Because the choices of luxury apartments in the Docklands seem endless, you will certainly have a lot of questions that you need answered. Additionally, since you are seeking an apartment in a vibrant area, be it the Docklands, your search will definitely feel more daunting. However, your search need not be as stressful as you imagine it to be. In fact if you can follow a few apartment hunting tips your Docklands apartment hunting process will move smoothly.

Plan Ahead

In anything that you do you need to plan ahead in order to ensure that you are successful and apartment hunting in the Docklands is no different. Ensure that you are fully prepared for your apartment hunting process. Prepare a checklist of everything that you need and want in an apartment. Once you have made your apartment wish list you should divide the items into 2 groups: the must haves (essentials) and the non-essentials. This is important because it is not always possible for you to find an apartment that has everything on your wish list; however, you will need an apartment that covers the essentials. Basically before you begin the apartment hunt know your priorities.

Be Prepared

Next to planning is preparation. Be prepared and make sure you do so in advance. This will allow you to reduce the list of properties that interest you so that you only visit the ones that you will truly have an interest in. Making preparations will also help you to adequately prepare questions for both the potential landlord and your real estate agent. Being prepared is one of the best apartment hunting tips anyone can give.

Use the Power of Technology

Another great apartment hunting tip is the use of the internet by commencing your search online. The internet has a wide selection of resources such as pictures, prices, apartment listings, apartment reviews and more. You can use the internet to research rent in the area, tenant reviews of the area and other information from tenants and landlords. It is from this that you will gather an idea of what prices and views are evident in that area, which can lead you to a decision of whether or not it is right for you.

Meet with the Management Team

This is very important when it comes to apartment hunting and could very well be one of the best apartment hunting tips to receive. Whenever you visit an apartment complex that you are interested in you should take some time to speak with the management team. This allows you to see how friendly (or unfriendly) the management staff is and to ask any questions that you might have about the apartment or even the general area.

Renting in the Docklands is a great way to enjoy luxury living, so use these apartment hunting tips to make your Docklands apartment search as smooth and worthwhile as possible so you will get maximum value out of your experience.

1. Tell us a bit about your career background and why you chose a career in real estate?

I chose Real Estate as soon as I completed my VCE because I felt that the industry is sustainable and the long term aspects were attainable. On top of that I feel that I have a great affinity with people and felt that combined with the nature of Real Estate would be beneficial for both my clients and myself.

2. How long have you worked at Lucas Real Estate?

I initially worked for Lucas Real Estate during 2005-2008 and have just commenced again now.

3. What makes Lucas Real Estate such a great place to work at?

Lucas Real Estate is an amazing place to work, I love the area and have loved watching it evolve into a little city of its own! I also think it’s really important to work somewhere you feel wanted and is recognised for a job well done which is what I get at Lucas Real Estate.

4. What made you decide to return to work at Lucas Real Estate?

I have come back because the staff are amazing and I really enjoy what Docklands has to offer my long term career aspirations.

5. What is your current position at Lucas Real Estate?

I am currently a Property Manager primary servicing Docklands.

6. Tell us about some of the nicest memories you have had working with Lucas Real Estate?

When I first commenced with Lucas Real Estate I was almost 21 and was surprised on the day of my birthday with a beautifully decorated office! I was very spoilt!

There are a number of advantages that a potential investor can expect to benefit from when they take the plunge and invest in Docklands rental property. In fact some investors find that investing in Docklands rental property gives them great returns.

Benefits of Investing in Docklands Rental Property

Great Long Term Investment – The wonderful thing about the Australian real estate market is that the prices of certain suburban residential properties have doubled every seven to ten years. In fact the price of real estate in the major cities in Australia has increased by an average of 9% each year during the last 30 years. One of the reasons for this steady increase is the fact that there is a finite amount of land that is available. Therefore the price of property will increase as the population and the economy expands.

Tax Benefits – When you invest in rental properties you can take advantage of a few tax benefits. These include tax write offs, value appreciation and tax depreciation.

Rental Income – It can easily be said that this is by far the benefit that most investors look forward to. This is because rental property allows you to receive a fixed sum each and every month. This can be seen as a type of passive income. It can also be considered as a form of business. The thing that is great about rental income is that it will typically keep up with the rate of inflation.

