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Letter from the editor ONE of our fastest growing digital magazines is our sister publication Home Improver (http://bit.ly/ HomeImprover). With a sharp increase of over 55 000 unique views last year, it was clear South Africans were using their lockdown to fix up their homes. As editor of Home Improver, I received numerous emails last year from our readers relating to things such as: ● How can we painlessly declutter our home? ● How can I turn our dining room into a classroom? ● We live in a small apartment and both my partner and I work from home. Help, what can we do especially when we both have to be on zoom call? There were also an inordinate number of DIY questions and readers looking for tricks and tips to improve their homes on a budget. These certainly were a far cry from questions and emails we used to get about simply beautifying the home. Added to that, our gardening section took off. Homeowners and tenants wanted to have gardens that were not only beautiful but functional – spaces where children could play in hard lockdown but also gardens that could feed the household. Even apartment dwellers were finding some green inside or on balconies to connect them to nature, which we were cut off from in levels 5 and 4. We started viewing our homes differently. Many of us used to leave the house before the sun came up, go to work and only return at night to eat a meal and go to sleep. With longer periods indoors, we were able to see things that needed fixing and areas we had overlooked. We started to give our homes some love, realising the spaces in which we live have a direct impact on our mental and physical health. Here’s to happy days in your homes. Warm regards
Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za
The past year’s lockdowns encouraged homeowners to carry out upgrades and renovations.
Changing rooms for changing times
Many homeowners took lockdown as an opportunity to improve their residences so they could fulfil their new functions as offices, classrooms and even gyms BY BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za
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ANY South African homeowners have been hard at work over the past year, renovating their homes, undertaking maintenance, and making their spaces work better for them. This increase in activity started during last year’s hard lockdown, which saw people confined to their properties for most of the year, and then further encouraged by the drastic lifestyle changes that followed. Areas of particular focus have been the garden and other outdoor areas, work-from-home spaces and multi-functional areas used by all household members. It is therefore not surprising that hardware stores reported aboveaverage levels of confidence last year which, although now slowing, still indicate steady levels of home renovation and upgrades. Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, senior economist at FNB, says building manufacturer confidence increased during the first three months of this year because of “a continued rise in production and domestic sales”. The plausible reason for this, he says, is still-strong retail hardware sales which saw the business confidence of hardware retailers reach 64 in Q4 2020 – much higher than its longterm average of 49. However, he cautions: “Most of the
positive effect of working from home and increased disposable income – for those who managed to keep their jobs last year and did not take a pay cut – on hardware sales is likely behind us. Going forward, growth may come under pressure here too.” Reflecting on the past year, Graeme Steen, chief executive of Kandua.com – a South African online home services marketplace – says trends showed people increasingly investing in home improvements, with the number of monthly requests posted on the portal increasing by 750% compared to April last year. “Renovation requests have doubled... During the initial weeks of strict lockdown, only emergency home repair services could operate. When lockdown eased, there was not only pent-up demand but also an overall increase in improvements and fixes that people wanted to conduct in their homes.” Echoing this, Cedric Sennepin, chief executive of Leroy Merlin South Africa, which partners with Kandua, says it has experienced an ongoing increase in sales since reopening on May 1. “We’re spending more time at home than ever before. This means more wear and tear around the home and also that you’re more likely to notice issues or have ideas for home improvement.” At first, many homeowners took
on relatively simple DIY projects as a stress reliever or a fulfilling way to spend their idle time at home. “We saw a massive increase in sales for interior paint, decorative, gardening and organisational products,” says Sennepin. As the demands on time and homes increased though, more people turned to professionals to get the job done. The pair attributes the increase in home improvement to a number of factors, including that homes have become multifunctional spaces. “Over the past year, our homes have also become our offices, classrooms, gyms, movie theatres and even restaurants,” Steen says. “This is reflected in the increased demand for renovation services. People are transforming their spaces to adapt to their changing lifestyles and are investing money in their homes that would normally be spent on things like travel and entertainment.” Homeowners are, however, cautioned against over-capitalising on their renovations, especially if they are planning to sell in the near future. In addition to spending no more than 5% to 10% of the total value of the property on renovations, Steen says owners need to research the average selling price of properties in their area. “Not every improvement or
upgrade is necessarily going to boost the value of your home. Be strategic – upgraded kitchens and bathrooms add the most value. Renovations that make the house ‘greener’, increasing efficiency, reducing energy bills and benefiting the environment, are becoming increasingly popular.” Outdoor entertainment areas and landscaped gardens are also “guaranteed to add value” if they are renovated and updated well, says Alen Ribic, chief technology officer of SweepSouth, a mobile app that connects homeowners and professionals like plumbers, painters, handymen and electricians. “Carefully consider what to spend money on. “In a kitchen, for example, it pays to invest in gorgeous, functional items, such as a gas hob, a centre island and new counters, and save money by revamping cabinets and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint.” For homeowners looking to make wise upgrades that will appeal to buyers, Pearl Scheltema, chief executive of Fitzanne Estates says: “Buyers are looking for spaces that offer convenience, value, and room for all the new roles a home should play. “Opportunity also knocks for those willing to invest in sustainable buildings, with a renewed emphasis being placed on homes that offer independence from load shedding.”
DISCLAIMER: The publisher and editor of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised within this edition. Copyright ANA Publishing. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from ANA Publishing. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material. Publisher Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com Executive Editor Property Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za Features Writer Property Bonny Fourie bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za Design Kim Stone kim.stone@inl.co.za
