Rising electricity costs and increased loadshedding have seen many of us turn to gas for more cost-effective heating or cooking solutions. But it’s important to remember that there are specific conditions when it comes to gas and insurance. Whether you’re using a gas stove (which is deemed to be part of the fixed machinery on a property) or mobile gas appliances (such as gas heaters), you need to keep...
Temperatures may not often drop below zero in South Africa, but it can still get very cold - we take a look at a few cost-effective ways to keep the winter chill at bay. While most South Africans will agree that its never too cold for a braai, we still tend to stay in more often during the colder months. So it makes sense to winterise our homes to ensure we enjoy them just as much as we do during the...
Most of us assume we know everything there is to know about our homes, especially if we’ve lived in them for some time, but whilst we may be familiar with the geyser’s location and how many square meters of living space we own, there are numerous things that most people would be very surprised to know....
Due to load-shedding as well as the soaring cost of electricity, thousands of South Africans are investigating their options with regard to solar power. Understandably, they have a lot of questions. Solar energy experts Versofy SOLAR received more than 5 000 enquiries around home subscriptions since January, and they keep coming....
There are a multitude of advantages to owning your own home, but the one glaring disadvantage is that you can’t simply call the landlord when something needs fixing and, although cosmetic repairs can be postponed, there are some repairs which should never be ignored....
Although you may not currently be considering the chilly days of winter, the colder months are fast approaching. Therefore, it's crucial to proactively address your home's winter maintenance to prepare for the cold ahead....
Although the quintessential notion of off-grid living typically involves a simpler rural lifestyle, there are numerous methods to achieve greater self-sufficiency even within an urban setting. Although it might not be possible for everyone to be completely self-sustainable, there are multiple reasons to attempt to adopt this lifestyle as far as possible. To start, the environmental benefits that...
The answer to the question of whether it is ‘cheaper’ to buy or build a residential property is "it depends”. “Taking on a residential property building project is a serious undertaking, but one that can be very rewarding. Our best advice is to consult a quantity surveyor to help you plan and manage the cost of building,” says Jan le Roux. Professional quantity surveyor Guillaume Cillié,...
The increase in loadshedding stages for longer periods has caused many buyers to add ‘load-shedding friendly’ to their property wish list. Adrian Goslett says that upgrading some features in the home could minimise frustrations and add resale value to the property....
Unsurprisingly, weight loss, improved self-care, doing more exercise, and saving money are among the most common new year’s resolutions people make. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with any of those, how about including resolutions for your property? “Property is a significant investment and one that bears looking after and setting ‘goals’ for how you manage and look after that...