Navigating Property Valuation and Tax Depreciation with Australian Valuer Craig Smith

Join me, Amy Bennett, on Beyond the Signboard, where we unravel the intricate tapestry of real estate valuation with none other than Craig Smith, director at Australian Valuers. Imagine navigating through the complexities of property valuations and tax depreciation with a seasoned expert who divulges secrets from his personal journey, transforming from a young apprentice to a master of valuation. Craig doesn't just provide an education in the bricks and mortar of real estate; he opens the door to a world where numbers meet narratives, revealing how attention to detail can significantly benefit property investors' tax returns and enhance the accuracy of your real estate investments.

In a conversation that's as rich in personal anecdotes as it is in professional insights, we traverse more than just the topography of Australian property. We wade through the memorable moments that shape a career—discussing how the adventures of travel, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the anticipated streets of Japan, can intertwine with the day-to-day of valuation work. Craig and I share laughs and lessons learned, highlighting the personal joys and challenges of balancing a thriving career with a fulfilling family life. So, whether you're an industry aficionado or just curious about the intersection of business and pleasure, tune in for a heartfelt exploration of what it means to build a life beyond the valuation figures.

Transcript

Amy Bennett 0:02

Welcome to Beyond the Signb oard, where you get the opportunity to learn all there is to know about your real estate journey from professionals who are passionate about property. I'm Amy Bennett, your host, and I look forward to providing you with education, behind-the-scenes and a look at the world of real estate. Hi everyone, it's Amy Bennett here, host of Beyond the Syme Board, today joined by Craig Smith, director at Australian Valuers. Welcome, Craig.

Craig Smith 0:37

Thanks, Amy.

Amy Bennett 0:38

Thanks for jumping in. Yeah, great to have you in the hot seat. Thanks for jumping at the opportunity, really excited. Today we're going to chat about all things property valuations, my favorite topic, tax depreciation. I know I'm a bit of a nerd for that. It's probably how we probably got to know each other. I was really seeking an expert here on the coast that was able to help clients. Certainly in a previous role a lot of landlords were seeking tax depreciation schedules. But before we get into that, I'm just going to share a little bit about your team and then we're going to learn about you.

Amy Bennett 1:14

So Australian Valuers are a team of highly specialized professionals who have the experience to provide clients with reliable, independent property valuation advice. They utilize both technology and old fashioned values to provide a more holistic service that is always well received. I love that, craig. That's beautiful. Sometimes you're about us gets a bit neglected. I think that really speaks volumes to you and the business. So look over to you to share your career journey. I'm really excited for people to learn your history in the industry.

Craig Smith 1:49

Yeah, look, it started a fair while ago, probably when I was about 16. So I did work experience. I was sort of placed with three different roles and one of them was with the Valuers. So I really enjoyed that and, yeah, basically that sort of set me on the path to becoming a Valuer.

Amy Bennett 2:10

It's incredible, I can't believe that. So you said you chose your subjects based on that as a career aspiration.

Craig Smith 2:17

Yeah, my grade 11 and 12 subjects were based on angling towards that to get into university. So, yeah and everything seemed to pull me in that direction.

Amy Bennett 2:30

What did you study at uni that the qualification needed?

Craig Smith 2:34

It's changed a few times over the years, but back then it was called it was. Bachelor of Property Studies.

Speaker 3 2:40

So it's a Bachelor of.

Craig Smith 2:41

Business that majors in property. Amazing I think it's real estate and development now, but it sort of changes depending on the university, so it's typically three year degree.

Amy Bennett 2:52

Yeah, incredible.

Craig Smith 2:53

And then you get placed as a cadet valuer in a firm and you work for two years and then you go for your registration. So you have to submit your reports to the board and then you've got to go in for like a 40 minute to an hour grilling.

Amy Bennett 3:13

Wow, it's still the same. Yeah, wow, it's pretty intense. Well, look, that's what I love about this podcast. It really is that behind the signboard or beyond the signboard, but also sneak peek, behind roles, and I think so often in so many professions, people don't really understand what it takes to get to that role.

