All materials have a lifespan and even the most well-built homes will eventually start to show their age, as a homeowner, you need to know what signs to look for so you can step to prevent these issues from becoming long-term problems....
Electricity
Over the years, South Africans have become accustomed to coping with occasional Stage 1 or 2 loadshedding, and have therefore only made minor concessions but, with Stage 4 and 6 now regular occurrences, we need to plan accordingly to minimise the stress and disruption to our lives....
From 1 July, you will be paying upwards of 15% more for your electricity, as municipal tariff increases kick in. Yet energy experts have cautioned that, without urgent intervention from the government and others, we will see load shedding intensify with Stages 6, 8, and even 10 a likelihood. Understandably, homeowners are considering alternative ways to keep the lights on....
With memories of the most recent bout of Stage 4 load shedding still fresh, Eskom is forecasting as many as 100 days of load shedding between April and August. Needless to say, that’s about as welcome as sour milk in your cereal and will have many South Africans trying to figure out how they can free themselves from Eskom's clutches....
The cold is setting in around many parts of the country. Winter is knocking at the door and for many of us that means we’re getting ready for our rainy season. We understand that for some areas in South Africa, winter doesn’t necessarily mean rain. But the tips below on how to prepare your house for winter can benefit all homeowners ahead of any wet and rainy weather....
“Faced with mounting energy costs, many homeowners think that going entirely off-grid is the only solution. Unfortunately, this is often too expensive. It’s, therefore, more feasible to make adjustments to your home’s energy consumption so that you can introduce solar energy solutions with a hybrid battery system that will augment Eskom or your municipality’s supply - rather than replacing it...
Quality of life has become a priority for many homeowners during the pandemic. When you are spending most of your time living and working at home, there’s an even greater need to create a living space that is comfortable, functional and hygienic....
Owning a home entails a lot of financial responsibility and along with that comes the ability to do home maintenance that will not only help maintain the value of your home but also save you money in the long run....
Selling your home quickly not only means you can move on with your life - you also don’t have to keep it pristine all the time, juggling your schedule to make time for viewings. However, during tougher economic times sellers need to pull out all the stops in order to yield the highest possible return in the shortest possible time.”...
When it comes to selling your property, there is more to it than just putting the property on the market and making an effort to spruce it up....