Direct Control over your Investment – As an investor when you choose to invest in Docklands rental properties you will have an investment that you have direct control of, unlike other forms of investments such as the stock market. To make the process easier you can also work with a property manager to assist you with choosing tenants, setting the rent amount, and decide on the type of improvements that is made to your property. 

Possible Risks Involved associated with Investing in Docklands Rental Property

Bad Tenants – You can interview a number of potential renters, run a number of background checks and still get a crappy tenant. There is just simply no guarantee against this. Although interviewing and doing proper background checks will minimize your risk. Also getting landlord insurance is a good idea. The wonderful thing about investing in Docklands rental property is that it typically attracts high end clients.

Unexpected Expenses – You can do everything that you possibly can to ensure that your property is worry free; however, the truth is that you cannot guard against everything and sometimes the unexpected will happen. The only thing that you can do to ensure that you are not caught completely off guard is to set aside a portion of the rent towards these unexpected expenses. This may not completely cover your expenses, but it certainly does help.

Vacancy – This is a problem that any rental property investor fears. This is because for an empty property = no income coming in. Fortunately Docklands is a high demand location and this problem is rarely faced by its investors.

No investment is without its fair share of risks and property investment is by no means an exception. However, with a specialized Docklands real estate agent by your side you will be able to significantly reduce your investment risks.

Tenant Selection Based on Location

If your property is located in the heart of the Docklands, being near Melbourne’s CBD, prime location, endless shopping facilities and convenience of public transportation – to name a few, are main selling points that will attract many tenants. You will need to select a tenant that will benefit the most from your Docklands property. The ideal tenant will be from one of these characteristic groups:

• Single Professionals
• Professional Couples
• Students
• Be between the ages of 20 – 50 years

The people that meet the above mentioned criteria are not going to settle for a substandard property as they too have certain criteria that a landlord must meet before they sign the lease.

Attracting the Desired Demographic

When searching for the perfect property, tenants are looking for those that meet their needs. In order to attract these tenants you must ensure that your property is:

• Newly renovated/Updated
• Modern
• Savvy
• Clean and tidy
• The property has modern appliances (preferably European appliances)

Meeting these requirements will assist in attracting the right person to your property. People from the above demographic groups will tend to want a very low maintenance property, to suit their busy city lifestyle yet also something that they will feel comfortable living in and a space to   show off to their friends and family.

Not only will it benefit the tenant to have these features, it will also benefit you. Newly renovated and clean properties will (in most cases) lead to you getting a tenant that will take good care of your property for the duration of their stay. If you have a property that is not quite brand new and you lack the funds to update it, ensure that your property is clean and that everything works as it should. Doing this will also increase your chances of attracting good tenants.

Finally you need to remember that the people that are renting Docklands property are doing so because of the type of lifestyle that it offers them. Therefore you (the investor) need to keep in mind that you are providing your potential tenants with the chance to live a certain lifestyle as well as a home. Follow these simple guidelines to help you find the perfect tenants for your Docklands property!

Here are 3 quick tips for landlords that can help to minimize your investment risks…

Landlord Tip One – Credit Checks

The Docklands area is currently in high demand and this isn’t expected to change any time soon. People are either opting to visit or are renting property on a medium to long term basis. If you are planning to rent for the medium to long term then it is very important that you conduct a thorough background check on all prospective tenants. Far too often landlords select a tenant simply because they want to fill a vacancy; however, this is one of the worst moves that one can make. Your tenant checks should determine:

• The tenant’s ability to pay their rent and pay it on time
• The tenant is able to pay his/her bills
• If the tenant has ever been evicted for non-payment of rent or otherwise

Doing these checks will save you a lot of headaches and of course serve to protect your investment and keep money in your pocket.

Landlord Tip Two – Property Maintenance

Typically when you have a rental property you are solely responsible for the repairs and general upkeep of that property. This includes everything from the appliances to the plumbing. As a landlord it is in your best interest to maintain than to repair. Since inspecting the property yourself can be time-consuming (and even inefficient if you have no knowledge of home maintenance) then you can hire an inspector to do this for you. a good inspector will be able to tell you about any problems that exist or any problem that could potentially exist. A good rule of thumb as a landlord is to set aside a quarter of the rent towards emergency maintenance.

