Most Recent Living Articles
HOW INTEREST RATES AFFECT THE PROPERTY MARKET
You’ve just heard that the interest rates have been lowered and you’re most likely wondering how this affects you. Well, the fact is most of us will be loan-dependent and need financial assistance from lending institutions to buy a home. So, whether you’re a homeowner or a potential homeowner, the interest rate will affect you at some stage in your life. Below are a few things
Read more
HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR SECURITY IN A FREESTANDING PROPERTY
South Africans are incredibly security-conscious people. That’s why most of us choose to live in security complexes so we can sleep more soundly at night. If you’re in a freestanding property, there are a few things you could do to upgrade your home security so you can sleep as peacefully as your neighbours behind their patrolled walls. Think like an intruder Most intruder
Read more
FUN THINGS TO DO AT HOME DURING A LOCKDOWN
If the thought of being locked in your home for 21 days causes you to feel anxious, know that you are not alone. Most (if not all) of us are having trouble wrapping our minds around how we are going to cope with being stuck in isolation for an extended period of time. However, you can find purpose in the fact that we all have a major role to play in reducing the spread of the virus by staying a
Read more
15 WAYS TO CUT BACK ON HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES DURING LOCKDOWN
If find yourself in a season where you are strapped for cash, like many of us do during this nationwide lockdown, there are some things you can live without for the short term until you find yourself in a more stable financial position. For homeowners, there are several household expenses that might take some effort to cut back on but will open up some much-needed breathing room so you can keep
Read more
HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME DURING THE LOCKDOWN
The current spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the efforts to contain it have impacted almost all aspects of daily life – and real estate transactions are no different. Yet, despite current circumstances, you might find yourself in a position where you still need to sell your home. People may be doing life differently, but the demand to buy, sell, and rent a home does still exist. Given
Read more
HOW TO HOST YOUR OWN VIRTUAL SHOW HOUSE
When open houses just won’t work, like in many areas of the world battling COVID-19 right now, it may come time to host a virtual open house instead. After all, the need to buy and sell homes still exists even during this unprecedented time. You will just have to make use of the digital world to make your buying and selling dreams come true. Open homes will soon take the form of Facebook
Read more
3 OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME WHEN BUYING A HOME
Submitting an offer and having it accepted by the seller is exciting, but it is certainly not the end of your home purchasing journey. There are a few obstacles that you may need to overcome before the home is yours and the keys are handed over… Obstacle 1: A pending bond approval When applying for a loan, it is best to get pre-approval from the bank with a written loan commitment let
Read more
HOW USING A SIGNBOARD CAN HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME
Much like CD drives, many think that ‘For Sale’ signboards have outlived their usefulness. The internet has become one of the main marketing tools used by real estate professionals to effectively reach large masses of people in a short timeframe. Why then, despite this new technology, are sellers still choosing to decorate their lawn by pegging a board into their front garden?
Read more
3 TIPS FOR SELLERS IN A BUYER’S MARKET
If you’re trying to sell your property and you’re struggling to find prospective buyers, it may be because you find yourself in a buyer’s market where the number of houses on the market is much larger than the number of buyers. This can be a good thing for buyers who have the bargaining power in their favour. A buyer’s market can be caused by various factors. The market
Read more
4 FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUILDING A HOME
Everybody dreams of owning their own home. Some even go so far as to buy a stand (also referred to as a plot) on which to build the home of their dreams. Building a home can be an extremely fulfilling experience with many benefits, including the opportunity to create an eco-friendly home that will save you money and help the environment. However, there are a few vital factors that you should consi
Read more
THE BENEFITS OF SIGNING A SOLE MANDATE
If you challenged multiple chefs to compete against one chef in an attempt to cook the same meal, whose dish would be ready first and be the tastiest? Chances are that the chef cooking on his own will be able to get the task complete quicker and better than a team of chefs who will inevitably waste time over who will do what and which ingredients should be used to prepare the meal. The same log
Read more
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON HOME INSURANCE
With the ever-increasing cost of living, you may be reassessing your financial situation and looking at ways to save money and cut down on costs. One way you can save money is by having a look at your current home insurance policy and possibly changing the cover. Home insurance is a necessity for homeowners, and although it is incredibly important to have, it doesn’t have to be a financia
Read more