Neighbourhood 25 FEBRUARY 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Dive in
Discover what makes Eldoraigne and Wierda Park so popular with homebuyers, page 2
2
SUBURB FOCUS: CENTURION WEST
4
BUSINESS Q&A
6
HOME LIGHTING
2
PROPERTY NEWS
25 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Centurion West Here's what's happening in property in Wierda Park and Eldoraigne WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE
T
IMAGES: RENE WALKER & GOOGLE MAPS
Property
he neighbouring suburbs of Wierda Park and Eldoraigne – with its extensions, Eldo Meadows, Eldo Glen, Eldo Park – form a thriving rectangular-shaped region on Centurion’s western side. Being well-established areas, the older residential portions are characterised by an abundance of trees and rich birdlife. Wellmaintained gardens contribute to the tranquil and relaxed atmosphere, while the main streets, where many homes have been converted into businesses, bustle with activity.
The area offers opportunities for just about every kind of property buyer or renter: apartments for individual occupation, starter townhouses, traditional homes in the older areas with generously sized stands, modern lock-up-and-go units of
The newer extensions, Eldo Meadows, Eldo Glen and Eldo Park, mainly comprise clusters of security and lifestyle estates and complexes. This part has a more modern look and feel but still offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
PUBLISHED BY BLACKSTAR PROPERTY PUBLISHING Unit G04, Old Castle Brewery Bldg 6 Beach Road, Woodstock Cape Town, 087 828 0423
What I love most about living in Eldoraigne is being so close to everything. The kids’ school is just a few blocks from our home and there are lots of options to choose from in terms of supermarkets like Pick n Pay, Spar, Woolworths and many others. EMMY MAZIBUKO, RESIDENT
varying sizes in secure estates, stylish family dwellings in estates and luxurious mansions with everything you could ever want in a house. Eldoraigne is also home to Eldoraigne Retirement Estate and vacant land and commercial properties are also available.
The region lies alongside the Old Johannesburg Road in the east. The northern border is Wierda Road, linking up with Pretoria East as Solomon Mahlangu Drive. In the south, the N14/N1 interchange is less than 2km away, while the western neighbour, Raslouw, provides easy access to the R55. Centurion West, therefore, offers a perfect location for people commuting between the Tshwane metropole and Joburg, Krugersdorp or Ekhurhuleni. The region has its own shops, business services, schools, churches, medical facilities, service stations, a post office, library, clinic and a police station.
*Map not to scale
At the lower end of the market, you could pay around R700,000 for a smallish stacked apartment, while at the top end of the scale a luxury lifestyle estate property will sell for between R4m and R5m.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CENTURION WEST: yourneighbourhood.co.za/centurion-west
EDITORIAL TEAM: Group Editor: Charis Le Riche charisl@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Mlungisi Mthembu
The majority of buyers are in the 36–49 age group, followed by the more mature buyers (50–64), with the younger generation (18–35) hot on their heels.
Schooling Eldoraigne and Wierda Park boast an abundance of public and private schools within a 3km radius. Approximately 20 pre-primary schools and nurseries are conveniently concentrated in Eldoraigne and Wierda Park. Primary schools located within the radius are Wierda Park Primary School, Laerskool Wierdapark, Laerskool Bakenkop and Springvale Primary School. Hoërskool Eldoraigne and Sutherland High School in Eldoraigne have excellent reputations. Hoërskool Zwartkop, across from Eldoraigne alongside the Old Johannesburg Road, is also highly regarded.
ADVERTISING SALES: Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Group Online Editor: Lauren Joubert
Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za or call 087 828 0423 Sales & Marketing Manager: Michèle Jones michele.jones@thecreativegroup.info Production (Editorial & Property Advertising): Lucea Goosen pretoria@yourneighbourhood.co.za
25 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
In addition, the area offers a number of private/independent schools meeting the individual needs of its diverse population. These suburbs also offer easy access to several further education and training institutions nearby, such as Tshwane South TVET College, Technicol, The Open Window Institute for Arts and Digital Sciences, SA Chefs Training and Innovation Academy and Centurion Academy.
