Guest Blog by Lea Jacobs of Private Property Buying a home should be one of life’s most exciting experiences, but unfortunately, unless buyers know what to look for, it can prove to be a lot more costly than originally budgeted for. Most of us (unless we have a legal background) do not understand the voetstoots […]
Downside of the voetstoots clause Read More »
With the cost of electricity set to soar by a huge 16 percent annually for the next five years, buyers should focus one energy saving when shopping for a home. Properties offering solar panels, battery packs, back-up generators, energy-saving shower heads and energy-efficient appliances such as gas stoves make serious financial sense for those wanting
Energy costs now important factor for home buyers to consider Read More »
Actual house prices are growing very slowly – at less than 4 per cent year on year. First-time buyers continue to dominate the market – more than 50 per cent of bond applications are from first time buyers. These trends are according to bond originator ooba most recent statistics – for October 2012. The
First-time buyers dominate market Read More »
South African property owners are now required by law to ensure that all new electric fence systems, or changes to existing systems, are compliant with safety regulations. Previously there were no regulations governing electric fences. The new regulation (the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act No. 85 of 1993, Regulation 12 of the Electrical Machinery
Compliance certificates now needed for electric fences Read More »
Many well-meaning estate agents, their principals and conveyancing attorneys continue to be quite happy about routinely using the voetstoots clause in their pre-printed sale agreements, despite the fact that from the buyer’s standpoint this is: Immoral Bad professional advice Just plain wrong Latest statistics for October show that more than half of home buyers in
True life story why voetstoots alone is immoral, unprofessional and just plain wrong Read More »
Ten steps to selling your home quicker Get rid of clutter. Throw out your junk. Pack away most of your small ornaments. Store clothing that won’t be used in the near future to make cupboards seem roomier. Clean out the garage. Buyers like to visualize their possessions in the house and that is hard to
Tips to sell your home fast Read More »
The disaster last night when a reported 100 people at St Francis Bay lost their homes in a run-away fire should be a wake-up call for all South African home owners . John Graham, CEO of the home inspection company HouseCheck says the increasing use of thatch for house roofs and also for garden
Thatch poses big fire risk Read More »
It is very important for buyers to fully understand the condition of a house before they buy it. While some defects such as damp stained ceilings, wall cracks and damp walls might be more obvious, latent (hidden) defects such as rotten roof beams or a leaking geyser are more difficult to spot. Yet potential buyers
Latent defects are hard to spot Read More »
Your home is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make – and it needs to be carefully looked after. Homeowners should perform regular maintenance to keep their property in the best shape possible and ensure it retains its value. Many of the defects HouseCheck finds when inspecting existing properties are the result of neglect
5 Maintenance tips to keep your house in top condition Read More »
When looking to buy a house you should ask yourself how long you are likely to stay in the house. Of course, most people don’t know these sorts of things for sure, but generally it is a good ide to make sure that I’d own the house for at least five years. The Upgrade Cycle
Buying a house? The 5-year rule Read More »
