1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Property Pendulum, brought to you by Domain 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: and Fear and Greed, the podcaster that tells you which 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: way the property market is going to swing and how 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: to make the most of it. I'm Michael Thompson and 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: I'm joined by Alice Staltz, national Property editor at Domain, 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: one of Australia's foremost experts must be said on all 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: things real estate, known to audiences right around the country 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: for her work on nine including the Block. 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: Hello Alice, Hello Michael. Great to bear with you. 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: It's a good topic today. It's very exciting because we 11 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: can range from some unusual things through to some more 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: kind of ordinary topics. Here we are talking today about 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: the trends that are emerging in homes and that does 14 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: range from quirky, really quite unusual things that you walk 15 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: into a house and go, I don't know what was 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: going through their head when they put that in, but 17 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: through to the things that you really need to know 18 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: about if you are hoping to sell, if you're hoping 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: to kind of attract the best price in the market, 20 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: then you kind of need to know what people are 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: looking for, what people are wanting, and what other sellers 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: have got in their homes as well. But can we 23 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: start with the absurd stuff please? 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, Look, it seems like house trends sort of 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: rise and fall as much as house prices sometimes, doesn't it. 26 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 2: But look over the past few years, we've sort of 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: seen it all. We've seen tapannyaki grills. We're definitely seeing 28 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: a lot of people indulging in the wellness space. We're 29 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: seeing petonk lawns in houses. I've seen pollo fields. I mean, 30 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 2: we've seen underground sort of subterrane basements, cigar lounges where 31 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: the air gets sort of shot up through sort of 32 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: a volt in the ceiling and then pushed outside. And 33 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 2: the lengths that people will go to to add some 34 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: features to the house is quite endless. Shall we say 35 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: this is extraordinary? 36 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: I can get the tappanyaki grill because like that that 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: feels like a bit of a fad and it's not 38 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: the most impossible thing to do as part of like 39 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: a kitchen kind of rearmodel. But like a subterranean basement 40 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: like that is a substantial overhaul to the like to 41 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: the entire plan for your property. So there's kind of 42 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: two streams here, aren't there. There's the kind of architectural 43 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: trends that you see and the kind of the building 44 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: side of the home, and then the features that people 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: add to the property themselves. 46 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I wonder also the rise of features is 47 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: also probably symptomatic of the time we're living in when 48 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: it comes to also costs, and that costing so much 49 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: more when it comes to building to change something structurally 50 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: in the house. Whereas I think with technology and people 51 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: really seeing that as kind of a certain status slash 52 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: currency that they can trade in, people are definitely adding 53 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 2: a lot of features to their home in a way 54 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: that they may well have once done more architectural changes 55 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: to their properties. 56 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: Does anyone still have a tepaniaki grill or was that 57 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: like so three years ago? 58 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: People do absolutely still have them. And I think for 59 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: me though, like that's an example of something so niche, 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: like really it is. It is really just for you know, 61 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: cooking in a teppanyaki style, isn't it. Whereas we do 62 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: definitely see things like if you have sort of like 63 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: the idea of this basement, for example, we do also say, 64 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: say people have set up set up as a home cinema. 65 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: We also see examples where people come in and convert 66 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: that into a home gym or a wellness space, and 67 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: that to me kind of shows more longevity and I 68 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: guess more bang for your buck in terms of the 69 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: house having the adaptability to it, where the tepanyaki grill 70 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: kind of only has one use. 71 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not super versatile. You're not going to fire 72 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: it up just to do your scrambled eggs on a 73 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: Saturday morning or something. And unless you're really really good 74 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: at kind of at teppanyaki, like it's it is like 75 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: the degree burns all over the place, isn't it. 76 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a bit like the pizza oven two and like, yes, 77 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: we could argue that, yes you can put bread in it, 78 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: et cetera, but in reality they really are just for pizzas. 