Festive Season Tips for Homeowners
Category Just Imagine Properties Team
To say that 2020 has been a tough year might just be the biggest understatement of all time. We faced a global pandemic, national lockdown and a recession; but, to paraphrase two lines from William Ernest Henley's beloved poem Invictus: "Under the bludgeonings of chance/our heads are bloody, but unbowed". We're still standing. Perhaps a little worse for wear, but we're still standing.
Now that the year is drawing to a close and the country has been restored to some semblance of normality, you might be feeling that certain urge - the urge to splurge.
And why shouldn't you?
The different levels of lockdown saw many of us confined to our homes, most shops closed and home improvement tasks falling by the wayside as we waited with bated breath for the rules and regulations to be relaxed.
Under level 1, we are able to enjoy many of the liberties that were suspended during the past couple months and, with the holidays fast approaching, now is a great time to spruce up your home for the new year.
Here are some Festive Season tips for homeowners:
Get important maintenance work done first: Whether it's a leaky faucet, clogged drain or sagging roof, few things are as un-festive as spending huge amounts of money on major repairs, so call up that plumber or electrician before they close for the holidays, and avoid paying exorbitant after-hours callout and labour fees.
Cosmetics: This is where you get to spoil yourself - and your home - a little. With so many restrictions in place this past year, it's probably safe to assume that the vast majority of us made Santa's "nice list". If you've been dreaming a little dream of "decking the halls" these past 12 months - rejoice! - for now is the time to install those stylish new kitchen cupboards or have the bathroom retiled.
Upgrade your security: Many of us fondly remember the halcyon days of fenceless gardens and unlocked doors but, sadly, those days are long gone and having a robust security infrastructure has become a priority, especially considering that crime rates tend to spike over the holidays. Fortunately, continuous innovation in the field of security technology has made safeguarding our homes against criminals easier and more affordable thanks to solutions such as gate automation, intelligent alarm systems, CCTV and GSM (mobile) technology that enables you to monitor and control your home from anywhere using your phone. If you're planning on going away on vacation, it's a good idea to ask a friend, family member or neighbour to collect your mail and look after your pool and garden so that it isn't immediately obvious that the house is unoccupied.
Make a payment into your bond account: As a homeowner, you're already reaping the rewards of the four successive interest rate cuts that have brought the prime lending rate to the lowest in fifty years. You can drive down your bond repayments even further or, alternatively, shorten the repayment period by making a payment into your bond.
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Author: Charl Mijnhardt
