If in the New Year, you are planning to buy a new home, it’s time to start saving. The old adage is still as applicable as ever: “Look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves”. Thinking in the hundreds and thousands can be tough, but it’s easy to accumulate savings if you just look after the pennies, or in our case, the dollars.

Create a Budget

The first thing you need to do is to create a budget. There’s a budding accountant in everyone, and if you want to save for Christchurch Real Estate, you need to know exactly how much is coming in and how much is going out; daily, weekly, monthly and annually. If you have a partner, you may want to combine your budgets or keep them separate, but you should both allocate a certain amount of money each week to go into your ‘Christchurch Property Savings’.

Keep an eye on your bank statement

If you’re unsure about what your daily and weekly costs are, it’s about high time you sit down and read through your bank statements. Highlight reoccurring costs such as the monthly electricity, Internet, phone and water bill, weekly petrol costs, average grocery shopping expenditure etc. You should average these costs and put them in your budget.

High Interest Savings

If you want to create a bank account specifically for your Christchurch property, you may want to talk to your bank about a high interest savings account. Either way, your bank will be able to inform you about how to go about saving for a house and how to get the most out of interest rates.

Set Goals

In order to keep you motivated to save, you need to set goals; both monthly and annually. You may be surprised how addictive saving can become once you get into it and start completing your saving goals.

Loan Calculator

Use our loan calculator to figure out how much your monthly repayments will be.

Name your price

Once you’ve decided on some goals, you need start thinking about what you can afford. The Christchurch Real Estate market ranges in price, and you need to decide how much you can realistically save for a new Christchurch property.

Search the Christchurch Real Estate Market

Now that you’ve started saving, it’s time for the fun part – to start looking at Christchurch property. There is something for every budget, every taste and every size.

Christchurch Property FAQ

Take a look at out FAQ page for more information.

Get in touch today

Call us at +64 3 355 6555 or email [email protected] if you have seen an advertised Christchurch Property you are interested in.

27/01/2015/by Nick Cowdy

Real Estate Christchurch – Tips for Selling in Summer

Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

February and March are the most active months of the year, closely followed by October and November. This means that majority of all Real Estate in Christchurch is sold during a quarter of the year. After the Christmas rush has come and gone, many people will be looking forward to a ‘New Year, New Home’ mentality and will be searching through Christchurch Real Estate.

To help sell your Christchurch Property during Summer, Cowdy and Co have compiled a quick list of tips for help put the Christchurch Real Estate Spotlight on your home!

Let there be Light

Your house needs to stand out amongst other Christchurch Real Estate – one way to do this is to let it shine, literally. Let as much natural light as possible to flow through the house, get rid of thick and heavy curtains and opt for lighter fabric or blinds. This also gives the illusion of more space. Keep your windows clean and pristine, so people can see clearly the outside when inside, and the inside when outside.

Transcend Indoor/Outdoor Divisions

If you have a front or back yard with space for furniture, transcend any indoor/outdoor divisions. Showcase outdoor living by setting up the decks, balconies and gardens with outside furniture. This encourages people to envision themselves living in your home, to picture themselves sitting outside in the sun with a cold drink and a good book.

Keep it Cool

During open homes, ensure the house is well ventilated. Utilise AC if you have it, and if weather permits, keep windows and doors open to keep fresh air circulating throughout. Potential buyers spend considerable time inspecting your home, they need to be comfortable if you want them to be encouraged to spend more time. After 10 minutes its easy to notice whether a house is too cold, too warm, too damp etc. Monitor the temperature, humidity and ventilation during open homes.

Show Character not Personality

It’s great to show off the characteristics of your home, but avoid showcasing your personality as the current home owner. In other words, in order for potential buyers to picture themselves living in your home, they need to see their own belongings throughout the house. It’s a good idea to put away family photographs, greeting cards, toiletries and other personal items.

If you are thinking about selling your Christchurch Property this Summer, get in touch with our Christchurch Real Estate experts. Our dedicated team of agents understand the Christchurch Market and can help you through the entire selling process.

