Hanging onto the family home can become needlessly expensive once the kids have left home. As you get older, maintenance becomes burdensome and cleaning and gardening steals hours from your week. However, if you get your sums wrong, you’ll find yourself in no better position, or worse. So, discuss your downsizing plans with your financial…
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Paint colour fashions can change with the wind as interior designers convince us of what’s hot and what’s not. It’s easy to dismiss influencers who try to persuade us to decorate in a particular style or colour, but keeping up with the times is an important part of preparing your home when you decide it’s…
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With confidence returning to the property market, owners with medium-term plans to sell are asking two key questions. Many buyers want to know if now is the right time to move, and whether it’s best to sell first and then purchase, or to find their next dream home and then put your current place on…
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The tide continues to turn for New Zealand property prices, meaning first-time buyers should begin planning their move before the value recovery starts to pick up pace. A total of 14 territorial local authority areas registered an increase in residential prices, according to a June market survey issued by OneRoof. Its Valocity House Index shows…
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Different cultures have different attitudes to behaviors in a home, and a challenging one can be knowing whether you should take off your shoes before entering. It’s always good manners to show respect to your host, and removing your shoes is expected by many families of Asian, European and Middle Eastern heritage. For others, it’s…
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Folks love to say, “a fast deal is a happy deal” – so what are the features that will help you sell your home quickly and for more money? A new report from the real estate portal Zillow says that simple upgrades will lead to a quicker deal, including doorbell cameras, heat pumps and properly…
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Achieving a great price when selling your home doesn’t happen by accident: you need to work hard to ensure that it’s pristine when buyers arrive at your doorstep. Many homeowners will repaint their home, fix up the garden or just make sure that it looks super tidy every time a buyer makes an appointment. There’s…
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One of the most important decisions when buying and selling a home is selecting a real estate agent. They will help you maximize the value of your existing home and find and negotiate an excellent price for your next property. These essential roles mean every owner or first-home buyer needs to spend time choosing their…
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Today’s news feeds seem to feature endless articles on the promise of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. It can be both awe-inspiring and a little scary. The technology that can turn your house or apartment into a “smart home” is just as cool and can be an excellent investment, helping to…
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One of the best strategies to maximize the value of your home once it’s on the market is to “stage” it. Staging a home involves removing most if not all of your furniture and replacing it with pieces that are selected to show off all the attributes of your home. You can hire a specialist…
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