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Searching for a home can be incredibly confusing as it’s usually a case of juggling priorities and deciding what you’re prepared to compromise on. It is often easy to overlook a home’s potential because of cosmetic flaws that you find annoying, or you may fail to see how minor tweaks could … View moreSearching for a home can be incredibly confusing as it’s usually a case of juggling priorities and deciding what you’re prepared to compromise on. It is often easy to overlook a home’s potential because of cosmetic flaws that you find annoying, or you may fail to see how minor tweaks could make it work for your lifestyle.
Houses requiring major renovation, or that have structural problems, are another matter but often a little adjustment to your mindset can reveal assets in a property that aren’t immediately obvious. Here are our tips to help you to evaluate a house and recognise its true potential.
- Location, location, location
There’s one thing no amount of makeover magic can change and that is the golden rule of location. If you see a property with a good aspect that’s in your preferred area it may be worthwhile stacking the odds in its favour and taking a considered look at what minuses could easily be converted to pluses.
Proximity to good schools, work, friends, family and amenities are factors that are a vital part of day-to-day life so it’s important not to get distracted by minor niggles. Make a checklist of what can easily be done to address negative factors before you discount a property that’s in your suburb of choice.
- Forget the furniture
Too often buyers will check out a home and are put off by the furniture, wall colours or drapes. You aren’t buying the contents or the owner’s taste and cosmetic changes like new floor coverings, light fittings and colour schemes are relatively inexpensive quick fixes that can make a huge difference to ambience. Look past any clutter or style faux pas and imagine the home with your own furniture in place and a fresh colour palette.
Similarly have a good look at bathrooms and kitchens – these are big ticket items and if they are in good condition small tweaks like a new bench top, cupboard handles, taps or a slick vanity may be all that’s needed to update the look.
There’s not much that can be done to address cramped, dark rooms, but if a house has airy, light-filled living areas and generous bedrooms there’s a lot of minor touches that can transform how you feel about a place.
- Fix the floor plan
Some houses have a confused floor plan that can be very off-putting and make it hard to imagine how you will use the space. Assess whether rooms are fit for purpose or whether you could alter the general flow by changing how you use each area. It is worthwhile checking what walls are load-bearing as often big changes can be made for little outlay by knocking down walls that aren’t structural to create bigger living spaces.
Similarly have a look at traffic flow around the house. Are doorways placed correctly for fluid movement from room to room or is there an alternative placement that would encourage a seamless transition to each space? Also have a look at annoying things like rooms that have two or more entries – too many doors make a room disjointed and placement of furniture a hassle but it’s often an easy fix to close up some walls to make the room feel inviting.
Indoor/outdoor flow is a major consideration for modern living. If a property lacks a connection to the outdoors get your builder to assess the potential for opening up living spaces and give an estimate for how much it would cost. Often there will be a straightforward solution such as putting in French doors or building a deck with sliders to completely alter the atmosphere of a house.
- First impressions
The kerb appeal of a house can play a big influence on how you view the rest of the property but it can often be something that can be improved without too much hassle. Look at the fencing and gate, front path, access to the front door and general presentation to see what can be improved. If the property is overgrown this is a quick fix to remedy, or it may be that some landscaping is needed to soften lines. Feature pots either side of the front door, an attractive outdoor light fitting, or a new front door itself are all little tweaks that can make a house feel more inviting.
If the section hasn’t been well-maintained it’s worth imagining what it would be like with a tidy up. Tatty fencing, areas that need water blasting, aged pavers and worn outdoor furniture are all cosmetic things that can influence how you view a property. Conjure up an image of how it would look with a makeover, some feature plants, a designated outdoor living area or some shelter to see if you can transform the section into a welcoming space. If the property is overlooked by neighbours a quick-growing lilly-pilly hedge may be the answer to any privacy concerns.
People rent out baches, rooms in their houses, their garages and car parking spaces, so surely hiring out swimming pools is the next logical step.
A new app lets people hire their private pools by the hour, but it hasn't come to New Zealand - yet.
To read more, click here.
Learn more about our new rural crime prevention signs, now available for purchase to the public, on our website: neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz or click the 'Read More' link below. 📰
#safercommunitiestogether
Hi neighbours,
We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.
If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nz … View moreHi neighbours,
We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.
If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nz with your name, your neighbourhood and a quick recap of what was taken and how it happened.
We'd love to hear from you!
People will have to put up with offensive behaviour from difficult tenants if the government goes ahead with plans to remove the 90-day notice period for evictions. What do you think? Should the government keep the 90-day tenant eviction notice? Vote in the poll below.
Update: they are still in my garage. Please take them!
We are updating our living space and have very much loved 3 + 2x1 seaters that we are willing to give away.
We have had this suite for over 10 years now we originally were going to donate it to the salvation army but they obviously … View moreUpdate: they are still in my garage. Please take them!
We are updating our living space and have very much loved 3 + 2x1 seaters that we are willing to give away.
We have had this suite for over 10 years now we originally were going to donate it to the salvation army but they obviously didn't want it and we can't bring ourselves to take it to the dump because we love it too much.
Yes, it is starting to look a bit tired with a few tears here and there and the fabric probably needs a clean but the bones are still really good.
So do you know of anyone who has just moved and is needing some interim furniture or a young family that isn't precious about getting things dirty?
flick me a message and I will send you photos. It is currently sitting in our garage and you will have to arrange for it to be collected
They are currently broken up in to there respective chunks and can be remade easily
Dance Party HQ - ladies come and join us dancing in the dark every Wednesday night at King Lion Hall, King St Upper Hutt. $5. Freestyle dance to great music. This weeks playlist below.
2 door credenza with single shelf 800x910x400 $20
Book shelf 325x1780x230 deep $10
2 door, 2 shelf cabinet 630x1770x450 deep $20
Grey and natural wood veneer, minor blemishes
Sell as set or individually
Mayors can be pulling in big pay cheques depending on the size of their districts, but what exactly …
Cassino Grove Trentham: Great stalls and car boot,
Mary Kay cosmetics, Cookie Time, Christmas gifts, Hand Knitting plus lots of new and pre-loved bargins.
Mint Food Truck and Ameizing Food Truck will be there too. Grab a bargin and / or your dinner.
Stalls or Car Boot spaces still available. … View moreCassino Grove Trentham: Great stalls and car boot,
Mary Kay cosmetics, Cookie Time, Christmas gifts, Hand Knitting plus lots of new and pre-loved bargins.
Mint Food Truck and Ameizing Food Truck will be there too. Grab a bargin and / or your dinner.
Stalls or Car Boot spaces still available. Contact me for more info.
Day 1 of the Rose and Bonsai Show at Walter Nash Centre, Taita. Continue tomorrow at 10am. Entry $3 for adults.
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