Neighbourhood 26 MAY 2019
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
The big chill Who says winter has to be cold and miserable? We give you hot holiday spots to explore when the temperature drops, page 2
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HOLIDAY FOCUS: WINTER ESCAPES
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PROPERTY NEWS
26 MAY 2019
Neighbourhood
Holiday focus
Winter wonderland These holiday destinations are perfect for the colder months WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: SUPPLIED, DAVID ROSS, LAR PHOTOGRAPHY, DE HOOP
PERFECT HIDEAWAYS & SHUTTERSTOCK
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e’re lucky in South Africa to have so many beautiful destinations that work just as well in winter as in summer. All it takes is the right attitude, a few extra layers of clothing and a log fire – plus hot chocolate and marshmallows – and you’re all set. Having said that here are a few top picks for memorable winter holidays.
KZN
THE BLUE DOOR PERFECT HIDEAWAYS
KwaZulu-Natal scores double points in winter – a tropical climate with warm enough weather for relaxed beach time, and inland Big Five safari experiences right off the beaten track. “I love escaping to KZN in winter. Days are balmy, positively hot, compared to the Cape!” says Michelle Snaddon of Perfect Hideaways, which recently won a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist 2019 award. Her pick for winter is Thuleni Homestead on Manyoni Private Game Reserve. “Watch the game drift over to the waterhole from your pool lounger or head into the reserve for a game drive at your leisure. In fact, that’s what I love more than anything else about our private game farms – you can get up when you like! That said, I love being out in the bush in the early morning with a hot-water bottle and blanket to snuggle into.” Once you’re in KZN why not take a winter 4x4 road trip along the coast. Perfect Hideaways co-owner Helen Untiedt suggests exploring all the way to Mozambique, popping just over the border to discover their unspoilt tropical beach hideaway, The Blue Door at Aloha, a private beachfront bungalow giving onto a soft sand beach. “Days are slow with little to do except relax, beachcomb and body-surf in the waves. Beach games and meal times are all important. Watching dolphins slipping through the ocean with such grace. The piece de resistance must be the shaded day bed that overhangs the beach.”
Snow TIFFENDELL
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Snow is the wild card in South African winter holidays, infecting most of us
with snow-madness when it falls, but it’s something you can’t plan for… or can you? Take the last-minute panic and queues of traffic out of your snow equation at Tiffindell, a southern Drakensberg mountain resort that guarantees skiing June through August. It has the feel of an Alpine ski resort, with a South African attitude of making a plan. “We have stateof-the-art snow-making equipment which guarantees snow all winter should Mother Nature not provide us with any!” says Travis Morrison, reservations and marketing manager, Tiffindell. “Over the last four years we’ve experienced snowfalls of over 2m on several occasions during our winter seasons.” Take ski lessons, snowboard, toboggan or throw snowballs and make a snowman. Book accommodation in the Matroosberg Private Nature reserve over the winter months and you just might get lucky and coincide with a snow week. Even if the snow doesn’t oblige, there are crisp mornings, starry nights, mountain trails for mountain biking, quad bikes and hiking, abseiling and a host of outdoor activities to warm you up.
Whales On the Western Cape coastline you may not have the balmy weather of KZN but the whale-watching more than makes up for it. Add long beach or clifftop walks, the green winter landscapes of the Cape and early spring flowers, and winter beach holidays take on their own magic. Get right away from it all in De Hoop Nature Reserve, for unspoilt beaches, hikes, wildlife and excellent land-based whale-watching in the protected marine reserve where whales come to calve each year. De Hoop Collection offers a 40% off winter special on their De Hoop Village self-catering cottages until end July, and have a variety of other accommodation – from luxury hotel suites to camping rondavels. Or splash out on luxury Morukuru Beach Lodge, an all-inclusive safaristyle experience also within the
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26 MAY 2019
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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THULENI HOMESTEAD
TIFFENDELL
reserve, with views out to sea and whale-watching from your doorstep. Paternoster on the West Coast is another gem visited by whales in winter. Helen describes the joys of a winter holiday here, staying at Zonnestraal, cosy with underfloor heating and an open fire. “It’s truly blissful to have the beach to ourselves most of the time. The days are sunny and warm, long walks and plenty of shell collecting. Our shell mobiles become more intricate as we combine bones and glass among the weave of treasure. As the evening cools down, we gather around the open fire and board games become the focus of the evening.”
