by admin | Oct 20, 2011 | Build and renovate, Featured Articles
To build and renovate your home can be costly most often people use their home loan to cover their renovation costs. To take out a home loan for renovations will add value to your home in the long run. Listed are 5 easy tips to increase the value of your home.
- Renovations to the exterior of your property: A good impression of your property starts on the outside. Ensure to paint your house and maintain the exterior; old gutters and pipes can detract from the value of your property. Maintain and invest in your garden, a well groomed garden can be a good selling point. The key to renovating your property is to make it inviting and appealing to potential purchasers should you decide to sell.
- Interior renovations: Examine every room in your home; a fresh coat of paint can uplift the entire interior. Kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas can benefit from renovations. Replace old flooring, update kitchen furniture, add paint to bathrooms, and check fixtures and fittings in all rooms.
- Plan ahead: Unused items should be discarded or sold. Prepare your property in the event that you should sell it one day. Regular maintenance to the interior and exterior of your home is beneficial to the quality and value of your property.
- Property valuation: After renovating the exterior and interior of your property and after you have removed unwanted items from your home. You can ask a real estate agency to evaluate your property. Build and renovate your property to increase the re-sale value of your home.
- Property auction: Should you decide to sell your property without the hassle and a long waiting period consider property auction. Auctioneers can give you a realistic market value of your property. A list of potential purchasers will view your property; thereafter an auction will take place. Property auctions are in the seller’s best interest as there is no requirement to negotiate on the asking price.
To build and renovate your home by making small changes can add value to your property. Bond applications are available from Findbond.co.za. To take out a home loan to cover home renovations is worth your while in the long run. Conducting property valuation before and after renovating your home will reveal an increase in property value. To take out a home loan for renovations will increase the worth of your property and you will attain a return on investment.
by admin | Oct 5, 2011 | Build and renovate, Featured Articles
Renovating or building a home can be expensive and frustrating; in order to make your home make-over a success you are going to need the help of experts in a number of fields which may include civil engineers, roofing contractors, plumbing contractors or any number of other disciplines depending on the project. Here are some points to consider before you go ahead and put a cost on a project and decide whether do do it with cash, draw from your access bond or to get a second bond:
- Time and money: Often people have an unrealistic idea as to how long renovations would take. Often it takes a lot longer than expected. Factors such as the weather, public holidays, availability of workers and material can put a hold on your renovations or build. So to be sure add an additional few months onto your expected completion as it will work in your favour. Depending on what changes you would like to make to your home; you need to start off with what you can actually afford to do. So starting off with a budget is a definite must in this case as it is easy to overspend. Should you require extra funds you can use your home loan to extend your bond or take money out of your bond in order to cover the costs. Even so there is only so much money you can use from your bond. Should you require a bond companies such as Findbond will be able to assist you.
- Project Managers: Options such as DIY are cheaper but if you want your renovations to take place and be successful it is always a good idea to hire the correct people to do the job. Project Managers are difficult to source or should I say professional and competent Project Managers. It is important to use people who have been recommended. As word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool using it to find the right person to assist you with your renovations is imperative and will ultimately lead to a successful renovation or build of your home.
- Reliable, cost effective builders with professional workmanship: Another reason to employ a Project Manager is for good contacts and professional workers. As Project Managers can advise you on renovating or building your home they also have contact with builders, plumbers, electricians and painters. Should you choose a reputable Project Manager it often means that they have professional contacts that can offer you quality and satisfactory work. You should not try to hire cost effective workers and use cheap material to get the job done as you are very likely to have problems in the long run.
- Plan B: Once you have discussed all of your wants and desires with your Project Manager ensure that you have extra money aside just in case something does go wrong. Should you want to extend your wall for example or build another level onto your house you need certain building requirements which is when an architect would need to step in. This means that it will cost money to draw up plans and meet with council etc. You should always do research and cost analysis before you commence alterations to your building.
- Noise and invasion of privacy: Renovating often means taking out carpets and replacing them with tiles for example so it is just as invasive as building. You will have workers and builders walking through your home. Therefore you might consider moving out of your home while you renovate. As many people cannot afford to do this you can always use your bond or extend your home loan in order to receive more funds to rent an apartment while your home is being remodelled.
