Real Estate Christchurch

If you are planning to sell your Christchurch property this Summer – we want to help you get the best value you can. With the Christchurch real estate market being competitive, it pays to present your house to show off it’s best assets. There are many easy to use tips to help sell your Christchurch property, one being the use of Home Staging.

It’s worth the effort

Although home staging is a time-consuming process, it is certainly worth doing. Over the past 20 years, home staging has become very popular, and for good reason – staging your home can get you a higher price for your home. Potential buyers look at a lot of homes during the house buying process – your Christchurch property needs to stand out from the rest. By focusing on the aesthetics, your properties visual appeals are more readily apparent to potential buyers.

Portray a home not a house

First impressions are invaluable when it comes to selling Christchurch real estate. With home staging, you are able to portray a real home environment, opposed to an empty shell of a house. Potential buyers are looking for a home they can visualise themselves living in – creating a comfortable setting allows buyers to connect with the home. Professional home stagers know how to expose and highlight a houses key selling features – whether it be light, space, colour or architectural design.

Time saver

Staged houses sell quicker. People are eager to move into a new home as soon as possible. Staging your Christchurch property saves you and the potential buyer time in the long run – a staged home is easily packed up in a matter of days, allowing the new home owners to move in faster.

Get in touch with Cowdy & Co today, our agents want to help you sell your home.

18/11/2014/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

8 tips to selling your Christchurch property in Winter

Selling, Cowdy & Company Blog, 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

Going green can help you sell your Christchurch property

Selling, Christchurch Property Tips

For home owners selling property, going green can help you sell your property, as more and more home buyers are looking for houses for sale in Christchurch that are environmentally friendly.

From increased insulation to energy efficient appliances, there are a number of changes you can make to increase your chances of selling your home, and for a higher price. More and more people are looking for green or environmentally friendly features when buying property.

The reasons for this are twofold.

Not everyone is an eco-warrior, so while social responsibility and genuine environmental concerns are a priority for many Christchurch home buyers in 2014, environmentally friendly homes are also very cost effective. A number of methods of eliminating environmental waste end up saving money in the long run – lower power bills, less water usage, better insulation. So, whether you want to pull on the heartstrings of prospective buyers or you want to appeal to their wallets, there are many advantages to improving the environmentally friendliness of your home before selling the property.

Property and Energy Efficiency

Houses consume nearly 35% of the total electricity generated in New Zealand. Unfortunately the majority of New Zealand homes do not use energy efficiently according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Patricia Green, leader of the Wellington property team at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, said there is evidence out of Australia that high energy efficiency ratings attract higher rents and higher- quality tenants. ”It also comes down to the bottom line, as an energy-efficient building will result in lower energy costs,” said Green.

Data available in the USA shows that homes with energy efficient features are selling for 3-4% more than those without, and 90% of those buying houses think energy efficiency is important. The New Zealand Green Building Council states that energy efficient buildings have 20% lower ongoing costs (water, heating etc). Homestar also found that 65% of New Zealanders prioritised making their homes energy efficient, and the number looking for new or modern and efficient homes was on the increase, up to 53%.

Adding appliances to a home (from fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and other whiteware right through to heating, central vacuum systems and water systems) has always been an opportunity for a marketable competitive advantage. Taking that one step further and making sure they are environmentally friendly appliances that will reduce costs on an ongoing basis makes that advantage even more competitive.

What environmental standards are Christchurch home buyers looking for?

There are three key areas to consider when ensuring a property you own, plan on buying or even selling is sustainable:

Energy efficiency
Health protection
Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

Key areas to examine are energy usage, heating, insulation, airflow and ventilation, hot water systems, damp/dryness, lighting, power generation (if applicable) and orientation toward the sun (for new homes).

Homestar and BASE (Canterbury region) are the rating systems used by the New Zealand Green Building Council to assess sustainability standards. See the specific BASE breakdown here. If the ultimate purpose of the property is for it to become a rental property, it is important to keep an eye on the rental warrant of fitness trails that are currently happening, as they incorporate environmental standards.

