http://www.showhouse.co.nz New Zealand Property en Real Estate Copyright Showhouse.co.nz Tue, 9 Oct 2007 12:44:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/top_5_put_offs_when_buying_property.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/top_5_put_offs_when_buying_property.asp Potential buyers can be an annoying lot to being with, but we need them to buy our homes, house and properties. So when it comes to selling property we try our best, well at least most of us do, to ensure that there is nothing in the property that may put off the potential home buyer. Tue, 9 Oct 2007 12:44:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/increase_property_value_with_maintenance.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/increase_property_value_with_maintenance.asp I am amazed at the amount of open homes I visit that the owners have not even cleaned up. When I walk into to a home where the dishes from that mornings breakfast are still laying about I am instantly turned off. Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:39:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/check_agents_property_website.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/check_agents_property_website.asp When you are selling your house, home, property or business, chances are good nowadays that you will end up on the internet. Your property will be listed on the several websites as part of your marketing, or your agents, marketing strategy. Thu, 4 Oct 2007 12:30:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buying_a_country_house.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buying_a_country_house.asp So it's time to leave the city and get a bit more room. Move out to the country and enjoy the lifestyle. Tue, 2 Oct 2007 11:14:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/investing_safe_as_houses.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/investing_safe_as_houses.asp Many investors whom have rental or investment properties have at one time or another invested on the stock market. The stock market is quite a thrill, it is fast and exciting, however many find the risks involved and also the ability to predict these risks difficult. Mon, 1 Oct 2007 10:32:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buy_first_sell_first.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buy_first_sell_first.asp I recently talked to a few families who moved home. Both families received good prices for their houses and both managed to get the house they wanted to buy, however they did something slightly different from each other. Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:59:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/diy_property_management.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/diy_property_management.asp I have talked to some investors some time ago who have purchased properties near to where they live. Their reason was so they could manage the properties themselves, why would they want to do this you ask. Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:46:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/sold_signs_the_truth.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/sold_signs_the_truth.asp When a person decides to sell their home, chances are they have looked at properties in their area which had been for sale. They may not dig very deep in their research. Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:25:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/target_marketing_when_selling_your_home.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/target_marketing_when_selling_your_home.asp Like any advertising or marketing, they estimate only half of it is effective. The problem is it is very hard to determine which half works and which half is a waste of money. Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:07:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/LIM_reports_councils_buying_house.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/LIM_reports_councils_buying_house.asp Strangely enough the council can be a great benefit to you before purchasing your new home. You can visit your local council and for a small fee obtain the plans, drawings and any reports on your property. Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:14:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/home_staging_empty_rooms.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/home_staging_empty_rooms.asp At first one would think that a nice clean empty home would be attractive to a potential buyer. They have a blank canvas to imagine their family in, they can visualise the layout and designs, colour schemes and furniture. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/prechecks_before_buying_a_house.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/prechecks_before_buying_a_house.asp So you are about to purchase your new house, it could be your first or your tenth. Whatever number it is it is still one of the biggest investments any of us will make and therefore it is important to get it right. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/know_your_tenancy_agreements.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/know_your_tenancy_agreements.asp The Residential Tenancies Act outlines three basic tenancy agreements. These are a fixed-term, periodic and service tenancies. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buy_a_house_now_not_later.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buy_a_house_now_not_later.asp That elusive bargain is always just around the corner. Many people who are in the market to purchase a home always feel that is they hang out just a little longer the market may change and they will find that bargain that everyone is looking for. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/getting_your_property_ready_to_sell.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/getting_your_property_ready_to_sell.asp When one reads all the lovely articles in house and home magazines about the best things to do to prepare your house for sale, they usually include suggestions like paint the walls a neutral colour, tidy up the kids toys, put on coffee or bake bread when people are coming to see the house. These are all valid suggestions and can do no harm in making your property attractive to a potential buyer. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/reverse_mortgage.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/reverse_mortgage.asp So what is a Reverse Mortgage? It is a new type of mortgage here in New Zealand. It is sometimes known as an Equity release loan. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/rent_10percent_day_ten_rule.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/rent_10percent_day_ten_rule.asp There are many first time and novice investors out there who hole out for the highest rent possible before they let their rental property. This can usually result in the loss of many weeks rent and therefore money coming out of their pockets. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/real_estate_negotiation.