Speaker 3 3:31

Yeah, quite a journey, yeah, we're going to just spell some myths.

Amy Bennett 3:34

We've already sort of spoke about some of the misconceptions. So then, the move to Queensland.

Craig Smith 3:41

Yeah, so move to Queensland. I've been back and forth a few times. I went to boarding school up here and then left to go to Melbourne and then came back again. So came back in 2008, and that's when we set up the business Perfect.

Amy Bennett 4:00

So you and your co-director, Paul, started Australian Values in 2008. So sweet 16 this year.

Speaker 3 4:07

Yeah, yeah.

Amy Bennett 4:09

I'd love you to share your background with Paul. I think it's really admirable your journey together.

Craig Smith 4:15

Yeah, so we started out as really close mates and still are back at university, so played a lot of rugby together and drank a lot of beers together.

Amy Bennett 4:26

Foundations of a good friendship.

Speaker 3 4:28

Exactly yeah.

Craig Smith 4:30

And then we sort of spoke fleetingly about setting up a business one day and then, on a plan sheet back for me Africa actually oh wow, yeah, when we went over there, and then we sort of made a decision to really go for it. And then we sort of got that opportunity in 2008 on the Sunshine Coast, so moved up from Melbourne and then we started the business and yeah still running it. Yeah, and so business partners still made oh look, that deserves a medal.

Amy Bennett 5:04

You know they say that a bit of wife, but I think, as a business partner and friendship, that I just think that's a really awesome insight. So servicing South East Queensland, so Ipswich to Womba, gold Coast, and based here on the Sunshine Coast, head office.

Craig Smith 5:18

Yep, yeah, pretty much From Byron Bay to Gimpy and out to Toowoomba is pretty much our patch.

Amy Bennett 5:24

Amazing. So our value is, you know, dotted all over the place at specialising certain things and yeah, there'd be a lot of variance between sort of like a Byron Bay property and you actually mentioned, do you say, a horse starred in the hinterland?

Craig Smith 5:40

Yeah, yeah, he sort of gets and that's one of the things that I really love about the job. You know you get to see so many different properties like, within one day you could be valuing something worth eight million in minyama and then you could be looking at something that's, you know, absolute entry level and, you know, ex-housing commission somewhere in the back of Kulaw and like yeah, yeah, look, I think that's, it's great.

Craig Smith 6:06

Like you, meet a lot of varied people as well, so I think that's what we're all attracted to with this industry isn't it.

Amy Bennett 6:13

Yeah, different properties. So no two properties are the same. You know. Previous guests have said you know, no two clients are the same as well, which makes a big difference. I'd love you to just to explain what a property valuation expert is and what they do.

Craig Smith 6:29

Yeah, as I said before, there's a fair bit of qualification that goes in behind it, so we're certified qualified value is so we're part of a professional body being the Australian Property Institute.

Amy Bennett 6:44

Excellent.

Craig Smith 6:46

So, we get a number and as such we can be sued on our advice, so I guess that's where we differ from you know.

Speaker 3 6:54

I say real estate agent or someone else that can give advice and yeah, so that's probably the main difference.

Amy Bennett 7:05

Absolutely, and we're going to talk about I guess you know we're going to delve into what's involved in the role and also that it's not just the physical viewing of the property. You sort of already mentioned that there's a lot of work, isn't there? Before, during and after when visiting a property, so it'd be great to learn a little bit more about that. Who do you think should use a property valuation service?

Craig Smith 7:30

Yeah, that's really wide and varied.

Amy Bennett 7:33

Again true questions, always a true question everybody.

Craig Smith 7:37

It's often it's a necessary evil, so people are told you need to get a qualified value. It might be for an ATO it might be for the bank, it might be for a solicitor, but it has to be a qualified value. So off they go and then source some quotes or whatever. Other times it can be a bit more discretionary when we're giving advice to sellers and buyers. Often sellers and buyers want to engage us before they engage an agent, or they might want to engage us coming into an auction which is really helpful.