There are a number of useful resources at the end of this post that can help you review your property and see what standards you do and don’t meet.

Tips to help you go green

Install appropriate insulation in area to be remodelled.
Install high-efficiency windows instead of those that minimally meet the energy code.
Seal all exterior penetrations in areas being remodelled.
Purchase only Energy Star rated appliances.
Install only low-flow water fixtures.
Upgrade to at least an Energy Star rated water heater, or better yet, a tankless water heater.
Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford and make sure it is correctly sized for the area you want to condition.
Install energy efficient light bulbs
Make sure sockets have off switches
Lower the temperature on your hot water heater
Investigate green roofs or walls
Use recycled and environmentally friendly building materials
Include ventilation heat recovery systems
Install energy and water usage meters
Generate renewable energy, for example by installing solar power, or solar water heating
Connect to the Christchurch District Energy System
Improve the temperature, air quality, ventilation and amount of natural light
Allow for waste and recycling separation

Property selling tips for green homes

There are some concerns (among builders especially) about whether going green will bring the return on investment (ROI) necessary to justify extra spend. The ROI can be improved by ensuring your green/sustainable efforts and features are built into your marketing plan. There are a number of websites, blogs and journals that specifically profile green homes, and can be a great way to get your home featured elsewhere.

Having your house assessed and rated by an external provider gives you a tangible, objective review to promote and can be included in all your marketing and promotional materials. Ensure communicating the green aspects are part of your marketing plan and incorporated in your communications (including when you or your agent shows people through the house).

Useful Resources

Guide to smarter insulation

Energywise

EECA Action Sheet: Making your home warmer and healthier

Inspiration to work toward: NZ’s most energy efficient house

How to improve an existing home

Righthouse Fact Sheets

Tips to go green at home in general

Christchurch Agency for Energy

25/02/2014/by Nick Cowdy

Presentation Tips For Selling Your Home

Selling, Cowdy & Company Blog, Christchurch Property Tips

Cowdy isn’t just about managing rental properties in Christchurch and listing houses for rent; we’re very successful residential real estate salespeople with a wealth of experience and expertise.

If you’ve made the decision to put your house on the market you’ll want potential buyers to come in fast and start to see some great offers. When you’re selling property, you need to present your home in the absolute best way possible.

House Buyers Will Often Judge A Book By Its Cover

Don’t take yourself out of contention before a buyer has even walked inside! It’s vital that the surrounding section of your home (regardless of size) is maintained and presented as nicely as possible. This means pruning back bushes, mowing lawns, repairing a broken fence, water blasting pathways, cleaning windows, moving bins and garden equipment out of sight, keeping a clear lawn if you’re a dog owner… anything that will detract from your home should be fixed.

If you’re serious about selling, you need to keep nice presentation up the whole time you are on the market as potential buyers will often drive past properties they’re interested in prior to (or after) attending open homes.

Want to go the extra mile to make your place more desirable? Put a sunny Sunday afternoon aside to give the fence a fresh coat of paint or maybe buy some flowers and put up hanging baskets in the porch. These may seem like small details but they can help make your house more memorable than the other 5-10 buyers see that day.

A well-presented exterior can make all the difference.

Make Your House A Place Buyers Would Live In

Ever been into a house and immediately found it unpleasant or unsettling? This feeling we get is often attributed to environmental factors that can often be rectified easily:

Heat/Air – Winter: put on the heater, heat pump, or fire before a viewing. Summer: open windows and get airflow through the property.

Light – Pull the curtains back and open the blinds in all rooms. If possible, get rid of old dirty curtains as these only detract from a room.

Space – You want buyers to navigate through the house easily and be able to easily envisage where they would put their own furniture. You should donate, lend out, sell or dispose of any furniture that needlessly takes up floor space. In terms of items like indoor plants, ornaments, wall-hanging art, photo frames etc., look to reduce extra clutter. We’re not asking you to become a minimalist, but rather create well-laid out, welcoming rooms.

