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I IIssue: November
2006 I Editor: Berry Everitt I |
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Your Area Specialist:
Chas Everitt International
sales agents have all the latest market information
regarding local property values at their fingertips
– and are committed to the highest standards of
personal service when it comes to selling your home.
In addition, the Chas Everitt International Property
Group offers you, the homeowner, the best possible exposure
for your property in both national and international
markets. So if you are thinking of selling your home,
call your nearest Chas Everitt International office
today for the name of your local area specialist - or
visit www.chaseveritt.com
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Every month the Property
Signpost Newsletter will be issued to all our
subscribers, filled with real estate information to
help you make an informed decision, whether you are
buying or selling a property.
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Contents
1. Welcome
by publisher
2. Tips to
keep Christmas cheerful and accident free
3. Check
your windows to beat the heat
4. Keep your
home to pay for frail-care
5. Get
ready now for the new school year
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1.
Welcome by publisher
As the year draws to a close we can
once again report excellent results for the group
and phenomenal growth – in spite of the general
slowdown in the property market – but the outcome
we are most proud of right now is that much of the
group’s expansion this year has been driven
by existing franchisees opening additional franchises
and satellite offices.
This is happening around the country
as our franchisees increasingly move to expand their
influence in their respective markets or take up new
opportunities in neighbouring areas, and as Franchising
CEO Barry Davies says, it is a strong measure of their
confidence in the brand. Franchisees don’t take
up second and in some cases third franchise operations
unless they are successful.
As a prime example of what has been
happening, the Cape Town Northern Suburbs franchise
added the Stellenbosch operation this year as a second
franchise, Bloemfontein opened a second franchise
in Mossel Bay, and the Franschhoek franchise extended
its operation to Paarl and Worcester. Meanwhile in
the Eastern Cape, the St Francis franchisee acquired
a second franchise in Jeffreys Bay and acquired a
share in the new Port Elizabeth operation.
This year also saw franchises in Umhlanga,
Berea, Ballito and the Bluff opening in quick succession
under the same KZN franchise holders, who have subsequently
added the Westville franchise to open next year.
Gauteng offices that expanded include
Centurion, which opened an additional outlet at Hartbeespoort
Dam; Boksburg that opened a second office in Germiston,
and the East Rand franchise which comprises four offices
in Benoni, Brakpan, Springs and Nigel and is now expanding
to include Heidelberg. Furthermore the Bedfordview/
Edenvale operation added a second franchise in Kempton
Park and has recently taken up an option on an additional
Johannesburg area.
In Mpumalanga, the Nelspruit office
expanded its territory with the opening of an office
in neighbouring White River, while the Middelburg
franchise – a recent conversion to the brand
– has already opened a second franchise in Witbank.
In addition, satellite offices in
existing franchise areas are becoming a definite trend,
with Cape Town Northern Suburbs having added one in
Kuilsrivier this year, Cape Town Southern Suburbs
having opened two in Tokai and Constantia, Bloemfontein
having opened one in Langenhoven Park and more in
the pipeline around Middelburg and on the Cape West
Coast.
From all this,
it is clear that 2006 has been a terrific year for
the group – and that 2007 holds a great deal
of promise. Now, though, it is time for us all to
take a break, enjoy some fun with family and friends
- and for me to wish all our readers and clients a
healthy, happy, and peaceful holiday too.
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2.
Tips to
keep Christmas cheerful and accident free
Nothing ruins a holiday and dampens festive spirits
faster than a child or a pet getting sick or injured
– especially if the mishap could have been prevented
by using a bit of common sense.
And this is especially the case during the December
holidays when we are wont to put up large trees (real
or replica) in our living rooms and festoon them with
electric lights and an assortment of baubles. While
this may look very pretty and add another dimension
to the holiday experience, homeowners do need to take
some safety precautions. These include:
- Keeping strings of electric Christmas lights and
even strings of tinsel out of tiny of hands. Make
sure they are also out of reach of pets that might
get strangled or electrocuted if they chew on cables.
- Ensuring that Christmas trees, and especially
large, heavy ones, are safely secured and won’t
topple if a child reaches for a treat or a decoration.
- Displaying all decorations with small, loose pieces
that could choke children well out of their reach
- Carefully monitoring lit candles and putting them
out when the room is not occupied.
- Clearing up immediately after wrapping presents.
Scissors left lying around may injure children who
play with them and even pretty ribbons, parcel decorations
and tape can be dangerous.
And finally, spare a thought for the household pets:
Don’t succumb to the urge to give them ‘treats’
that will upset their stomachs, or even poison them
– as chocolate may do. Rather stick to their
normal dietary routine and reward them with a juicy
bone that they can gnaw on, but not swallow.
