Content

Paint, glitter and ghouls: unleashing your inner pumpkin artist

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s a wonderful time to dress your home and celebrate an ancient pagan and Celtic tradition that dates back more than 2,000 years. When you think of Halloween, you may envision super-scary decorations evoking ghosts and ghouls or kids walking from house to house, trick-or-treating. For me, it’s…
Read more

A surprising tip to save on heating bills

One of the domestic tasks many of us forget when we say goodbye to summer and welcome in winter is to switch the operating mode on our ceiling fans. Did you know that your fan rotates clockwise and counter-clockwise? The counterclockwise direction is for summer, as it circulates cool air and pushes warm air to…
Read more

Rental income still strong to entice investors

Investors across America are still enjoying a boom in rental earnings according to the latest report from the real estate brokerage, Redfin. Average rents are just $2 a month down on the record prices that were set last year at the height of the post-Covid inflation spike when rents were rising by more than 12%.…
Read more

Seven tasks to welcome winter

It only seemed a few weeks ago that we were enjoying the warm days of summer. But with winter on the way, it’s time to double down at home and prepare for colder days. Now is a perfect time of year to give your home a spruce up and deep clean, so these recommendations will…
Read more

How to boost your cleaning regime

If you’re a fan of online sites and magazines that help minimize your domestic duties and give you more hours in your day, then I’m right with you. And when summer turns to fall, and it’s time to do a little deep cleaning to rid our homes of dust and dirt accumulated from having doors…
Read more

Five challenges to installing an induction stove

The installation of an induction stovetop is proving to be a popular home improvement. Owners are saying goodbye to their inefficient electric model or dispensing with a gas cooktop that is now said to be bad for the environment. Induction stoves have been around since the 1970s, first released by Westinghouse. However, induction cooking was…
Read more

Bathroom remodeling for modern living

Remodeling a bathroom can significantly enhance a home’s selling status by modernizing its appeal, increasing functionality and showcasing a clean, updated space that potential buyers find attractive and valuable. Website Opendoor calculates a new bathroom will enhance the asking price by almost 6%. Other data suggests you can get a $4 return on every $1…
Read more

Strategies to boost curb appeal

If you’re preparing to sell your home soon, you’ll be getting lots of advice about the price you should ask, the right time to sell, the state of the local market, and even the right agent to engage. One golden piece of guidance should never be ignored: give your home curb appeal.  A great first…
Read more

Pruning for winter without cutting corners

As the shorter days signal the coming of winter, there is one essential task to complete in your garden: pruning back your shrubs and trees so they survive the coming cooler days. Maintaining a garden makes a substantial difference to the value and desirability of your home when the time comes to sell. Gardens can…
Read more

Can policy supercharge real estate?

With New Zealand just days away from an election that the Nationals are tipped to win, it’s worth pausing to consider the party’s proposed tax policy that is said to open up 50,000 homes to foreign ownership. While this has gained much attention in real estate circles, it will likely affect only 3% of the…
Read more