Feel free to give us a call on the number below, or use the enquiry form to drop us an email.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +64 3 355 6555 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

16/12/2014/by Nick Cowdy

Properties for sale in Christchurch – A first home-buyers guide

Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

If you are thinking seriously about looking into properties for sale in Christchurch, Congratulations! Cowdy & Co want to support you through the entire home buying process and are experts when it comes to Christchurch real estate. We know that it’s both a scary and exciting time purchasing your first home, so we have compiled a list of tips to help you save up for the mortgage on your first home.

Am I ready to look at properties for sale in Christchurch?

Up until now, you have probably been renting your home and are now considering whether it’s time to take the plunge and purchase your own home. There are a lot of things to weigh up when it comes to the buying vs. renting dilemma. Here are some things to consider before trawling through Christchurch property listings:

Buying

Renting

After weighing up the pros and cons of renting vs buying, if you have come to the decision that it’s time to buy your first home, then it’s time to think about a saving strategy. No one particularly likes saving, but the more you do, the less you’ll have to borrow and the sooner you’ll be owning your own home!

Get rid of debt – It’s hard to start saving for a future purchase when you are still paying off other debts. Before you take the plunge and get a mortgage, take a hard look at any outstanding debt and work towards paying them off first. It is sometimes easier to consolidate all your debts into one personal loan. Talk to your bank manager about what is the best way to tackle debts.

The key to saving is to add to your pot of gold regularly – organise a budget of your weekly income and weekly payments, once all your bills and costs have been covered, decided on an amount you want to put aside each week into a savings account. Make sure it’s a manageable amount, something you know you can commit do each week. Gathering momentum and depositing into your savings regularly will motivate you to keep going, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you can accumulate a nice wee nest egg. Check out Sorted for more saving tricks and tips.

Answer any questions ahead of time – Check out our FAQ page for answers regarding legislation and purchase and sale agreements.

Start hunting

Now the fun begins, it’s time to start house hunting! Check out our Christchurch listings here.

Get in touch with Cowdy & Co today!

09/10/2014/by Nick Cowdy

6 Tips to Spring Clean your Christchurch Real Estate

Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

Spring has officially arrived here in Christchurch so don’t let a dirty home ruin you welcoming the blooming flowers and longer days! Whether you’re living in a Christchurch rental or own your own Christchurch real estate, there is no denying the benefits of a good old fashion Spring Clean.

Spring cleaning is about going beyond your usual weekly dust and vacuum, to clean the entire house top to bottom and leaving no crevice uncleaned. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be such an arduous task. Cowdy & Co have compiled the top 6 tips to go about spring cleaning your Christchurch property with ease.

1. Make a plan

List all the rooms in your house (including hallways/stairs/storage cupboards/garage). Think about the size of each room, what occupies the room and what needs to be cleaned. Does the carpet need to be washed? Are there any fans that need to be wiped down? Drains that need to be cleaned?

2. Take your time cleaning your Christchurch property

Estimate how long you think it will take to clean each room of your Christchurch property and add another hour for good measure. If you only have the weekends free, set aside 3-4 rooms a weekend to tackle. Ensure you are not overloading on work, the more time you have to clean each room, the more enjoyable it will be. So there is no need to rush.

3. Be prepared

Ran out of floor cleaner? Don’t have enough window cleaner? Make a list of all the usual cleaning products you use, and ensure you have plenty of supply. There is nothing more annoying then getting half way through a task and running out of cleaning agents. Research tips for cleaning each room ahead of time, you may discover handy ways to clean your stubborn oven or remove carpet stains that you didn’t know about.

