SPRING CLEAN YOUR HOME - AND YOUR HEAD

There’s nothing like spring to motivate us to clean up our act on the domestic front. But why not use the down time provided by human winter social hibernation to get in early and be Spring-prepared. Depending on the state of your domestic affairs, this will either seem like a very doable weekend activity or a task of monumental (and non-achievable) proportions. Either way, you can nail this. No matter how daunting, you can stay positive by thinking in baby steps.

However if you feel like tackling this head on, get out your pen and paper and do a home-wide reconnaissance. Go from room to room, and take note of dusty shelves, desktops etc; grimy marks on walls, doors and cupboards; any mould on walls and ceilings; cluttered drawers, wardrobes and cupboards that need tidying; old dusty, fraying cushions and any sheets or towels that need replacing. Don’t forget to look up high if you want to do an excellent job of this – think tops of doorframes and paintings, ceiling smears and for heaven’s sake, don’t miss the upper areas of your kitchen. Seems like that’s taking it too far, just wait till you get up there and see the s*&t on top of the cupboards and range hood. You’ll want it gone, believe me. And don’t forget windows… clean windows make your house look so much better and have the added benefit of letting in more light.

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t fret, once you actually start to tick off this list, you will find that not only does your house begin to feel miraculously cleaner and clearer, but so does your head. So just tackle what you can, when you can. If you don’t like to work alone, get help. Enlist the help of a friend by trading a yummy home cooked dinner for some elbow grease. Pump up the music and think of it as a workout. It’s amazing how much muscle you can build with hard labour around the house. Finally have a reward in mind for the day you have your house spick and span again.

Maybe an hour massage, movie and dinner, delux mani-pedi – or for those with higher expectations and a bigger budget – a day spa or weekend away. Whatever it is, after your hard work you’ll be able to look forward to some R&R and then return to your pristine home to greet Spring head on.
PS If you can afford it, have your carpet steam cleaned and if you live high up, have professional cleaners come and clean the outside of your windows. You won’t believe the difference.

SHORT ON SPACE?

Just think smart and you’ll feel like you’re living large.

Studio living is an increasingly growing prospect for people who are needing to scale down their living space size to accommodate the increasing cost of real estate in Sydney. But there are studios and there are studios. Just like any property, the variation in size and layout is extensive. Ideally, a studio has a large main room, a balcony, separate kitchen and bathroom, and a car space if you are very very lucky.

White always makes a space seem larger, so paint walls white throughout to create a clear canvas to work with. Use bold colours to brighten and liven the space. Ideally you will have lots of light in your apartment, and this also creates a greater sense of space. Having a balcony off the main room really extends the living area. Take advantage of the extra floor space and place a table and chairs out there so you can dine al fresco whenever weather permits. Place plants on planter racks on the wall to maximise floor area. A pot plant in the corner is fine as this is usually dead space anyway and it is important to bring life to your living.

There are ingenious ways to deal with transforming the space from living to bedroom. Try getting a couch that has moveable sections so you can create a couch by day and a bed by night. Consider a fold out table attached to the wall and wall mounted hooks for chairs, so when you want to dine or work on a computer, you can set everything up simply and easily, then when you don’t need a table, you have an open floor space.

If there are window sills, take advantage of them to put on potted plants. Also an indoor plant in a floor pot is a great idea to beautify your home and create more oxygen, just make sure you have a waterproof mat under it if you are placing it on carpet. With bathrooms and kitchens, again, white and bright is the way to go. If you have windows in both, you are really in luck as this creates more of an open feel. Cupboard space is often limited so think attractive and practical storage units from Ikea or Howards. So with close attention to detail and thinking outside the square, a studio can feel spacious.

Images sourced via Pinterest

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

In light of the rapid global changes affecting us all on the back of COVID-19, many are considering buying stocks and shares in this depressed market, but what about purchasing property? It pays to remember that bricks and mortar are generally far more stable than shares. And with this in mind, while the majority of us sit on the sidelines waiting to see what happens, some will look for opportunities and reap the benefits of being in a buyer’s market.

History offers some valuable lessons:

• Don’t try to time when markets will hit rock bottom - they will almost always be on the upswing when we see where rock bottom was
• After every major social upheaval there is a renewed optimism and markets, whether real estate or stocks, surge as a result
• The average recession lasted 11 months, but they almost always saw interest rates skyrocket. The current period is seeing historically low interest rates
• Recessions create buyer’s markets. However, as this recession is tracking alongside a virus, it can be projected that the buyer’s market will level off with the rate of new infections
  

So, what can you gain as a purchaser when many are running for the hills? Whether considering buying property as an investment or your primary residence, let’s look at the chief benefits of purchasing in a recession:

• Vendors often adjust their property’s value to meet the changed market conditions
• With much competition removed from the marketplace, buyers can choose from a variety of offerings, particularly in the case of off-the-plan properties, where they can peruse the pick of the bunch
• Decreased competition also reduces the fear of missing out and relieves the pressure of a hot market with its consequent fierce competition
• In the case of off-the-plan properties where a developer has a number of properties to sell, the vendor is more motivated to stay in the market, while individuals selling their residence are more likely to withdraw from the market until things improve in their favour
• Off-the-plan property has the benefit of an automatic delayed settlement, which gives purchasers the chance to wait till the dust settles on the national economy and things regain momentum. Loans with prolonged settlement dates could also be easier to obtain in the current market

When looking to purchase, remember the fundamentals now more than ever. Seek properties that have a major point of difference or are unique in any way. Location, location, location isn’t a property catchphrase for nothing. Look for properties that are located in suburbs that have a lot of upcoming infrastructure, as they are invariably set to boom. Look at properties in popular suburbs that you may previously not have considered, but could now be within reach. Seek properties close to transport and amenities as they will be in the most demand when times improve and are easier for investors to rent out. If looking at off-the-plan, go for generous internal and external spaces, a great level of finish and a reputable developer with a good track record.

So, to buy or not to buy – the choice is yours, to purchase while the market is waning or wait until things bounce back. With the certainty of life as we know it rocked by COVID-19, it pays to remember that like all of the other crises the world has faced, the war on this virus will end.  Just be aware that the market upturn will bring with it increased prices and competition.