paulus

Hi everyone . me and my family are finally moving to geelong in victoria at the end of the year after finally obtaining our visas . What i am after finding out is where are nice places to live /rent in Geelong . And also would it be better financially to bring our white electrical items with us or buy new when we arrive . Many thanks

lynetteh

From what I can tell most white goods are more expensive in Australia right now, particularly at this exchange rate. My washing machine, which is currently for sale in the UK for about £350 costs $900 in Oz. I know because I have had to value it for our insurance.

Centurion

You should probably realise that the price advertised on any white goods are not the price you actually pay. All electrical stores negotiate a substantive amount. Its very annoying and does not allow a true comparison.

Additionally, European brands carry a premium here for no good reason other than the "chic" factor, whilst Asian brands can be cheaper.

The exchange rate is only something that you do once and once you earn dollars it becomes irrelevant and its hard to compare prices using an FX rate, which at the moment will mean that everyone in the UK will find everything in the world very expensive indeed.

Poitin

[QUOTE=Centurion;8463915]You should probably realise that the price advertised on any white goods are not the price you actually pay. All electrical stores negotiate a substantive amount.

QUOTE]

I didn't know this - how much room for negotiation? Just a rough idea or is it if you can pay cash - discount offered?

I though my haggling days would be over leaving the middle east

Wendy66

Congratulations

If you are shipping over your furniture etc, then bring what you can fit in the container, we brought all our white goods and glad we did as they all work and what's the point of having new when you'll not get what they are worth selling them.

With regards to live/renting in Geelong, keep looking at www.realestate.com.au they have a sale and rent sections so you can get a 'feel' for prices to rent/buy on there, I wouldn't bother contacting real estate agents just yet as it's a while off and they probably won't be interested when they know the time scale. But do your research and learn prices for areas etc......... then about a month before you come hit all the agents with an email stating you want to view houses etc and they'll be very accomadating, (well all the ones we contacted were) then have your laptop for when you arrive and off you go............... we travelled round alot to find a house NSW and QLD and rang ahead to organise viewings, it worked well and can say that in all honesty all the agents were diamonds giving us so much information on areas/work etc, we finally settled in NSW and the two agents that initially showed us round here are now friends - both (from different agencies) took us under their wing for a day each too show us the area and houses available.