Most Recent Living Articles
FEMALES DOMINATING THE PROPERTY MARKET
It seems crazy to think that females, who were once excluded from the right to own property, are now the largest group of property buyers in South Africa. According to Lightstone Property statistics, roughly 72,000 residential properties were purchased by single women in South Africa last year, far surpassing the number of homes sold to men (around 62,000) and married couples (around 65,000). &
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HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DERELICT HOUSE NEXT DOOR
Much like how that one scuffed dining room chair will lower the value of the whole set, one unkept property will drag down the prices of all the surrounding homes. Sadly, living next to a derelict home can happen to anyone at any point in time. All it takes is for your current neighbours to fall into some financial crisis that causes their home to go to wreck and ruin, or to have a real-world vers
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3 WAYS TO PREVENT PET SMELL
As much as we love our animals, it can be hard to love the pet odour they leave behind in our homes. While we might get used to the smell over time, future buyers will not be as forgiving. Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent pet smell from developing in your home: KEEP PETS AWAY FROM CARPETS Unless you are willing to have your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis and are wil
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5 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN DESIGNING A KITCHEN
The kitchen is popularly referred to as the heart of the home. If you happen to get the design of this room wrong, you risk restricting the flow of your entire household. To help you get the balance right, here are the five most common mistakes to avoid when designing a kitchen: 1) Create paths of least resistance When waking up for the midnight snack run, you do not want to be tripp
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HOW TO ADJUST TO YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD
Have you ever pulled into your driveway at home and suddenly realised that you have no recollection of the journey from the office to your doorstep? That’s because your routines can become so familiar that you are able to do them in auto-pilot mode. The problem arises when you move to a new neighbourhood and you go to unlock your front door and your keys no longer fits the locks… 
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THE RISKS INVOLVED IN PURCHASING A DISTRESSED PROPERTY
The term distressed properties refers to homes that have been put onto the market because the homeowner has fallen into some sort of financial peril and needs to be rescued from his/her debt. Rather than avoid these sales, buyers could potentially pick up a bargain. And, in so doing, help save somebody from their own financial troubles. The key with all these properties is to remember that you
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HOW TO DECORATE YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
Spending copious hours indoors during Winter has been known to cause homeowners to start loathing their homes. Seasonal decorating might seem like a wasteful expense, but it can also prevent a rushed sale on a home for those who are just looking for a change of scenery. These home updates can also give homeowners something to do with the many indoor hours the cold and wet season brings along wi
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3 WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR FLU SEASON
Every flu season sees most of us stocking up on germ-busting medicines and remedies to shield us from the vagaries of colds and flu. There is no better place to start with this defence plan than in our own homes. Here are a few things you can do to combat a dreaded case of the sniffles as far as possible: Clean out germs’ favourite hideouts Our homes tend to be hot spots for germs t
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HOW MUCH INFLUENCE CHILDREN HAVE ON YOUR HOME BUYING CHOICES
It is not difficult to understand why good parents factor the needs of their children into their purchasing decisions. But, exactly how much influence do children have on your purchasing decisions? And how much influence should you allow them? How Children Influence Our Choices Global studies have shown that millennial parents are placing increased value on their children when it comes to maki
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FACTORS SELLERS OVERLOOK WHEN PREPARING FOR A MOVE
As exciting as it is to move into a new home, the process can be time consuming and stressful – especially if you have overlooked factors involved in preparing for a move. If it’s been a while since you have last experienced a move, here are a few reminders to help prepare yourself for what lies ahead… Packing takes longer than you think The worst mistake you can ma
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3 QUICK UPGRADES TO SELL YOUR HOME FASTER DURING WINTER
Winter is coming. Which usually cools off market activity along with the outdoor temperature. Luckily, there are some quick upgrades you can do to help sell your home faster during the slow, Winter months. To make your home more enticing to buyers who are trying to escape the cold, you could install one or more of these three temperature control features to help you sell your home f
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HOW TO KEEP PETS IN A SMALL HOME
Not all of us can afford spacious properties with large gardens. To keep your furry loved ones happy, you just need to know how to keep pets in a small home. Remember, it is not the size of the home that makes pets unhappy, but rather the quality of life that their owner can offer them. Provided you spend enough time with your pet and allow them to get fresh air regularly, most smaller breeds won&
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