4. Declutter before you clean

One of the most therapeutic aspects of a good spring clean, is getting rid of old unwanted, unused stuff. We all have it, it creeps us on us, is discarded to the ‘deal with later’ pile and then long forgotten about. Sometimes you look at it and shiver in disgust, you hate it, but you don’t have the time to deal with it. Well, that’s what a spring clean is all about. Now that you’ve set the time aside, get ready to slash and burn your way through years, even decades worth of unwanted, ignored ‘stuff’. This is the perfect time to organise a garage sale or make a pile to take to the local charity collection.

5. Clean your Christchurch home top to bottom

Now that you’re working with a clean(er) home, it’s time to prioritise tasks in each room. Don’t make more work for yourself by vacuuming the carpet, only to dust the shelves afterwards. Where do you think all that dust is going to end up? Yes, you guessed it, on the floor! A rule of thumb is to work top to bottom, start with ceiling (light fixtures, fans etc) and work your way down the walls (shelves, artwork, cupboards), to the floor (carpet, tiles) for the final clean up.

6. Multi-Task

Some tasks will take longer than others, and some you will be able to tackle while others require waiting time. While you’re soaking your silverware before polishing, wipe down the bench tops. While you are putting the dishwasher through a cleaning cycle, discard old food from the fridge. Make the most of your time, and because you’ve already written a task list, you’ll have no trouble finding something to do while the laundry is on!

Don’t Forget!

It’s a big task going through with a spring clean, but it certainly is rewarding and your Christchurch property will thank you for it. Make the most of this time, do it once and do it properly and don’t forget the following:

Check your mattress; when stripping your bed linen, flip or rotate your mattress and check the warranty card.

Clean the dishwasher and washing machine; both of these machines save a lot of time doing the cleaning for us. To ensure they last longer, put them on their own cleaning cycle without dishes or washing to ensure they are working to the best of their ability.

Replace batteries/lightbulbs; a spring clean is the perfect time to check batteries in TV remotes, fire alarms and lightbulbs in less frequently used rooms. If they are okay, ensure you have stockpiled some for later. Saves you having to rush out and buy them later when it’s more of an emergency.

Clean the drains; have you ever thought about how much stuff you put down your sink? Kitchen or otherwise. Make sure you use a drain cleaner and flush them out, this will prevent blockages in the future and keep your plumbing (& plumber) happy!

Deep clean rugs; a quick vacuum is fine each week. But once a year, give your rugs some deep cleaning love. Use a shampoo and hire an extractor to remove stubborn stains and lift dirt, dust mites and other hidden gems in the woven fabric.

Dust the vents and fans; dust the outside of vents and fans. You may need to use a gentle cleanser mixed with water and a cleaning cloth. Take down light fixtures and gently wash and dry them before replacing.

If you own a rental property or are looking at selling your home after a Spring Clean, get in touch today.

14/09/2014/by Nick Cowdy

Chattels vs. Fixtures- What you need to know when buying Christchurch real estate

Selling, Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

Chattels and Fixtures Defined

When buying Christchurch real estate, it is important to understand the difference between chattels and fixtures when there is a transfer of ownership. If you are ever unsure, check with your Christchurch real estate agent, before going through the house buying process.

Chattels:
Chattels are considered items of personal property, that were never intended to be fixed to the house and can be removed without causing damage to the property. Any chattels that are fixed to the land become part of the land and are then known as fixtures. This is expressed in the Latin maxim quicquid plantatur solo, solo credit (whatever is attached to the soil becomes part of it).

A standard chattels list comprises of (but no limited to):

Stove
Fixed floor coverings
Blinds, curtains and drapes
Light fixtures
Dishwasher
TV Aerial
Whiteware

In some cases chattels are included in the sale of real estate depending on the Agreement for Sale and Purchase, so it’s important to ask what chattels would remain in the house in a transfer of ownership.

Fixture:
At the most basic level, a fixture is something that is attached to the land and therefore when the land is sold, the title to the land will also include all fixtures. A fixture will always belong to the land owner, whereas chattels may belong to another. Any items that are fixtures will belong to the transferee, and ownership of fixtures transfers as soon as the contract of sale is binding. The seller can no longer remove any fixtures from the property.

