANT London Screenwriter’s Festival that I attended here in London, two very prolific screenwriters advised the same habit. With four-five decades of work and success between the two of them, they both swore by a daily walk. Each cited this as one of the best methods to work through problems, cure writer’s block and generally be inspired. I have been all too guilty of putting off a walk most days because of an array of excuses, mostly deadlines, or general busyness. No more! If walking can aid my work, then walking it is!

3> Even Jane Austen made (spelling) mistakes

I SO loved seeing at least one example, in a hand-written letter, that Jane Austen misspelled words. I’ve agonised over infrequent but noticed (by me!) mistakes and face-palmed myself long after I’ve rectified them. Proofreading is paramount and I still stand by that. But I recognise that although we do our darndest to prevent them, if one or two mistakes happen, as long as we fix them promptly and recognise how they happened, it is not worth the high blood pressure to dwell on them!

4> Keep working and don’t stay stagnant waiting

Jane worked on several drafts of her books at once, rearranging chapters, changing titles and revising even some published works. Given her outstanding success, I really take this to be a positive thing and have noted that it is best not to totally focus on one job/project for too long and singularly. Once its done and whilst awaiting the next step, moving on to something else is a good thing.

5> Enjoy a routine

As above, writers tend to be set in their ways and are often habitual folk. Jane was no exception and had the same routine day in, day out, in terms of when she wrote. She wrote in the morning, for several hours. I took on board that having set hours of intense focus may make for a better balance on the whole, as opposed to the sporadic set-up with time that sometimes happens throughout the week due to the times that jobs come in and what else springs up in my day.

And in closing, Jane’s reported close-knit family were some of her biggest fans. The letter I read on the wall to a cousin after Jane’s passing from her sister Cassandra, was heartfelt and was testament to their closeness.

Another reminder that whilst writing can be a solo act, whether you are a copywriter in industry, freelance, or a creative writer in another realm, you’ve got to keep perspective and not shut out your loved ones.

After all, what is it really all for?

Even if you go for the garden, it's a perfect outing — Even if you go for the garden, it’s a perfect outing

If you are in the U.K., or travelling there in the near future, make a trip to Chawton!

Have you visited Jane’s house? Let us know on Instagram or Twitter!

Business, Real Estate, Tips

Winter in real estate

August 3, 2016 No Comments

A common denominator in plenty of conversations of late has been how winter tends to slow things down in real estate matters.

Though real estate isn’t strictly seasonal, it’s fair to say that heading into the warmer months in Australia and come December each year, there are more properties hitting the market.

Considering people tend to only list their homes for sale in Australia an average of every seven years, it makes sense that timing is critical.

If you’ve got a sparkling swimming pool in your backyard, you’re hardly going to fancy your chances when sideways rain is battering people jumping in and out of their cars at opens.

This isn’t to say that properties aren’t popping up for sale consistently, in all major cities, at any given time, because they are.

In fact, auction clearance rates for the weekend just gone were pretty interesting (Source: Rp Data, week ending Saturday 30th July 2016):

City	Clearance rate	total auctions	RP data Auction Results	Sold prior to Auction	Sold at Auction	Sold after auction	Passed in	w/drawn
Adelaide	71%	39	31	2	19	1	8	1
Brisbane	59.6%	110	47	9	18	1	19	0
Canberra	90.9%	14	11	2	6	2	1	0
Melbourne	85.9%	447	396	59	279	2	53	3
Perth	29.4%	17	17	2	3	0	12	0
Sydney	74.0%	294	235	43	130	1	46	15
Tasmania	50.0%	7	2	0	1	0	1	0

But we know that inevitably, business can slow a little for real estate agencies and the services that they use.

So, how to make the most of these months, when your days each week may not be as jam-packed as warmer seasons? Here are some options:

1> Hit the networking events. Even if you’re a little on the shy side (doubtful, if you’re a real estate agent!), certain events in winter months can be a seriously enjoyable. And opportunities to make fresh contacts. They are almost always inside, so rain, hail or shine, you can head along and forget about the torrential rain outside. Even if you just stand around complaining about the weather together, it could be a few hours well spent.

