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What property owners need to consider in May, the lead up to winter!

Here in Hamilton, we don't experience the full brutality of weather that other parts of our country do. However, there are things you should consider as a homeowner, in terms of home maintenance in the lead up to winter. Home maintenance doesn't have to be costly as there are simple tasks and safety checks you can do to prepare your home for these colder months. We recommend home maintenance to be done at least every six months; and if this is not possible, at least do it annually. Call a Ch...

The Top 5 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home!

Renovating your kitchen is one of the biggest ways to add value to your home. People love to cook and gather in the kitchen. A full remodel is a major investment but smaller projects can also make a big difference if you don’t have the budget. Improvements such as add seating, like an island with barstools; or upgrading appliances can make a kitchen look much more appealing to buyers. You could also look at replacing dated countertops or flooring which is well worth the time and money. ...

When is the BEST Time to Sell your Biggest Asset?

Sometimes personal circumstances can dictate when we decide to sell our home but we are also influenced that the Spring and Summer months are the best months to sell. Everything looks so much better when the suns is shining. The only problem with that is there’s so much more choice for buyers. The below chart shows the busiest months for listings and no surprises March and November are the peak months....

4 Things Every New Home Buyer Must Inspect!

 As a first home buyer, it can be hard to know what to look for when inspecting a home. The whole process can become overwhelming when open homes are busy and swarming with potential buyers. Here are a few essential things you can look out for yourself when considering a home. 1. Stains on the walls and ceilings:Check the walls and ceilings for stains. If there are stains on the walls or ceilings, this may indicate that the house has some issues; and it is not as watertight as it shoul...

The Way to WIN at Auction!

Do your homework: To familiarise yourself with the auction process, you may like to start attending auctions as an observer. You can also ask your real estate agent if you have any questions, as they have the expertise about the auction process. Pay close attention to detail: It is important that you have your solicitor examine the Terms and Conditions of Sale before the auction to ensure that everything is in order. Also, if necessary, have a building and contamination inspection carrie...

Don't be caught out by private home buyers!

This week, the activities of house-buying companies are in the spotlight and are stirring things up in the property game. These companies are developers looking for properties they can on-sell for a greater profit. Recently, reports suggest they are approaching prospective homeowners by door knocking desirable neighbourhoods and making them quick sale offers. The companies purchase these houses directly, without the commission that is usually paid to real estate agents. Consumer advocates ar...

Marketing your property for a successful result

The marketing of your property is vital aspect to creating a successful sale. In general, our vendors want more value for money when marketing of their property. Our marketing system has been designed on how to best benefit vendors and how to get listings in front of the right potential owners. Through experience, we've found that potential owners are usually under the impression that they have to pay for all promotional aspects involved with listing a property on the market. Photographing y...

Hope for Buyers in Hamilton...

We've had an "up" market for so many years where vendors have made substantial gain and buyers have had the choice to keep up or delay purchasing. This is beginning to change as home sales slow down offering more choice and empowering buyers in the market. In March last year, 415 properties were sold, a Hamilton record! This year, we've seen the sale of 345 properties. At present, buyers have more choice with over 850 available listings in Hamilton. Having more choice is good news for home b...

Terry’s Tips on Property Investment

If you own your own home, especially outright, you should have an investment of some sort. Supposing you are considering a property investment, talk to a broker to see what the costs to run an investment property are. As an investor it is important that you consider the rate of return that a property will provide by taking into account the purchase price and rental income that can be achieved. Real estate agents can prepare a rental appraisal for a potential investment property to give you an ...