Property Investment – Construction Ventures Guide

How Landscaping Companies Can Use Google Reviews To Their Advantage

On April 26, 2023

Every business loves receiving good reviews, and if you own or manage a landscaping business, we are sure you are no different. Part of this is surely the fact that, in the internet age, consumers go online to research products, services, and businesses before making their decision about what to buy or who to call, which was not necessarily the case twenty or more years ago.

As such, you will find that many decisions to pick up the phone and call a landscaping business will be heavily influenced by the reviews that potential client discovers online. If your landscaping business does not have reviews, then it is likely going to be at the back of the queue, while those who have them are the ones who will be receiving the bulk of new prospects.

One of the prime locations online where you want to be reviewed is Google. This will specifically be within your Google Business Profile which you should already have set up. If not, then ensure you take steps to remedy that as soon as you finish reading this article. Your Google Business Profile is essential if you want your landscaping website – like martincuthbert.com.au to be able to be found on Google, where prospective clients can read your online reviews.

10 Benefits Of Installing Solar Panels For Your Home

By CVG

On February 21, 2023

In Property Investment, Renovations

Solar panels are an increasingly popular option for homeowners, not just in Australia, but across the world. With energy prices on what seems to be a never-ending upward trajectory and with people’s awareness of environmental issues increasing, solar energy presents a viable opportunity to address both of these genuine concerns.

Whilst energy prices and the environment might be regarded as the headline makers as to why solar energy’s popularity with homeowners is increasing, we must point out that there are many more reasons why installations of solar systems are occurring in ever greater numbers. The benefits which such installations create for homeowners are plentiful, and if you read on you will discover ten of the most significant benefits of solar panels being installed for your home.

Benefit #1 – Lower Energy Bills: We will start with the benefit which is at the forefront of everyone’s mind when they decide to opt for solar panels at home, and that is reduced electricity bills. By generating your own electricity from solar energy you can reduce your energy bills by as much as 70% depending on your usage.

Where to Spend Your Money in a Home Renovation

By CVG

On May 22, 2018

In Building & Construction, Property Investment

With the value of real estate finally on the rise again, many Australian homeowners are starting to once again look into doing home renovations to improve the value of their properties. For years people have been putting off employing a landscape design company or doing a full home renovation project, to avoid putting more money in their home without seeing a similar increase in its value. However now, with the market slowly and steadily recovering, renovation projects are once again a smart way to increase the value of your property.

Finding something to remodel or upgrade in your home is typically the easiest part of the process. It is easy for anyone to point out the areas that they are not happy with or wish to upgrade. It is far more difficult to know which projects to pick, both for your own enjoyment and the resale value of the home. When working with limited funds to renovate a home, it is important to pick and choose the projects that will really make an impact. Upgrades in a few key areas of the home can make a big impact on the property value, without blowing the budget.

Makeover the Kitchen for a Big Impact

The kitchen is always referred to as the heart of a home, making it a great place to invest your renovating budget. You don’t have to be a professional chef to appreciate the beauty of a high quality kitchen renovation. A gourmet kitchen will not only be the most important room in the house, but will also become the favourite room to spend time with the family, it will become a more functional space where cooking becomes much more enjoyable. Not only will the new kitchen look swish, it will be the first thing that prospective buyers look at should you decide to sell your home further down the track.

How to Ensure Your Rental is Profitable?

By CVG

On May 13, 2016

In Property Investment

The only way you can profit from your rental is to get it leased out. This means you need to have a home or commercial building that presents well; it must be spick and span, with no apparent faults, and not shabby-looking. So property maintenance is the order of the day as soon as your present lessee calls in a professional removal company such as Brilliance Removalists Perth – and moves out. Of course, you must make essential repairs while tenants are in your rental, but other things can’t be done until it is vacant.

Walls get shabby after a house has been lived in for some years. Cleaning doesn’t always make them look any better. Repainting the interior will make your rental look new again, with more modern colours and that new look and feel. Some homes also need new carpets, floor coverings, curtains, or blinds to make them look like a home.

The fittings could also be upgraded for a small cost, especially taps that leak – and don’t forget that a leaking cistern costs money, so it is likely to turn potential tenants away. Any appliances that look ancient should also be replaced, and if the electric water heater has been in for over a decade, you may want to think of replacing that, too. When you feel what it will cost to replace other components, such as kitchen cupboards and skirting boards and to have the carpet professionally dried out if it breaks down and floods the house, you will understand that replacing it before that happens will save you money.

Buying Your Own Home?

By CVG

On June 19, 2013

In Maintenance, Property Investment

Everyone needs somewhere to call home, a place of their own and whether you buy or rent, you want to be comfortable, safe and enjoy spending time there. While there are some people who prefer being on the move, living out of suitcases in hotel after hotel most people like to have a home of their own. It doesn’t need to be a mansion with a home lift – even if that is their own caravan, motorhome or live aboard boat, the common denominator is that it is theirs.

In some European and many Asian, African and Latin American countries, renting is more common than home ownership. Germany for example has only 42% of the population owning their own homes and countries like India, China, Argentina, Chile, South Africa have even fewer home owners. The tenancy laws in some of these countries often favour the tenant and ensure long term security in ways that make renting a far more attractive proposition than owning your own home. In others it is because there is a higher percentage of very poor people.

While tenants don’t have the ongoing expense of property maintenance and expenses such as rates or adding tenant requested items such as security alarms and doors and flyscreens, they also don’t enjoy the capital gains that accrue from property ownership. In these markets, rents are usually far less than mortgage payments and renters can invest their extra cash in various ways to make up for not having bricks and mortar behind them.

Property Investing – A Few Things To Think About

By CVG

On December 17, 2012

In Property Investment

The property boom years prior to the Global Financial Crises of 2007-2008 saw everyone and their dog becoming property investors. It was a crazy time for many with people buying anything to get ‘on the property ladder’ and the ‘reality’ TV shows of the day making it seem so easy. All you had to do was buy a dog at an auction for well below street value, then do ‘a reno’ and sell it, again at auction, for way over the reserve. Simple!

The reality was that while not as easy as that, it wasn’t that hard and part of the reason was that banks were virtually throwing money at anyone they felt could make the payments and even if they couldn’t, they were re-selling soon so no problem. At least that was how it often looked. It is true banks and lending institutions did relax considerably the lending criteria they had applied for decades and it was simpler to get a mortgage. Of course when interest rates soared in 2008, although nowhere near as high as they had in 1986-87, many were left holding paper on properties that were not fetching anywhere near what they were mortgaged for.

4 Ways to Save Money for a Home Deposit

By CVG

On April 2, 2011

In Property Investment

Buying a home is a major milestone towards adulthood for most people. However gone are the days when you could just turn up to the bank and score a 100% loan. Today banks want to see evidence of some genuine savings before they hand over the cash to fund your first home.

If you want to have your own little place to call home you will need to save up at least a 10% deposit. Now with the soaring prices of property and rapid increase of general living expenses, many people have a tough time saving up enough money for a home deposit – actually it feels near impossible. However with strategic planning and budgeting you can turn your dream into a reality. Here are four ways you can save more money and build your balance faster.

1. Get Other Debt Out of the Way First

It is hard to focus on saving the money you need for a home deposit when you are overwhelmed with trying to pay off all your other debts. If you have debts with high interest rates, such as credit cards or personal loans, you are better off putting all your money towards paying these debts off first. By paying these debts off first you are saving yourself a lot of money on interest, money which can be better put towards a home deposit. Once all your debts are paid off, open up a new savings account and put any money that you would have put on your old debts into your new savings account – watch how fast your deposit grows.