79 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: But they do take up a fair whack of bench 80 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: space in your out your kitchen, and they're also esthetically 81 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: you can't sort of ignore them. So if you love 82 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: them and use them all the time, knock yourself out, 83 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: But just be mindful that other buyers may not value 84 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: it as much as you do. 85 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: I want to get to in a minute the impact 86 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: that that has on the price, the fact that it 87 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: can either limit your appeal or if you pick the 88 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: right features, what it can do to actually broaden the 89 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: appeal of your property. But I thought, maybe let's just 90 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: work through some of the different rooms of the home, 91 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: because you see a lot of properties, you kind of 92 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: see a lot of kind of what is going on 93 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: in different parts of the country, so you know what 94 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: is on trend. So if I was to say to 95 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: you what is hot right now in kitchens, what would 96 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: you say? 97 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 2: Look, kitchens is an interesting one because I do actually 98 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: think that is where money will be probably brought back 99 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,559 Speaker 2: to the owner selling is in the kitchen. It's probably 100 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: the one area of the house. I'm kind of more 101 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 2: open minded about people sort of pushing the envelope a 102 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: bit further in One thing I have said in this 103 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: is in the past few months is one this idea 104 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: of the home robot. We did have a house on 105 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 2: the market where the robot in the kitchen makes the coffee, etc. 106 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 2: And we're definitely seeing in the US. I've seen some 107 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: of those incredible you know, those one hundred million squillion 108 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 2: dollar houses coming out of America. This becoming more prevalent. 109 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: The robot comes with that kitchen and that way it 110 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: can navigate the kitchen quite well. And it looks like 111 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: you've said of got R two D two or something 112 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 2: in your kitchen. Well, perhaps not so big, But that 113 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: is the idea of the coffee machine nowadays, is that 114 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 2: robot bartender slash barista who could make you a last 115 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: day in the morning and then a margarita for cocktails 116 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: at night. 117 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: Michael, this is not going to age well this next comment, 118 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: but I can't imagine that ever catching on. I'm going 119 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: to listen back to this in ten years time and 120 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: every home is going to have its own kitchen robot. 121 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: And what a fool I was back in twenty twenty four, indeed, 122 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: But that's extraordinary. That feels like it's more at the 123 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: quirky end at this point. 124 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely one thing we are definitely seeing more of which 125 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: is less quirky. But I still find it kind of 126 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: really interesting. Is this idea of these indoor smokers. We 127 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 2: know that smoked meat has become a really important thing 128 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 2: for a lot of people, particularly people who sort of 129 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: follow that paleol way of life with lots of meat 130 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: in their diet. But the downside of smokers is that 131 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 2: they obviously create a lot of smoke and a lot 132 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: of odor in the house, but you can get indoor 133 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: ones which somehow magically sort of extract the air and 134 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: there is no odor with them. And so, you know, 135 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: a few years ago in my world this is quite normal, Michael, 136 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: But we started seeing you know, steam ovens and all 137 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 2: these sort of different comby ovens and ovens that become 138 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: dishwashers at the same time and clean automatically after you've 139 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: done just done a roast for dinner or something. All 140 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: these sort of tech coming that way, and smokers is 141 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: sort of part of that new wave of appliances. I 142 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: guess of what we're seeing in kitchens. 143 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: Okay, I don't want to sound super boring then and say, 144 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 1: but in kitchens then, like in terms of the bench 145 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: top configuration and stuff, so they still have kind of 146 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: breakfast bars and island benches and things. Is that just 147 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: like so kind of not even part of the consideration 148 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: now people are just looking for what kind of gadgets 149 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: and what tech is there. 150 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: I love your classic old school approach and question there 151 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: my good look, people absolutely are still really thinking incredibly 152 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: hard about the structure of the kitchen. Now, the kitchen 153 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: has to obviously function, You've got to have that triangle 154 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: where everything is sort of connects easily to each other. 155 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: But in terms of the way the kitchens are shaped, 156 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: it's really interesting. We're definitely seeing a rise. You have 157 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: an island bench and then at the end of it 158 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: a little table sort of often built into that bench. 159 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: It it sort of drops down, and it might have like 160 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 2: bonquettes seating around it, a bit like you're in seat 161 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 2: of a French bistro or something. And I kind of 162 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: love this idea because what it does is sort of 163 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: extends an island bench, and I like the idea that 164 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: it may make having a massive dining table a bit redundant, 165 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: because I'm sort of all for this idea of having 166 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: i don't know, really well thought out kitchen dining living 167 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: spaces in a way that doesn't necessarily take a couple 168 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: of space. So what this does is kind of extends 169 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: the ability of what the kitchen can do. It's not 170 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: just a place to cook, you can actually eat there. 171 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: And because you've got this sort of lower table with 172 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: this Bonkett style seating around it, it does actually look 173 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 2: quite swish and a bit sort of fancy that if 174 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: you're having like a dinner party or something. It feels 175 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: quite lovely to eat in that space. 176 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: And it makes the space really usable, then, doesn't it. 177 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: And it means that you don't then have a massive 178 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: dining table that might get used kind of once every 179 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: three weeks or something like that, correct, and you can 180 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: put a pool table in instance. 