9 JANUARIE
Luxury fourbedroom family villa with a twobedroom cottage and spectacular outdoor entertainment area for sale in Somerset West
SOMERSET WEST:SOUGHTAFTER GOLDEN HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD
Frank Freeman back at RE/MAX
Lee Siebert, RE/MAX Helderberg broker/owner, proudly announces the return of fully-qualified real estate agent Frank Freeman to the RE/MAX Helderberg office in Waterstone Village.
Freeman is well respected in the Helderberg Basin for his integrity, knowledge, command of the German and Dutch languages, and exceptional service. As a testament to his place in the local real estate market Frank Freeman and RE/MAX Helderberg present a luxurious family home in Somerset West currently under sole
mandate. Priced at R 7 700 000 this exclusive four-bedroom (or three bedrooms with study) family home with a beautiful two-bedroom cottage is located in the very desirable neighbourhood of Golden Hill in Somerset West. The property offers great flow with all reception rooms opening by way of stackable doors onto the lovely covered entertainment area with adjacent solar-heated pool, braai, bar, and outside tv connection. The perfect set-up for the home entertainer! Other attributes of the property
include high ceilings, massive solid wood doors with frosted glass panels, under-floor heating and air-conditioning throughout, and incredible privacy to all bedrooms – each and every one with its own fully equipped en-suite bathroom. A beautiful staircase augmented by palisade windows leads to the second storey master bedroom complete with private balcony giving mural-like views of the Helderberg. For the security-minded there is a zoned alarm system with a outside beam system. There is the added bonus of a beautiful two-bedroom cottage
(both bedrooms en-suite) with its own covered entertainment area and plunge pool on the property. All finishes throughout the property are tops! Fully landscaped with a strong borehole, the residence will function wonderfully for a large extended family or a situation where a professional (doctor/lawyer/dentist) would like to have exclusive premises at home with ample parking. For more information on this property contact Frank Freeman of RE/MAX HELDERBERG on 079 290 6101 (cel) or 021-852-6464 (Office), or visit www.remax.co.za
Frank Freeman.
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Districtmail
SOLD HELDERBERG BOLAND
9 Januarie, 2014
Bring your edible garden to life
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste toegang tot die mark vir eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die Boland.
021 841 4285
021 887 2840
021 870 4600
Did you know that 2014 is the International Year of Family Farming? There has never been a better time to start a kitchen garden, plant an edible hedge along the boundary of your property, dot a few fruit trees around your garden, pot up some containers for your patio with dwarf fruit specimens or herbs and if you’ve only got a balcony, to start your very own edible vertical garden. It’s important that you check with your local accredited garden centre what is best for your area. Especially if you’re a first timer, you’ll want to make sure you get the best possible advice to ensure that you’re indulging in your own produce in no time. A kitchen garden would not be complete without rocket, basil and parsley, so why not start with them? These cover the basic herbs you need for cooking, salads, sauces and sandwiches while providing a variety of garnish options for the more aspirational chef. A countrywide winner as an edible hedge that’s available in January is the Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa), more often called Noem-Noem. This hardy shrub has edible berries that birds love and will even still be there the morning after the storm in the windiest parts of South Africa. If your patio or balcony is wanting for a pot with something sweet planted in it, then you should give Calamondin a try. Calamondin is a cross between a naartjie and kumquat. Small like a kumquat, sweet like a naartjie, small enough for a balcony. It can grow in all parts of the country
One of the fruity treats for the Western Cape garden is the pomegranate. and should be available in your garden centre in January. January in the Western Cape, much like the rest of the country, will see some of the hottest days all year come and go, so watering is very important. Equally important is conserving water. Western Cape residents are no strangers to water restrictions so watering out of habit instead of necessity should be avoided. The heat is accompanied by wind which dries the surface of the soil quite rapidly often making it look like the soil is in need of a good wetting, when in fact, if you prodded with your finger or a wooden spoon you’d see the soil is still quite moist. The general idea in January would be to water less, but more frequently.
