Painting is one of the cheapest and easiest upgrades you can do for your home before putting it on the market. A fresh lick of paint will give your place a fresher, more appealing appearance whether your project is outside the home or indoors. Preparation is key, of course. And if you spend time washing…
Read more
Easter is a favorite time for entertaining friends and family. The bleakness of winter is behind us, the days warm up, early blooms appear in our gardens, and Major League Baseball returns. Bringing folks together is the best possible celebration of spring, and decorating your home with an Easter theme will give everyone an unforgettable…
Read more
When considering whether to sell your home or buy a property, understanding the trends and factors that influence property prices is crucial. While local market conditions are the most relevant for individual transactions, broader economic and social trends can set the tone for the overall real estate market. This comprehensive overview aims to shed light…
Read more
With spring around the corner, a little secret hiding at the back of your shed may be about to emerge from its hibernation: the busted lawn mower. Even with recent TV bulletins dominated by recent record-low temperatures across much of the US, it won’t be long until the warmer days arrive. Of course, we’re all…
Read more
Spring is finally here, and this is the ideal time to assess the impact of the ravages of winter on your home. Outside, dirt, muck and leaf debris will have accumulated around the building and collected in the gutters. While indoors, you’ll no doubt want to open the windows and let the warmer air freshen…
Read more
The tragic Auckland floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, and the recent surge in construction costs have thrown a harsh spotlight on the need for home insurance. Being underinsured can leave deep financial scars. More than 20,000 claims related to the Auckland floods have been made, and more are expected. It’s New Zealand’s largest climate-related insurance event, according…
Read more
Have you ever dreamed of living on your own tropical island? Commuter traffic, the queue at the check-out and call centre muzak would all be terrors of the past on your own island of swaying palms and sun-kissed beaches! Most that come on to the market are around Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands and off the Tasmanian…
Read more
Our expectations of a modern home are changing, and that’s having a direct impact on how many owners are approaching renovation projects. The work-from-home (WFH) movement, climate change and the pandemic aftermath are the most powerful factors influencing today’s designs. Owners are keen to explore sustainable building materials and want the highest levels of insulation…
Read more
Persistently high inflation is taking its toll on homeowners as the Reserve Bank of Australia continues to push the cash rate higher with the promise of more rises. Some 35% of housing debt is locked into fixed-term loans, according to the RBA’s Financial Stability Review. Two-thirds of those fixed-rate deals expire this year. Being squeezed…
Read more
A feature of any wet and warm summer is the emergence of ants, digging their way through the mortar of bricks and pavers and often invading your kitchen. While there are more than 12,000 species in the ant family, the two most common pests across the Southern Hemisphere are the sugar ant (also known as…
Read more
