Home owners often talk about ‘selling at the right time’. By this they usually mean when the market is good for sellers. But there is another sense in which timing is important.

Buying a new home? Click more for a checklist that will help you remember all the things you need to assess to be sure you are making a good buy.

Many of us put off making a will thinking the need for it is a long way off. And it usually is! But the unthinkable happens and should be planned for; many people would rush out to make a will if they knew what happened to their assets in the absence of one.

You want the agent who is going to sell your single greatest asset to have experience, expertise, professionalism and a fantastic track record. But how can you tell just from looking at them? From what they tell you about their services?

In spite of weeks and often months of research into what they can get for their money, many purchasers find it hard to be objective when they see a property they really want. It seems that many people find it hard even to put a value on a property they really fall in love with. But there are good reasons why purchasers should work at keeping that emotion under control.

Do you live in a terrace, semi or other city property with almost no yard? You probably think a water tank is a no-go zone because it would be too large and unsightly for your property. 

Is it ever financially sound to hold onto a property that doesn't reach the desired price rather than sell for less?

Most people know that the cost of buying a property is more than the amount they pay to the real estate agent. But how much more? 

Research shows that about 40% of day to day energy use comes from heating and cooling the space we live in. 

Passive solar building design is becoming more popular with home builders who are keen to reduce their energy use while not giving up the comfort of a climate-controlled environment. Many with an eye to capitalising on their investment in years to come realise that by the time they sell, energy savvy design will be even more highly sought after, as energy costs soar with increasing concern about their real cost to the environment in the era of global climate change.