Craig Smith 8:14

It's all on the line at an auction and at least if you've got some pre-advice, you've got all the sales and you've got that in your back pocket walking into an auction. You're going to feel a lot more confident about where you can go to.

Amy Bennett 8:28

Perfect. I think that's probably. That's something I didn't realise that people are engaging, so that's an awesome extra tip so that they're armed with the correct information that's awesome.

Amy Bennett 8:38

I guess we chatted before, but one of the things that I, as a real estate professional generally I'm meeting value is when we're at contract stage. So this is why it's been really great to learn these additional services that your team offers. One of the things, again, I can't help but get straight to it is the tax depreciation schedules. It was just something that I had no idea, that so many people didn't know what they were, so it was a really great added benefit that I could give our landlords when I was in a previous role. We don't have to go into the nitty gritty of it, but can you just give the audience just an understanding of what they are and why somebody would have one done?

Craig Smith 9:20

Yeah, basically they're done for any investment property. So it actually to go right back to the beginning it came about.

Amy Bennett 9:31

I think from the Hawke and Keating government after the crash in the 90s so they brought it on as a stimulus for the economy and because it just works so well it's still here today.

Craig Smith 9:44

They have made a lot of changes and they're always changing and adding and what you can and can't appreciate, but essentially it's still there and it still saves investors thousands of dollars and a lot of people just aren't aware that they can.

Amy Bennett 10:03

Absolutely.

Tax Depreciation and Property Valuations

Craig Smith 10:04

There's so many people that don't even claim it and no one actually gives them the advice to do it, so I think if the quality is of a good property manager or a good accountant that you need to get one of these because you talk to people and they go. I know my account looks after that. Well, the accountant doesn't do the schedule like it's got to be done.

Amy Bennett 10:28

You're working in conjunction with the quantity surveyor.

Craig Smith 10:32

It's like a 40 year schedule and each year you have an amount that you can depreciate your income by. So it just sits with the accountant. Give a copy to your accountant, hang on to a copy and it just sits there and every year they just deduct.

Amy Bennett 10:48

You know three thousand what they're able to do, yeah.

Craig Smith 10:51

Off your and it basically reduces your taxable income.

Amy Bennett 10:54

Excellent, which puts money in your pocket, that's a real quick snapshot. Yeah, and what would be some depreciation, some items within the home that you'd be looking and eligible to depreciate?

Craig Smith 11:05

Yeah, like the fittings and fixtures, the things that you see, that you know that depreciate like you know, a split system unit, you know that sort of stuff.

Amy Bennett 11:18

That's what kind of jumped to me, to mine, straight away. Yeah, carpet, absolutely.

Craig Smith 11:23

You know, all that stuff that you know has a shorter lifespan. So, and that's where you'll get you get a lot of your depreciation benefits in the first five years.

Speaker 3 11:35

Yes.

Craig Smith 11:35

Which is really really important for an investor because that's when you're paying the absolute maximum and where cash flow is really tight generally when you first take on a property. Absolutely so it's a really good way of being able to relieve some of that financial burden that you get.

Amy Bennett 11:56

Yes, such a missed opportunity. I have always felt so. Look, it was really important that we spoke about that. One thing I'd love you to explain is the difference between a desktop valuation and a physical evaluation to a property.

Craig Smith 12:10

Yes, so desktops by their name is you know, you obviously will just do them from the computer.

Amy Bennett 12:17

Yes.

Craig Smith 12:18

So you know, they're just. I guess the difference is just not a surer. Like we'd always want to go out and inspect the property. Some banks will instruct us to do either or so you know, you get instructed to do a desktop. You just do the desktop and often it's got a lot to do with how much people are borrowing. It might be a really low risk or really low borrowing versus what you know, what they actually owe so they're not going to go spending time and money on getting a value out there.

Speaker 3 12:47

Yeah perfect.

Craig Smith 12:47

So just give us a desktop, yeah. So they've got a place, of course, but it's, yeah, sort of liken it to a. Cma like a computer automated valuation, like it can be.

