6 Steps to check if your house is baby boomer material

Check the warning signals to see if your house is retirement-friendly

We often hear from clients who are worried about their parents (or themselves) when it comes to living in their home through their retirement years in the Garden Route. There are lots of reasons why a dream home can become a retirement nightmare as we age. From safety issues to neighborhood concerns, there are numerous factors which impact whether or not a home is ideal as we get older. Consider the following:

1. Falling / slipping hazards.  Are bathrooms designed with mobility challenges in mind?  Are the surfaces we once loved (hardwood, tile, concrete) now slipping hazards?

2. Accessibility.  Is a second story practical?  Will stairs become a painful hassle in years ahead?

3. Entrapment.  Could locks in the house be inadvertently engaged, trapping a resident in a back bedroom or bathroom without access to medicine or lines of communication?

4. Right-sizing. Is the home still appropriate for the number of residents?  Will it be a maintenance or upkeep hassle now that kids or spouses may no longer be in the house?

5. Neighborhood safety.  How as a neighborhood improved or declined in recent years?  What’s projected to happen in the next 10?  20?

6. Walkability. Are you planning to keep and drive a car as you age?  How close are grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, entertainment venues, and restaurants?  Are you in a relatively isolated area?  How close do you want your neighbors to be to you?

This is but a fraction of the full list, but a good place to begin thinking about the years ahead.  We love helping home owners evaluate properties with an eye on getting the most out of retirement.

If you’re interested in a free consultation with these issues (and more!) in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact a friendly Terblanche Properties agent today at (044)6952871. Alternatively, have a look at our website (www.ttps.co.za) for more information.

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The TTPS Newsletter

One cannot open a newspaper anymore without some “expert” giving his two cents on the property market, it seems. Prices are going up, prices are going down, it’s the right time to buy, it’s the wrong time to buy, get in, get out, this area, that area…

It can be quite confusing. To help you make sense of it, our monthly electronic newsletter will provide you with the correct information when you need it. It is short, to the point and will help you to stay abreast of the latest developments in the property market. This is invaluable when you are looking to sell or let your property, or if you are looking to buy or rent property.

We respect your privacy and will never sell, share or disclose your email address. For more information about your privacy, check out our website.

So, if you want to impress people with your property knowledge or take charge of your property affairs, click here to subscribe!

Renting 101

Kabous le Roux authored a good article on the basics of renting. We recommend all would-be tenants and landlords to educate themselves on the basics of property letting to ensure they know their respective rights and obligations.

A good agent will be able to provide indispensable advice and assistance in this regard. The agent should assist both landlord and owner with all the legal, practical and financial matters that are relevant to a lease agreement. This includes everything from the marketing of the property, showing the property to prospective tenants, doing the necessary credit and reference checks on a prospective tenant, getting a deposit from the tenant, getting the landlord and tenant to conclude a fair lease agreement, doing the necessary inspections, looking after property, taking care of tenants’ requests, collecting the rent etc. More than ever, it’s important to deal with professional and reputable agents.

The article can be see here.

10 Tips for home sellers

Welcome back! While 2009 is slowly getting into full swing, we thought we’d kick of the year with a few handy tips. The video below simply discusses some tips regarding the quality of your home for sale. Remember, you are trying to make your home as attractive to potential purchasers as possible!

The seller’s guide to succesful selling

Ask yourself: “Am I serious about selling?”
Serious sellers will do their homework: seek out an estate agent of experience and reputation to market their home in the shortest time, at the best price.

The clean up benefit
This is the part we don’t enjoy but it’s D.I.Y. time; considerations of style and spit and polish.
You need to put yourself in the potential buyers’ shoes and try to appeal to their needs.
Clean the pool, tidy the garden, fill the cracks; stuff you’ve been putting off for weeks but golf just seemed more appealing at the time.
Painting your home may seem like an unnecessary expense at the time but it can transform the look and feel and definitely add to the value of your home. (Remember that shocking pink may not be everyone’s first choice. On the inside a lighter choice is often a brighter choice)
Think of these enhancements as a relatively minimal financial investment with a quick and high return.
You might even consider requesting a Home Inspection Certificate.

Find the “truly professional” agent!
You’ve probably already seen these agents’ advertising and promotional material in your neighbourhood. They have big databases of potential and existing clients. They are making extensive use of the internet to reach the widest possible audience.
They are not threatened by any other agent working in their area.
Our professional agents will tell you the truth about the market. We will not overprice or undervalue your home. Any real estate professional will tell you that all the exposure in the world will not sell an overpriced home.

Everyday is “show house day”
Make a list of your valuables; even pack them away where necessary.
Remember that not all buyers will visit your home on a showday Sunday.
Keep your home especially clean and tidy over the selling period.
Eliminate clutter. The buyers must be able to picture their furniture in “their” new home. You may want to contemplate storage.
Treat your dogs to a day at the beach or even the kennels.
When you’re done with the house get out the mower and spruce up the garden.
Give the buyer as many reasons as possible to fall in love with your home.
Use a CHECKLIST that you can get from your friendly Terblanche property consultant to prepare for show day.

A “reasonable” offer
Normally your best offer will present itself in the first three to four weeks of listing.
Know your limits; don’t risk a lost opportunity.
Have your agent help you in determining the best possible offer.

I’ve accepted: now what?
Have your agent explain all the legal jargon to you.
Make sure you understand these subtle terms: “cooling off period”,” voetstoots”, “occupational rent”, and others.
Read the fine print – “Who gets to keep the Kreepy Krawly?”