Have you had any offers on the property?
That lets you know if you have competition for the property. You'd also want to know if the sellers had rejected any offers and why. It could help you better craft an offer that will meet with their approval.

Are you aware of any issues with the home?
If the home had a builders inspection, did the inspection turn up some major damage? Any extensions or additions made to the home – have they been signed off with the council? Was it previous tenanted and if so, what was the history of the tenancy (if evicted, I would suggest having the home tested for the drug ‘P’).

How long has the property been on the market?
If it's getting a little stale, it might be ripe for a lower offer. Likewise, find out if there's been a price reduction and when it happened.

Why are the owners selling?
A good agent will always ask the vendor first before disclosing any such information but usually, if a vendor opts for the auction method, they are motivated to sell. Any information you can glean can help you decide how much to offer.

Do you have comparable sales in the last few months?
These days, with prices on the decline, and more and more properties getting taken back by banks, appraisal at the listing price isn't always a sure thing. Take a look at the recent comps and have your agent check pending sales to make sure you won't get stuck once you've starting spending money on inspections and other aspects of the process.

Are there any other costs?
Such as, body corporate costs if the home is under a unit title. The agent must then disclose a pre contract disclosure form detailing proposed and existing costs.

The data below is showing seasonality; based on over 15 years of data from the Real Estate Institute.
As you can see, March is the most active month of the year, with January being the least active.

The majority of new property listings tend to flood onto the market in February & March and again in October & November. In fact, 40% of all new listings in a year, come onto the market in these 4 months. The winter season (between the months of June, July and August), has the lowest level at 20% of the annual total of all new listings hitting the market.

It is a common tendency among sellers to list either in the spring or summer, as it is warmer and the gardens and property overall is looking in it's best shape, you have more competition as everyone has the same idea!

However, some sellers decide to list in the winter season as they feel it could give their property greater exposure at a time when fewer listings are out in the market to compete with.

At the end of the day, buyers will buy a home that they feel suits their needs - rain, hail or shine so whatever the season, if your home is well presented, well promoted and well priced you are sure to achieve a sale.

This is a great article by tradebox, this website also is a great place to find estimates for plumbing; building; electrical work before you start.

1. Confirm that the sales person or tradespeople works for the company they are representing and make sure you ask for identification such as drivers licence before allowing the person access.

2. Check multiple references, tradepro is a great place for this or builderscrack.

3. Ask for a copy of trade registration or licenses (if applicable)

4. Request proof of insurance General Liability insurance such as Public Liability insurance typically covers a Tradesperson for accidents that occur to third party property caused by the Tradeperson’s work. 

5. Conclude and finalise the contract before starting on a project including the following:

• Written on Trade Pro’s company letterhead
• Contains the Trade Pro’s company name, address, phone numbers, and license number (if applicable)
• Contains the customer/homeowner's name, address (where work is to be performed), and relevant phone numbers
• Contains the date when the contract is written and the date when both parties sign the contract
• Includes a detailed description of the scope of work to be performed
• Provides prices or amounts associated with each main task included in the project
• Includes an anticipated/estimated start and completion date
• Provides a payment schedule
• Includes a termination clause
• Contains a clause that protects the customer or homeowner from any potential warranty or guarantees once you have paid the Trade Professional in full
• Clearly states whether consents, permits or code of compliance certificates are required, and who will be responsible for organising them including how they will be paid for and by whom.

6. Making payments to tradespeople If you're paying by cheque, make sure that it is made out to the company. Do not make payments to any individual, but rather to the company.

7. Ask for a receipt Always ask for a receipt whenever a payment is made. This way, you have proof of payment if something goes wrong and you need to make a claim.

8. Withhold the final payment until you are satisfied with the Project. Do not pay in full until the project is completely finished and you have completed your final inspection and satisfied with the work and if applicable, licenses and council code of compliance certificates are issued. If there are some minor details to complete, ensure that sufficient monies are withheld until the issue is fixed.

9. Do not advance money for materials Do not advance money to tradespeople to purchase building materials unless this has been agreed in your contract and you are sufficiently protected if something goes wrong. Alternatively, you could pay the materials supplier directly yourself.

10. Document all changes to the contract Make sure all changes to the original contact, no matter how small, are documented, signed off and initialed by both parties.