A standard list of fixtures includes (but not limited to):

Garage
Carport
Gazebo
Garden Shed
Swimming Pool
Spa Pool

However these may be removed before settlement if expressly stated in any agreement.

It may seem straight forward, but you should always confirm with your Christchurch real estate agent prior to purchasing property– there can be loop holes and shades of grey when it comes to defining chattels and fixtures.

A great test of whether something is a chattel or a fixture is by determining whether it has been fixed with the intention that it shall remain in position permanently or if it has been fixed with the intent that it shall remain in position only for a set amount of time.

Intent is particularly relevant in Christchurch where furniture that would normally be freestanding is attached to the wall to stop it falling over in an earthquake.

21/08/2014/by Nick Cowdy

5 top tips to avoid mould in your Christchurch Property

Rentals, Property Management Christchurch, Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

Damp, mould and mildew is not only bad for the health of your tenants and can cause respiratory problems, it can also seriously damage your Christchurch rental property. If you find any signs of mould, its important to address the issue straight away. Early detection and prevention of mould can save you a lot of headaches (and money) in the future- don’t think its entirely the tenants responsibility to avoid and remove mould and mildew. It’s likely tenants will hold you, as the home owner, liable for any health risks. That being said here’s some handy tips to avoid mould and mildew from your rental property.

Early detection is your best protection

Ensure you schedule a housing inspection for the beginning of Winter, look for any areas where damp and mould are likely to fester. It’s a good idea to have your property manager do this on your behalf, they know where to look and what to look for. 30% of homes in New Zealand suffer from problems with moisture internally, don’t become a statistic, inspect your Christchurch home ahead of the Winter months. It’s also a good idea to schedule another inspection in Spring to check for anything that may have been missed and ensure its resolved before the next Winter comes around.

Insulate your rental

A well insulated home not only keeps the heat in during Winter, it keeps it out in Summer- cutting heating and cooling costs all year round. Insulation also makes for a more comfortable, healthy home for your tenants. If the house is warm and dry, your tenants are happy. If you tenants are happy, you will be happy. Different parts of house require different insulation, and should be prioritised in this order:

Ceiling– generally the easiest, cheapest and most efficient insulation to install in your property. As hot air rises, its the top priority and with accessible roof space, relatively easy to install. Make sure you get a couple of different quotes to compare before going ahead with any provider.
Underfloor– most homes have access to under the house. It’s a good idea to check what current insulation you have, and whether you need it repair or replaced. This short video has some great tips.

Walls- wall insulation is not the easiest to check or install but can make a huge difference. Before going ahead with this, check local building consent requirements, ensure your wall cavities are dry and get your electrical wiring checked.
Windows- A lot of heat can escape through windows, doubled glazing is the most effective option and also helps to reduce outside noise. However, your choice in blinds and curtains can also make a difference when using high quality material and thermal lined fabric.

You may be able to have the cost of ventilating your property added to your mortgage, check here to see if your bank offers this option.

Ventilation is on your side

The average NZ family produces approximately 8 litres of moisture in the home each day from everyday activities such as cooking, showers and breathing. You can’t avoid this, and in fact it is completely normal. You just need to manage the moisture with the right balance of insulation, heating and VENTILATION. Your house needs to breath to survive, just like you (and your tenants!). It’s especially crucial to have ventilation in the bathrooms, laundry and kitchen- where most moisture is created. In these areas of the home, ensure you have good extraction system in place, without the need to open windows. In the middle of a cold Winter, you cannot depend on tenants opening windows and doors to act as manual ventilation. Fans and extractors need to vent to outside your house, instead of recirculating damp air or venting into your ceiling. They come in a range of sizes, and need to be fitted according to the size and type of room. Ensure you talk to a professional about what system is right for each room.