Renovating or building your home can be a lengthy procedure depending on the extent of which you want to alter your living space. Therefore using your bond or applying for an extra bond can assist you in the interim and in the long run. Remodelling your home adds to the value of your home; it is well worth the hassle.
by admin | Jul 10, 2011 | Build and renovate
Renovating your living space is a daunting thought and it requires effort and commitment to execute your plan! As the kitchen is considered to be the heart of the home; one needs to carefully consider how one is going to
renovate one’s kitchen.
Here are some hints and ideas to accomplish your dream kitchen:
- As your kitchen is utilised for your family and preparing homely meals; it is also an area that can be utilised for entertaining your guests! Therefore the space should cater for family as well as guests. This means that you would require a functional yet aesthetically pleasing kitchen.
- What are the current issues in the kitchen? Maybe there isn’t enough space, there flow is limited, and maybe colour and texture of cupboards, counters, flooring and lighting need examining. Upgrading your appliances will give your kitchen an instant face lift!
- From a technical point of view a triangle is a seven meter distance from sink, stove and fridge. If you have an expert designing your kitchen then they will know what to consider.
- Choosing what shaped kitchen to install requires thought and planning and using affordable but reliable material can provide you with a kitchen that will last a lifetime.
By creating your
kitchen it should express your taste and your personality. Working with an experienced designer can fulfil your desires.
Renovating ideas for your bathroom:
- Bathrooms are considered to be a space for you to relax and unwind after a stressful day! So the point of renovating your bathroom would be to create a space that can fulfil your needs.
- Design, functionality and flow are key factors in designing any living space. Your bathroom requires careful planning. Here are some points to consider when creating your ideal bathroom:
- Take into consideration the problem areas in the bathroom. Remember that flooring, lighting and colour can make a significant difference to your space.
- As you already have an existing bathroom and you require a few adjustments; it is advisable not to change the plumbing and electricals. Should you want to rearrange the electrical and plumbing then use an experienced electrician and plumber. Let their professional opinion guide you in making a decision
- As you recreate your bathroom make sure that you check for damp problems and water proof the entire area.
- Renovating your home is expensive so try and stick to your budget. By reusing bath, tiles or other fittings will minimise the cost of replacing all of the fittings.
- Choose a theme for your bathroom incorporate colours and texture to bring your ideal bathroom to life. Accessories can highlight your bathroom and add to the style you are looking to create.
- Utilise your space: large, open spaced bathrooms can be created effectively by using larger tiles, mirrors, neutral colours which will broaden the space.
- Adding warmth to your bathroom will emphasise the need to relax and unwind in your newly created bathroom.
- Going green is key so by switching your old taps and shower heads with water saving appliances will minimise the waste of water.
Any renovations to your home need careful planning but in the end it is worthwhile. Extending your home loan or by applying for a bond will help you should you require financial support. The key is to consider every detail and consult with an experienced designer to assist you with fulfilling your dream house! By Adriana Levi
by admin | May 21, 2010 | Bond application
Applying for a second bond is primarily intended for home improvements and not to be confused with accessing equity available in your bond for other reasons like dealing with debt or purchasing other assets.
If you have had your bond for some time and wish to access the equity available, in most cases the bond can be converted to an access type bond which essentially gives you access to the capital amount you have paid off on your bond and you will be able to transfer it without limitation.
If you need to make additions or alterations to your home that will add value to the existing property, you can apply for a second bond to cover the construction costs.
The process of applying for a second bond is exactly the same as applying for a first bond where the bank assesses your ability to make the repayments, the value of the property before the alterations or additions and the value after the improvements. They will then lend a portion of the increase in value to embark on the project subject to certain terms and conditions.
Using a bond originator is recommended in applying for a second bond. It may be an option to move your existing bond from one bank to another at a better interest rate with fewer conditions than to simply accept what your existing bond holder offers.
Remember that a small difference of ½% in the interest rate can mean hundreds of thousands of savings over a long period, so explore all of your options before signing for a second bond and of course a bond originator costs you absolutely nothing.
