Make renovations pay over the long term

Renovations to your home can be a costly business – but if you give it some thought your upgrade can save you money in the longer term. With the spectre of ever-increasing electricity costs and historically high fuel, transport and food costs ahead, consumers are facing great challenges to keep daily expenses on manageable levels, says Neville McIntyre, chairman of Aida, South Africa’s best-known estate agency group.

“So if you need to renovate your home now, it makes good sense to include as many energy-saving and other ‘green’ features in your plans as possible. Initially it may be slightly more expensive than traditional alternatives but long-term savings will help to offset rising utility bills and other household expenses,” he says.

Electricity savings should be high on the agenda in the light of Eskom’s requested increases that will see unit costs double in five years. Many householders are already switching to solar power or heat pumps to heat water since hot water accounts for a high percentage of electricity costs, says McIntyre. “In fact even if you are not currently renovating, it would make financial sense to switch to alternative ways to heat household water.”

Other ways in which electricity costs can be limited include making sure that any heating or cooling systems are highly functional by ensuring proper insulation to keep the heat in during winter and out during summer. Window and roof insulation, as well as making sure doors fit properly, are aspects that need to be considered.

If new appliances form part of the upgrade, consumers would be well advised to choose energy-efficient models that will contribute to lower power bills.

Energy-saving light bulbs have become popular choices for lighting, but recently great strides have also been made in the efficiency of LED lights. As an aside, McIntyre says moveable solar garden lamps have become very affordable and apart from lighting up the garden to the best advantage at night, they may be pressed into service as instant indoor lamps in cases of power cuts.

Water use is the second major area where savings can be made. If plumbing forms part of the upgrade, homeowners should consider installing a grey water system to safely re-use bath and shower water in the garden. Tanks to catch and store rain water run-off from roofs for irrigation are another good idea to cut metered water consumption. And, once again, appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines that are rated for low water consumption make sense.

Kitchen and bathroom renovations could include use of low-flow aerated taps and shower heads and low-flow toilet cisterns to save a bit of extra water each day that will add up to a significant amount over a month.

McIntyre adds that such upgrades will not only save home-owners some hard cash over the longer term, but will also make their properties more attractive to cost-conscious buyers when the time comes to market their homes.

Issued by Aida National Franchises

It is important to know your property's title deed

Home buyers should carefully inspect the title deed of any property they want to buy before they sign an offer to purchase.

Otherwise, says Neville McIntyre, chairman of Aida, South Africa's best-known estate agency group, they might be in for an unpleasant surprise. "Title deeds often contain information that is not readily apparent when inspecting the home itself and careful scrutiny of the document will prevent possible disappointments," he says.

"For instance, your plans to extend the patio or add an extra garage may come to nought if the title deed contains a clause prohibiting further building on the stand. And even if further building is permissible, the title deed may prescribe certain standards and building styles, which may not suit your taste or your pocket."

Equally, he says, the title deed may prohibit sub-division, which would scupper any plans to sell off a part of the property to help finance your bond.

But boundary lines are probably the greatest bone of contention and it is vital that buyers carefully check that the physical boundaries of the property correspond to that described in the title deed.

McIntyre says the main problem is usually encroachment from a neighbouring property. "Fences may encroach on the property you want to buy, or a later addition such as a garage or cottage may breach the boundary. It is no easy or cheap task to set matters right - and it may well influence your decision to go ahead with the transaction.

"And in cases where the encroachment has been in place for 30 years or longer without any objection, you will have no recourse in any event since the neighbour will be deemed to legally own that part of the property," he says.

Sellers and their agents are, of course, obliged to inform potential buyers of any encroachment they are aware of, but if neither party have inspected the title deed they themselves are likely to be in the dark. "And that's why prospective buyers should do their own homework diligently to make sure that they will be able to enjoy the property - without restriction - in the way they envisage," says McIntyre.

Aida Press Release

Make property renovations 'pay over the long term'

Renovations to your home can be a costly business - but if you give it some thought your upgrade can save you money in the longer term.

With the spectre of ever-increasing electricity costs and historically high fuel, transport and food costs ahead, consumers are facing great challenges to keep daily expenses on manageable levels, says Neville McIntyre, chairman of Aida, South Africa's best-known estate agency group.

"So if you need to renovate your home now, it makes good sense to include as many energy-saving and other 'green' features in your plans as possible. Initially it may be slightly more expensive than traditional alternatives but long-term savings will help to offset rising utility bills and other household expenses," he says.

Electricity savings should be high on the agenda in the light of Eskom's requested increases that will see unit costs double in five years. Many householders are already switching to solar power or heat pumps to heat water since hot water accounts for a high percentage of electricity costs, says McIntyre. "In fact even if you are not currently renovating, it would make financial sense to switch to alternative ways to heat household water."

Other ways in which electricity costs can be limited include making sure that any heating or cooling systems are highly functional by ensuring proper insulation to keep the heat in during winter and out during summer. Window and roof insulation, as well as making sure doors fit properly, are aspects that need to be considered.

If new appliances form part of the upgrade, consumers would be well advised to choose energy-efficient models that will contribute to lower power bills.

Energy-saving light bulbs have become popular choices for lighting, but recently great strides have also been made in the efficiency of LED lights. As an aside, McIntyre says moveable solar garden lamps have become very affordable and apart from lighting up the garden to the best advantage at night, they may be pressed into service as instant indoor lamps in cases of power cuts.