Amy Bennett 13:00

it can be spot on and you could do a you could do a desktop and be spot on, or you could be a long way out.

Craig Smith 13:06

I think it's just. Yeah, it's just well, that's right.

Amy Bennett 13:09

So with the physical valuation, that's a probably a really interesting thing I'd love you to touch base on. I know your team sends out a video for the homeowner to sort of showcase what you do, because it's not just a physical inspection. So I'd love you to cover off two things explain the sort of before and after or just some extra things, and then also what the homeowner needs to know, you know, do they need to do the dishes and have the home looking, you know, sparkling?

Craig Smith 13:38

and clean. Yeah, yeah, look, it sort of all sort of starts back from when we receive instructions and we start preparing the file. So there's a fair bit that goes into a file, because the valuations it's like a, it's like a due diligence basically. So we've got to, you know, we've got to look at overlays and we've got to look at titles and searches and you know all of that stuff in the background.

Craig Smith 14:03

So that sort of starts pre-inspection. We'll do our research, our sales research before we go out. So we'll have a look at the property and go, okay, we'll try and pick half a dozen sales that we want to go and look at.

Amy Bennett 14:16

So you're looking Craig at sales, not what's on the market.

Craig Smith 14:19

Yeah.

Amy Bennett 14:20

So you want actual, factual.

Craig Smith 14:22

Yeah, yeah. So yeah, it's got to be they've got to be settled sales. We can use properties that are under contract, but we they can't form part of our sales schedule. So that's just a legal requirement. Excellent Because, as you, know sales are not a sale until it's settled.

Amy Bennett 14:39

Absolutely. There's a lot of variants, isn't there? Anything can happen. Absolutely, yeah, up to the 11th hour, that's right. So look, it's just a great little insight. I thought that's awesome. So then at the property.

Craig Smith 14:51

Yeah, at the property. Look, we don't. We only really look at the physical fittings and fixtures of a property. So if a property is not clean, we look past all that anyway, Sure, as long as it's not cluttered and it's tidy and we can get around. It doesn't have to be sparkling clean or anything. We do measure the property as well. So as long as we can get around, and you know.

Amy Bennett 15:17

So unobstructed yeah, yeah and obviously tie dogs up.

Craig Smith 15:20

And yes, you've seen it all, haven't you? Oh, yeah, yeah, I've seen it all I love that you've got that as a warning.

Amy Bennett 15:25

Is that in your video as well, to tell people I?

Craig Smith 15:27

think it is. Yeah, I mean there's, you know, health and safety things that can be a problem. And you do you know, we've all got war stories.

Amy Bennett 15:37

Yes, yeah, we all say we've got a chapter, a chapter and 10 in a book and then afterwards. So I'm imagining there's a lot of extra work once you've physically been into the property.

Craig Smith 15:47

And so just to go back, floor plans are a big one.

Speaker 3 15:50

Yeah.

Craig Smith 15:52

You know that if the property owner has those. It really helps us. After, as I said, yeah, when we leave the property we'll go and look at our sales and then we'll start to pull the report together and draft it, do all the analysis and everything. So that's where we, yeah you know, just sort of block out a couple of hours to get your head around everything and make your decisions. And yeah, you can't.

Amy Bennett 16:22

It's not an easy process.

Craig Smith 16:23

No, and you can't really, you can't really mess around too much.

Amy Bennett 16:26

No.

Craig Smith 16:26

You don't. You know, especially with bank jobs, you don't get paid much. So it's one of those things you've got to. You've got to rush, but you can't make mistakes.

Speaker 3 16:33

Yeah.

Craig Smith 16:34

So you've got to really rely on technology.

Amy Bennett 16:36

Absolutely. Yeah, a lot, and what would be. It looks at what, because of that extensive amount of research and everything, how many jobs would your team members do a day?

Craig Smith 16:47

They will have different appetites.

Amy Bennett 16:48

Sure.

Craig Smith 16:50

They can vary between four to 12.

Amy Bennett 16:54

Yeah, wow.

Speaker 3 16:55

Yeah, yeah, we've got some, we've got, yeah, one or two values that have got a big appetite and they can.