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/real_estate_negotiation.asp When it comes time to actually negotiate the selling/buying price of the property, emotions and nerves can become a little frayed. A skilled agent will be able to keep the negotiation logical and on pace, a bad agent may let things spiral out of control, thinking they are clever by allowing the two parties, vendor and purchaser, emotions dictate the play of the negotiation. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buildings_without_consent.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/buildings_without_consent.asp So you have had the building work done or it was done before your purchased the house and now you need consent. Unfortunately building consents cannot be issued to you in retrospect. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/construction_loans.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/construction_loans.asp So you are going to build your new home. Are you prepared? We hope so as it is not as easy as it first seems. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/save_money_on_your_mortgage.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/save_money_on_your_mortgage.asp Many people believe that the only reason to change or renegotiate you current loan or mortgage is for a better more competitive interest rate. Although this is a very good reason it is not the only one. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/LIM_reports.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/LIM_reports.asp A LIM report is a Land Information Memorandum report. Before you complete a purchase on a property you would be advised to purchase a LIM report from the local council. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_innovative_methods_purchasing_property.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_innovative_methods_purchasing_property.asp The median price of New Zealand property has risen in May to a record $350,000. It seems that the large price tag would put a halt to purchasers and slow the market and although recent events seem to trend towards a market slow down. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_taxes_changes.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_taxes_changes.asp The New Zealand Minister of Finance, Michael Cullen, and the Reserve Bank have been scrambling around the last few weeks trying their hardest to lower inflation, cool the economy and lower the ever rising kiwi dollar. Exports have been having a hard time of it recently with the New Zealand dollar rising to record highs against the US dollar. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_marketing_slowing.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_marketing_slowing.asp New Zealand property prices hit a new record in May 2007. The average median price for a residential property in New Zealand rose to $350,000. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/understanding_loan_to_valuation_ratio.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/understanding_loan_to_valuation_ratio.asp Kiwis are fantastic at borrowing money, even with the rising interest rates and high New Zealand dollar people are still borrowing in higher amount than ever. In today's markets the high cost of housing causes many to borrow 100% of the purchase price. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/setting_the_selling_price.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/setting_the_selling_price.asp Some sellers when selling their property believe the best way to get the highest price is to inflate the asking price. Now for those of you who believe this, stop and think. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/agent_service_guarantee.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/agent_service_guarantee.asp So you have interviewed every agent in town, had them all over for tea, went golfing with some of them, received gifts and compliments, have been promised the entire earth by some and have had more reasonable offers by others and you have whittled your list of potential agents in line to sell your house down to 10. So what now? How do you make the final decision? If you do find yourself in a crazy situation like this, maybe you would consider asking all the agents on your list of they would be prepared to go a little further than the rest. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/raise_rent_investment_property.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/raise_rent_investment_property.asp When is the best time to raise the rent on one of your rental properties? Should you keep your rent update and raise it every time there is rise in the market value or is it more important to keep your tenant happy in the long term and don't raise the rent to meet market?These are the issues which every property investor must face. Many areas thought-out New Zealand are experiencing a rise in the rental value of properties. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/7_tips_for_negotiating_real_estate.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/7_tips_for_negotiating_real_estate.asp When buying or selling a property the most difficult stage of the process is the negotiation of the sale price. The buyer wants to pay as little as possible and the seller wants the maximum price possible for their home. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/5_ways_to_make_your_home_green.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/5_ways_to_make_your_home_green.asp We are all very aware of the environmental impact each of us has on the earth. Hopefully we all try and do our bit to make the earth a better place to live. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/5_ways_to_pay_your_deposit.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/5_ways_to_pay_your_deposit.asp When paying your deposit for your new home cash is always preferable but not the only way. Here are a few alternative ways to pay your deposit. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/vendors_put_off_potential_purchasers.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/vendors_put_off_potential_purchasers.asp When you go to sell your home, if this is the first time you have done so, many vendors feel that they shouldn't hand over the marketing of such an important piece of their life to just anyone. Many vendors are very proud and emotionally attached to their home. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/insulation_in_NZ_homes.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/insulation_in_NZ_homes.asp Winter is just around the corner as much as we would like to put it off as long as possible it is inevitable. If you have lived through a winter in a house with no insulation, like I have, you will appreciate the need for proper insulation and heating in the winter months. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/10_things_to_do_when_buying_a_house.