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Seven tips for lining up your finances before you purchase

There are many tricks and tips to buying a property, but there’s one essential element that no one can avoid – getting your finances in great shape. Knowing what you can afford is a critical element of finding your first home or the next one that takes you higher up the property ladder. The most…
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How to discover your home’s sale price in five steps

Every homeowner has a theory about what their property is worth – it’s a universal truth largely based on local media headlines, a smattering of online ads, a chat with friends and a personal assessment of the market mood. And when the good times roll, as they are right now, it’s fun to think how…
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Seven tips for choosing your ideal paint colours

Whether you’re about to sell your home or renovate, there are few better low-budget ways to add some sparkle than a fresh coat of paint. It’s common to break out the brushes before putting a property on the market because a good paint job hides the bumps and scratches that walls and window and door…
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First home buyers guide to renovating

It feels like you can’t turn on the TV without seeing a home improvement show, but don’t be taken in by their simplicity. Upgrading your home is far more complex and usually more expensive than TV pundits lead you to believe. When they even bother to price the items of a project, the labour costs…
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Six features that can polarise when you downsize

When you’ve spent years in the family home, the idea of downsizing can be confronting, liberating or a strange mix of both emotions. Downsizing often signals the end of not just a chapter but an era in your life. The kids have left home, and the house now feels empty without the hum of family…
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Is open-plan living right for you?

Open plan living is often billed as the perfect floor plan, bringing family together in a single room where cooking, conversation and the screen share the same space.  It has been a popular feature of modern homes for the last three decades and more. However, a growing school of thought – encouraged somewhat by lockdowns…
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Four ways to use feng shui to prepare your home for sale

Home styling is constantly borrowing inspiration from other cultures. If you’re in an area where potential buyers might appreciate the ancient wisdom of feng shui, it might be profitable to pay homage to the art when preparing your home for sale. While there is a unique philosophy rather than science underpinning feng shui, many of…
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The must-know phrases when buying and selling

Like many areas of life, the real estate business has its fair share of sayings and clichés. The most common is “location, location, location” because it’s an essential facet of any property purchase. Another favourite is “going, going, gone” for when houses go under the hammer for auction. But other popular phrases are perhaps not…
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Five easy ways to improve your garden before a spring sale

We’re approaching the most popular selling period on the calendar, and a fabulous spring garden can do wonders for homes that are about to go on the market. A great-looking garden will make a fabulous first impression with prospective buyers and capitalise on the positive attitude and outlook that springtime always inspires. It’s essential to…
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Eight tips for creating a low-maintenance garden

Buyers love a beautiful garden, but many run for the hills once they figure out how much work it takes to keep one in great shape. A wonderful garden turns heads but ultimately attracts only those buyers who find pleasure from working in the backyard. As local agents, we’ve worked with clients who have explicitly…
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