So take a short stroll in the garden twice a day instead of a long walk once a day while you water. Fruity treats for the Western Cape garden: •Avocado •Pomegranates •Peaches ) Vegetable seedlings to kick start your edible garden: •Carrots •Cabbage •Lettuce •Chillies •Spring onion For more information about bringing your garden to life, visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za or join the conversation on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lifeisagardensa.
BOLAND SOLD
HELDERBERG
Districtmail 9 Januarie, 2014
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Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste toegang tot die mark vir eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die Boland.
021 841 4285
021 887 2840 021 870 4600
BOLAND SOLD
HELDERBERG
Districtmail 9 Januarie, 2014
5
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Districtmail
SOLD HELDERBERG BOLAND
9 Januarie, 2014
Rawson’s winning team Throughout South Africa a very high proportion of sectional title and other residential property schemes controlled by body corporates or home owners’ associations are experiencing financial difficulties (due mainly to levy arrears and/or poor budgeting). Such schemes have usually also been very inadequately maintained and ultimately their units almost always lose their value. “The figures of schemes in trouble have been put as high as 35% and it is known that over 25% of schemes have seen properties repossessed, while perhaps another 7% have been declared completely bankrupt,” says Johann van der Merwe, the Rawson Property Group’s Somerset West franchisee “Until recently, I have to say, the situation was not much different in the Helderberg region.” However, a property management company formed by himself, with Chantel Landers as portfolio manager and, more recently, his son Danie as manager, has in the four years since it was founded shown that achieving total turnarounds of debt and poor maintenance situations in the schemes referred to is achievable in every case provided the right methods are employed. Van der Merwe said that if the Rawson Helderberg team is appointed to manage a sectional title or home owners’ association scheme they then apply a business model in which the owners/mem-
bers are treated as shareholders, the trustees are regarded as the directors and the Rawson team becomes the management. “As managers, we accept full responsibility for the management of the scheme, including the levy collections,thechasingupofbaddebts and the control of the teams handling the gardens, the maintenance, the security and other such operations associated with the project. The body corporates/ home owners’ associations however continue to pay such people.” Initially, said van der Merwe, the seriousness of the problems encountered in the schemes handled by his team led to fairly slow growth of the company, however since 2012 they have been growing almost exponentially. Today, his team of five manages eight schemes with over 1 000 units and every one of these has within a few months been turned from a loss to a profit situation. “They all now have cash reserves and they are all debt-free,” he said. These turnarounds, added van der Merwe, have had an exceptionally good effect on all the schemes: the appearance of the buildings is greatly improved, vacancies tend to be significantly reduced, rents rise steadily, the percentage of owner-occupiers increases radically (something the Rawson Property Group always encourages) and the atmosphere among the residents becomes more friendly and congenial. Most importantly, he said, the values of the units themselves instead of decreasing, now start to
rise. “One of the lessons we learned in achieving turnarounds is that it is important to eliminate bad tenants,” said van der Merwe. “Experience has shown that often it is the late payers who subsequently become the non-payers. Once late payment occurs, and non-payment seems likely in the future, we stand by to take immediate action – and we can usually evict a non-paying occupant within three months.” Good tenant selection, added van der Merwe, is also crucial to the success of sectional title schemes and his team will insist on analysing the credit and other records of potential tenants before the owner is allowed to sign leases with them. In the process up to 40% of prospective tenants will be rejected. The success has also, said van der Merwe, led to a strong demand for the company’s services. The management team is now negotiating to manage a further 1 600 agreements. The expansion drive is being managed by Danie van der Merwe, who joined the company in September. The Rawson Property Group’s Helderberg property management team, as indicated, is now aiming for huge growth. This, said van der Merwe, will mean that they have to spread their net wider and they have, in fact, been given the right to search for new business throughout the Boland and the Overberg and will initially be targeting schemes in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington.