Explore
Leisure and recreational amenities in this region cater for people of all ages and preferences. Treat the kids to a family outing to the movies at the Mall at Reds or help them discover the joy of books at Eldoraigne Library. You can also get pampered at one of the many day spas in the neighbourhood. Centurion Mall has more than 260 shops and restaurants to choose from and is only a few kilometres away. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the many sporting facilities – from tennis and gymnastics to golf at the beautiful Zwartkop Country Club, cricket at the nearby SuperSport Park and racing at Zwartkops Raceway. The neighbourhood’s favourable location close to many regional main roads makes for easy travelling to nearby day/weekend getaway destinations like Hartbeespoort and Muldersdrift.
PROPERTY NEWS
3
EAT: • Terrace Wierda Park: a popular pub and grill • Prairie Eagle Spur and Thunder Ridge Spur, Wierda Park: for familyfriendly dining • Rustic Diner, Wierda Park: for live music and great food • The Thirsty Badger, Wierda Park: for classic pub grub • Pizzeria Milan, Eldorainge: for woodfired pizza, handmade pasta and slow-cooked meats • Zagora Grill Room and Wine Cellar at The Royal Elephant Hotel, Eldorainge: for international dishes • Pizza Enzo, Eldoraigne: for Italian cuisine • Ocean Basket, Eldoraigne: for a variety of seafood
SEE: • • • • •
Elno Art Gallery and Coffee Shop Lemon Jack Studios and Theatre Swartkop Air Force Museum Bishop Bird Park Rooihuiskraal Historical Terrain
For sale in Wierda Park Median asking price:
R1,89m
Monthly bond repayments
For a typical property (four-bedroom house)
SHOP: • Eldo Square is centrally located. • Eldoraigne Village Shopping Centre offers shopping, restaurants and a variety of fast food outlets. • Wierda Village is a small but convenient shopping destination. • Centurion Lifestyle Centre is just across from the road in Hennopspark. • Mall at Reds offers comprehensive shopping, entertainment and dining and is located on Wierdapark’s border with Rooihuiskraal North.
For a typical property in this area
R960,000
R648,000
R1,85m
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
You’ll pay
R18,553 per month
Property Type:
85%
Based on
house
2%
apartment
13% complex
R1,89m median asking price
over a period of 20 years at 10,25% prime
4
PROPERTY NEWS
25 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood You and Me in Wonderboom is a decor hiring company that specialises in wedding and event concept planning WORDS: ZENA LE ROUX
Y
ou and Me was founded in 2015 by director Anel Ubbink and creates events that are trendy, exquisite and individual. Anel was raised with a deep appreciation and admiration of the natural world and uses nature as her biggest source of inspiration. When it comes to planning, she says variety is the secret to putting together decor items that not only work well but also add to the functionality of the design. She tells us more about the business.
business from my home studio in the Wonderboom area. I have some structure, but also flexibility within my job. It’s quite central and close to popular as well as new wedding venues. I choose to work from home because I don’t have traditional work hours. My job requires a lot of self-discipline and internal motivation. I set my own deadlines and work hours.
Q: How did your business start? A: A fter struggling to find a teaching position in Pretoria when I moved from Randburg, I decided to change course drastically and pursue my dream of decor. I’ve always known that art would play a magnificent role in my life, but I was not certain where my talents would take me. I love designing and creating decor objects.
Q: How did you find your premises? A: T he premises have been in our family for quite some time. The house I operate my business from used to belong to my husband’s family. We made a few changes to the layout when we bought it a few years ago. We added an office space, among other things, which allows me to welcome my clients in through a separate sliding door and at the same time maintain some privacy.
Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: I’m fortunate to operate this
Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business? A: My husband and I operate our
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
businesses from the comfort of our home. We have separate offices allowing each other to go about our daily business. My office allows me to easily receive clients and incoming stock as well as dispatch any new orders. I’m also close to my suppliers and find that our premises are quite central. Q: Who are your neighbours? A: I see my neighbours not as the people next door, but as the people I work closely with. Konfetti Love, Nouvelle Floral Artist and A Seed to Sow are companies I work closely with. They’re genuine, hardworking and authentic women and we build and help each other to grow professionally. Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: Rental and sales prices are marketrelated. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: My business is based online. Clients
visit my premises by appointment only and on average we supply decor to about 10 to 20 events per month. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: Yes, I have a few. One would be having an online self-service kiosk to help my clients plan their own wedding using our decor items. I would also like to have a large warehouse to operate from, housing all our beautiful decor items.
