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I Issue: September
2003 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. Don't Let DIY Projects Send You To Hospital
3. Making Light
Work Of Security
4. Kitchen Remedies For Common Pests
5. Five Things To Do Before
Buying A Sectional Unit
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1.
Welcome By Publisher
Despite the recent series
of (very) cold fronts, spring is definitely in the
air. One can tell by the mushrooming piles of bricks
on suburban pavements and the steady sounds of drilling,
cutting and hammering as homeowners and contractors
tackle alterations and repairs of all sorts.
September is also, of course, the start of the busiest
season on the real estate calendar. So this month's
newsletter is dedicated to all those proud homeowners
who make our jobs easier by maintaining and improving
their properties - and to those about to "spring"
into the property market for the first time.
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2.
Don't Let
DIY Projects Send You To Hospital
It's often said that the first thing you should
buy when planning a DIY home improvement project is
a first-aid kit. And while that may not deter you
from giving such projects a try, it should make you
take precautions against the dangers that are involved
in such work.
Expert suggestions for avoiding the most common DIY
injuries include the following:
- Always wear safety
glasses or goggles, whether using power tools, stripping
paint or just hammering in a nail.
- Protect your hearing.
Use ear muffs or plugs when working with noisy tools
or mowers.
- Wear a safety harness
when working on a roof or tall ladder. Wear gloves
and overalls to protect your skin when using pesticides
or installing fiberglass insulation materials.
- Tie hair back and
don't wear loose sleeves or jewellery when using
power tools.
- Ventilate your work
area properly, especially when using a paint spray
or chemicals like paint stripper and varnish.
- Keep a fire extinguisher
or bucket of sand handy when working with any flammable
substance.
- Don't run an extension
cord over an area you will repeatedly traverse during
the project, because you increase the odds of tripping
over it.
- Clean up as you
go, removing spent nails or screws, empty containers
and bits of timber, tile or brick as you complete
each section of a project.
- Wear a mask to prevent
dust inhalation if you're sawing or sanding, but
use a proper respirator if you're working with high-fume
glues and varnishes.
And finally, you can save yourself and your family much
trouble by admitting that there are some projects -
like electrical wiring - that are just best left to
the experts.
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3.
Making Light
Work Of Security
Outdoor
lighting has become big business in recent years - and
not only because a well-lit property is less attractive
to criminals and more secure.
Used well, lighting is also a cost-effective way to
beautify a home and increase its visibility. And it
often takes just one homeowner to start a neighbourhood
trend.
For the budget-minded, most large discount stores and
home improvement centres now offer DIY lighting kits
- and longer-lasting, brighter globes that need smaller
fixtures have also increased the affordability of exterior
lighting.
But before you rush off to buy a batch of lights, it's
worth considering what sort of effect you want. Are
you looking for accent lighting, cross lighting, downlighting,
path lighting, shadowing, silhouetting, spread lighting
or uplighting? Each may demand a different type of light
fixture and globe intensity - and it's worth seeking
out expert advice to make sure you get the right ones.
After all, if your object is to extend the hours that
you can enjoy your patio, you don't want to end up with
your house looking like an airport runway - although
it is a good idea to light your house number to make
it easy for guests and emergency vehicles to find.
Next, you should ensure that all fittings, wiring and
connections you buy for outdoor use are watertight -
and that any new wiring or plugpoints you need are installed
or at least checked by an electrician.
And once you've altered your electrical system, you
will also need a new electrical certificate of compliance,
issued by a qualified electrical inspector in terms
of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
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4.
Kitchen
Remedies For Common Pests
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With spring comes new life - and
a whole new generation of flies, fleas, roaches, snails,
spiders, termites and other home creepy-crawlies that
can multiply rapidly and become a serious problem
unless they are dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
And of course, the removal of termite infestations,
wasp nests and beehives are still best left to the
pest removal professionals.
But there is growing resistance - especially among
keen gardeners - to using commercial pesticides that
may contain substances toxic to small children, pets
and birds. With this in mind, we have compiled a list
of some "brew-ups" that will get rid of many other
pests without harming your nearest and dearest.
- Keep aphids off
rosebushes by soaking mashed tomato leaves in water
overnight and applying as a spray, remembering to
treat both sides of rose leaves.
- Keep fruitflies,
moths and wasps off your fruit and veggies by spraying
with a well-shaken mixture containing three tablespoons
of mild dishwash and three tablespoons of cooking
oil per five litres of water.
- A tray of beer or
a yeast-and-water mixture will attract any snails
that might be lurking in your garden, and a little
salt water spray will deter spiders.
- Fleas tracked indoors
by your pets will quickly hop off your carpets and
couch if you spray with a mixture of water and boiled
marigold flowers or khakibos.
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5. Five
Things To Do Before Buying A Sectional Unit
Buying your
first home is naturally very exciting, but if you happen
to buy into a Sectional Title (ST) complex you need
to be aware that you will also automatically become
part of a community - and have to abide by certain rules
and regulations which never apply in a free-standing
house.
So before you put pen to paper and sign the Offer to
Purchase that beautiful little unit which will finally
let you have the "lock-up-and-go" lifestyle you've always
wanted, make sure you know what will be expected of
you - and what you can expect from your new neighbours.
The first thing to do, says ST specialist attorney Marina
Constas, is to check on the physical condition of the
complex as a whole. If it is not well-maintained, a
hefty levy increase or a special levy could be on the
cards.
Secondly, ask for a copy of the last audited financial
statements of the body corporate. "Buying a ST unit
means "buying into" the assets and liabilities of the
whole complex and you owe it to yourself to be informed
about its financial affairs." Large levy arrears or
unpaid municipal accounts spell trouble, as does the
lack of a reserve fund for unexpected expenses.
Third, make absolutely sure what you are being sold.
"Prospective buyers may be told, for example, that a
parking bay "belongs" to a unit when it is in fact part
of common property - and only realise once they move
in that it is actually only available on a first-come
first-served basis," notes Constas.
Fourth, make absolutely sure that the monthly levy quoted
by the seller or estate agent is correct. Are there
any extra charges payable monthly, such as Mnet or DSTv
connection charge, a special security levy or parking
charges? Ask to see the current owner's levy account.
And finally, read the Conduct Rules of the complex.
These apply to all residents of the complex and are
the "nitty gritty" of ST living. They will tell you,
for example, if pets are allowed or not, if there are
any noise restrictions, and how owners and tenants are
expected to treat common property.
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