How to: Make a tepee Children love building, so giving them a garden project that will allow them to have a living tepee in their garden is sure to spark their interest. If you make the tepee large enough, they’ll be able to enjoy summer hideaways with their friends within its leaf-growing “walls”. What you’ll need: • 8 bamboo poles (3 metres each) • 20 metres nylon cord • ladder • 1 bag compost • 24 seeds or seedlings of your choice (runner beans, Chinese jasmine, or climbing nasturtium will work well for this) Planning your space: Find an area in your garden that will allow for a 2,5 m diameter tepee. Mark the centre of this circle with a stone and cut a length of rope to 1,25 m to measure out eight points this distance from the centre for marking where the poles will be inserted, in an equidistant circular format. Dig up the soil on the outside edge of each of these marked spots, mixing in some compost to enrich the soil for planting. Setting up the structure: Tie the first two poles together with nylon cord, 30 cm from the top. Separate the opposite ends and dig these two ends into opposite sides of your tepee circle, in two of the eight marked points. Make sure you dig these poles at least 15 cm into the ground to ensure stability. Now, with the help of your ladder, insert each of the other six poles in the other six spots you marked in the ground, tying each one at a time to the apex, connecting them to the first two poles you tied together. Now, at
Nasturtium is ideal for this project 30 cm intervals, from top to bottom, tie cord around the tepee to ensure stability from wind and busy bodies, keeping one gap free of rope, allowing it to form a “doorway” to enter the structure. Planting your seeds: Plant three seeds at the base of every pole where you dug in the compost. Water well and tend as normal. When stems begin to appear, gently tie them to the pole to train the plants upwards. When covered in greenery, your tepee will become a unique summer clubhouse for your children. With Chinese jasmine, this will be a heavenly smelling space too. And runner beans will offer an abundant opportunity for children to harvest their own beans. Playing in the garden will instantly take on new meaning, offering endless childhood memories. For more information on bringing Life to your Garden, visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lifeisagardensa.
BOLAND SOLD
HELDERBERG
Districtmail 9 Januarie, 2014
7
STELLENBOSCH 8 Eikestadnuus Investing in student accommodation in Stellenbosch
BOLAND SOLD
9 Januarie, 2014
You should do proper research before investing in student accommodation for 2014. Every year thousands of students from all over the country flock to Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein to embark on their academic journey. Although these universities all have residences that can accommodate students, the demand for accommodation far exceeds the supply, resulting in thousands of students having to find alternative accommodation each year. This could be one of the main reasons that parents and investors choose to invest in the student market, but that finding the right property in your price range requires a lot of homework. Prospective buyers need to undertake comprehensive research on specific areas and apartment blocks to narrow down their search before entering the market. Jacques Becker, a Seeff agent in Stellenbosch, says that the student housing market in Stellenbosch has always been a very captive market and that investing in property here it is a very good investment, especially when a property is close to campus. “Two-bedroom apartments/houses in Stellenbosch are especially popular amongst parents who buy property for their student children for the duration of their studies, because
the second bedroom can be rented out to someone else, giving the parent an extra income. “In the case of investors other criteria also play a role. Rental income versus price and the growth potential of the property are major considerations. Usually the more bedrooms, the bettertheincomeversuspriceisifyoucanmanage to keep the property occupied at all times. “Depending on what the investor is looking to gain from the acquisition of the property, he/ she will either decide to buy for growth or for a good rental yield. Finding both is difficult in Stellenbosch, but it is certainly possible to find if one keeps in mind that there are more than 170 sectional title schemes to invest in within a few kilometres radius from campus”. Becker continues to say that when you buy property in Stellenbosch it is advisable not only to compare that property to other apartments in different areas and schemes, but also to ask the agent for the recent sales in the specific apartment block in order to ensure that you are in the same ballpark as other investors. Educated buyers all agree that the property hot spot in Stellenbosch is found in the area between the borders of Banghoek road, Die Laan, Andringa street and Cluver/Marais streets. “This area is more expensive and sought after because of proximity to the campus. In general owners can expect to get a better growth here.
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland
SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste toegang tot die mark vir eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die Boland.