181 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: I think this was born out of the fact that, 182 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: you know, when we had went through this big sort 183 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: of renaissance with island benches and we had one island 184 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: benches that became the size of continents taking over the kitchen. 185 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 2: You know, that was suddenly like can you pass the 186 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 2: salt Michael? That was like, well, hang on, I'll have 187 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 2: to actually walk up over to pass that to. 188 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: Yous, sliding it along like a saloon bar. 189 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. But the issue with that is also that 190 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: I think it's quite informal eating at an island bench, 191 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: isn't it. You know, you're sort of often watching someone 192 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: prap and then you're eating. So that's fine for many, 193 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: many days of the week for many people. But if you 194 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 2: do want to elevate it, how can you change that? 195 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: And that's so we've definitely seen that drop down sort 196 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 2: of table attached to that bench, and again with that 197 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 2: sort of bonquette style upholstered seating bench. It just kind 198 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: of takes it to the next level. 199 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: All Right, we have over indulged on kitchens, quite proud 200 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: of myself for that one. Bathrooms, what's hot? 201 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, a steam shower still has not gone 202 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: out of fashion. People still love that. Do you or 203 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: do you not put the ice bath in the bathroom? 204 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 2: This is a big question that many Michael, you know, 205 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 2: I'm looking at you and you're looking at me like 206 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: what is Alas talking about? But these are genuine things 207 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 2: like do you create a separate wellness space slash studio 208 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: wing potentially or do you kind of again sort of 209 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: my philosophy of trying to do a bit more with 210 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 2: less and make that space be able to work both ways. So, 211 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: for example, the ice bath could be a regularish bath, 212 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: but quite deep like seid of a Japanese bath. We're 213 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 2: seeing very deep baths. I can't imagine bathing toddlers. 214 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: In the bath like that though, be a disaster. 215 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 2: So you can see the issue with people thinking do 216 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,559 Speaker 2: I make this the family bathroom doesn't actually have to 217 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: be my wellner space. So steam showers have remained. As 218 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 2: I said, the ice bath is a big thing. Many 219 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: people would love to have the infrared sauna, which is 220 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: sort of the accessory to jour in their bathroom inside 221 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 2: if they haven't got a wellness space. However, many people 222 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 2: are actually putting these saunas outside because they simply can't 223 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 2: fit the space in a bathroom. 224 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: I I would love to have that problem of going 225 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: where am I going to put my infrared sauna? It's 226 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: not really a consideration for me right at this moment. 227 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: I hear you, Mike, and I'm with you on that actually. 228 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: But one thing that I'd be interested to get your 229 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: thoughts on one trend that we did see that I 230 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 2: am just think we should see the death of is 231 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: showers without doors now because they're impractical, Yes, harder to 232 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 2: control the temperature, you're exposed to drafts, there's privacy issues, 233 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: slip hazards if you want to get into a watch, 234 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: and s issues in your own home. How do we 235 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: resolve that issue? So I think that's a dreadful idea 236 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: showers of that doors. However, it's become very popular, and 237 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 2: I think we're slowly seeing a shift away from it 238 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: as people are now sort of turning their back on 239 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 2: that sort of open plan, open room living. 240 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it just it feels like that was a step 241 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: backwards when doors disappeared. How on earth is supposed to 242 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: splash like, it's just just water goes everywhere. It's impractical, 243 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: it's illogical, And I'm with you, bring back doors bedrooms. 244 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: Is there anything exciting happening in bedrooms? There's definitely a 245 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: better way I could have asked that question. 246 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 2: I'll just become the I'm not going to become I 247 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 2: am the property at a song, and I answer you 248 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: in a very straight way back. Smart mattresses. Have you 249 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 2: heard about these? 250 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: Basically no idea what a smart mattress is. 251 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 2: They will sort of they will read your sleep patterns. 252 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 2: It's like it's like sort of people who wear, you know, 253 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 2: the rings or watches to bed. The mattress will provide 254 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 2: all the insights and data to your sleep adjustable beds 255 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 2: that people like to be able to change sort of 256 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 2: the condition of the mattress. And that now, that obviously 257 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 2: is something also that people can take with them. And 258 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 2: we're also seeing with the rise of more people renting 259 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,319 Speaker 2: these days because of issues around being able to access houses, 260 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: people are actually also getting better accessories in their houses, 261 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: so that if you are a renter or you're a 262 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: rent vest potentially that you might own an asset, but 263 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 2: you rent where you want to live, not where you 264 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 2: can afford to buy. You may then indulge in a 265 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 2: great accessory for that bedroomin often that is, as I said, 266 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 2: like a smart bed. Definitely, this idea of wellness is 267 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 2: so extending to the bedroom. And you know, the electric 268 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 2: blind trend still remains. And on that note, I will add, Michael, 269 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: the issue with any kind of tech in that for 270 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 2: people thinking about it is that be very mindful that 271 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: you don't let yourself go absolutely crazy and create tech 272 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 2: that only you can run, because many buyers who buy 273 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 2: that house one might just be like, that's too hard basket. 