2> Accept that this is a “quieter” period in your business year and allocate time for a holiday. Having less listings or work to oversee could mean that this is an ideal time to slip away, even if you’re still governing things from afar. It could also invigorate you for your upcoming silly season.

3> Do the opposite to the above point and come up with an action plan for a cold-weather hustle! Having time up your sleeve could be the best opportunity to do a business health check. There are a myriad of resources out there for ensuring that your business’s support systems, services and tools are currently best for you. Why not set aside half a a whole day and check in with your banking, POS systems, social media accounts and suppliers? It could mean that come spring, you and your business are feeling squeaky clean and ready for a mad summer.

4> TAX. Organise a time with your accountant and get that tax done now, so it’s not a deadline looming over you when you are really scraping for free hours. You’ll thank yourself for the foresight.

5> Make the most of the INDOORS. I’m a bit partial to winter-time for this incentive myself. We have some stunning scenery here in South Australia. But, sometimes when the cold air is making your fingers ache, these outlooks are best enjoyed from indoors, with a hot beverage in hand.

How lovely is it to warm your hands around a hot drink?!

There are so many sublime attractions that can be enjoyed no matter what the weather brings. Some of my favourites are (specific to Adelaide):

The South Australian Art Gallery
The South Australian Museum
Take in some theatre at Adelaide Festival Centre
The Adelaide Central Markets
The MOVIES! – My favourite for value-for-money is the classic Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema
Jam Factory for a spot of art appreciation and even a beverage

Or, of course, find a cellar door or restaurant, preferably one with a fireplace (My favourite is d’Arenberg in McLaren Vale) and duck indoors and enjoy the winter ambience.

We are so spoilt for beautiful beaches here (Christies Beach pictured) but winter-time isn't the time for a dip! — We are so spoilt for beautiful beaches here (Christies Beach pictured) but winter-time isn’t ideal for a dip!

The great thing is, most of these places can make for a wonderfully relaxing backdrop for a business meeting, if you want to mix work with play and remain on top of your (work) game.

Save for the movies, as you really will get shushed by other people, why not get creative for your next winter-time meeting? Opt for one of the above suggested indoor spots, or a fabulous idea of your own?

Or, you can do what my daughter’s kitty does and just seek out the winter sunbeams and ride winter out:

If you have any other suggestions on being the winter blues and remaining proactive, let us know on Instagram or Twitter.

Katharine

Business, Copywriting, Tips

What is copywriting?

June 17, 2016 1 Comment

It doesn't have to be an awkward conversation when you are asked what you do!

As copywriters, it’s safe to say that we’ve encountered that slightly puzzled look when we answer that question:

“What is it that you do?”

Which is completely fine, because we have been the ones who give that look, when occasionally encountering someone whose own profession is way over our own heads. But these conversations are fun to have.

I think the confusion is typically because the terms copywriter or copywriting can easily be mixed up with ‘copyright’.

To set the record straight; copyright is a form of intellectual property, so a way of publicly and legally safeguarding original creative works. Here is the wikipedia link for more clarification.

Copywriting – what we do – refers to the action itself of what our role is, but you just need to do a little switch-eroo with the wording. We write copy. And the ‘copy’ part refers to content. You’ll find the wikipedia link for copywriting here.

So… we write content!

Engaging words are SO important.
(Image Copyright Gary Larson)

We tend to go on about how much we love what we do, because that’s the truth – we do love our job. We love how we each bring different strengths to our professional partnership and we love that we have a genuine 100%, authentic belief that what we do is valid, useful and value-adding for our clients.

It’s also demanding, often performed in a high-pressure environment and each day brings variety, as well as obstacles. But we take all of that in our stride.

Another question we are often asked is:

“How do I become a copywriter?”

The answer to this isn’t very straightforward, which is also encouraging for those who seek to get started in copywriting. That’s because there is no pre-requisite for commencing a copywriting role, at least not if you work for yourself.

It's okay to have a fictitious mentor, right? — It’s okay to have a fictitious mentor, right? Image Copyright Weiner Brothers/AMC Studios.

