Tag: country_nz

Tactics to survive mortgage stress

Shop around Lenders always need to win new customers, even in tougher times. Do not discount the fact other institutions will want to win your business. Good deals are often available to those prepared to swap lenders. Simple changes Assess your spending habits. Making cutbacks that won’t destroy your lifestyle may ease the pain. Even…
Read more

Home improvements that don’t cost a fortune

If you want to improve your home but have put the idea on hold because of the increasing cost of living, we have a few ideas to help you; and you don’t have to go crazy at Bunnings or on Gumtree or eBay to make great changes that will lift your spirits. Sometimes, owners become…
Read more

Six mistakes you can avoid as a buyer and seller

Buying and selling a home is not something most people do more than a few times in their lives. It’s easy to make basic errors or assumptions when you’re not used to the real estate market, which has some unique facets. Some behaviours tend to crop up time and again. To help make the transaction…
Read more

Choosing your agent in a changing market

Maximising the value of your property in the current real estate market has never been more important. When buyers move from the fear of missing out (FOMO) to FOOP (fear of over paying) the experience and skills of your real estate agent will be pivotal in achieving a great sale price. Choosing an agent will…
Read more

Using marketing strategies to achieve a great sales price

As the market mood changes, sellers will be well-served by paying additional attention to the quality of the marketing campaign for their property. A campaign targeted to prospective buyers for your area can earn you tens of thousands of dollars more for your property than a half-hearted or cut-price effort that fails to capture the…
Read more

Does your insurance stack up to rising building costs?

With inflation capturing many of the headlines at the moment, it’s not a crazy idea to assess the insurance coverage for your home.

Five ways to ease mortgage rate pain

The quick change in our economic landscape should give many homeowners a reason to evaluate their mortgage situation. As a respected agency in your area, we have experienced this scenario before and understand how tightening economic conditions and rising mortgage payments affect our clients. Below, we’ve offered a short list of basic advice on how…
Read more

Smart downsizing to avoid common traps

As our aging population becomes increasingly cash-poor and asset-rich, the option to downsize their properties becomes increasingly attractive. Once the children have flown the coop, hanging on to the family home becomes needlessly expensive, especially in these days of skyrocketing gas and electricity prices. Generally, the family home can be said to be “not fit…
Read more

How to DIY safely

There are a lot of jobs to do around the home that will improve its value. But there are also several that you should never touch. Sometimes, expert tradespeople are required for tasks where a willing DIY-er should never stray. Enthusiastic DIY that lacks a professional quality can also detrimentally affect the value of your…
Read more

Eights ways to rein in your runaway power bill

If you’ve been shocked at the increase in the cost of gas and electricity lately, you’re not alone.  Utility prices are on the march along with fuel and food, all of which are feeding an inflation rate that has prompted the Reserve Bank of Australia to hike its target cash rate to 0.85% and increase…
Read more