021 841 4285
021 887 2840 021 870 4600
There are, however, good apartment blocks outside this area, and also blocks on campus that have a slower growth. Thus doing your homework with the correct information from the right agent is of the utmost importance. Growth in this highly sought after area, which is in close proximity to classes, can also be attributed to the scarcity of well-priced property, where buyers who have the means to buy here are often unwilling to compromise on position or don’t have the time to wait for the right property. They then end up paying a premium and this premium price ultimately becomes the new market value, hence the growth,” says Becker. Becker concludes that property prices in Stellenbosch tend to drop significantly the further you move away from campus. From the above and judging from what other agents across the board are saying the most important considerations to keep in mind before investing in the student market is proximity of the property to campus, security, parking, price and avoiding the risk of landing with an empty apartment because of over-investing. Finishing, running costs, how long you are planning to hold on to the property and what the possibilities for upgrading are, are also important. “Buyers need to be mindful when purchasing properties which they’d like to renovate. Buy-
ing, renovating and selling immediately thereafter rarely works. Usually, the costs of transfer, renovation plus agent commission will not allow you to sell at a profit immediately. Renovating can be very beneficial when you decide to convert a bigger, usually older property from a one bedroom to a two bedroom, or a two bedroom to a three bedroom, giving you an extra monthly income. An extra bedroom should also increase the value immediately, if done properly.“But make sure that you are allowed to do so and determine the costs. Also consider parking when converting, the lack of allocated parking bays could be a drawback when selling,” says Becker. When buying a property important factors such as bond costs, levies, rates and taxes, maintenance and management fees must also at all times be taken into consideration. This should be weighed against your monthly return. The agents all recommend having a rental agent, especially if you reside far from your property as a rental agent will draw up the rental agreement, do the necessary credit and FICA checks, hold the tenant’s deposit in a trust, ensure payment to the owner and deal with general problems such as maintenance should they arise. Management fee of an agent is usually around 10%.
BOLAND SOLD
STELLENBOSCH
Eikestadnuus 9 Januarie, 2014
9
EXECUTIVE SEDAN:V6 PETROL ENGINE
Lexus IS 350 E is great value for money in the luxurious class HANJO STIER – GALIMOTO MEDIA I enjoy driving a Lexus sedan. There’s something about the executive bulk of their cars that inspires me. They are just that much different from the other luxury brands to satisfy my desire to be somewhat alternative. So it was with great anticipation that I awaited my turn to drive the Lexus IS 350 E. It arrived in a popular white paint job with the ubiquitous black leather upholstery. Aside from the boredom of driving yet another white car (good resale value), I was impressed with its looks although I found the 17-inch wheels dwarfed by the sheet metal of this sedan. There is ample space to accommodate 18-inch wheels and this is reserved for the more expensive models; thus lifting the appearance of the IS350 to near perfect levels. An advantage of the smaller wheels is that they give the IS350 E a more forgiving slow speed ride than that of the IS350 F-Sport. The design lines and eye-catching spindle grill on Lexus’ latest IS and GS ranges are a delight with their brooding, aggressive and sporty look. The lowered profile in front, along with a slight flare above the wheel arches add to the curvaceous yet angular appearance of the car. Swooping LED running lights in the front and L-shaped emphasis on the rear taillights add an interesting design element to the IS350. Climb inside and your eye is im-
