A retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, a garden is also somewhere to send the kids when they’re getting under your feet or have used up all their screen time. However, being able to maintain a garden and even make it thrive, can be a mystery for some homeowners who complain they…
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It may be early days in the recovery of New Zealand’s property market, but new research has shown an almost nationwide resurgence in confidence. With 566 suburbs recording value growth in the past three months, it’s worth studying the national picture so you get a sense of how this might affect your own strategy for…
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With an election out of the way, it seems that confidence has finally returned to the property market, with a new industry survey showing rises of more than 2% in the three months to November 1. Positive results have been reported in the cities and regional centres as optimism returns based on a probable end…
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Positive energy has returned to the New Zealand real estate market with increased buyer interest, more properties listed for sale and a long-awaited upward trend in values. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or both, it’s worth spending a little time examining the findings of a recent survey measuring the state of the market. The House…
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One question that often perplexes many buyers is the value that should be placed on a home in the catchment area of a good school. How much extra should you expect to spend simply because good schools are on your doorstep? Is it worth $20,000 or even $50,000? Of course, if you don’t have a…
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For the first time in more than a year, New Zealand’s property prices have started to edge higher after a long period of interest rate rises. The average price of a home has been benchmarked at $952,000 in the latest House Price Report for October released by the OneRoof website and industry researcher Velocity. Auckland…
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Renovating an apartment can be a tricky business. Owners must follow tightly controlled rules and regulations enforced by a strata committee or owners’ corporation on behalf of all residents in the block. You can’t simply alter the outside of your apartment, such as installing new windows or doors, without written permission. Strata rules, which are…
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If you’re searching for your first property, there’s a lot to think about. Prices are trending up again, you’ll likely wait until next year to see interest rates fall, and it feels as if there are a lot of buyers circling every property you visit. However, the goal and achievement of buying your first home…
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A water heater might be the last piece of domestic equipment you’d expect to fail in late spring or summer. Usually, that little disaster reserves itself for cold winter nights when hot water is essential. However, the unfortunate truth is that a water heater can break down at any time of the year. It usually…
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Few owners seeking quotes to install solar panels do so without asking a fundamental question about the future: will I be able to charge an electric vehicle? While solar panels are a great asset for reducing your utility bills, many fail the ultimate test of being able to power an EV. Buyers are now increasingly…
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