Category: General

7 steps to a basement conversion

Converting your basement into a liveable area will improve your lifestyle and add value to your home – which is why so many homeowners do it. Your budget will depend on the type of room you wish to create. At the top end, you can expect to spend $75,000+ on a media room that’s decked…
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Nine tips for designing a winning kitchen

The most important room in a home for most buyers is the kitchen – it’s where the family gathers and many memories are created. Research suggests this area alone can be responsible for up to 15% of a property’s value.  And today, an awesome kitchen probably commands a more significant value premium with buyers than…
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Six ways to get quick renovation wins

If you’ve just bought a fixer-upper, or taken the plunge into the real estate market as a first-time buyer, the chances are you want to make some immediate improvements to your new home. You can go big and start to plan a rip-and-replace strategy for your kitchen or bathroom, or call in an architect to…
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11 ways to reduce your home’s running costs

Maintaining your home should be a mix of love and diligence that sometimes requires a little TLC from your bank account. Staying on top of the work around your property is key to ensuring it remains a comfortable and enjoyable refuge from the trials that life throws at us. But it doesn’t take much for…
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Create a hassle-free garden with these 8 tips

House hunters 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 a local agent, I’ve worked with clients who…
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7 secrets to successfully working from home

Working from home is now becoming a permanent part of many professional lives. Many companies have scaled back on commercial rents and telling employees they’ll not be returning to their offices and cubicles – or limiting their return to the office obligations.  Many of us are now expected to use their home as their office…
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Ten tips that could save you from a house fire

It’s hard to imagine losing a home in a fire but it happens every day and ironically, the colder months are often a time of greater risk.  For those who survive, the sense of loss stays with them for the rest of their lives. It can be truly devastating both physically and emotionally.  As local…
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Six heating options if you’re feeling the chill

Mornings and evenings are developing a distinct chill across most of Australia now that we’ve moved from autumn to winter. And it’s at this time of year when we regret having not thought earlier about the type of heating that would best suit our homes. Choosing the correct heating method for your home goes a…
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Seven essential rules for starting a DIY project

It’s incredible to think that Americans spend more than $300 billion every year on upgrades, repairs and maintenance of their homes. This estimate from Harvard comes in a report in which three-quarters of the homeowners quizzed said they’d felt a sense of accomplishment from their projects. As an experienced local agent, I believe there’s never…
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10 ways to sink a small bathroom sensation

The quality of a bathroom can be a major consideration for buyers and plays a major role in your comfort in any home. Poor bathrooms spook buyers who worry they will cost a lot to repair or replace – and can be miserable to live in.  Small bathrooms, which are common in our neighborhood, are…
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