is delivered in a long, mediately arrested by the 7smooth pull away as inch, very generously sized you ease down on the acinfotainment centre. It can be celerator. navigated using Lexus’ Safety features inunique “mouse” control clude ABS, ESP, 8 airwhich is operated with your bags throughout includleft hand. ing front knee airbags, The intuitive system offers parking sensors and a you insight into all the workrear view camera. ings of this sedan, as well as The 8-speed automata range of choices to navigate ic gearbox provides to, from your radio station seprompt response, espelection to system set-up to cially when running navigation maps, blue-tooth through the paddle and more. shifts for manual transiUp-to-the-minute detail is tions. Switch over to available to drivers at the sport mode and you’ll push of a button on either the notice a discernible main infotainment screen or hardening of the drive, a small multi-information with the steering firmscreen, set between the rev ing up and the comfort counter and the speedometer. levels taking a noseInterior finishes include a padive. But oh, how that per-thin wood veneer finish A tremendous amount of power is packed into the Lexus IS 350 E 3.5l V6 petrol engine. engine can roar as you with brushed aluminium in- PHOTO: MARC BOW PHOTOGRAPHY put your foot down. serts and a bright analogue It must be noted, that despite heating and ventilation options. dous amount of power is packed into clock central to the dashboard. I found the Bluetooth set-up to be The front seats are electronically the 3.5l V6 petrol engine. With an keeping the car in normal driving simple and intuitive and far easier multi-adjustable so that you can output of 228 kW at 6500 revs, you’ll mode with as much of an economito pair this time around than previ- find that perfect driving position. feel the need to occasionally put cal bent as possible, the IS350 is a ous experiences of trying to sync my The spacious interior is mirrored at your foot flat on the accelerator just thirsty beast. We averaged a rather phone’s functionality with that of a the back where ample leg room was to hear the delightful howl from the poor 11,4F/100 km with some mostly Lexus, or else I’ve just finally evident despite the driver’s seat be- engine as the IS350 surges forward. conservative mixed driving. This I loved the feeling and bemoaned was well above the claimed 9,7F/100 ing pushed well back. A large boot grasped the technique properly! The sound output was crystal finishes off the space offerings with my commuter lifestyle from permit- km. All in all, the Lexus IS 350 is a clear and worked perfectly up until ample place for those golf clubs, sev- ting me more opportunities to beautiful executive sedan. With a starting price of R464 300 the day I was due to return the car eral boutique store bags and more. stretch the IS350’s legs. The drive is smooth and comforta- for all of the above, it also makes for when, for reasons unknown, it Comfort levels are controlled stopped working completely and no through a dual climate control sys- ble, there is a little bit of body roll great value for money if you’re buyamount of fiddling with the set-up tem which, on a warm day, is some- most noticeable in tight corners, but ing into something luxurious. I no more than you would expect from would just watch how much I put my what noisy but at least effective. would bring it back. The part I love most about a Lexus an executive level sedan. The IS350 foot down or be prepared to cough The interior is roomy with exceptionally deep ergonomically de- is the actual driving experience and delivers an impressive amount of up a bit more than expected on my signed seats in front that offer both the IS350 was no different. A tremen- power for such a large car and this monthly fuel expenses.
BOLAND SOLD
AUTO
Donderdag
9 Januarie, 2014
11
The Volkswagen Passat TSI RLine’s elegance and subtlety is directly transferred into the way it drives.
Volkswagen Passat TSI R-Line: the classy look I can only imagine that you’re reading this text because you googled Tegel, stumbled across it by accident or are a hard-core fan of this car. You see, if our local sales charts are anything to go by, the Volkswagen Passat doesn’t exactly sell in vast quantities. As with other makes and models, this is a purely geographical problem and the Passat is a glowing-from-every-orifice red-hot success elsewhere. The Germans and some of their neighbours love them, plus you’ll find a few Passats mixing it up with Mercedes E-Classes in Berlin Tegel’s taxi rank. Local sales are nothing to write to the fatherland about, last month the Passat sold exactly 40 units compared to the Jetta’s 274 and CC’s 38. So its prettier sister is level pegging and the cheaper cousin outsells it seven to one – VWSA must’ve recognised this and now offers any Passat with an R-Line package. Although it’s still an optional extra, the package is a genuine Volkswagen R GmbH product and costs a very reasonable R10 200.
