Five unusual new build marketing incentives

Forget just paying for an apartment or a house and land package alone anymore, the past few years have seen apartments promise all sorts of whistles and bells to net in a buyer.

Here are the top five that got us talking.

1. Vehicles
   
   From scooters in an apartment development with no car parks, to Vespa’s in South Yarra one-bedders, this has been an increasingly popular option.
   
   In the last couple of years, cars have also been seen as offered with an apartment – with a free Toyota worth up to $40,000 offered by Peet for house and land buyers. Even free marina berths on a leasehold arrangement and a boat ride were offered for a period of time.
   
   
2. Food supply
   
   Established properties have seen incentives like a year’s supply of ice-cream, and off the plan and new developers have gotten in on the action. Bringing food trucks, and even cooking classes, to launch events and buyers – the stomach is certainly the way to some peoples’ pockets.
   
   
3. Qantas Points
   
   In September 2013, it was frequent flyer points that took out Property Observer headlines as the latest marketing techniques. A number of developers offered this incentive, from $1 for 1 point, to a certain number of points for each buyer.
   
   
4. Financial incentives
   
   In 2012 all the rage was about financial incentives to buy – developers covering half of your deposit, or taking $10,000 off for those who purchased early. Time-limited discounts are also regularly seen.
   
   
5. Furniture packages
   
   An increasingly common incentive is the furniture package – allowing buyers to move in to their carefully selected and furnished property. A number of developers include this for their developments, such as at Studio Nine. Usually, these furniture packages will have an interior stylist behind them.

What unusual incentives have you seen offered to prospective new property buyers?

If you're marketing off the plan, you should consider signing up to the Property Observer/Investorist free webinar off the plan marketing masterclass.