274 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: You know, if it comes to the house, fine, but 275 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: I'm not going to pay a premium for something that 276 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: I will never know how to use or I can't 277 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: be bothered to work out. 278 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a really good point, because I was going 279 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: to ask you separately about the smart home technology and 280 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: just having everything all connected and all of this and 281 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: whether that is actually a draw card for people or 282 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: whether it does present a little bit of a barrier 283 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: to kind of understanding how a home works. If you 284 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 1: see a light switch on the wall, you understand how 285 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: that works. But if you suddenly don't see any light switches, 286 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: you don't see anything, and you're like, I actually don't 287 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: know how this house functions. It would feel like it 288 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: could be a bit kind of tough to get into. 289 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's bit like when you stay at a hotel 290 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 2: and you kind of like, I can't actually find the 291 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 2: night light to go to the bathroom in the middle 292 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 2: of the night or something, and it just leaves you 293 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: with this sense of I don't feel at home here 294 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 2: or comfortable here. And I think that's why for me, 295 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: it comes back to tech and features that are done 296 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: really well in the kitchen can add value, but be 297 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 2: aware that only really is if the buyer values it. 298 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: I think tech in other areas of the house is 299 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 2: becoming a bit more tenuous as to will you will 300 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 2: you get that money back in the long run. 301 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: What about structural trends kind of what are people doing what, 302 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: probably more importantly, what should we be steering clear of. 303 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: Well, I'm happy to report that the idea of floating 304 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: staircases is now on the decline. Now they're those staircases 305 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: that are incredibly dangerous. That makes any person with young 306 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: children sort of cringe in horror the thought of how 307 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: their child's going to go up there, and they take 308 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: up a massive space and living room. There's noisey issues 309 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 2: that're not practical. So out on the way out spot 310 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 2: those big sort of curve staircases, which you all would 311 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 2: have seen a lot of, remain very popular. Still. Barn 312 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: doors that idea of sort of peak pinterest that adds 313 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 2: rustic charm is also on the way out because they're 314 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 2: not very good at dampening noise. I guess, so people 315 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: traditionally going back to that more swing door. And what 316 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: is oh TV's above fireplaces? Forget it. The TV needs 317 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 2: to be at eye level or sort of concealed behind 318 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: a sort of a panel or something. But you know, 319 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: for a while there we'd walk into a room and 320 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 2: there will always be a TV above a fireplace. It 321 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: was always too high and it means you probably couldn't 322 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 2: watch TV very well because of the sort of glare 323 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: and the height of it. So that is now on 324 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: the way out as well. 325 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: Okay, we are running out of time, but I need 326 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: to ask you about outdoors and the backyard. And I 327 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: know I'm going to sound like I'm living in the 328 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: eighties still, but does everybody still want to pull in 329 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: the backyard? 330 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 2: Yeah? Pool is one of our most searched words on domain. 331 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 2: It's quite extraordinary. 332 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: I'm just glad to know that I'm still on trend 333 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: with wanting to have a pool. 334 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, very so far. 335 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: I'm feel completely out of touch with everything else that 336 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: you have said so far, like the pool. 337 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, the pool remains, and I mean, I won't 338 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: drag you down the rabbit hole of but what sort 339 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 2: of pool? Because then you've got five glass concrete plunge pool. 340 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 2: Do you know what to mean? What shape? What fear? 341 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: What sort of water mineral pool without chlorine in it? 342 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: That's sort of like a swim spars as well that 343 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: you're kind of pushing against it, and I'm like, oh 344 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: my god, it feels like it's too hot. Whatever happened 345 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: to the good old fashioned kidney shaped kind of pool 346 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: in the backyard? And suddenly I just became uncool again, 347 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: didn't I can see by the way that you were 348 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: shaking your head. 349 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: Really, I think it stayed in nineteen seventy nine, Michael. 