| Is this a good time to buy? |
Buying a home if you expect to move in two years
is a risk, especially in an uncertain market. That's because when
you do sell, there are costs associated with selling.
But most buyers live in their new home an average
of five years or more. If that fits you, it almost always makes
sense to buy rather than rent, in practically any market.
There are various reasons for this, the first being
that if you are thinking about delaying a purchase because you want
to "time the market" to get the very best deal, that is
almost impossible to do with precision. The most knowledgeable experts
cannot reliably anticipate the "bottom" of a real estate
market.
Secondly, if you aren't an owner, you're a renter,
which means that you are giving whatever you spend on housing to
someone else, with no long term benefit to yourself.
Third, the easiest way to accumulate wealth is
through home ownership. Three out of four homeowners have more equity
in their home than assets in retirement funds, stocks and savings.
Of course, there are some areas that had more rapid
appreciation in recent years and may suffer from lower price-growth
than the rest of the country or region over the next couple of years.
However, you can minimise the possibility of lower
appreciation for your home by determining your price range and choosing
an area where your target price is in the lower tier of prices in
that area. That way, your home has less vulnerability on the downside
and the higher-priced homes will help pull you up during hot markets.
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| How to make sure of a sale |
Selling a home is always nerve-wracking, and especially so when
the market slows, inventories increase and buyers have more time
and more choice.
Doubts arise about the asking price, whether the property for sale
is gaining enough exposure and if potential buyers will appreciate
how well-maintained the property is.
But while these are all legitimate concerns, they can easily be
dissipated with a little forethought and preparation, starting with
a clear definition of the sales goal.
Two properties may sell for the same price but the seller who has
to pay up for repairs prior to transfer will often end up with less
in his pocket, so sellers must be equally focused on both price
and terms - and on working with an experienced agent who will negotiate
the best overall deal.
Sellers also need to do their homework about their local market.
Today's buyers are well prepared and sellers need to know as much
as they do in order to be taken seriously.
In addition, sellers must ensure that their agent has a comprehensive
marketing plan. Successful agents use a variety of methods to attract
and qualify prospective buyers, including the latest Internet and
communication advances. Make sure your agent is up to speed.
And finally, sellers should not forget that presentation is the
key to keeping buyers interested.
Buyers want an environment where they can see themselves living,
so give them a showhouse where everything is clean, uncluttered,
arranged, and attractive - a home where the only issue is when to
move in.
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| 10 ways to cut your lights
and water costs |
The costs of municipal services such as electricity
and water are increasing rapidly in SA. But fortunately new technology
and common sense can cut these essential costs significantly.
Here are 10 ways to cut water and electricity
bills:
- If your home has a shower, use it and encourage your children
to use it whenever possible instead of taking a bath.
- Install modern low-flow shower heads and taps and cut water
usage even more, particularly when rinsing vegetables and dishes,
or cleaning your teeth.
- Check the thermostat on the geyser, which in most cases can
be turned down several degrees resulting in a constant saving
of electricity.
- Ensure that the geyser and hot water pipes are lagged to prevent
heat loss and turn the geyser off when you leave the house for
any length of time.
- Use cold water washing machine cycles whenever possible, and
use the machine - and the dishwasher - only when you have a full
load.
- Replace burnt out light bulbs with new, energy-efficient mini-fluorescents.
These cost more initially, but they have a longer life and use
only 20% of the power of conventional bulbs.
- Place your appliances carefully. Fridges, freezers and air
conditioning units will consume much more electricity if they
are sitting in the full glare of the sun.
- Draw curtains to prevent heat loss in winter and heat entry
in summer.
- Cultivate good housekeeping habits like turning off lights
when you leave a room and replacing leaking tap washers immediately.
- Install insulation - in the ceiling space and under carpets
- to lower heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer,
and so generate even more savings.
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| What you need to know about
buying carpet |
Despite the rising popularity of materials like
tile, wood and laminates, carpet is still a front-runner when it
comes to the floor covering for many rooms of the house.
And it has many advantages, including the facts
that it can go over a variety of surfaces, even concrete slabs,
it's economical and installation costs are generally less than some
hard-surface products.
Carpet also absorbs sound, insulates against cold,
cushions feet and adds safety by preventing slips and falls and
protecting dropped objects from being damaged.
However, advances in technology and the variety
of textures, colours, cost and durability may make choosing carpets
seem like a huge undertaking, so before you buy you need to ask
yourself how the area to be carpeted will be used, and how heavy
the "traffic" will be.
Next, you should look for performance ratings that
offer guidance on choosing the carpets that will perform best for
various traffic needs. Most guidelines are based on a five-point
scale, with four or five being best for heavy traffic areas. For
durability, look also for high-density carpet with a tighter twist
and a shorter pile height.
Only then should you select the colour and pattern
that suits your décor. Experts suggest looking for a common
colour in furniture and curtains and choosing a carpet to suit.
Remember that medium and darker colours, tweeds, and textures will
help disguise dirt in high traffic areas.
And finally, you should ask the retailer to unroll
and air out the carpet before installing it, and ensure that your
home is well-ventilated during installation to cut down on irritation
from any adhesive fumes and emissions.
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