Craig Smith 17:02

They don't seem to fall on quality either yeah. They're very efficient and just super organized to be able to get Absolutely and do that like there's a lot of hours involved, because you, yeah, it's one thing inspecting the properties, but then you've got to get them out and then do the next day or over again. So like you know, often working back.

Amy Bennett 17:22

Yeah, you've got a good team. I love that you identified about their individual goals as well and their work capacity. Yeah, tell us a little bit about your team.

Craig Smith 17:33

Yeah, so we've got probably around 10 values and as many support staff that cover around. We do a mix of residential and commercial work, as well as the tax depreciation schedules. Yeah, and now our team. You know it's quite it varies. They vary in age.

Speaker 3 17:54

Yes. And as I said before, not.

Craig Smith 17:57

We're quite supportive of whatever and however I want to approach their work.

Amy Bennett 18:02

Yeah, it's wonderful.

Craig Smith 18:03

And some Like we've got a couple, a couple of guys that want a nine day fortnight. Yeah, so we've, you know, supportive of that because they're towards the end of their careers. I don't, they're really good values. I just don't want to be pushed to do crazy amounts of work.

Amy Bennett 18:19

Yeah, of course they're probably just sort of enjoy you know, just wind down and still enjoy, and they're still doing really good work.

Craig Smith 18:27

But and we're really supportive of that we don't need everyone to be churning out crazy amounts of work. But then you know, some of our competitors just have the mindset of, you know, churning birds. So, yeah, we've picked up a lot of really good, you know, values that have a lot of experience.

Amy Bennett 18:47

I think also, too, that's a you know, that's that expertise you don't want to lose in the industry as well. So nine days is better than not at all, isn't it? And being able to have that within your business.

Craig Smith 18:57

Yeah, exactly, you know, I guess that goes through any of the stuff would try and be flexible, because you know life's got to be flexible now more than you've got to enjoy.

Amy Bennett 19:08

You enjoy what you do, don't you? I think that's that's. You know why I love having people like you, you know, that are passionate about your industry, and I mean especially a lifelong career, you know that's. That's amazing. But also to inspire your team as well. You know to have a passion. If you weren't doing what you're doing, what, what industry or role would you do?

Craig Smith 19:29

Yeah, probably something in property, like I really. I really enjoy property. I don't know that I'll be cut out to do sales, but you know something within the property industry I did. I really love agriculture as well.

Amy Bennett 19:44

Amazing.

Craig Smith 19:45

Yeah. So yeah, that could have been a preference way back when but I think I've done by time in property. So if I had to change it to be yeah, it'd be something.

Amy Bennett 19:57

It's amazing, though, that there's just such a strong pull within your passionate industry. It's very rare. I'd love for you to share. Is there any myths or misconceptions with your industry?

Craig Smith 20:10

Yeah, probably the biggest one that's fairly widely known is that you know with bank valuations that they're really conservative or undervalued, and look that some valuers are super conservative. There's no doubt, I guess, the methodology behind a bank valuation versus a valuation that we might do pre-sale or pre-purchase or capital gains, it's, it's, it's exactly the same yeah so the way we get to that is exactly the same.

Craig Smith 20:42

The only thing that that may be a factor is the selling period. Sure, so the bank will specify the selling period and if that, you know, if that, if we deem that property to be beyond that selling period, then that could have that could factor into pulling the value down.

Amy Bennett 21:03

Yeah, that's an interesting thing because you mentioned that, because traditionally, if it's three or six months, that's generally most properties, but there'll be some unique ones. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Craig Smith 21:14

And use the example before of a $10 million horse stud and you look at those when they go on the market and it can take 12 months or more to sell those properties.

Speaker 3 21:24

So I think the banks don't want to.

Business, Travel, and Family Conversations

Craig Smith 21:25

The banks don't want to sell those properties the banks don't want to hang on like if it's a distress asset they don't want to hang on for that amount of time. So that's where it can be a factor, but for the most part that's 99.5% properties as this shouldn't be, and there's been. We've kept our results on variance from what we value to what subsequently sold, like within sort of a 12 month period, and we're always hover around the sort of 3%.