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/10_things_to_do_when_buying_a_house.asp Below is a quick checklist for you to refer to if you are thinking of purchasing a property in the near future. It is by no means the complete process but an overview and helpful guide. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_certificate_of_acceptance.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_certificate_of_acceptance.asp If you as a purchaser find a house which has had building work or a vendor whom has had building work carried out and no Building Consent has been given there is a remedy. As a purchaser you may feel that the building work has not been carried out in accordance with the building code requirements. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/20_questions_for_your_real_estate_agent.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/20_questions_for_your_real_estate_agent.asp So you are thinking about selling your house, probably your largest asset. You want someone on your side that is going to represent you and your property to the best of their abilities. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_Building_Code_Compliance.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_Building_Code_Compliance.asp Anyone selling a property that has had building work may be asked by the potential buyer to produce some evidence of compliance with the Building Act? Since the 2004 Building Act, vendors of properties which have had building work carried out on them; find themselves increasingly being asked for compliance for the building work on their property. The 2004 Building Act fundamental principle is that any building works carried out on a building must adhere to the building code. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/setting_the_best_house_price.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/setting_the_best_house_price.asp One of the most important decisions you will make when selling your house is the selling price. The value of your property is only determined by what someone is prepared to pay for it and no more. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/renovating_to_sell.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/renovating_to_sell.asp When one is renovating a property in order to sell it on it is important not to waste money on the project. When you renovate to sell it is essential to cater to the tastes of the broadest spectrum of people as possible. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/renovating_rules.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/renovating_rules.asp Usually renovation of ones property is undertaken for one of two reasons. The first to improve the dwelling or bring it to a state that more suits the owners needs. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_home_loan_checkup.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_home_loan_checkup.asp When you first applied for your home loan it was probably suitable for the time, the problem is that times and situations change. If you take a look at the current property market I am sure you will find it is very different from when you purchased your house. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/building_consent.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/building_consent.asp So you have gone ahead and had some work done on your house, an extension, a fancy gazebo, new windows, French doors fitted, however you neglected to get the proper council building consent. So what happens now? Well if you are selling your property the prospective buyers could play hard ball and negotiate the price down because you haven't received consent for the changes, even if they are all up to code. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/construction_loan.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/construction_loan.asp If you are about to build a new home or erect a building you may need to fund the construction by taking out a construction loan. Do construction loans work the same as regular loans? The answer is yes, the loan is assessed in much the same way as a normal house loan. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/sale_and_purchase_agreement.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/sale_and_purchase_agreement.asp So you have found the perfect family home, or ideal investment, great, time to make an offer. Give the agent who is looking after the property a call and get a Sale and Purchase Agreement from them. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_property_values.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_property_values.asp When you are looking for your ideal property you will be told may values of the property. There are two property values to be concerned about. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/open_home.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/open_home.asp When the time has come to travel to open homes and view potential properties, resist the urge to visit every open home, every weekend. This can get tired very quickly and all the properties merge into one. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_property_market.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_property_market.asp Understanding what the New Zealand property market conditions are at the time you wish to purchase can save or cost you money depending on when you purchase. This is particularly important for investors. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_extra_costs.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_extra_costs.asp So you now have a good idea of the property you are after, you know how much you have to spend. Have you considered all the extra property costs? Just so you are aware below is a list of extras that cost you money when purchasing a property. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_affordability.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_affordability.asp Okay so you have a clear idea in your head about the property you want and the area you are aiming to purchase in. You have checked out the prices and are confident you can afford it. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_requirements.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/property_requirements.asp Before purchasing a property it is important to have a clear idea of what you want from a property. Having a clear understanding of your own property requirements can save you time when searching for the right property. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:00:00 EST http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_real_estate_agent.asp http://www.showhouse.co.nz/new_zealand_real_estate_agent.asp We all know the Real Estate Agent is working for their commission and for the vendor of the property, however they can be a great asset when trying to purchase a home for yourself or for investment, especially if you do not live in the area you wish to purchase in. As they are driven solely by the need to sell and therefore make commission, they will do their very best to match your requirements when you are looking for a property. Thu, 10 May 2007 01:00:00 EST