Uncertainty among buyers and sellers about the outcome of the October election has added to the complexity of the New Zealand property market as it begins its value turnaround after a couple of tough years. Sales volumes dipped across the country in July, notably 15.4% in Auckland, as buyers and sellers wait for the poll…
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Statistics and sentiment don’t always choreograph neatly when the property market turns the corner; and that’s what we’re currently seeing in New Zealand. Buyer sentiment has increased markedly in the past few months even as the pace of value declines eases. The prospect that we’re near the end of an extended period of interest rate…
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Winter can take its toll on your garden, especially if it suffers unduly from being in the shade. Weeds pop up as plants struggle for light, and mould and grime hang on to pavers, making them dull and unsightly. Weeds also sprout in the cracks of your pavers and must be dealt with before overwhelming…
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With winter well and truly here, have you noticed that your home becomes unusually cold overnight, giving you an unpleasantly brisk early morning? If that sounds familiar, you may need to improve the quality of insulation in your home. Compared with properties in Europe, houses and apartments in our part of the world are notorious…
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Summer is a favorite time to break out the paintbrushes and give your home a new look. Choosing the colors for your project can be testing if you’re not super-confident with paints. The colors you select for your home will affect your mood and relationship with your home, so choosing the right shades is far…
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One of the summer’s less pleasurable activities for homeowners is the endless lawn mowing. It only takes a rain shower and a few days of sunshine for the grass to look unkempt again. A popular strategy to avoid mowing is to make one of your children do it. But is that a great idea? How…
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Our long summer evenings are a wonderful time to be outdoors; so long as you’re not driven back inside by the pesky, biting insects that descend on us the moment the sun goes down. Being able to ward off insects is essential for an enjoyable evening on the patio. No one likes beating a retreat…
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Keeping your home free of dust is a summer challenge. The warmer weather tempts us to keep doors and windows open so our homes are more exposed to dust and dirt. Poor airflow traps dust and can quickly build up. Even if you vacuum regularly, dust accumulates in your home on any horizontal surface. Here’s…
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Summer is a beautiful time to be out in the garden. With plants in full bloom, it’s often tempting to add to the riot of color and greenery that give us so much pleasure. But not everyone has a green thumb. And if you’re challenged in this area, spending money on plants feels less like…
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Owning a swimming pool is one of those dreams that go hand-in-hand with the Great Australian Dream of owning a home on a quarter-acre block. If you’re looking for a new home right now, should you only consider properties with a pool or be prepared to install one after you’ve moved in? Swimming pools do…
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