Landlord Tip Three – Decorate accordingly

If you are renting to short term or long term tenants (travelers and visitors) then you will need to ensure that your property is properly decorated. However, you shouldn’t decorate your property as you would like to see it; instead decorate with the perspective tenant in mind. People come to the Docklands for the luxurious lifestyle that the Docklands has to offer; therefore your rental property must be decorated accordingly in order to attract potential renters. Additionally you should try to decorate in a manner that will allow you to attract a wide cross-section of people.

Following these 3 simple landlord tips will allow you to get the most out of your property while minimizing your investment risk.

As a new Lucas Real Estate client, we are delighted to provide you with a no strings attached, money-back service guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied with the service you have received during the first three months of Lucas Real Estate leasing and managing your property due to any of the following guarantees not being realized, all management fees and leasing charges made by Lucas Real Estate during the period of management will be refunded to you in full.

Why Lucas Real Estate?

Lucas Real Estate is the only specialist Docklands agent having a two office network open seven days a week and servicing all Docklands precincts. We are the market leaders having the largest property management division in the Docklands. Our Team is carefully selected and has a wealth of knowledge in providing you with a personalised service, attention to detail and exceptional results. With the support of the latest technology, constant training, management and accounting systems you’ll know your investment property is in the best hands. Whether you are looking to sell, buy or have your investment property managed we welcome your enquiry and would be delighted to have the opportunity to offer our services in relation to your property needs.

Have you thought about planning on doing something different for a change this year? Do you want to do something with the entire family that will not only benefit you but other people as well? If so then consider being a part of the 2012 Run for the Kids Race. The Run for the Kids Race is a fundraising event that is geared towards raising the much needed cash for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. It is a yearly event which will see the Herald Sun CityLink Run for the Kids once again partnering with the specialist online company Everyday Hero.

This year Everyday Hero and the Herald CityLink Run for the Kids hopes to raise more funds than ever for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Every bit counts, so whether your personal fundraising budget is $100, $1,000 or more come out and support the event. The funds raised will be used to provide the Hospital with the cash needed to purchase new equipments and or new facilities that the children so desperately needs.

About the Race – Fees and Distance

The Run for the Kids Race will take place on April 01, 2012. The race is broken down into two races: a long course and a short course. The long course will commence at 9:15 a.m. while the short course begins earlier at 8:40 a.m. There is a minimal entry fee that each participant must pay in order to enter the race. The short course that has a distance of 5.2km will cost you $45 per person. Approximately $27 will go directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. The long course on the other hand, that has a distance of 14.38km will attract an entry fee of $50 with approximately $29 going towards the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.

Run for the Kids – Spectators

If you don’t wish to be a part of the race but still wish to enjoy the day with your family and friends then by all means come out and spend the day with us. Families and friends are always encouraged to come and enjoy the morning with us. As a spectator you should be aware that there will be traffic restrictions on race day and that there will only be a limited amount of parking available. Additionally due to road closures you will experience difficulty moving around the city to see the participants from more than one vantage point.

Additional Information for Participants

The organizers have truly thought about everything; from water stations at strategic locations throughout the course of the race to toilet facilities to first aid stations to even baggage storage. There is nothing that proper preparations haven’t been made for. If you are looking for more ways to make a donation to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal; then you can purchase an event T-Shirt. T-Shirts are available for both men and women and in sizes for adults and children.

Whether you choose to participate in the race or not set a date with Run for the Kids this year and support the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

For more information on the event, go to: http://www.r4k.com.au/r4k/

If you are looking to break into the real estate market then consider purchasing property in the Docklands area. The Docklands combines the best attributes of inner city living with all the benefits of a genuine village lifestyle.

Here are a few tips for buying in the Docklands.

1. Research the Location

Investing in the purchase of real estate is by far one of the most important investments that you can make; therefore you should make sure that you are fully prepared and armed with as much information as possible. If you intend to invest in buying a Docklands property make sure that you thoroughly research the location, the building, and the developers for example. Research is necessary in order to determine whether or not buying real estate in a particular area will yield great returns. It is the first thing that you should seek to do before you invest. When conducting your location research try to ascertain the following:

Are there things to do in the area that would attract potential buyers, renters, or people seeking to lease for example? These can include:

• Infrastructure – Roads, telecommunications, access to public transport
• Special attractions – Is there something unique about the location
• Neighbours – Who are the people that typical live or visit the desired location
• Lifestyle – What is the lifestyle like (Luxury etc)
• Diversity – Types of people that live or visit the location (families, singles, college students etc)

2. Know Your Price Point and Get Pre-Approved

After you have thoroughly researched the location and have narrowed your search, your next step is to determine the amount of money that you are able to spend on your Docklands property. Knowing the maximum amount of money that you can spend on a Docklands property will save you and your real estate agent a considerable amount of time. While you are determining the amount that you can spend it is also wise to seek preapproval. Your real estate agent will also advise that you do this. Preapproval isn’t always necessary; however, it does make the buying process a lot smoother.