350 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: That's probably where it belongs. One other thing though, outside though, 351 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: is this idea of exterior spotlights. Now, we've definitely seen 352 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 2: a lot of trends around lighting that people really enjoy 353 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: lighting up spaces. Now, I would caution people that we 354 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 2: don't need to light up a house like this Sydney 355 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: Opera House or the Roman Forum hold back be sustainable, 356 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 2: because it just looks absurd and I think also think 357 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 2: of the energy costs. So I think understated practical is 358 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 2: the way to go. Light up features of a beautiful 359 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 2: garden or a lovely if you've got a big old 360 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: or oak tree, that lighting up that is quite beautiful, 361 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: and that to me is actually quite artful. But forget 362 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 2: going all out and kind of acting like it's Christmas 363 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 2: Eve and whatever that and whatever street is in your 364 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 2: capital city of you know, we all know the streets 365 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 2: in our city that does that around Christmas time. 366 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: We need to talk about money now, because really we've 367 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: put together quite a comprehensive list of features, and some 368 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: of them are quite strange, some of them feel quite 369 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: quite niche Really, are people actually buying in the current market, 370 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: Are people actually buying properties with some of these stranger 371 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: features in them? Or Are they a turn off the 372 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: robot kind of in the kitchen for instance, or you're 373 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: indoor smoker or something. Are they too niche to actually 374 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: attract people, or are they still selling. 375 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 2: It all comes down to the price that the agent 376 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 2: and the buyer is expecting someone to pay for it. 377 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: I definitely thinking kitchens. We do see when you've got 378 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 2: a full, almost commercial style gourmet kitchen, it definitely can 379 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 2: work in the favor of the buyer. But again you 380 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: have to ensure the rest of the house reflects that. 381 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 2: So I think there's no point in having an incredible 382 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 2: kitchen and the rest of the house doesn't quite have, 383 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 2: you know, electricity for example, so you've got to have 384 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: sort of the continuity running throughout the whole house. I 385 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 2: do think also, you just don't want to go overboard. 386 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: So I think, you know, a sauna in a bathroom, 387 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: what everybody's going to value that. A smart toilet, for example, 388 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 2: that's probably a bit less absurd. And I know you're 389 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: probably thinking, Alice, you've now jumped shark. 390 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: But the one thing I'm not going to do is 391 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: ask you to explain the concept of a smart toilet. 392 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: I think that's probably we can imagine, we can imagine. 393 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: Please just keep going. 394 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 2: But so I just think if you're doing something that 395 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 2: community is practical and use every day all the time, great, 396 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: but it's that idea of a sauna, and if you 397 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 2: don't want to do with something, you're not going to 398 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 2: use it. Lulu people using it every day. 399 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: Okay. So really there are certain things then if you 400 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: focus on the say the gourmet kitchen and these these 401 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: kind of they might be big ticket items because they 402 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: be quite expensive to actually do if you're doing as 403 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: a renovation, but they are things that are likely to 404 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: deliver you more of a return than say, something that 405 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: is super super niche. The flip side of that is 406 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: if you are the buyer and the property has something 407 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 1: that is really quite niche and you just you don't 408 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: need it, you don't want it, can you use that 409 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: in your negotiations kind of because if you can see 410 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: that that it's turning other people off as well, then 411 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,479 Speaker 1: can you go, look, you know what this is. I 412 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: love the place, but this is a turnoff. Can you 413 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: use that to your advantage? 414 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: I'm so impressed, Mirk with that you're taking lessons from 415 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: our negotiating episod We did a while ago about about negotiating, 416 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 2: you know, sort of horse trading with the between the 417 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 2: buyer and seller. Because absolutely, you could say, you know what, 418 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: I don't want a jacuzzi. I don't want to tap 419 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: anyaki grill, remove it, remove it. I don't care how 420 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:26,959 Speaker 2: it's done. I just want it to look like it 421 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 2: was never there. Obviously, the vendor has to pay for it, 422 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 2: and you know we've got it. We've got ourselves a deal. 423 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 2: So absolutely, and I think it's a particularly good thing 424 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 2: to leverage if you are the only sort of particularly 425 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 2: strongly interested buyer and that person is also keen to sell. 426 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 2: So it may mean that you pay that slightly higher 427 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: price for it, but at least you don't have to 428 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 2: get rid of that absurd white elephant yourself. 429 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: So if we bring it all home for a seller, 430 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: it is about kind of striking a balance between being 431 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: on trend right and still keeping your property the bland 432 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: isn't the right word, but broad enough to attract a 433 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: number of potential buyers who are all keen to see 434 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: themselves in that place. 435 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the goal should be to fine a 436 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 2: balance in your own style and that is on trend 437 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 2: or sort of contemporary that will also stand the test 438 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: of time, because you want to have that classic element 439 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 2: to your house without it suddenly appearing dated. 440 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: Awesome, good fun. 441 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, Alice, Thank you, Michael. 442 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: That was a real estate expert. Alice Staltz, National property 443 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: editor at Domain, and I'm Michael Thompson. Make sure you're 444 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: following the podcast and we'll be back next week with 445 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: another episode of the Property Pendulum, brought to you by 446 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: Domain and Fear and Greed, the podcast that tells you 447 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: which way the property market is going to swing and 448 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 1: how to make the most of its