MOSSIE DOGS

Last night I went to a meeting at the Mosman Park Council.  There must have been over a 100+ people there last night and there was 12 or so non dog owners there as well.

There was some very good points brought up at that meeting and I thought it was extremely well run, civil and a good meeting with some very positive ideas being thrown around.

What my take from that meeting was "SACK THE AGGRESSIVE RANGER".

I am sorry but the dog walkers who walk early in the mornings and late in the evenings all chat to each other talk about things that have been happening in the neighbour hood its extremely healthy for the residents to do this, but to be spring attacked by an aggressive ranger who hands out massive fines (now the CEO has now asked for warnings to be given out first) but the people are very angry with some of the hefty fines that they have been given.  The CEO has said they will look on all fines separately case by case so if you think you have been unfairly penalised then put your objection in.  However for those people that have not registered your dog/s then I am sorry you have no leg to stand on you deserve that fine.

I had to laugh when one person said "for those people that walk their dogs and are on the mobile - get off and watch your dog where its going and where its doing its toilet" that is so true.  I see many people in Cottesloe who also break the law when they run with their dogs off lead in a lead area and they dont even look back to see that their dog is doing it's business.  For the ones on the mobile phones they never notice.  Personally put that fine up to $500 dollars and then see if they tend to make more notice.

There's only one solution at the moment that I can see is remove the aggressive person that has made everyone get so mad and put someone in there that actually likes people and dogs and is more of the type to say "oh thats Mrs Browns dog must have got out will take him home" be neighbourly and try to get the residents to like you.  You are not the heavy duty police, the residents are not hurting anyone be a bit gentler.

With dogs off leads its a great experience for the dogs and the owner but you must be responsible and pick up after your dog, nearly everyone in the room put their hand up when asked if they pick up after other dogs - SO WHOSE THE LAZY PEOPLE THEN ??? Do the right thing will you.

Have your say with the feedback submission form - MOSSIE DOGS and drop it into the Council they are collating everything and hopefully there will be peace and harmony back again.

Dog attacks - yes there has been a couple dog to dog not dog to person. The most upsetting thing is that the offending dog should then be made to wear a muzzle but because your dog's been very hurt you are only concerned about your dog not about the offending dog.  Thousands of dollars are passed over to make the dog better.

Can anyone tell me about ROUNDUP !! how dangerous it is for our dogs please??

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

MARKET MOVING FENCE SITTERS

For those of you that are still sceptical of what's happening in the market take it from me its moving along very nicely now.  No the prices are staying relatively steady with a few sales indicating on some homes that they are very popular as they are more of the entry level homes and there are couples chasing them so there are multiple offers coming in on those which means you dont have time to ponder and you need to go in with your best price that you are prepared to pay for it.

Units now are moving along and those low ball offers that use to come in well think again you actually need to think about what you are offering otherwise you will miss out like a couple of people in the weekend. Some buyers that know the area and the complexes actually have an idea of what the value should be and realise that currently they are quite cheap and they go for it and quickly.
Just wish I had the spare cash to snap a few more up before the prices actually go up.

I know that there are a lot of apartments being built but there are not many around that you can buy in the WESTERN SUBURBS for under that $300k yes they are old apartments but boy have they been built well.  The other thing is that you need to look at their reserve account do they have any money, also are they being proactive and getting a  maintenance report done on their building (there's no use sticking your head in the sand).

Please buy within your means allowing for the interest rates to go up as in the coming years it will go up.  Dont listen to people that are saying the market will keep going down - it's not we are in recovery and for how long will the prices stay the same is anyone's guess,  no one has that crystal ball but we are now moving along.

FENCE SITTERS - its time for you to take that leap of faith and get into the market now or you will be still sitting on that fence moaning "I should have bought in 2017" heard it so many times.

If you dont trust the agent you are dealing with then hire one you can trust to give you the "real story".

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

RUBBISH ON THE BEACH WALK

This morning walking Chester on the usual beach run around Cottesloe (not on the beach but the foot path) there was a lot of litter in the car parks, coffee cups, papers, boxes and other items.  I always pick up what I can and put in the bins that are so very close by.

What I dont understand is why people cannot put these things into the bins (not full at this time of the year) it looks like they are just dumping from their cars even though the bins are literally 5 steps away it absolutely frustrates me. 