Amy Bennett 21:59

Yeah, it's amazing you measure that?

Craig Smith 22:00

Yeah, well, at the beginning of the business we're like how do we measure ourselves? Like accuracy's got to be one Absolutely Obviously turnaround is another one, you know getting the job done as fast as possible.

Amy Bennett 22:12

So Well, it's a really key component, isn't it? Especially when there's a finance component of a contract.

Craig Smith 22:18

So yeah, we're always sort of we always say with the last of the party, last one for the party in the first to leave.

Amy Bennett 22:25

Yeah, it's absolutely it's, and it all happens very fast when it does, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah.

Craig Smith 22:32

But yeah, you've got to. You know, there's always like with the bank work.

Amy Bennett 22:35

there's often settlement pin to pin to it and sometimes it comes to us and like this thing settling tomorrow, like, can you?

Craig Smith 22:45

you? Know and you just got to drop. Everything can try and.

Amy Bennett 22:48

Prioritise. You know that's the job. Yeah, absolutely so. What do you love about your role? What do you love about the industry? What keeps you excited after so long?

Craig Smith 22:59

I think just the variance with people and property, basically just you know, you have your run set for the next day, you don't know who you're going to meet and you don't know what the property's going to be like, and you know, this is so many.

Amy Bennett 23:18

I guess good challenges yeah cool.

Craig Smith 23:20

Good challenges B. Yeah, that's it, and yeah, just working with a really good group of people at Australian Values. They make life so easy.

Amy Bennett 23:31

That's amazing, I've got great support staff there so and you've got a great business partner. Are you still out on the tools, so to speak?

Craig Smith 23:40

Yes, so I'm doing mainly commercial at the moment. And, yeah, we've got a new commercial value starting with us, which I'm really happy about.

Amy Bennett 23:50

It takes a bit of pressure off.

Craig Smith 23:51

Yeah, yeah, so that's been, that's been really good, Like I sort of had I had a period of time off the not totally off the tools.

Speaker 3 24:00

But yeah, a fair bit off the tools and.

Craig Smith 24:04

I didn't think I was worried about how it was going to go when, I came back into it, but I actually really enjoyed it.

Amy Bennett 24:10

again it's amazing, I think it's, you know, if we anchor back to why we do what we do and really, what is it that excites us? And exactly like you said it, and that's the same for me, you know no two properties are the same. No, two clients are certainly no. Two days are the same. You know, I don't think either you or I could be in a job where it's the same thing every day.

Craig Smith 24:30

I'd struggle.

Amy Bennett 24:30

Yeah, do you get an opportunity to holiday? Is that something that you have always had an opportunity to fit into work-life balance?

Craig Smith 24:41

Yeah, yeah. So my wife's mother lives in Tokyo, so we go to Japan a lot. Amazing, I'll be you know, once a year or once every couple of years.

Amy Bennett 24:50

Yeah, awesome.

Craig Smith 24:51

And yeah, we love traveling sort of trying to plan a trip over to Portugal.

Amy Bennett 24:57

Yeah, tell us about that.

Craig Smith 24:59

We're okay, but we price the flights in there.

Speaker 3 25:01

Yeah, we might just, we might just wait a little bit.

Craig Smith 25:04

There's four of you.

Speaker 3 25:05

Is that right? There's four. The two kids are coming too, yeah, and what would that holiday?

Amy Bennett 25:10

look like.

Craig Smith 25:11

Yeah, just sort of just doing a bit of travel for probably three to four weeks.

Amy Bennett 25:16

Amazing Four weeks.

Craig Smith 25:17

Yeah, Around that, you know Spain, Portugal and Marocco. Yeah, Just getting out. And because we did a similar trip a few years ago where we spent sort of a couple of weeks in Italy and a couple of weeks in France.

Amy Bennett 25:31

Beautiful. So, and then what? The kids did you say they're 12 and 10?

