Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa November 2013 | Page 41

RESIDENTIAL

blind which are still classics in style. By using an
antique looking material, plain or patterned,
can easily add an “old” air to the room. For the
modern type of house the choice of window blinds
or curtains is limitless in colour and material.
Aluminum, wooden and even bamboo window
blinds are proving popular choices today.

impression is true. So, make the interior of you home
shine from the moment someone walks through
the door. Hire a cleaning service for a thorough topto-bottom scrubbing. Even if you clean your home
regularly, there are nooks and crannies that you may
miss or overlook. Let a cleaning service do the dirty
work to really make your home sparkle.

Taps and showerheads

Kitchen

Modernising your taps and showerheads in your
bathroom and kitchen are a quick and easy way
to update your home and add value without
breaking the bank. There is a large range of taps
and showerheads you can choose from, just make
sure that the new fittings are the correct ones for
your home’s water pressure. If you have very old
plumbing and put a modern showerhead in your
shower, your water pressure may not be high
enough and you will end up with a dribble of water
instead of the glorious stream you imagined.

You don’t have to start from scratch to create a
winning recipe. For maximizing your home’s
value, kitchen updates are key. Start by swapping
out just one item, such as a stained sink or ancient
microwave for shiny new stainless models. Even
small kitchen updates will add big value to your
home.

Keep it clean and tidy
Overgrown or patchy lawns and outsized bushes
will cause your home to stand out in a bad way. The
good news is that taming your jungle is an easy fix.
Hire a lawn service company to trim your lawn and
shape your hedges. Your curb appeal will go from
messy to maintained without blowing your budget.
The old adage that you only get one shot at a first
www.reimag.co.za

Maintenance
Walk around your home and make a list of all
the little things that are broken or in need of
repair. Individually, small repairs might not seem
important, but if every room has just one thing
wrong, those small things will add up to create
the impression that your home has been neglected.
If you don’t feel comfortable tackling the repairs
yourself, hire a handyman for a day and watch
your “to do” list disappear. Staying on top of
maintenance today eliminates problems down the
road when you decide to sell.

There are a number of quick and easy fixes you
can make to your home, to improve the look and
feel and add value, either for the resale value or to
attract tenants.

AUTOMATIC IMPROVEMENTS
1

Lighten and brighten interiors with
curtains and windows

2

Clean and remove clutter with
furnishings

3

Repair any faulty or cover up unsightly
looking plumbing

4

Repair electrical wiring and fittings and
cover

5

Landscape the garden

6

Upgrade the kitchen

7

Upgrade the bathroom

8

Upgrade the flooring

9

Paint the exterior

November 2013 SA Real Estate Investor

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