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3.
Check your
windows to beat the heat
Global warming is currently the subject of intense
debate and there is actually quite a bit homeowners
can do to make their homes more energy efficient and
so contribute to slowing down the effects of climate
change.
Inefficient, badly fitting windows can heat up your
house by a whopping 75 percent in summer – and
account for a third of total heat loss during winter,
while adding significantly to your heating and cooling
costs.
To test whether windows seal properly, light a candle
on a windy day and hold it near your windows. If the
flame flickers, inspect the putty that keeps panes secured
and replace crumbling or missing bits without delay.
If your windows won’t shut properly because the
frames are bent, you will most likely have to replace
them. And while the cost of doing that will probably
be quite high, the savings on the electricity bill and
a more comfortable ambient temperature will go some
way to off-setting the expense.
What is more, window replacement may present an opportunity
to give your home a facelift. In this regard, wooden
window frames are a popular choice because they are
strong, insulate well and have a natural appeal. They
do, however, need regular exterior maintenance.
Aluminium frames are durable but do not offer the same
insulation benefits as wood, while the fibreglass units
that are starting to make an appearance combine the
strength and stability of aluminium with the insulating
properties of wood.
You should check with a builder whether it would be
possible to fit your new windows over or within the
existing frames. This will obviate the messy business
of breaking out the existing frame and may save some
money.
And for further savings, you may want to consider fitting
external window shutters – like those on Cape
Dutch houses - that can be closed to keep out the extreme
heat of summer day or cold of a winter night.
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4.
Keep your
home to pay for frail-care
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Making arrangements to ensure you
will be able to afford frail care should you need
it in later years ranks right up there with regularly
updating your will – it is not something most
people relish, and may seem like an odd topic for
a festive season newsletter.
But for many people this is the right
time of year to think about and plan for the future
– and to discuss their plans and wishes with
their families. And laying plans together to ensure
that the costs of long-term professional care will
be covered if you ever need it can relieve your children
and other family members of a lot of personal and
financial anxiety.
Places in old age homes, and especially
those with frail care facilities, are scarce and waiting
lists are normally long. These openings usually also
come with relatively high costs which can be a problem
for retirees living on a fixed income.
However, if it is done properly, the
home you own can be used as an asset to help pay for
frail care. Indeed, many people who owned large properties
have sold them and put a chunk of the proceeds into
policies that will pay out a monthly amount if they
need frail care.
But the trouble with such schemes
is that the sale of the house must first realise a
really hefty sum, and that the amount available for
investment is eroded if there is still a home loan
to pay off.
Another option, though, is to pay
off the property as soon as possible and then, if
it becomes necessary, to let it and use the monthly
rental income to pay for frail-care. And this situation
will be even more favourable if you own more than
one property.
The biggest advantage of this type
of arrangement is that the property will still form
part of your estate, although landlord issues, such
as who will accept the rental payments, channel the
money to the frail care centre, and see to maintenance
of the property do need to be clarified ahead of time.
First of all, though, owners should
consult their attorneys and accountants or financial
planners to discuss matters such as ownership and
inheritance, who would hold a power of attorney to
make decisions should they fall ill, and how to take
care of paperwork to reduce tax and legal liabilities
– for their heirs as well as themselves.
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5. Get
ready now for the new school year
School’s almost
out for the summer and, freed from the daily routine
of lifts and extramural activities, there is much that
parents can do now to smooth the dreaded back-to-school
days in January.
They can, for example,
temper their children’s despondency at the prospect
of another year in “jail” by brightening
up their homework and study areas.
Regardless of the space
or room assigned for the purpose, study areas should
include a desk or table where students can spread out
books and study materials. Enough storage spaces such
as bookcases and drawers for keeping school supplies
close to hand are also helpful.
Sufficient light is
another important element. Placing the desk near a window
for natural light is preferable, but an overhead light
or desk lamp for evening homework sessions will also
be needed.
And it goes without
saying that the study area should be secluded enough
so that the learner is not distracted by the hubbub
of normal family life, including telephones, siblings
and a blaring TV or radio.
Meanwhile, as students
mature they often need better access to computers and
especially the internet to research and complete assignments,
and if family members are already competing for computer
time, it may be a very good idea to spend some of the
Christmas budget on an additional PC and a home network
system that will enable family members to share internet
access and peripheral equipment such as printers.
Finally, if one of your
children is flying the nest for college or varsity,
it is advisable to check how much insurance cover their
belongings will enjoy in terms of your household policy
while they are away from home. Also, you should know
that pricey items such as computers can be included
as specified, all-risk items for a small additional
amount.
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