A bathroom remodel is an excellent strategy to increase your property’s value before sale or to add some modern luxury to your existing home. Together with a kitchen, the bathroom is the most complex room to upgrade because it requires attention to detail. You’ll need to coordinate at least four contractors, usually a builder, electrician,…
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As a first-time buyer, or a current homeowner looking to refinance, you’ll find that it pays dividends to create a mortgage repayment strategy. Don’t make the mistake of just following your lender’s instructions. If you play the game smartly, you’ll discover a few tricks that will shave thousands of dollars off your payment schedule. Making…
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The rainfall generated by the El Nina weather system has given homeowners many challenges, from plugging roof leaks and finding sunny days to mow the lawn to battling ugly, furry mould that suddenly appears on walls and ceilings. Many cases of mould can be attributed to the damp weather and lack of ventilation throughout the…
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The rain that has been our almost constant companion on the East Coast this year has made the ground so wet that it could start affecting the structures of some homes. State capitals Sydney and Brisbane have been inundated with more than 1,200mm and 1,500mm respectively, and many regional areas have been hit harder. Cairns…
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When you sit down to negotiate the purchase of a new home, do you know what’s on the table? Are you about to have a conversation that’s only about money, or is there more to talk about? This type of conversation is most common in the Australian market after a property has been passed in…
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It’s amazing to think winter is already here; just in time for our electricity and gas prices to increase. Escalating energy costs, plus rising food and fuel bills, suggest there’s never been a better time to adopt a few basic measures to keep your home warm during these cold months. A well-insulated home is highly…
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When you’re preparing to sell your home in winter months, don’t relegate your back garden and entertaining area in favour of improvements indoors. You can make your garden appealing with just a few inexpensive touches that will win over prospective buyers despite the falling mercury. Two favourite improvements are the installation of a pizza oven…
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Favourable conditions for property investors are again emerging as rents rise and higher interest rates start to take the heat out of the market. Weekly rents increased 4.7% in the 12 months to March. That’s the strongest growth in almost eight years, according to the latest REA Group’s PropTrack rental report. The low number of…
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Successful sellers will be adjusting their expectations this winter as we begin to experience a cooling real estate market after a 12-month period of record-breaking prices. Higher inflation and interest rates are starting to temper buyers’ exuberance, but it doesn’t mean selling your property is a bad idea. In fact, it’s probably quite the opposite,…
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The recent 0.5% rise in the target cash rate set by the Reserve Bank is not a cause to panic or shelve your plans to purchase a new property. It’s just part of the reality of our financial lives. The cash rate has increased to 0.85% to calm any chance of uncontrolled inflation and a…
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