Craig Smith 25:37

Yeah they are now they were two and what were they? Maybe yeah, two and four or something, can we? Rent a motor home.

Amy Bennett 25:50

Would not recommend.

Craig Smith 25:51

Oh, it was, it was good, it was it was great.

Amy Bennett 25:54

There were a lot of benefits, but yeah it's, it was, it was hard going a bit with two kids at home. Yeah, of course, cheaper airfares though, right.

Craig Smith 26:02

Yeah, and they're not cheap either.

Amy Bennett 26:04

no, no.

Craig Smith 26:06

It's like it's just as expensive to go and stay, yeah, somewhere nice, but it did get us way off the beaten track.

Speaker 3 26:10

Like we went to some places in.

Craig Smith 26:12

Tuscany and stuff.

Amy Bennett 26:13

We were just like oh can't believe where it's amazing and we did a lot of farms today. Oh yeah, yeah.

Craig Smith 26:20

Well, that's the agricultural part of what you enjoy as well. Yeah, perfect. And the food that was a big like we'd go to. You know wineries and and that most wineries over there that have a restaurant or Beautiful A lot of people would like your van up for nothing as long as you. You were just compelled to go and buy something. Amazing, we went to some amazing far like it was. That's awesome, just pinching yourself Just so far out. And you would never do it if you didn't have the motor home.

Amy Bennett 26:46

Yeah, that's awesome. So would this future trip be in a motor home now that the kids are older?

Craig Smith 26:51

Probably not. Okay, we're going to do a trip to Japan in April and we're going to hire a car.

Speaker 3 26:59

Awesome.

Craig Smith 27:00

We're going to take one of the islands down to the south.

Speaker 3 27:02

So we'll yeah but, no, no motor homes for a little while.

Amy Bennett 27:06

I think it's so wonderful, Isn't it? The memories that we have with with family as well. It's really valued what has been your most favorite day in your life.

Craig Smith 27:19

I have to say my wedding.

Amy Bennett 27:22

Yuki's listening yeah.

Craig Smith 27:24

Definitely, definitely that and obviously off the back of that than the kids.

Amy Bennett 27:29

Amazing.

Craig Smith 27:31

You know, on a professional level yeah, it would be. You know, starting the business, it's still it's still going and it's you know, going really well so amazing.

Amy Bennett 27:41

Such a credit to you both, especially with that friendship and you know, just to have that foundation is really obviously it's, you know, it's really helped within the business. I wanted to ask we chatted before we were on air about your favorite meal or drink. I'm guessing maybe the wine.

Craig Smith 27:59

So many of them.

Amy Bennett 28:01

I love wines yes. What kind of wine?

Craig Smith 28:05

I love all wine. Like, I probably lean more towards red wines.

Amy Bennett 28:08

Yeah, nice Like Italian wines.

Craig Smith 28:10

Beautiful, like Australian wines.

Speaker 3 28:12

I just yeah, like trying different, trying different wines.

Amy Bennett 28:16

Yeah, and food.

Craig Smith 28:18

Food. Yeah, again, it's really hard to pinpoint, like when we go to Japan, I love, I love soba noodles with buckwheat noodles?

Amy Bennett 28:27

Yes.

Craig Smith 28:28

And they put the tempera on top yeah.

Speaker 3 28:31

I really love that. It's one of my favorites.

Craig Smith 28:33

Yeah. I can't go like talking red wine can't go past a really good steak, perfect combination.

Amy Bennett 28:40

That's great. We're very blessed here. And then also you did. I hear that you also enjoy making a curry.

Craig Smith 28:46

Yes, perfect.

Amy Bennett 28:47

That's awesome, so you don't mind being in the kitchen as well as enjoying good food.

Craig Smith 28:52

Yeah, definitely it's. Yeah, just a challenge of making something from scratch and when it comes out good, it's good food.

Amy Bennett 29:00

Well, you talked, didn't we, about the disappointment of when things don't and having those sort of high expectations, especially when you enjoy cooking yourself. Oh yeah, and does Yuki? Does she cook? I know she was. She's been in Australia almost all of her life. But do you have a lot of Japanese cuisine?