3. Know Exactly What You Want

This is also a crucial step in the property investment process. The Docklands has a variety of options that are available to you; it therefore makes your search easier if you have a clear idea of what you want. Prepare a list of your must-haves and the items that are negotiable. For instance if you wish to purchase a Docklands apartment ask yourself the following:

• The amount of bedrooms that you need
• The type of view that you desire
• The must-have amenities

4. Select a Good Real Estate Agent

Last but certainly not the least you will need to select a reputable real estate agent. Here you will want to find an agent that is familiar with the neighborhood and the current conditions. If you are able to find the right real estate agent your buying process will go a lot smoother.

At Lucas Real Estate we’re always happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions. At Lucas Real Estate we live and breathe Docklands.

On Movember 1st, the LRE Mo Bros registered at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, groomed, trimmed and waxed their way into the annals of fine moustachery. to raise awareness by prompting public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health and seeking out sponsorship for their Mo growing efforts.

This year, the Lucas Real Estate ‘Mo Bro’ team consisted of Glen Lucas,  Baden Lucas, Cam Smith, Lyle Dean, Karl Schneider, Joel Dean, James Wagner, Dylan Emmett, Adam Fiander.

The “Mo Bro” team’s amazing efforts raised a whopping $3,875.  Lucas Real Estate would personally like to thank each and every one of you that donated to this important cause.

The shocking facts:

*1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
*This year 20,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed
*1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime

To check out their profile and view more photos, go to : http://au.movember.com/mospace/1620514/

Enjoy FREE movies every night from 7pm during the Docklands Classic Film Festival. Rug up, bring your family and friends and enjoy classic movies under the stars at Waterfront City Piazza.

Every Wednesday night, its classic James Bond films, with Hollywoods best on Friday nights and family favorites every Sunday night. Each Saturday, movies start from 2pm.
Grab a meal, hot chocolate and popcorn and watch FREE movies during the Docklands Classic Film Festival.

Get active to stay warm at Medibank Icehouse – from 27 May 2011, Retro Glow and Glow Top 40 liven up Friday and Saturday nights. See below for more details.

Or go for a walk around Docklands and tick off the art installations as you go? Have you seen Cow Up A Tree? The cow’s distinctive shape references the portrait of Australian artist Joshua Smith by William Dobell, which won the 1943 Archibald Prize and was subject to the infamous court case during WWII where ‘art’ was put on trial.

At that time, Dobell served as a ‘camouflage’ labourer, producing papier mache cows used to disguise airfields and fool Japanese pilots. Inspired by a flood that swept cattle into trees in Victoria’s Gippsland area, this work imagines a flood hitting Dobell’s airfield. Download the Docklands Public Art Walk Brochure.

Events & Activities For June:

Medibank Icehouse –  weekends in June
Get in to the fun of Glow nights with the all new Retro Friday and Top 40 Saturday from 7pm – late, each weekend at Medibank icehouse. The fun includes DJ’s, on ice dancing and loads of giveaways. On Friday enjoy best of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s while the DJ’s play the best of the retro era, and on Saturday join in the Countdown of the weeks Top 40. Click Here to find out more.

Fox Classic Car Collection
The Fox Classic Car Collection includes more than 50 prestige vehicles collected over a 20 year period by trucking businessman Lindsay Fox. Situated in the historic Queen’s Warehouse on the corner of Batmans Hill Drive and Collins Street, Docklands. Click Here to find out more.

The Lounge Hotel
The Lounge Hotel has an exciting new weekly entertainment line up including Bobby Valentine’s Legendary Duo. Click Here for more information.

To find out what else is going on in Docklands , visit the Docklands Events Listings Page.