Water use is the second major area where savings can be made. If plumbing forms part of the upgrade, homeowners should consider installing a grey water system to safely re-use bath and shower water in the garden. Tanks to catch and store rain water run-off from roofs for irrigation are another good idea to cut metered water consumption. And, once again, appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines that are rated for low water consumption make sense.

Kitchen and bathroom renovations could include use of low-flow aerated taps and shower heads and low-flow toilet cisterns to save a bit of extra water each day that will add up to a significant amount over a month.

McIntyre adds that such upgrades will not only save home-owners some hard cash over the longer term, but will also make their properties more attractive to cost-conscious buyers when the time comes to market their homes.

Aida Press Release

Check the deed before the deal is done

Home buyers should carefully inspect the title deed of any property they want to buy before they sign an offer to purchase.

Otherwise, says Neville McIntyre, chairman of Aida, South Africa's best-known estate agency group, they might be in for an unpleasant surprise. "Title deeds often contain information that is not readily apparent when inspecting the home itself and careful scrutiny of the document will prevent possible disappointments," he says.

"For instance, your plans to extend the patio or add an extra garage may come to nought if the title deed contains a clause prohibiting further building on the stand. And even if further building is permissible, the title deed may prescribe certain standards and building styles, which may not suit your taste or your pocket."

Equally, he says, the title deed may prohibit sub-division, which would scupper any plans to sell off a part of the property to help finance your bond.

But boundary lines are probably the greatest bone of contention and it is vital that buyers carefully check that the physical boundaries of the property correspond to that described in the title deed.

McIntyre says the main problem is usually encroachment from a neighbouring property. "Fences may encroach on the property you want to buy, or a later addition such as a garage or cottage may breach the boundary. It is no easy or cheap task to set matters right - and it may well influence your decision to go ahead with the transaction.

"And in cases where the encroachment has been in place for 30 years or longer without any objection, you will have no recourse in any event since the neighbour will be deemed to legally own that part of the property," he says.

Sellers and their agents are, of course, obliged to inform potential buyers of any encroachment they are aware of, but if neither party have inspected the title deed they themselves are likely to be in the dark. "And that's why prospective buyers should do their own homework diligently to make sure that they will be able to enjoy the property - without restriction - in the way they envisage," says McIntyre.

Boost your home’s price – be a good neighbour

HOME buyers are naturally attracted to areas where the overall impression is one of caring – clean pavements, neat gardens and well-maintained homes.

“And as we can see from the growing popularity of estates in recent years, many also dream about living in an area where they can become friends with their neighbours and share school trips, security initiatives and Sunday braais,” says Braam de Jager, national operations manager of Aida.

“Consequently, one of the best ways for home owners in any area to add value to their properties is to work with others to create the type of neighbourhood that will attract more buyers and boost home prices.”

But this needs to be a joint endeavour, he says. It is no good expecting or requesting that other people keep their pets under control, for example, if you are not prepared to do something about your dog howling all night.”

Similarly, says De Jager, you need to attend to the upkeep of your home if you want others to do the same. In fact, you may have to be the one to set the example – or initiate a neighbourhood drive to clean up the pavements or parks, or start a neighbourhood watch group.

“If you take pride in your home and its surrounds, your neighbours will usually follow suit. No one wants to live in the worst-looking property on the street.”

· 16 Feb 2013

· Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)

Home Buyers’ Advice

How to take the hassle out of the great trek

The excitement of a new home is usually somewhat tempered by the daunting prospect of heaps of paperwork and then moving your belongings lock, stock and barrel.

But, says Neville McIntyre, chairman of Aida, South Africa’s best-known estate agency group, a bit of planning can go a long way to prevent time-consuming and irritating problems.

“Right at the start,” he says, “consumers should ensure that the sale agreement is in good order. Apart from the agreed price, it is critical that the agreement should state when the buyer may take occupancy of the property, which is usually the first day of the month after the transfer of ownership is registered.

“But in cases where the new owner needs occupancy by a certain date irrespective of whether or not the transfer has been completed – for instance if he is relocating because of a job offer in a new town – it is imperative that this date is stated in the agreement. Occupational rent due to the seller until registration should also be stipulated.”

On the other hand, in cases where the seller can only vacate the property on a certain date that may be later than the date of transfer, the agreement must stipulate the occupational rent due to the buyer, says McIntyre.

Other vital stipulations include the date on which necessary repairs to the property must be completed – usually before transfer – and when the risk passes to the buyer for insurance purposes. In cases where the seller stays on after transfer, it should be clearly stipulated who is responsible for maintaining adequate insurance cover for the property.

Once the agreement is in place, buyers can start planning the move itself, says McIntyre. “Apart from booking removal services in good time, it certainly makes matters easier to have the property professionally cleaned before taking up residence. It is also a good idea to book a once-off garden service shortly before or after moving in because gardens often get neglected as new owners are kept busy unpacking and settling in.”

Finally, arrangements for collecting the keys from either the seller or the estate agent should be made well in advance and a full set of keys should preferably be collected a day or two before cleaning crews arrive or before the removal van stops at the gate.

Issued by Aida National Franchises

For more information, Contact Braam de Jager On 012 682 9600