New Developments 2024

Vital signs during show day

 

Light: The first thing buyers notice is the amount of natural light entering a home. A dark home seldom encourages a buyer to put in an offer. Ensure there is a lot of natural light by removing clutter, which can make the home look dark, opening curtains and so on. Dark paint can also make a home look dark, so keep it neutral, with only accent walls in a darker tone. Mirrors are always a good reflector of light.

Space: At least on entry, the property must appear spacious. Pack away unnecessary items in all rooms, including kitchen and bathroom clutter. Consider storing some items if necessary. It is best to ensure there is nothing off-putting. Creating the right atmosphere will give the property an advantage.

Smells: A clean and well-kept home usually also smells fresh. If there are any unpleasant odours, this will be off-putting for a buyer. A lingering smell will make them uncomfortable, and they are likely to rush through the viewing and depart without indicating that they would like to put in an offer. A bunch of fresh flowers can add a pleasant fragrance.

Pets: While pet ownership is on the rise, not all buyers are pet enthusiasts. Even those who do love pets may still be put off by pet hair and smells. Be sure to remove food and water bowls, toys and things like cat litter so that it is not visible during the viewing. Pets must be removed during the viewing or at least kept in a separate area so that there are no distractions during the viewing.

Damage and disrepair: Buyers tend to almost immediately notice cracks, bad paint, broken or damaged tiles and the like. They also notice a dirty stove and untidy bathrooms. While these may seem minor to the seller and might even be relatively inexpensive to repair, the reality is that most buyers will look for an opportunity to discount the asking price. It is best not to give them any reasons to do so.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep interest rates stable at 8.25% (repo rate), with the prime lending rate at 11.75%.

This decision, which comes as a great relief to homeowners, aligns with interest rate decisions of other central banks such as the Federal Reserve in the US, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.

Property market impact

First-time homeowners have been hit the hardest by a steady upward trajectory of interest rates in South Africa – and are probably the most relieved by the Reserve Bank’s decision not to hike interest rates ahead of the festive season, according to the founder and chairperson of Tyson Properties, Chris Tyson.

Tyson, together with Tyson Properties’ CEO Nick Pearson, have welcomed the decision by the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Committee to leave the repo rate at an unchanged 8.25%, saying that this move would inject a little more confidence into the property market come year-end.

“It’s certainly going to be a good thing for both buyers and sellers and might just provide some extra confidence, which we do need. We had a strong start to the year, but the past three months have been a little slower. I think that if we now get a levelling-off period, a gap during which things can settle a bit, it will certainly stimulate the economy. Hopefully, by the middle of next year, we will see one or two decreases in the interest rate,” Pearson said.

Tyson said he believed the country had reached the top end of the interest rate cycle for now.

Interest rates reached their lowest ever during the pandemic, tempting many first-time homeowners into the market.

However, since November 2021, bond repayments have increased steadily on the back of continued interest rate hikes, with the current prime lending rate at 11.75%, which has put massive pressure on those repaying home loans.

 

Macsteel Express Mbombela has been part of the Lowveld construction landscape for over 20 years.

The company is also part of a 120-year legacy in South Africa.

We have established a South African favourite by ensuring we never waver on quality. The fact that 80% of our client base are repeat clients is a testament to this.

The team members of the Macsteel organisation are the longest serving in the industry. Ours is a happy team and this spills over into how we serve our community.

Our main product range includes metal and rods, steel tubing, lipped channels, hot and cold sheets, expanded metal and gratings as well as angle iron, and inverted box rib and corrugated roof sheeting.

For your construction project’s bulk steel requirements or your home DIY project, we are ready to serve. Our head office is based in Mbombela, but our fleet of trucks delivers across the province.

Visit us at 5 Bosch Street, Mbombela, or call us on 013 785 7160.

Established in Mbombela in February 2003, iLanda Africa Consulting Engineers and Project Managers has grown to become a reputable civil and structural engineering consultation practice.

Through its staff, computer equipment and software, the company has the necessary experience to carry out a wide variety of engineering projects.

These include feasibility studies, planning, digital designs, tender documentation and evaluations, site supervision and project management. Its staff has vast experience in several fields, including but not limited to earthworks, roads and storm water, water reticulation networks, bulk water supply, water reservoirs, sewer reticulation networks, and national and provincial roads.

Contact iLanda Africa Consulting Engineers and Project Managers on 013 755 2071 for more information.