The butler pantry… who doesn’t love a walk-in cupboard! There are some traditional home treats that we don’t see anymore. Features like transom windows, vestibules, and sleeping porches, to name a few. One traditional home feature that has very much come into demand is a butler pantry. This is happening in both brand-new properties and remodels or renovations. Traditionally, a butler’s pantry...
How to prevent condensation this winter t's critical to maintain your investment property. It attracts good tenants, but also influences the income you earn (rent) and the capital growth over time. Certain parts of the year can require your attention. Melbourne is certainly in the middle of the winter season and the weather has been very cold. One sneaky concern arises with these cold mornings, and that's...
Melbourne is a highly desirable place to live. In fact it has been ranked the best place in the world by Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) from 2011-2018. Many inner city suburbs have contributed to Melbourne's culture, environment and stability. So what are the most populated suburbs? Melbournians love their city and have little desire to live to far away from it. As the land scarcity increases...
Amenities is a silent achiever when buying property. This is relevant if buying to occupy or invest. In this article, we take the opportunity to highlight how amenities should never be overlooked when sourcing the right investment property. It is widely known that the further we live from Melbourne (or any city for that matter), the fewer amenities become available. The closer we are to the inner cities...
Spiral staircases are becoming more popular to your normal traditional staircase. They are becoming a modern display feature to a large double storey family home. Today spiral staircases are known for being space-efficient as well as magnificently beautiful and even majestic. As family needs and tastes change, we are seeing common feedback to the stunning look of a spiral staircase bringing the home to...
According to research conducted by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV), homes located within some of Melbourne’s best public school zones have asking prices in excess of $100,000 more to similar properties that position outside school zones. Its becoming public knowledge to learn housing prices within school zones are higher to neighbouring properties, but the price differences may surprise...
Overcapitalising - How to avoid this problem. This is a very common word used in both the finance and real estate industry. Many investors and owner occupiers would also be familiar with this term. Overcapitalising is caused in situations where you pay to much on renovations or home improvements. Implementing capital improvements such as laying high quality outdoor decking, changing a gazebo into an...
Once our families grow up to be financially independent and raise their own families, you may realise at one point that your family residence is now quite big. Many people look to extract money from their home by downsizing. This can be quite an exciting time, but also quite daunting. What ever the basis behind downsizing your home, there are a few things that should be considered. What to consider when...
Balcony garden ideas. The love of a balcony view has increased dramatically over the years. Buyers are falling in love with the idea of having a city view or park/river view. Many have also appreciated the view of the suburb and streets below. A balcony can be a great place to dine, relax and entertain. Here are some balcony garden ideas that may improve your enjoyment out on the balcony. Vertical...
Property affordability is challenging. A strategy many take is to use a guarantor. In this article we discuss the benefits on how it may help. Please note every strategy has it’s set of advantages and disadvantages. We therefore urge everyone looking to buy a property, particularly when using a guarantor to seek advise first. Many good sources are your accountant, financial planner, lawyer/solicitor...