There are so very many areas in which copywriters are required, including medical and technical copywriting and specific, strategic SEO copywriting/consulting.

Essentially, copywriters can be “hired guns” on a permanent or freelance basis, or work on retainer or salary for companies across literally hundreds of industries.

As a copywriter, you can create a business or company, based on your own strengths or interests. This would allow you to provide a specific, unique service that caters to appropriate clients, who have a use for your service. Where there is a demand and value in what you do, there is work.

We have several university degrees between us, but neither of us went to university to study copywriting.

Our work today is the result of wonderful, sometimes random opportunities, that set us on a path in which we sculpted our work to suit the real estate industry.

We would however recommend that as a writer or prospective copywriter, you engage in and join a combination of communities and support networks. So, for example, you could join your local writer’s centre and (if you’re in Australia), the Australian Writer’s Guild.

And then, the information, opportunities and support you receive from these can be complimented further by joining your local Business Network, which in our case is Business S.A.

The combination of having access to information both as a creative writer and a business owner should set you on a course of (relatively) smooth sailing as you charter the waters of content writing.

And please hit us up for advice, any time you please!

This post is not sponsored or endorsed by affiliating membership bodies, it is simply based on our own experience and preferences for running a copywriting business in Australia.

Behind the scenes, Business, Tips

Do one thing every day that scares you

June 9, 2016 No Comments

Okay, hands up if you remember the song ‘Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen’.

Yes? No?

If you need a little reminder, or distraction, see the original music video below.

(Copyright lies with Baz Luhrmann and associated creators)

Poignant and direct, the lyrics most likely have something in there for everyone. It is a wonderfully engaging stream of advice, including being advised to floss, getting plenty of calcium, as well as remembering compliments that you receive.

One such piece of advice is

“Do one thing every day that scares you”.

This piece of wisdom was originally said by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Easier said than done, right?

But what is interesting about this, is that it can be a little more daunting applying this principle to your business and business practices.

Why is this? It’s not a rhetorical question, I really don’t know why this is!

Perhaps it is because our business or workplace and how we operate within our work can have a knock-on affect to plenty of others. Whether they are colleagues, clients or even future or prospective clients, drastic or ‘scary’ changes can cause ripples.

Whereas, making personal decisions, such as a change in hair colour or a choice in holiday destination, are less likely to offend, annoy, or upheave others.

Here at The Property Writers, we’ve had plenty of decisions to make along the way since our fruition and already in the span of a year have made changes to the way we work. Most of these changes have been overwhelmingly positive.

But have we really challenged ourselves to the extreme, or even scared ourselves? Nope, not really! The end of financial year is fast approaching and amid our meetings and talks on financials and processes and future goals, I’m going to be throwing into the mix the notion of mixing it up a bit and scaring ourselves.

This could be as simple as picking up the phone and phoning some targeted clients who have been on our wish list (so far, from afar!).

OR, utilising a social media app that has admittedly confounded us a bit until now *cough, cough*, Snapchat!

But we are going to mix it up a bit around here and scare ourselves.

After all, nothing ventured is nothing gained, right?

I have skydived before. Yes, I have jumped out of a plane, after only agreeing to do so around 4 or 5 hours beforehand. And I remember being strangely calm while doing so.

But I was reduced to a shivering, terrified mess recently in Bali. I was climbing the set of stairs, to go on a water-slide that most 12 years around me weren’t thinking twice about. This water-slide absolutely terrified me. I did go on it, after my initial almost tamper-tantrum stating that I wasn’t going to! But the prospect of jumping out of a plane from 15,000 feet was significantly less scary, for me anyway.

We all have have our ‘things’ and all have our levels of what we as individuals are comfortable with. We’re a diverse group, us human beings.

How about you? What are some things you can do within your business to scare yourselves?

Is it joining Snapchat like us? (Eek, we are so terrified!) Let us know on Instagram or Facebook!

Business, Real Estate, Tips

How to work on the go

May 17, 2016 No Comments

Got your phone? You won't need much else!

