02/03/2018
What’s in an Asterisk?
The humble little asterisk, it does so much, for such a little flick of the pen! But is there a hidden dark side to this little star?
When you are given a brochure that shows a lovely low cost of an item or service, it looks great doesn’t it? All that you can be given, for just a low, low fee!*
Ahh but wait, there it is, that little asterisk, just there to ruin your day.
Because that little asterisk is the key, the portal to higher costs than you initially thought. It hides so much, and lets the brochure offer so much promise.
Lets take a settlement quote for an example. You have a fee, which represents the work that the settlement agent is going to do for you in the role of completing the settlement for your purchase, or your sale of property. One thing you have to bear in mind however, is that the settlement agent’s fee isn’t all there is. In the case of a Buyer, you have stamp duty, which is a fair few thousand dollars that you have to pay to the state government as part of your settlement, which your settlement agent will arrange on your behalf. You then have a charge to lodge your settlement documents such as the Transfer of Land with Landgate, generally between $170 and $350, as it depends on the value of the purchase. You have charges to update the Local Council, the Water Corporation and the Western Australian Planning Commission with your new ownership details. This is just the start. Title searches, electronic settlement costs, you need the whole picture.
And this is where the little asterisk works its magic.
That brochure just offered you a settlemnt fee of $475.00* for a sale, or $770.00* for a purchase!
And there lies the problem. Unless you take the time to ask more questions, you are only going to find out about the other half of the cost once they have you signed up and in their system. After that, the hits just keep on coming.
Focus Settlements, a fully independant licensed settlement agent, are based in Joondalup, in Perth’s northern suburbs. Settlements is all we do. We have been in business for 18 years, and in that time we have helped to settle around 45,000 properties and counting. One of the things that we always do, is give our prospective clients a full quote when they ask for one.
When you contact the staff from Focus Settlements, either on the phone, via email, or through our “Request a quote” page on our website, we will always ensure that we give you a full quote. Not just a vague fee with an asterisk on it, but a full, itemised quote, so that you know what your costs are going to be.
Focus Settlements will ensure that if you have any queries, that we give you answers.
Let me ask a question, and I promise it will be a simple one. Would you rather have your settlement handled by a jack of all trades solicitor firm, or a dedicated, hard working Settlement Agent?
If you are spending a massive amount of money on your property, be it a first home buyer who is just getting into their $300,000 house on a shoestring budget, or an executive who is buying that $1,600,000 dream home that they have always had their sights set on, you want to be looked after don’t you?
You want to be looked after by someone who is only there to look after property settlements.
Does a solicitor who happens to also do settlements represent the best option for your investment?
Focus Settlements are here for your settlement. Whether you are in Perth, Joondalup, greater Western Australia, an Eastern States investor or an overseas Buyer or Seller, we are here for you.
Focus Settlements utilise the latest processes and combine it with hard working, experienced staff who live and breathe settlements.
Focus Settlements have been around for 18 years, and most of our work is generated by referrals from happy clients, happy brokers and happy real estate agents, because we know that keeping people organised, informed and happy is the secret to a smooth settlement.
If you are looking at houses, remember to also look at the costs. If you want to know the full costs, not just half the picture and an asterisk, contact Focus Settlements, your local, independant licensed settlement agent, no matter where you are. We know you will be amazed.
Our Focus is on YOU!
