Category: Summer

Survey finds 40% rely on neighbourly help when property is vacant

Are you among the tens of thousands of homeowners who shut and locked their front door this summer, headed off for a two-week holiday and wondered if your home was going to be safe? Home security should never be taken lightly, and you should always lock your home whether you’re about to leave for a…
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Catch the last of the summer buyers with these six tips

If you believe selling in summer will help you achieve the optimum price for your property, it’s not too late to catch the last few weeks of warm weather to impress potential buyers. Late summer can be a strong time for sales, especially for homes that feature a great swimming pool, outdoor entertainment area or…
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Six insect-busting ideas for your garden

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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Planning for holiday pet care

Summer holidays are just around the corner and who isn’t excited about that? But in your holiday planning don’t forget the furry, feathered and fishy members of the house.  Holidaying homeowners have several options for the care of these friends, with the best deal for cats, birds and fish likely to be for them to…
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What it costs to install backyard pools

The latest statistics from the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance show 8% of Americans have a backyard pool, which totals around 10.4 million private waterholes across the country. Pool installations can be expensive but they can add value to a home and be worth their weight in gold for decades to come. The average cost…
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Preparing your garden to entice buyers

There’s never a bad time to sell a property that’s in a great condition and priced right, but spring and summer definitely warm the hearts and attitudes of buyers. One of the wonderful aspects of selling your home in summer is that buyers can enjoy your garden in all its colourful glory. An important part…
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Has flooding affected your garden?

Another summer is over but for homeowners who live in flood-prone areas, now is a great time to consider how to protect your property for next season. Don’t forget the garden will also need protecting, so green thumbs start thinking about how to guard the greenery from dreaded downpours. Preparation is everything when it comes…
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Decluttering in post-summer cleaning blitz

We can all enjoy a sigh of relief now that the busy holiday season is over for another year. But, in the aftermath, a few small tasks should always be carried out to keep your home in good order. One job is to do a big declutter and eject unwanted gifts, broken toys and old…
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Home checklist after harsh summer

The long, warm summer days can offer time for homeowners to catch up on some maintenance issues, preventing bigger problems from occurring down the track. The extreme weather we’ve been experiencing this summer can take a heavy toll on your home. A mixture of heat and prolonged periods of rain can damage exterior paint and…
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Colours to avoid in 2024 renovations

If repainting your home is a promise to yourself this year, then you should be aware of six colours that interior designers say are going out of style. Painting the interior of your home is one of the cheapest and most effective renovations to prepare for a sale, and your choice of colour scheme will…
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