If you work in the real estate industry, whether you’re an agent, property manager, or a developer, chances are you spend a lot of time in your car.

I’ve come up with a few hacks to make the most of your mobility and revel in your chance to work out of a mobile office.

All it takes is foresight, a little bit of technology and an awareness of how to best manage your time whilst not in your office.

Set aside time each morning planning your route and take note of places/areas in which you will likely stop. Having a plan for your day will empower you – of course things certainly don’t always go to plan, particularly in this industry! But it’s better to start the day with a framework, than none at all, and adapt accordingly.

Put together your work-on-the-go-kit. Picture your desk – what is on it that you use frequently that you may need to replicate in your car? It’s pretty straightforward, but if you keep a separate car charger for your phone/tablet, notebook, pens, diary and glasses if you require them together, in a bag or storage tub in your car, you’ll thank yourself for it. It means not having to grab extra bits and pieces before leaving your office. Knowing that you’ll have what you need with you if you have to unexpectedly stay out longer than planned will provide you with peace of mind. It sounds so simple, but the amount of times we’ve clients have said their phone battery had betrayed them, or they didn’t have their reading glasses has made us all the more aware of the importance of these basic things. (I’ve been guilty of forgetting so many of these things too.)
Get your kit sorted!

Cloud storage is your friend. It’s inevitable that being on the go so much, you’ll be creating or receiving documents. You will want these saved securely without you having to switch devices often, or wait until you return to your office. If they are streamlined across your devices, you ultimately save time.

As well as utilising handy cloud storage, there are plenty of apps that I use that I swear by for using while working on the run. That’s a whole other post in itself, but ones I favour are Evernote for word processing/note taking, Dropbox for saving and sending files and utilising Voice Memo (or the Android equivalent) for dictating.

Speaking of back-up – portable contents insurance – ensure that you have it! If you do have an unfortunate incident with one of your devices or contents, if it’s covered by your insurance policy, you’ll be glad to not have hassles when making a claim.
Before you hit the pavement make sure your belongings are secure and that you have insurance.

Coffee and snack stops. These are vital, especially if you are fuelled by caffeine, as I admittedly am. (What writer isn’t, really?) Packing your own food can often be healthier and more cost effective, but isn’t always a daily reality. For when you are making a stop, if you don’t mind repetition, go for somewhere with a loyalty scheme for your beverages, so you’re at last getting a free drink after several. If you like mixing it up, find somewhere different each time and aim to support small or local businesses to the area that you’re stopping in. And do your part for reducing your carbon footprint and aim to take in your own travel mug to fill up, if stopping for coffee is a regular thing. You can get some AMAZING ones online, or even your local stationary supplies store.
Image source: www.keepcup.com

Embrace podcasts! They are a great way to stay engaged and informed in your industry and stay mellow in traffic. As long as you feel like you can still concentrate while driving, podcasts are a seriously fabulous way to make the most of time spent driving. You could always use the time to indulge in podcasts aligned your own personal interests or hobbies now and then to mix up your day and drive.

Find an inspiring natural landscape, or backdrop, to stop and work at. Make the most of your position of not being fixed in the same working space day in, day out. Seek inspiration in the great outdoors. Fresh air and natural splendour do wonders for soul and can really help boost creativity. I love so many quotes from John Muir. A particular favourite, to finish on:

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. – John Muir

Find a natural setting to stop at and enjoy while you work.

What are your tips for working while out and about? And please do let us know of any podcasts we should be subscribing to. Visit us on Instagram and Facebook to give us your own tips and tricks.

Business, Marketing, Tips

Help us help you

April 19, 2016 No Comments

This post is penned by a total film tragic, so straight up apologies for the quite obvious reference. That said, this quote and its use was flooding plenty of different creative industries after the 1996 film in which it was featured. We just thought it was time to bring it up again.

Yep, we are referring to Jerry Maguire’s spiel to Rod Tidwell. (See below, if you need a refresher. Note, all Copyright of clip remains with owners/proprietors of the original film.)

Don’t get us wrong, we aren’t in the habit of ranting at our clients, or bothering them whilst they are attempting to dress. And we pride ourselves on our really positive relationships with all of our clients.