I just love the fact we are so privileged to live in such a beautiful spot and within 2 minutes of driving from my house all that beautiful beach and views are available for me to enjoy until I see all that rubbish lying around from the inconsiderate people from the night before.
Why? Who do they think is going to pick their rubbish up?  Apart from it being very windy down there at times the paper blows in to the sand dunes and if you look hard enough you can see it gathering all there.

Its a pity people that utilise the beach, restaurants, cafes etc dont respect the area like the residents do, perhaps paid parking might sharpen them up or at least give our Council some revenue to pay for the clean up.

Frustrated resident.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

PAY FORWARD

Its nice to do something for someone that is least expecting it.

When you have a truly great friend that is always there to lend an ear, help you with every crisis you seem to go through, gives great advice and is there for your kids behind the scenes. 

I decided to put a plan together to completely surprise one of my best friends and get the inside of her house painted for her (it really badly needed it).  She had been working very hard getting the house ready for her daughter and son in law who are coming to live with her for 3-4 months (we are renting their house out until next year) and also her daughter is expecting her first baby (my friends second grand child).

A few phone calls to her kids and we hatched a plan.  A call to my painters (Jubilee Painters whom I have used for over 17+ years) and they came to the party and gave up their family time at the weekend to achieve the goal of getting most of the house painted over the weekend.  My friend and I were doing a Thelma & Louise trip down to Denmark to see her beautiful grandchild and daughter and son in law.  They have just bought their first house down there and I must say they have a beautiful piece of paradise down there.

On the way home I was saying to my friend because it looks like it is going to team down lets unpack all the car first before going into the house. (I needed to video her reaction for the kids -  mobile phone was fast getting to a very low battery).  Plan was hatched and I thought I had it all under control.

Upon the arrival my excitement was nearly uncontrollable and we were unpacking the car as planned when I turned around and she was unlocking the door and had stepped inside.
PANIC - omg had to bolt to my bag (mobile already turned onto video) and run inside to get her reaction.  Instead she looked at me and said "what are you doing" she thought the smell of the paint was from the floors that she had just got cleaned (tiles).  Took a minute and she saw the kitchen ledge and realised it had been painted and then really looked around.
The reaction was priceless and my heart filled full of joy seeing her not knowing whether to cry or laugh. 

With doing something like that for a friend and the joy you get out of seeing their astonishment is so worth it !!

Now sometime in the future she can pay forward that good deed to someone else, not necessarily in a monetary fashion but just in her usual way where she goes out of her way to help people less fortunate than herself.  Enjoy that paint smell my friend it was not as easy to get that plan hatched as you may think.  

On the planning stages the painters turned up to her place thinking she had gone to work - probably because I got her start time wrong - we had to come up with the fact that the painters got the wrong address it should have been 44b in North Fremantle - luckily she bought that excuse.  I also said to her you should have got a quote from them whilst they were there - "I would have but I was running out the door to work I had no time" ha ha life is great isnt it?

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE

I was very fortunate to be invited down for a weekend (well ok long weekend Friday-Monday) to my friends daughter's place (and her husband Sam).

Denmark is approximately 5 hours away and the drive can be long and wearying however when you travel with someone that you can talk to all the way down there it doesn't seem to be that bad.  (once upon a time we would have had a few roadies in the car). We had Chester in the back seat nested amongst all those things a Nanna just has to take down to her granddaughter Florence.  We had to leave a few things behind as my boot just isnt big enough and I really wanted to take my car for a long run.

Sarah & Sam have a beautiful spot 10 minutes out of Denmark it actually reminds me of my brother in law's farm in NZ (minus the mountains in the background).

The feeling of peace and being relaxed is something you need to experience every few months or so as it does recharge your batteries.  (Oh dont worry we worked for our board and lodgings ha ha).

Being new home owners there is a never ending list of things to do and I get the feeling Sam will have that for the rest of his life - as he said to be with a big smile on his face, he is absolutely loving it there.  Life is good with your wife, child and a business you can run from home (diesel mechanic and a very good one I believe).

Chester is what surprised me as he is what I consider to be a town prissy dog !!  He was in that chook pen sniffing the chooks (which were the same colour as him pretty much) rounding them up - hilarious.  Nice fresh yellow eggs as well thanks chooks!!  Ailsa and I experimented with the chooks and let them out to free range, there is always one chook isnt there that has to be the b end of all. He took the others out onto the road but Sam chased them back in dont think they did that again.  There was four little yellow ducks that Sarah had rescued.  Ailsa put the clam swimming pool in there for them ha ha...home made ramps for them to get in and out of.