SEE FOR YOURSELF KZN perfecthideaways.co.za Snow tiffindell.co.za matroosberg.com Whales dehoopcollection.com morukuru.com/places/beach-lodge
ZONNESTRAAL
The West Coast can be all seasons in one day – wild and windswept, or calm and bright sunshine. The whales arrive in the bay along with a kaleidoscope of spring flowers at the end of winter. HELEN UNTIEDT, PERFECT HIDEAWAYS
THULENI HOMESTEAD
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PROPERTY NEWS
26 MAY 2019
Neighbourhood
Add real value Improving your home always boosts the property value, right? Not necessarily, property experts say. WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
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enovations, improvements, expansions to a home… which of these really increase a property’s value? “Most areas have property price ceilings and there’s little to gain by extending and renovating your property beyond the norm for the area or street, says Samuel Seeff, chairman, Seeff Property Group. “And always take care to ensure your house is not the stand-out palace in the street – that can also be off-putting to buyers.” Regional director and CEO, RE/MAX of Southern Africa Adrian Goslett, suggests sellers consult a property professional as well as doing homework. “It will take longer to sell if renovations enhance a property to a R2m price point in a suburb where the highest recorded sales price was closer to R1m. Find out about local market conditions and whether or not renovations will earn a return on the investment.”
Renovation cost vs. actual value added
Some renovations are extremely costly, and although often done to meet your own lifestyle needs, don’t assume you’ll be handsomely rewarded or even recoup your costs. There are always multiple factors at play. Having said that, there are exceptions, says Seeff. “Smart renovations in high demand and high growth areas such as the Atlantic Seaboard or high demand nodes in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, can turn a good profit for smart investors.”
Maintenance comes first
Seeff considers the most important aspect to be a home in a good state of repair. “Before even thinking about adding on or renovating, make sure the property is in excellent condition. Buyers do not know what renovations and repairs cost, and they’ll always want
to knock quite a bit off the asking price if they spot areas that need work.” Goslett believes the better the condition of the home, the higher return a seller can expect. “Buyers will not need to factor in additional maintenance costs when deciding what to offer on a property. The most affordable and risk-free renovations, therefore, involve painting over scuff marks and chips, repainting discoloured ceilings, and restoring any other damaged fixtures in the home.”
What do buyers want?
“Most real-estate professionals will tell you many buyers hinge their purchasing decisions on the property’s kitchen and bathrooms. If you’re going to renovate, start here. Even a simple touch up and tidy up goes a long way to showcasing the key features within these rooms,” Goslett suggests. “Instead of demolishing entire rooms and embarking on costly renovation projects, sellers can sometimes achieve similar results by installing quality fittings such as faucets, handles, and light fixtures. These are simple and affordable renovations that can modernise and enhance the appeal of a property.” Seeff agrees about kitchens and bathrooms. “And ensure your finishes are up-to-date. Keep colours and finishes neutral, and trendy finishes to a minimum.”
Slam dunk additions?
Seeff says South Africans love to entertain, so ensuring a good entertainment or braai area is always advisable, even if it’s just a balcony. Security is another important focus, and while upgrading adds value, don’t overdo it. He also considers a study or home office as a potential advantage, but says, “Make that room versatile – hobby room, studio, spare room – because not every buyer wants a study or home office.”
It will take longer to sell if renovations enhance a property to a R2m price point in a suburb where the highest recorded sales price was closer to R1m ADRIAN GOSLETT, CEO, RE/MAX OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
AGENTS MOVE TRANSACTIONS FORWARD
No home is a perfect fit – not for the seller, not for the buyer. Registered estate agents know how to overcome objections on price, date of occupation, and all the nitty-gritty elements that make up a property transaction. Registered estate agents have the experience to move the transaction forward.
Another good reason why you should use an estate agent
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