When you communicate with a client purely via Emoji, that’s when you know you’ve built up a solid working relationship!

But what we love about this “help me help you” ethos is that in the marketing world it’s easy for pressures and strains to compete to get in the way of taking a deep breath and going back to basics.

Asking the really simple (seriously, very simple) questions of a client at the beginning of a brief, we have found anyway, have ensured that we are providing the best possible service (read: help) that we can.

Questions such as:

Who are you trying to reach with this?
Do you have any documentation that can give us a unique insight? (For example, vendor’s statements about what they love about their home, why they first built in the area, etc..)
When do you plan on publishing this and/or having your other material complete?
Can you describe your ideal “buyer”, who would read this copy and be enticed to pick up the phone and call you?
Can you cite an example of a listing/catch-phrase/campaign you’ve seen recently that has sparked your interest and what did you love about it?

We have found that when providing our service for the first time to a client, whether they are an agent from a boutique agency, or someone from a powerhouse agency, questions like these help so much.

All it takes is this initial ten-minute or so conversation and we are in the best possible situation to help and to produce something tailored, unique and exactly what is required by the client. As a result of them helping us. Win-win!

It can also save a stream of emails back and forth following a brief, which may be a hindrance on time, on both ends.

So whether you’re a copywriter reading this, or a business owner/agent/agency who currently outsources to writers such as us, it’s a good little tagline to embed in your brain for the day.

help me help you

Simple right? But effective! Have any other tips for that first efficient, effective copywriting briefing? We would love to hear them.

Marketing, Tips

Why sophisticated language sells homes

March 22, 2016 1 Comment

As we often tend to splash about, we really:

a) Love what we do
b) Revel in how much time we give back to real estate agents
c) Feel that fresh, colourful words are essential to selling property

To anyone who really thinks there isn’t the need for sophisticated language in real estate marketing, we would love to change your mind.

Think on it; how much work goes into the purchase of a home? Whether a property in question is targeted at investors, home-buyers, of the first or seasoned variety, so much work goes into the sale.

It’s a big deal.

Before you even get to that chapter, from a real estate agent’s perspective, you need to put your best feet forward, in a very competitive market. Designer threads, impeccable grooming and warm smiles are only a fraction of how to make a solid impression on your prospective buyers.

Compare the marketing of a property to that of well-known soft-drinks. Billions of dollars worldwide is spent every year on the marketing of these products. Products that, individually anyway, can cost as little as $1.50AU.

And all a buyer needs to do to acquire one is click a few buttons on a vending machine, insert coins, or wave a card – and the drink is theirs.

SO much simpler than the mountain of meetings, paperwork, hoops and phone-calls it takes to buy a property, right?

Not that we are strictly comparing apples with apples, but the cost of a home these days can be upwards of $300,000 and obviously way beyond. A very expensive ‘product’, a very important decision and one that requires much more of a comprehensive decision-making process than a can of Sprite.

So, why should you not invest a little in your marketing content? What you are selling is worth several hundred thousand beverages, in a competitive market. This means at the very least, the property needs to have features and benefits highlighted, in a sophisticated and direct way. Seeking some outside help (such as the likes of us ‘adladies’) is a brilliant decision.

Think of us as the people who come up with those insanely catchy, yet very precisely thought out, key words for those colourful and appealing drinks. But for property.

Sophisticated language, weaved into web titles, content for online and print marketing and even signboards for your properties allows your listings to, like you, have their very best feet forward (now there’s an image, a house with feet!).

What sounds BETTER?
– Three-bedroom home in Manly
– Seeking somewhere tasteful in Manly?

Then of course, there are real estate agents out there who love nothing more than taking the time to craft the words for their listings themselves and they do it well, time after time. Cudos to them, we love their work and some could seriously give us a run for our money in marketing content.

But if you fall into the more common category of being time-poor, or inspiration failing to strike for piecing these listings together, then we encourage you to contact us to let our sophisticated language really help you sell.

Business, Tips

Tips for refreshing your work space in 2016

January 12, 2016 No Comments

Who else is still struggling with the phrase “last year” when referring to 2015?

