The company’s newest big-ticket marketing investment, however, is not for the TV screen, but the computer screen.

LJ Hooker has just launched myljhooker – a free customer loyalty program and online information centre. It is part of a significant investment in digital marketing and product development by the company and its network of agents this year. myljhooker is the first nationwide customer loyalty program by an Australian real estate agent company.

It provides members with national and local special offers, discounts and coupons.

It is also an information centre for homeowners, tenants, buyers, sellers and investors. It is full of useful tips and information on everything from gardens to depreciation, and hanging wallpaper to PAYG tax collection on investment property income.

LJ Hooker’s large online investment makes sense because 85 per cent of property buyers now search for real estate online, 55 per cent of inquiries to agents now come from the Internet and real estate is the largest category of online classified advertising spending in Australia.

Fifteen launch sponsors signed onto myljhooker, including Universal Magazines, Howards Storage World, Amber Tiles and TradeLink.

“myljhooker is a way for LJ Hooker to be of service to Australians, even when they don’t need our help with a real estate transaction,” said L. Janusz Hooker, CEO of LJ Hooker. “People get a $50 voucher just for signing up.

“Like any customer loyalty program, we hope that it will result in more customers asking for our help when it comes time to buy, sell or rent, or to recommend an agent to someone else.” He added, “National television advertisements are useful for building better awareness, but we think the money we’re investing in myljhooker will help us build better relationships with our customers. In the long term, that should be more valuable to both them and us.”

Check out and become a member of myljhooker now at www.ljhooker.com.au/MyljHooker

What DIY project can I get done before spring?

Whilst the weather is still wet and wild, stay inside and get things sorted so you can make the most of spring.

Our top 10 winter DIY project
suggestions are:

Plant a winter veggie garden.

Paint it up - A bright new colour palette might do the trick and welcome spring

Transform your toilet - Wall mounted units, self-closing lids, hidden cisterns, heated toilet seats and electric bidets might add a new look and feel.

Renovate your kitchen - Increase storage and improve functionality.

Fantastic flooring - Update spaces with a new carpet
or rug.

Build it in - Build in a bookcase or look at sleek modular units for style.

Spring clean early - Winter
is the perfect time to clear out cupboards.

Get fitted out - Install some new door handles, drawer knobs, taps, lighting and even doors.

Create new curtains - Make a new set or consider ready-to-hang curtains and blinds.

Gutter check – Clear gutters of leaves and debris.

Does RBA’s recent rate decision seem familiar?

You do get the feeling that nothing much has changed by reading the July Reserve Bank interest rate decision.

The Reserve Bank Board’s July meeting left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent for the eighth straight month.

Economists are somewhat disappointed that the Reserve Bank didn’t acknowledge softer economic indicators over the past month.

The world may have changed. A new era of consumer conservatism may be here to stay, causing businesses to keep prices low, thus restraining inflation. But don’t expect the Reserve Bank to declare that times have changed.

The good news is that
there is a nice

balance of forces at work at present. Asia is strong, US is soft and Europe is mixed.

In Australia, mining and engineering are strong, consumer spending is soft and housing activity is mixed. Wage growth remains benign, reflecting mixed conditions across sectors.

What next? It is predicted that the Reserve Bank is likely to wait until August before seriously considering any change in rate settings.

Edited from Source: Craig James, Chief Economist, CommSec