Its various parts include a restyled front bumper with large cooling intake and flush fog lights, while the rear bumper houses a black diffuser for that sporty look. A small, tasteful spoiler in vehicle colour accents the boot lid, side sills are also fully integrated and painted, framed by 17-inch “Mallory” alloy wheels. A small “R-Line” badge on the front grill finishes the package which subtly enhances any Passat’s look without taking it over the top. It’s very classy. I think the price is outstanding and judging by my friends’ reactions, this optional package is a complete must-have for any Passat. Our dark brown metallic car with its crisp shape and chrome details got many lingering stares and started making fans immediately: “Are you driving that R?” The Passat faithfully follows its maker’s conservative but elegant design language which will probably see it being labelled as “boring” a few times before everyone realises how subtle and enduring this concept is. It’s kinda what Mercs used to be before they decided to go all Miley Cyrus with their de-
signs. Inside it’s exactly the same story with insane levels of ergonomics and restrained design. Our press demonstrator had matching dark brown leather trim contrasted by silver accents, black plastics and a light grey headliner. The red and white instruments are just as neat and logical as the touch-sensitive media screen. VW holds back on a few nice-to-have gadgets like a USB port or Bluetooth – we simply couldn’t connect any of our phones. That said, each Passat comes with a list of standard features including climate control, fullsize spare wheel, auto lights and wipers, climate front seats and an array of safety aids. Driving position, steering and pedal feel, brakes, handling and response are all exemplary and our Passat carved through a Cape winter storm without flinching. It also had some amusing optional extras like an automated parking system and a glass sunroof with a completely perplexing control knob. A Passat’s elegance and subtlety is directly transferred into the way it drives, our test car was a moving shrine to quietness and refinement bar the 7-speed automatic DSG,
which only I seem to have a gripe with at low speeds. Once on the move and especially when caned to the red line, I will admit that it is sublime. You may also choose to order a manualshift Passat, which will save you exactly R15 000 on either models. The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder TSI engine as tested here develops 118 kW (160 hp) or 250 Nm, claiming averages of 7F/100 km or 162 g CO2/km, 0-100 km/h in 8,5 seconds (we did 9) and 220 km/h tops. A 103 kW (140 hp), 320 Nm turbo-diesel is also available at a R16 700 premium over its petrol equivalent. With a 70F tank, only habitual long-distance drivers will appreciate the oil burner’s 5,2F/100 km claimed average and superior range. In theory it will reach 1 350 km versus the petrol’s 1 000. Every Passat is sold with VW’s 5-year/100 000 km Automotion Plan with a choice of ten exterior colours. I recommend something dark to accentuate the tasty bits of the R-Line package, because you’d have to be crazy not to choose it.
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SOLD AUTO BOLAND
Donderdag
9 Januarie, 2014
Nissan Navara is the vehicle of choice for Inside Angling tv series QUICKPIC The Nissan Navara has been named as the 4x4 vehicle of choice for popular angling TV programme, Inside Angling. The show sees its team travel in excess of 100 000km per season in search of unspoiled coastline and wild rivers where the huge varieties of game fish can be found in Southern Africa. Based on a catch-and-release angling philosophy with environmental and animal care a priority, the now three-year-old series has been captivating audiences and focuses on showcasing the diverse species that can be found in Southern Africa. Executive producer Brad Cartwright, comments: “Having to cover such diverse terrain, from the berg, through the bush and to the beach, we needed a reliable 4x4 with the towing capacity for our large boats to reach any destination. The Nissan Navara ticked all the boxes, making it an easy 4x4 choice.” Nissan Navara product manager at Nissan South Africa, Marinus Venter, elaborates: “Yet another accolade for the Nissan Navara is of course great news and with our name being represented in the world of sustainable angling, our ties to environmental responsibility have been reiterated. “The Nissan Navara in 4x4 guise is a formidable off-road bakkie with
The Nissan Navara has been named as the 4x4 vehicle of choice for popular angling TV programme, Inside Angling. luxurious equipment, rugged and practical design, a generous load box, advanced 4x4 systems and 3 000kg towing capacity – not to mention superb on-road and long distance comfort. “Furthermore, the recent addition of the new Navara Safari takes
these attributes even further with its specialised accessories specifically designed for overlanding.” Nissan’s involvement in and support of recreational angling was motivated by the Roam Free conservation initiative, driven by fishtube.tv.
The innovative and free smartphone app-based concept promotes the sustainability of recreational angling, which remains the largest participatory sport in South Africa. Cartwright concludes: “Provided you have the right vehicle to get you there, the waters of Southern Africa
PHOTO: QUICKPIC
are home to practically every fish that you could ever want to catch…and of course, release. The Nissan Navara is that vehicle!” Fishing adventure action can be followed at www.fishtube.tv. Inside Angling is screened every Monday at 19:00 on Supersport.