We welcomed 2016 with enthusiasm, cheer and a dedication to those kinds of goals that you just want to stay on track with. But it’s still a little hard to get our heads around it being 2016 just yet. We are giving ourselves until the end of January to not fumble over the phrase.

Even so, the New Year is HERE and we are thrilled when we look back on all that we achieved in 2015. One of our ‘resolutions’ is to be protective over our time, both work and leisure, this year.

More than ever we (and we know our clients are too) are feeling pulled in different directions when it comes to where we allocate our 24 hours. Everyone gets 24 hours a day, we know.

But with overwhelming, saturated inboxes with emails from every single product/service/company/brand you’ve ever shopped with, utilised or even glanced at, even sifting through emails can be a task that demands hours.

As well as the usual commitments to work/family/children/friends/exercise, people are feeling a little more frayed than ever.

And no one wants to start this year already feeling burnt out. A good remedy for not feeling overwhelmed could be as simple as a tidy-up of the space you spend most of your time in.

So, some ideas for maintaining a time-friendly office space, in no particular order:

Be rid of old technology:

Whether you work from home, on the go or in an external office, it’s important not to feel weighed down by technology. But with more and more devices and gadgets available to us, we know we are guilty of having a little build-up of things we no longer use or require. And these can add time, even if it is only minutes, to your daily life. Whether it’s having to sort through a jungle of cables that you no longer need, just to find the one charger you do require, or having to switch hard-drives, phones or tablets to access just one photo or file that you require, a build up of gadgets is draining.

So PURGE yourself of those no longer used devices and you will feel all the calmer for it.

For phones, how about helping the gorillas and recycle your no-longer-used mobile phone? Details are here: For computer technology, give this link a go for information.

Upgrade your work screen:

Another hot tip for the maximising time in the office (if you haven’t already done so) is considering adding a monitor to your desk, to plug your laptop into. Thereby, more than doubling your screen size and allowing you to expand your windows and horizons! We know, we know, this is a contradiction of the above advice to be rid of extra technology.

But consider this: Particularly when working in any industry which requires you to work with multiple programs at once, be it for bookkeeping, graphic design or our own familiar field of marketing, you spend so much time opening and closing windows and sliding across to review content. We know we do.

I picked up a second-hand monitor and cable from Gumtree (bless you, Gumtree) and now couldn’t be without it. It allows me to use my MacBook, yet also have mega-screen to keep open my work inbox, floor plan and property photos, relevant links and word processing open. ALL.AT.ONCE. Winning!

Be the boss of your snail mail:

Dedicate just one day a week to being the absolutely-must-ensure-on-top-of-mail-day. Simple, but effective. You hear me? Piles of unopened envelopes not only cause physical clutter, but emotional clutter too.

You could allow yourself to sidestep and dance around the mail six days a week, if you are the ultimate procrastinator. But at least one day a week, go through it, file it, pay it, shred it, do whatever you must, but be rid of it from your space. You will feel total satisfaction once that last envelope is lifted. Make it a rule and give it a go.

Get the inspiration you need to create the space you want:

Ok, maybe it’s an excuse for a smidgen of retail therapy, but consider this. If your work space is a bit cluttered or lacklustre, there’s nothing like getting out of it and going and visiting glossy, clean, fresh home office displays. Whether they shame you into tidying yours out, or inspire you to go for a new look, it could be the best excursion you take all month!

A tidy office, with fresh, personal touches can make for a wonderful space in which you’ll be itching to get into and get productive in. Why not take advantage of all those fabulous back-to-school stationary sales that are on right now? Who said watermelon-shaped pens are just for school kids?

Or, of course, get thrifty and spend some time in opportunity-shops, or search online swap/second-hand sites. You know what they say about someone else’s trash…

Our own office rehauls have made us feel pretty fabulous. If you can’t half tell from our images above, we LOVE trawling through houzz.com.au for inspiration We hope you enjoy making yours happen.

*Note, this is NOT a sponsored post, but just contains our own ideas and recommended online spaces.