Instagram (@decoryoume). We also have a website from where visitors can access and download our catalogue. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: Our most popular items are trendrelated and seasonal, but items that are popular all year round are the handmade golden glass cubes and all our rose gold items.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Q: Do you operate online as well? A: My business is mainly based online. I also promote my business extensively through Facebook (facebook.com/decoryoume) and
You and Me 072 555 1011 youandmedecor.co.za
18823
FOUND YOUR DREAM HOME? KNOW INSTANTLY IF YOU QUALIFY. Get an answer on your home loan in 3 minutes flat with the Nedbank Instant Bond Indicator. Visit nedbank.co.za/homeloans and click on ’Instant Bond Indicator’. Indicator’
Terms and conditions apply. | Nedbank Ltd Reg No 1951/000009/06. Authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).
6
PROPERTY NEWS
25 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Let there be light Good lighting is not only about security; it’s about accentuating the best features of your home and creating ambience WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: ISTOCK
W
hen you’re entertaining, well-placed lighting adds charm to your property. If you’re home alone, lighting allows you to spend more time outdoors, and if it’s well thought out, it can help make your home more secure. Melissa Davidson of The Lighting Warehouse suggests analysing your lighting needs by walking around your home at night. “Take a torch and play. Look at the interplay between the light and your home’s architectural and landscaping features. Also note areas you would use socially and dark spots which could compromise your safety and security,” she says.
Ambient, task and accent lighting
Melissa believes good lighting design is made up of layers. “For overall lighting, ambient sets the mood, task lighting is used for globes – in other words, spaces where work still needs to be done – and accent lighting is used to highlight features and play with ambient lighting.”
Energy efficiency
Choosing energy-saving bulbs allows you to save on your electricity bills and the cost of replacing bulbs. “LED lights can save up to 90% of energy compared to incandescent
INTRODUCING A LANDLORD’S NEW BEST FRIEND
globes. They also boast a lifespan of between 20,000 and 30,000 hours, which works out to about 10 years of average nightly use,” says Melissa. Controlled lighting is definitely the way to go. Motion-sensor lights, day/ night sensors and time switches all help you save money. In addition, lights left on during the day can let would-be intruders know that there’s nobody in the house.
Proportions
Just as scale matters with interior decor, it also matters with the exterior. The ideal outdoor light fitting needs to strike a balance between proportion and size. “A single light fitting for the front entrance of your home should measure one-third of the front door’s height so that it’s in proportion, provides visual balance and is noticeable from the driveway. However, if there are two lights at the entrance, each light should measure only onequarter the size of the front door.” Don’t use too many lights, because then the light will simply be aggravating and/or distracting. Aim for a subtle, well-planned landscape lighting scheme which will accentuate your home. “Plan your pathways using low-voltage, down-facing lights to provide a nicely lit pathway, without
glare, to guide you and guests along,” says Melissa. “Or use spotlights to highlight trees and other large features on your property or to wash your garden walls with light to create dramatic light-and-shadow features.”
Neighbours
Ensure that your lights don’t shine on to your neighbours’ property or blind them in their living rooms. Make sure any installations close to your neighbours shine downwards or are positioned so that they shine on to your property only.
Safety and longevity
“Do remember that by law, all outdoor lighting needs to be fully sealed against the elements to protect it from rain, irrigation and splashes. Water and electricity can be a lethal combination, so it’s imperative that an electrician installs your lights and that the fittings you choose are IP rated for outdoor use,” says Melissa. Choose weather-resistant fixtures which are non-corrosive and UV resistant – this will ensure longevity. Well-planned, exterior lighting can look great, highlight pretty aspects of the property, hide less attractive areas, create a range of moods and provide security. It really is money well spent.
WE’VE GOT YOUR RENT.
WE’RE SO CONFIDENT IN OUR FREE TENANT SCREENING THAT WE GUARANTEE YOUR MONTHLY RENT.
NO PAPER. NO FUSS.
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS IS EASY, AUTOMATED, AND ONLINE.
AT ONLY 2.5%
SAVE WITH SOUTH AFRICA’S LOWEST RENTAL FEES.
Imagine a rental platform that makes life easy for landlords. From marketing online, finding your dream tenant, facilitating the rental and managing your property – HouseME does it all. Join a community of the happiest landlords in South Africa. VISIT WWW.HOUSE.ME TO SIGN UP TODAY
THE NEW WAY TO RENT