Blog

To help you maintain control over your house construction – and be another set of eyes for mistakes – buildingguide.co.nz has put together a comprehensive construction checklist. Some of this you can do, some of this your designer or builder can check off on your behalf. Building a new home is a big undertaking –Read more

We all know the importance of first impressions, so how your home looks, feels and even smells is crucial when it comes to open homes. Here are some simple and quick tasks you can do around the house before potential buyers arrive that can help your home shine.   De-clutter by putting away kids’ toys,Read more

There’s no doubt about it, most Kiwis love DIY, and there aren’t many more satisfying feelings than finishing off a project at home. When it comes to painting, here Resene off some top tips you’ll need for a professional job. Prepare, prepare, prepare Allow plenty of time for surface preparation. It’s the bit most peopleRead more

When looking to heat a home, it’s important to consider the wide variety of heating methods on offer. An under-heated home can lead to illness and poor health. Creating a warm, dry and comfortable home should be a top priority. Heating options are far now greater than they were a generation ago. Electrical, gas, new super-efficientRead more

As the summer heatwave hits (hopefully sometime soon), the idea of a swimming pool in your backyard is an alluring one. And surely you can justify the cost by the value it will add to your home? Not necessarily. In fact, the opposite may be true. In some cases swimming pools can put off prospectiveRead more

Choosing how to sell your property can feel like a big decision. Here’s an overview of the methods available and the reasons they may work best for you. Auction We’ve all read the media commentary about rising house prices, and although there are many theories as to why this is, what it fundamentally comes downRead more

An important aspect for an investor to consider is the rate of return a rental property will provide, taking into account the purchase price and the rental income that can be achieved. The rate of return will differ between rental properties and is dependent on location, size and tenant appeal. To determine rent return, we canRead more

Thinking of purchasing a rental property? If you’re a first-time investor, here are five commonly overlooked costs you may need to budget for. 1. Insulation A change to the Residential Tenancies Act means all residential rental homes will be required, by law, to have insulation by 1 July 2019. If you purchase a property thatRead more

The standard response when you’re thinking about selling your home but are not sure when, is “sell in spring”. And there’s plenty of truth in that as warmer, drier weather and post-winter itchy feet drive potential buyers out to open homes. But life doesn’t stop for winter. People still need to move, whether it beRead more

It’s called the living room because it’s one of the most-used rooms in your home. Make it a room you also love the look of with these simple design tips from The Block NZ co-host and Your Home and Garden magazine editor Shelley Ferguson. Be your own detective Homework time: start to notice the thingsRead more