We had a fabulous time down there and I really enjoyed it and sometimes you fantasise about perhaps moving down there to escape city life - but you get back into town and realise you are just a townie after all and you should stick to going down there for a break every now and then.

Thanks Sam & Sarah for a lovely long weekend and glad that we could help such a beautiful young family who really love each other and love where they live. (Oh yes Sam actually got to go shooting - a few foxes less to kill farmers wee lambs and chickens, feel sad about the fox but understand why).

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

KEEPING YOUR HOME UPDATED

Over the last 12 years not much attention has been given to my home as the money was diverted to other things - kids, business etc.

When you have time to stop and think (for me it was when I was sick in bed for 3 days) you look around and you say to yourself gee must get these things attended to.

When I first built the house I had a strict budget which I had to adhere to - there was simply no more money left and since I was doing it on my own I had only myself to blame.

I remember I asked Ross that I wanted wooden windows in the front of the house I still remember his words  "no you dont do you want to be painting them every three years they will get so hammered by that beautiful Norther Sun".  Ha ha how right you were Ross and I put wooden slats in between my fence and yes they needed painting every 3-4 years alright from the sun and from the bore water continually on them.  One thing you were totally wrong about was the size of my wardrobe I could have taken more of that courtyard Ross, should have known myself better than that - all good just using the other bedrooms now.

So the fence after 12 years has had a face lift with aluminium slats coloured blue of course to match my blue and yellow house (yes a great Eagle fan of course).

I have now ordered the white shutters to go inside my house as well which will give it a lift - 6-8 weeks waiting period good job I am a patient woman.!!

New chandelier in the entry way  - OMG how it sparkles !!  Apart from the non productiveness of standing there and looking at it constantly a friend of mine and my daughter pointed out that the new piece made the old light look shabby and not up to speed, so I went out and negotiated another one at the same price (sale had finished). So look out diners at my house you will be bedazzled ha ha..

The one thing I cannot bring myself to do is to move all the furniture out of the house to get the floors sanded (the bedrooms to be done in wood as I couldn't afford it in the beginning).
I really want it done but will have to pluck the courage up to do that.

In hindsight should have set myself a target to do one thing every couple of years instead of doing it all at once - take heed my friends and keep your place updated gradually its worth it.

Painting I have always had done every 3 years as my painter is the best !!

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

CHILDREN BEING TAUGHT TO EAT

You cannot be serious !!

When is it the responsibility of parents to actually start to raise their kids themselves.
Stop working if you dont have the "time" to actually teach your children the life skills they need out there in the big bad world.

I dont know what is happening in this world today but if you cannot afford to have children then dont !! Give up some of your luxuries and give back to the children you so desperately seem to want to have in your 30 something's.

I was always taught if you cannot afford it then make a plan to save to buy it - whatever happened to that life skill then???  No everyone wants everything now including the big house in the best suburb and they are not going to start in a "flat" or an "apartment" depending on where you live as to what they are called.

WAKE UP AUSSIES !! who is teaching your kids???

The children are in for a rude awakening when they try to get a job out there and the boss isnt happy with their standard of writing or their communication (no because they are on their phones texting all the time).  If I was the principal of the school all phones are banned simple.  Go back to the good old abc's times tables start teaching our kids the things they really need the most.  Teach them to be kind to one another, show them what a one punch hit can do to a person for the rest of the lives.

God help my grandchildren... they wont be playing with ipads, phones, tv's they are going through the ABC's and times tables.... 

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

ARE YOU TOO LATE?

Pretty sure I said I thought the market had bottomed out about Xmas last year and its taken all this time the last few weeks for buyers to say to themselves "think I better get in".  Damn straight you better be thinking like that, although I dont fear the prices will ever spike like they did some years ago, instead you will now be in competition with other buyers thinking exactly like yourself.

Some properties are now receiving 2-3 offers on them at the same time and some agents are just merely telling you to put your best offer in (whatever that is?). Some are now going slightly over ($10-$15k) with this particular method because the buyer gets the fear of missing out - fomo !! 

I am still believing that Openn Negotiation is the fairest and most transparent way for buyers to participate in buying a home.  