Find the source of moisture

Check under the house- a common source of moisture. Grab a handful of dirt and rub it in your hands, if it stains like mud there is too much moisture present. If this is the case, inspect any drainage, pipes, and plumbing for leaks. Uncover any vents that may have been blocked by plants, soil or pests. Inspect the walls and roof claddings and flashings, talk to a qualified and experienced building surveyor who can carry out this inspection for you.

Choose your heating wisely

You may think gas heating is great, but does it have a chimney? Unflued gas heaters are not only a fire hazard but also release a large amount of moisture and toxic combustion gases into your home. If you are using a gas heater or LPG portable heater with a vent or flue to the outside, always ensure it is close to a window and always keep it open to allow fresh air to enter the room. Never use unflued gas heaters in the bedroom.

06/08/2014/by Janice Cowdy

8 tips to selling your Christchurch property in Winter

Cowdy & Company Blog, Selling, Christchurch Property Tips

The months leading up to Summer and Christmas may be the busiest time for retailers, however the team at Cowdy are busy year round especially with mobile technology turning house hunting into a year-round process. Selling real estate is less susceptible to seasonality than some may think. In fact, January is the most quiet month of all and there are windows of opportunity to sell your home in the middle of Winter, allowing for greater exposure at a time when there are fewer listings on the market to compete with.

Check out these top tips to emphasize your homes Winter amenities

1. Better the Devil you know aka: the Christchurch real estate market
Keep your finger on the pulse by reading up on Christchurch real estate in the local newspaper and check out nearby homes that are for sale. Questions to consider are

How much are they selling for?
How long are they staying on the market?
What has sold recently in the same area?
Have there been any changes to the local economy that could alter future housing demand?

2. Get Inspected
While searching for a new place, home buyers are looking at the minor details including any potential repairs which may need to be addressed in the foreseeable future. Make sure all major repairs are completed before putting the property on the market. To determine what is needed, you should have a home inspector evaluate the house. Even the most trivial things such as repairing a window fixture can make or break a sale.

3. Beauty is on the outside
You need to create an instant connection with potential buyers, and the outside of your house is their first impression. Potential buyers won’t take a step inside your home if the outside isn’t appealing. Ensure your property projects a warm and inviting feeling to anyone who passes by and remember potential buyers are likely to drive past your home a couple of times after viewing the inside so its important to maintain the outside during the entire selling process.

Trim the hedges
Mow the lawn
Sweep the driveway and footpaths
Keep a light on outside
Pressure wash the exterior
Tend to the garden- top up bark chips, get rid of weeds

4. Let there be light
With shorter days in Winter, it’s important to be mindful of keeping your home well-lit, even if you are not home. If you have a timer, ensure its set to turn on as soon as it starts to get dark. Remember buyers may drive past on their way home from work and won’t be able to see much if there are no lights on.

That being said, try arrange appointments during the day to allow buyers to see the home in natural sunlight. Maximise natural sunlight by cleaning all your windows- inside and out and opening all curtains and blinds. During appointments, turn on all lights before hand to give off a warm and cosy feeling. Don’t risk an agent fumbling around trying to find a light switch.

5. Get cosy
In Summer its a given a home is warm and dry, but thats a different story in Winter. Winter is the perfect time to affirm the warmth of your home. Once you have drawn in potential buyers by the pristine exterior, make them stay by showing how comfortable they would be during the coldest months of the year. Highlight the cosiness of your home. If you have a wood burning fire, keep it lit with plenty of firewood neatly stacked nearby. Show off any renewable energy features your home may have.

Ensure all the bedrooms are warm, and bedding is fresh. Show off cosy blankets or quilts. As the focal point in the bedroom allow buyers to imagine themselves snuggling up in bed. Bedding sets the tone and establishes the feel of the bedroom. Its crucial to make it warm, relaxing and inviting.

6. Advertise with Summer photographs
Buyers are wanting to imagine what the home is like in Summer, so why not show them? Advertise with photos of the home in Summer, inside and out. Photos showing natural sunlight pouring into the home is a great selling point.