Surfaces – A vacuum cleaner and duster are your best friends while your property is on the market. We all know the massive difference a vacuumed floor makes to a room’s appearance!

Simple things like clean, clear surfaces improve the buyer’s experience of your home.

Don’t break the bank

Now would be a good time to say that while you should present your house and section as nicely as possible, you shouldn’t attempt to make it a dream home by spending considerable amounts of money. By keeping a clutter-free and clean interior & exterior buyers can get a good idea of the property and its potential. Remember, they will likely have their own furniture, planned décor and wall colours – so why waste money trying to guess what that is?

Get more great house selling tips

We’ve only discussed property presentation – check out our page on real estate tips for more handy tidbits that will make selling your home much less stressful!

09/08/2013/by Nick Cowdy

8 Relevant Real Estate Tips for Selling Your Home

Selling, Cowdy & Company Blog

Preparing your property for sale is a crucial part of the sales process – when there are plenty of buyers in the market, the right preparation can help you get top dollar, and when there are fewer buyers, paying attention to presentation can help ensure your home sells more quickly.

To get the best results in selling your property, we recommend you follow our tips below:

Clean Up Your Act – Be Ready for Inspection!

The average person spends a couple of hours every week cleaning their house with the odd run around with the vacuum cleaner. You may have someone who cleans the windows and maybe you keep your garden quite tidy.

If you intend selling your house you really need to smarten up your act. Take a look at your house with fresh eyes.

Start from the outside – all those cobwebs over the porch suggest neglect, mud on the walls in the hallway from dogs shaking and gumboots being kicked off needs to be scrubbed away. Give your home a real Spring Clean

Wipe down skirting boards and door frames
Clean every floor, work surface and table top
Vacuum under rugs
Hang clothes in your wardrobes
Remove clutter (and dust bunnies) from under your bed
Serious buyers (and nosey people!) will be looking into every nook and cranny in your house. Avoid putting them off with unnecessary mess.

09/06/2013/by Janice Cowdy

Rental demand high, supply low – It’s time to buy

Rentals, Selling, Cowdy & Company Blog

There is a shortage of rental accommodation & rents continue to increase.

An all time high of 79% net of respondents, expect that Christchurch house prices will continue to increase over the next 12 months [ASB Housing Confidence survey].

Low interest rates are expected for the foreseeable future.

In Canterbury an estimated extra $50 million of electronic transactions were processed for the period April 13 compared to April 12, shows an increase in confidence.

15,000 new jobs have been created in the region over the last year, and that’s before the rebuild is properly underway.

A low volume of property sales & reduced days to sell, confirm strong demand & upward pressure.

Unemployment is 4.9% in Canterbury, the national average being 6.9%

To discuss this further, please contact Janice Cowdy on 03 355 6686 or email [email protected]

06/06/2013/by Janice Cowdy

Real Estate Christchurch – Home Staging Benefits

Real Estate Christchurch

It’s worth the effort

Portray a home not a house

Time saver

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

Chattels and Fixtures Defined

8 tips to selling your Christchurch property in Winter

Going green can help you sell your Christchurch property

Property and Energy Efficiency

What environmental standards are Christchurch home buyers looking for?

Tips to help you go green

Property selling tips for green homes

Useful Resources

Presentation Tips For Selling Your Home

House Buyers Will Often Judge A Book By Its Cover

Make Your House A Place Buyers Would Live In

Don’t break the bank

Get more great house selling tips

8 Relevant Real Estate Tips for Selling Your Home

Rental demand high, supply low – It’s time to buy

Find out what your property is worth

Real Estate Christchurch

It’s worth the effort

Portray a home not a house

Time saver

Chattels and Fixtures Defined

Property and Energy Efficiency

What environmental standards are Christchurch home buyers looking for?

Tips to help you go green

Property selling tips for green homes

Useful Resources

House Buyers Will Often Judge A Book By Its Cover

Make Your House A Place Buyers Would Live In

Don’t break the bank

Get more great house selling tips

Find out what your property is worth

Members Of

Supporters Of