Top 10 property investment tips /Great interview but NO offer: Why you didn't get the job

Top 10 property investment tips

Below, we look at the top ten criteria to help you decide whether a property would be a good investment or not.

1. Location
It’s important to reiterate how important this is. The location will determine a property’s price, risk and returns.

2. Developer’s philosophy and standards
Does the developer have a track record of producing quality products? If it’s a new project, do your homework and tour previous developments built by them. Don’t be overawed by a big name. A travel writer acquaintance of mine stayed in a new five-star villa resort in Bali recently, and reported that, while beautiful, the unit’s fittings were substandard with tiles falling off the bath and sockets loose in the wall.

3. Management
What level of oversight will be provided by the management of the development? If you’re staying in the property as an owner-occupier, this is less critical, but as a landlord, especially in absentia, it’s vital.

4. Future prospects
For property as an investment, the bottom line is how much income it can generate for you. Again, research the market, getting different opinions on what the capital appreciation and rental returns will be for this property.

5. Practicality / Design / Layout / Usability / Desirability
Who is this property going to appeal to?. . Always consider who would live here before you purchase?

6. Comparative prices for comparable product
If you can, try and see how similar properties in the area have done in the past in terms of price per square foot and capital appreciation in order to compare and work out whether the property is an attractive investment opportunity.

7. Connectivity / Convenience
We have written before on the importance of a condominium’s proximity to schools, work places, and shopping and leisure facilities – but transport links are often the biggest drivers of value. Research has shown that condos near MRT stations often gain the most capital appreciation.

An MRT train pulls into the station. (Photograph: Singapore Tourism Board)

8. Security
while crime levels are perhaps overstated by the media – the range of a development’s security options – gated communities, 24-hour guards, first-response alarms, etc – are an important factor.

9. Facilities
A property’s facilities do add value to a unit – a landed property with a pool, for example, can add around 8% to the value of the property – while many condo facilities now include gyms, spa facilities and games rooms.

10. Rentability
A rented property can produce a greater passive income than simply investing it in a bank but you need to ensure that is attractive to renters.

In many ways, Kuala Lumpur’s Mont Kiara district might seem the ideal investment location: it’s got a big expatriate population who need to rent, and it’s close to the city centre and various dining, entertainment and leisure facilities. However, there are so many developments going up there that it has become a tenants’ market, so other factors come into play.

Great interview but No Offer: Why You Didn't Get the Job

You've had several interviews and haven't landed the perfect job yet. The interviews seem to go well from your perspective, but then, surprisingly, you find yourself without an offer.

Here are five reasons that might explain why you didn't get the job:

1. You sounded desperate.

Hiring manager and recruiters can tell when someone is genuinely interested in their position or in any position. Knowing as much as you can about the opportunity and asking smart questions during the interview will show the hiring manager you've taken the time to evaluate the opportunity.

Companies want to hire people who are passionate about what they do and who want to work with them. You need to be able to articulate what it is about this opportunity and this company that interests you. If you don't, you might seem willing to take anything you are offered--and that's a big turnoff!

2. You didn't sell yourself.

Part of your responsibility in the interview is to tell your story. The stories you share will depend on the types of questions you're asked, but it doesn't hurt to anticipate some of those questions and prepare a few stories beforehand. Be specific and detailed in your answers and back up your experience with anecdotes that illustrates how you qualify for the job.

Consider using the STAR model: talk about situation, task, action, and results. Even if you don't have a chance to tell these specific stories, the exercise of preparing to tell them, of thinking them through, will make you a more prepared candidate.

3. You oversold yourself.

There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance--and crossing it is a deal breaker. Stay away from "what's in it for me?" types of questions. Know what you don't know and readily admit your mistakes if asked about them. Flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to learn are all qualities you want to exude as a confident job seeker.

4. An employee referral or internal candidate popped up.

If two candidates have a similar background and one comes with an internal referral, the company is more likely to take the safer path. The employer already has an idea of how an internal candidate will perform in a role based on their experience working together. A referred candidate, too, typically has a working relationship with someone in the company who can attest to his or her work ethic. Companies trust these referrals because they expect their employees to refer only candidates who would reflect well on them.

5. The job specifications changed.

This is a common occurrence, especially with newly created positions. As hiring authorities meet potential candidates and hear about their experiences, they sometimes recognize new priorities or goals that relate to the position, which may cause them to shift their hiring focus.