7. Emphasise Winter positives

Is your home close to a bus stop or train station?
How close are shops?
What Winter activities are in close proximity?

8. Declutter
You want buyers to navigate through the house easily and be able to envisage where their own furniture would be. Get rid of unnecessary furnishings and maintain a minimal look. If you have a lot of family photographs, consider putting these away for the selling period.

Check out our other real estate tips here

27/07/2014/by Nick Cowdy

Maintaining a rental property in Christchurch can be tough. The eternal problem for landlords is that you are responsible for its overall upkeep, yet you don’t have constant access. In fact, much of the time you are nowhere near your rental property – whether you live in Christchurch or not! We’re pretty good at dealing with landlords and tenants to keep properties in good condition and foster positive relationships, so we thought we’d use our expertise in the Christchurch property market to put together a handy guide for landlords to keep their properties in good nick. The first part of our guide to maintaining a rental property is making sure you know your obligations. In our next parts, we’ll cover tips and tricks to help prevent maintenance issues before a tenant even arrivces, and an action plan to help make sure everything stays in good condition throughout the tenancy.

Step 1: Know your obligations as a property owner

Heading straight to the source, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment spells it out pretty clearly:

You must:

allow the tenant quiet enjoyment of the premises (which means not harassing the tenant or interfering with their reasonable peace, comfort and privacy, or allowing others to do so)
comply with all building, health and safety standards that apply to the premises
pay rates and insurance
give the tenant appropriate receipts and statement for rent payments and written notice of any rent increase
maintain the property in a reasonable state of repair during the tenancy
tell the tenant in writing if the property is on the market for sale.

In terms of maintenance, there are three key requirements:

The property must be in a reasonable state of repair
The premisees is required to be in a reasonable state of cleanliness for an incoming tenant
The building must be up to code in terms of both building and healthy and safety standards.

Keeping your rental property in a reasonable state of repair

The official rules for the maintenance processes are as follows:

Landlords

If something gets damaged, it is the landlord’s responsibility to get it fixed. While the tenant is responsible for any damage that they, or their guests, cause (either intentionally or carelessly), however, anything that consists of normal wear and tear to the rental property, you will be responsible for fixing. Some examples of things a landlord needs to take care of: plumbing, leaks, external and unforseen damage e.g. as a result of a storm.

Landlords also need to ensure the locks are adequate (i.e. basic safety and security requirements). If the house cannot be secured, the landlord is responsible for remedying the problem.

An important thing to note, however, is that if you need to enter the property, even to fix something, you have to give the tenant 24 hours written notice of entry to repair.

Tenants

Tenants need to notify you immediately if something needs to be repaired, no matter who is responsible for it. If the tenant caused the damange and the landlord feels that the problem can be fixed , landlords can give tenants a a Notice to remedy giving them 14 days to get the work done.

If the work is not done within the 14 days, the landlord can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for:

an order to do the repairs, or
the tenancy to be ended for breaching the tenancy agreement, if it is decided the situation is serious enough.

If the repair work is your responsibility and is an urgent problem you must pay back the tenant if they had to get it fixed urgently, provided they made reasonable attempts to contact you. For example, if a pipe burst over the weekend and the tenants couldn’t get hold of the landlord, they are entitled to fix the problem right away and pass on an invoice/request a refund.

This goes beyond making sure there’s a roof over your tenants head, running water and the electricity can be connected. It is important that the property remains clean and tidy, but there are some

Protecting yourself as a property owner

If this all sounds like a lot of responsibility, you’re not wrong. Any old storm can whip through and cost you a lot of money, and ‘reasonable wear and tear’ sounds all a bit fuzzy. Let alone what terror a tenant could potentially unleash. Did someone say meth lab? With this in mind, Insurance needs to be treat as a ‘must’ rather than a ‘should.’ MBIE has some good information about this on their insurance advice page.