1) You are not held to the contract
2) You dont pay a deposit
3) You can still continue to look at other properties
4) Putting your bid in on the property means you will not miss out you have to be contacted on that property if anything changes like the end date is now being brought forward
5) You will not bid past your limit - well we hope you dont or you are in trouble, we do try to find out before the bidding night what is your stop price and if we see you going over that we pause the process to talk to you about that last bid you made.

We are getting resistance from some buyers as they just want the good old fashioned way of simply putting an offer in and getting it countered.  Well times are changing my friends and not all buyers share that view anymore and gathering by the amount of successes we have had with the old method (transparent) and the new method Openn Negotiation (on an app - free) this is the new way moving forward.

Bonuses for the buyers is they can see at anytime what's happening on the property (your agent should still ring you though, keeping you updated of course). On the final bidding night you can choose to participate or not and it has no financial impact on yourself as you have not paid anything upfront.

If you have any questions on this particular process please email me at the office and we will send you a flier.  gill@viviansresidential.com

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

WOW NEW MOSMAN'S MAYBE

Last night I went to the Town Hall Meeting at Alf Adams Pavilion, Solomon Street Mosman Park it started at 6pm to have the opportunity to learn the details of the proposed plans to rejuvenate this much loved icon on Mosman Bay however for me unfortunately I didn't get there until 6.20 pm after a home open.

Apparently the heckling from the residents from Johnson's Parade was appalling, extremely rude and totally un acceptable.  I have to admit I found it annoying  when I arrived and sat down that these residents (rate payers as they called themselves) were showing such extremely bad behaviour towards Nigel, I feel sure they must have all come from an only child home,  as they were just not interested in hearing what Nigel Oakey had to say and heckled him through his whole presentation.  If you were my sibling I would have given you a good smack and told you to mind your manners.  Quite frankly I would have expected much better behaviour from such very senior and well to do people - very disappointed indeed.

After Nigel Oakey went through his very informative slide show and some  history (which I was extremely interested in) he showed us what other venues they had done over the years which I thought were totally magnificent and so well done. 

Well we finally got to question time (thank god the Mayor arrived a little bit before that) where some of the hecklers had the chance to show their courage and to ask and demand things of Nigel or want him to get it written down on his lease certain restrictions etc. etc. you would have had to been there to believe it.  Seriously no one owns that river it's there for us all to enjoy and going by the slides of way back in the 70's a lot of people use to - now its like an old fossil town.  If you want to live in a very peaceful quiet environment dont buy near the river or the ocean as you are not going to get it.  Go to a retirement village.

My take on the whole evening:  I have to applaud Nigel for his courage, patience and determination to get through his presentation (which would have taken him hours to prepare) and to get passed a few of those hecklers and the down right rudeness of some of our very senior well to do citizens.  
Nigel you have produced such a beautiful development and you should be given a medal for making it look so aesthetically pleasing and blending into the current surroundings. For those hecklers out there that are worried about the short term stay people they are definitely not your worry - they have better manners than most of you lot as they are (usually) extremely well travelled people who actually know how to behave. The idea of the 40 seated something wine bar (if not being used by any of the functions) would be a fabulous idea for those of us that cannot afford to have a home right on the river to enjoy one of our most beautiful assets in WA.  I for one will be so for this development and Nigel I am not sure what you have paid up to date to get all that research and survey's etc done and I believe its been 3 years in the making but I hope you dont go broke before finalising this fabulous opportunity.  (Please come to Indiana Tea House after that please please)....

I dont ever mean to be disrespectful to my elders as I have been brought up with extremely good manners but in all seriousness you Johnson Street people last night you should be ashamed of yourselves.  Mr Mead when he ran that venue as a wedding function centre, he had very boozy Friday lunches and night meals.  Surely what Nigel has done in the last three years you have had it easy compared to what Mead must have put you through?.  
In regards to the car park, its not always Nigel's patrons but Mosman Park residents kids that go and drink and party in that car park I have seen that with my own eyes when leaving the bowling club.  

Nigel you could hire a retired gentleman to perhaps to go and get the cars for your patrons from the car park so that the Johnson Street people dont get woken up from their sleep -might be a solution who knows I get the feeling whatever you come up with its never going to be good enough.

Just as well I never won lotto as I wouldn't have been considered a good neighbour as I love loud noisy parties - why because I am not dead yet and I want lots of people to enjoy their life and dance, sing and be happy - not into being a super grouch I left one of those people when I was 37 years old.  Doesn't mean you have to be smashed off your face to have a good time does it?