Craig Smith 29:16

Yeah, yeah, there is. Yeah, we do at home. The boys love Akonimiaki, which is a. Japanese pancake, so that gets requested a lot.

Speaker 3 29:26

Yes, that's a good one. Yeah, and then when Yuki's mum comes over, she you know, she'll do the, she'll do the hand rolls from scratch and she's.

Craig Smith 29:36

she's a really good cook, so yeah.

Amy Bennett 29:38

And you mentioned, the kids are learning Japanese.

Craig Smith 29:40

Yep.

Amy Bennett 29:41

Yeah, doing well with that.

Craig Smith 29:42

Yeah, they're doing really well.

Amy Bennett 29:43

Yeah, that's amazing, so they may fly the coop one day, maybe head over.

Craig Smith 29:47

Yeah, and the hottest one always talks about it, yeah.

Amy Bennett 29:51

Well, there's lots to explore. Do you enjoy Japanese Japan in summer or winter?

Craig Smith 29:57

Probably more well. Definitely not summer over there, because it's it's crazy hot.

Amy Bennett 30:03

Is it Okay? Okay?

Craig Smith 30:06

So yeah, you really want to be going to Japan in the in the off seasons.

Speaker 3 30:08

Okay, like in autumn and spring, yeah.

Craig Smith 30:12

So springs, when they have the cherry blossoms.

Amy Bennett 30:13

Cherry blossoms yes.

Craig Smith 30:15

And obviously winter is awesome. If you, if you want to get amongst the snow which we've done that before.

Amy Bennett 30:20

Yeah.

Craig Smith 30:22

That's something the north is up right, yeah, yeah the north, or even on the main island Nagano.

Amy Bennett 30:29

Okay.

Craig Smith 30:29

Yeah, that's not that far from Tokyo. Yeah, so yeah there's really good ski fields everywhere yeah.

Amy Bennett 30:35

Oh, it's a great. It's a great spot for you to be able to visit regularly. Craig, let's wrap it up. I know you probably have a valuation to head off to. Yeah.

Craig Smith 30:45

Paperwork. Yeah, I would love to end our chat with your favorite quote or saying Favorite quote probably something my father said Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today, which I think it's a good way, just to to keep motivated, because you know if you get things done and then you just make way for for the next wave of things rather than put yeah park stuff.

Speaker 3 31:11

Yeah, absolutely.

Craig Smith 31:12

Just to keep that motivation moving forward Amazing quote.

Amy Bennett 31:16

Do you remember when he when he said it Is it amazing?

Craig Smith 31:20

Yeah, yeah, it's incredible, but it's yeah, just keep, just keep. If you can do it, just do it today.

Amy Bennett 31:25

Absolutely, rather than put it off. Yeah, I'll just do it next week. Yeah, small things become big things, don't they? Or you know it causes more stress and anxiety. Waiting it's just get it done, yeah.

Speaker 3 31:37

I love it.

Amy Bennett 31:38

Well, thank you so much for your time and if our listeners want to get in contact, it sounds like they're probably going to need a tax depreciation schedule. They may need an updated property valuation. How should they get in touch?

Craig Smith 31:51

Probably the easiest way if you, if you need anything, is just to go straight to our quotes email.

Speaker 3 31:56

Yes.

Craig Smith 31:56

Because we've got a team that deals with all that.

Speaker 3 31:58

Yeah.

Craig Smith 31:59

So just quotes at AustralianValuescomau.

Amy Bennett 32:02

How easy is that? Amazing? Thank you so much, craig. I really value your time. I couldn't help myself. Yeah, really appreciate all of the support that you've offered to my clients over the years Also me personally. It's really awesome to have you here as a guest Awesome.

Craig Smith 32:19

Thank you.

Speaker 3 32:19

Thank you.

Amy Bennett 32:21

Thank you for listening to this episode of Beyond the Signboard. We trust you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed making it for you. If there are any topics you want covered in the future, make sure you reach out and let us know. We'll see you in the next episode.