Ensuring your rental property is in a reasonable state of cleanliness

This particular requirement is actually one to think about before tenants move in. Use your common sense, and think about the level of cleanliness you’d want to see in a new rental property. This includes getting rid of rubbish and mess both inside and out, and making sure it is well cleaned. Take note of any permanent stains (especially in the carpets) to ensure there are no disputes at the end of the tenancy.

Ensuring your rental property meets health, safety and building standards

The three pieces of legislation you need to be aware of are:

Building Act 2004 and the Building Code
Health Act 1956, and
Housing Improvement Regulations and bylaws made under the Local Government Act 2002. These are set by individual councils.

Most of the Building Act refers to new buildings/additions, but the key parts of the building act for existing buildings are:

ensure that inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures are carried out where required by any compliance schedulefor specified systems, including ensuring that:
- all necessary inspections, maintenance and reporting are done by an appropriately qualified person
- the compliance schedule is readily available for inspection by authorised persons
- a current building warrant of fitness is prepared and displayed
maintain the building in a safe and sanitary condition at all times. (This includes measures regarding building work and premises intended for public use and ensuring testing for legionella bacteria takes place on a regular basis)
if there are concerns about building safety in earthquakes, get professional engineering advice and act on it. See Advice for building owners: Building safety in earthquakes.

Getting it right

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all your obligations, don’t worry! You are not alone. This is why many property owners choose to engage a professional property manager to handle all the legal requirements and to make sure they are getting it right. If you’d like to know more about how property management works, don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Stay tuned for our next post, it will be chock full of practical tips and advice for property managers to ensure their property is future-tenant-proofed as much as possible.

How to save for Christchurch Property

Create a Budget

Keep an eye on your bank statement

High Interest Savings

Set Goals

Loan Calculator

Name your price

Search the Christchurch Real Estate Market

Christchurch Property FAQ

Get in touch today

Real Estate Christchurch – Tips for Selling in Summer

Let there be Light

Transcend Indoor/Outdoor Divisions

Keep it Cool

Show Character not Personality

Properties for sale in Christchurch – A first home-buyers guide

Am I ready to look at properties for sale in Christchurch?

Buying

Start hunting

6 Tips to Spring Clean your Christchurch Real Estate

1. Make a plan

2. Take your time cleaning your Christchurch property

3. Be prepared

4. Declutter before you clean

5. Clean your Christchurch home top to bottom

6. Multi-Task

Don’t Forget!

Chattels vs. Fixtures- What you need to know when buying Christchurch real estate

Chattels and Fixtures Defined

5 top tips to avoid mould in your Christchurch Property

Early detection is your best protection

Insulate your rental

Ventilation is on your side

Find the source of moisture

Choose your heating wisely

8 tips to selling your Christchurch property in Winter

Find out what your property is worth

Create a Budget

Keep an eye on your bank statement

High Interest Savings

Set Goals

Loan Calculator

Name your price

Search the Christchurch Real Estate Market

Christchurch Property FAQ

Get in touch today

Let there be Light

Transcend Indoor/Outdoor Divisions

Keep it Cool

Show Character not Personality

Am I ready to look at properties for sale in Christchurch?

Buying

Start hunting

1. Make a plan

2. Take your time cleaning your Christchurch property

3. Be prepared

4. Declutter before you clean

5. Clean your Christchurch home top to bottom

6. Multi-Task

Don’t Forget!

Chattels and Fixtures Defined

Early detection is your best protection

Insulate your rental

Ventilation is on your side

Find the source of moisture

Choose your heating wisely

Bringing in a professional maintenance contractor? Remember safety first!

Know when you’re allowed to enter your Christchurch property

Respecting the right to peace, comfort and privacy

Step 1: Know your obligations as a property owner

Keeping your rental property in a reasonable state of repair

Landlords

Tenants

Protecting yourself as a property owner

Ensuring your rental property is in a reasonable state of cleanliness

Ensuring your rental property meets health, safety and building standards

Getting it right

Cowdy’s top 20 rental property tips to make sure you get your bond back – part 2

Find out what your property is worth

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