Times are changing and we need to change with it and with such an extremely tasteful design I hope that the Mosman Park Council can discuss it and give it the tick as I am sure the not so wealthy side of Mosman Park would be regular visitors to the Dome and I for one would nip in for a glass of wine on my way home.

Thanks Nigel you and your team have done a fantastic job and if its not passed through then sell it to someone like Warren Mead - that would be justice at it's best.

That is why Cottesloe has never gone ahead even though I bought in there 30+ years ago because of old hecklers not wanting change - well guess what finally the new breed has moved in and they are going to insist on it and I will be there cheering them on !! 

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

REVERSED MORTGAGES

If your kids are keen for you to get a reverse mortgage please talk to your lawyer/accountant before taking that step.

It has been reported that children (these are 50+ children) of elderly parents are taking out reverse mortgages and taking the money themselves.  These parents are totally unaware really of what's happening to them.

Please if you need money to live off talk to your lawyer or ring your real estate agent and see if selling down and buying something smaller more suitable for you is viable also.

I am absolutely appalled at this disgusting behaviour from these "so called children/carers" of their behaviour.

The Government is now closing in on putting some stops to these actions after several elderly have been absolutely disadvantaged and put into a life of debit which they are now totally stressed and have a terrible life from then on.

Shame on you all that have done this to your parents for your own benefit.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

ANSWER TO THE DRIP DRIP OF THE DOWN PIPE

Well thank you Neville for emailing into me and giving me a solution to the dripping down pipes I am very appreciative.

Neville's response was:

Hi Gill,

saw your comment on your blog spot.

I fixed this by gluing a sturdy piece of twine at the drip point in the gutter at the top of the down pipe where the gutter and the down pipe meet.  The twine needs to be synthetic cord, about 1 - 1.5mm thick, not normal “string”, should go all the way down the down pipe to an inch or so past where the down pipe bends at the bottom.  The last drips of water run down the twine, and there’s no drip, and the twine has almost no effect all all on water running through the down pipe in heavy rain.  

I often see rusted down pipes at that bottom corner or bend when I’m doing a PCR; sometimes at the top, too, where the drip point is at the join between the gutter and down pipe.  

Curiously, it’s rare to see the same rust in a commercial down pipe when doing a PCR.  Not sure why, maybe a different geometry for the assembly.

 MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

NO CASH LEFT FOR THE KIDS

Had to have a laugh as the paper's head line today was No cash for kids.

Stingy older Australians will not be leaving money behind for their children-instead they will be splashing their cash on themselves.!!
Sorry but isnt that what you work hard all your life for so you can enjoy yourself in your retirement - geez what breed are we breeding these days??

Research shows that "skiing" - spending the kids inheritances-is the new norm with only one in four older Australians leaving a wad of cash behind for their kids as top priority.
You would have to be a selfish child to actually expect money left to you personally I never received anything or expected anything, happy to get the brandy glasses Mum treasured so much.

The National SEniors Australia and Challenger report released tody surveyed more than 5,800 Australians aged 50 and over.

The results showed only 3% of respondents plan to preserve most of their savings for their children. Most believed they had already given their children enough help and needed to focus spending on themselves in retirement.

National Seniors' research director John McCallum said the rising cost of living pressure had made it tougher for older Australians to pass money down to younger generations.

"Retirees have spoken and it's clear that bequests are not the priority," he said.  If you're lucky you'll get some help but otherwise just get on with it." 

What I tell my clients is that if you think you have enough money to see you out to 80-90 depending on your health, sure give your kids a "loan" help them out when they just get married and are having their kids as that's when you actually need the help, not when your older and in your 60's you got your money (or should have).

Kids that wait around for their parents to pass on I have one word for you LEECH go and live on your own two feet.

Those seniors that I go around sometimes at night and see they have not turned their heater on so that they dont spend too much money as they want to pass some over to their kids when they die (who would be 55+) I say for goodness sake you only have one life be comfortable and you worked so hard so you have to have some reward at the end of it dont you? 

I said to my Mother spend what you have and leave me a bill to pay at the end I am happy with that.  SPEND your money enjoy your life as you are not coming back.  Give your money away now if you have a lot of it let the kids have a great time whilst you are still alive and if you think you wont see them then give it away to someone who genuinely cares about you and would come round no matter what.  For you horrible children that are doing reverse mortgages for your parents and using that money - look out the Government is onto you lot now so you will be investigated - NOT BEFORE TIME !!

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!