Angela Robinson - Cape Coastal Homes

17/10/2017

Home Garden Tips - Spring

The sun is shining more, birds are singing even more and it’s time for your garden to come back from the winter weather.

Your garden needs some help getting back in shape, though, so it’s time to get the supplies from the home improvement store, pull out the tools from the shed and get to work.

As you begin to work more fervently in your garden, you will be rewarded with a healthy eco-system, beautiful flowers and a great sense of accomplishment - yet another reason to love spring.

This series will share some tips for your getting your spring garden green and beautiful by the time the season reaches its peak.

#7 - Clean Bird Feeders And Baths

Disinfect the feeders by scrubbing with weak bleach solution. Rinse and dry the feeders by thoroughly before refilling them. Clean birdbaths and feeders regularly throughout the season.

15/10/2017

Quote For Today - If You Are Persistent, You Will Get It, If You Are Consistent, You Will Keep It

14/10/2017

Home Staging Tips – What Sellers Can Do To Increase Overall Appeal Of Their Home To Potential Buyers

Tip #4 - Get The Basics Right By Standardising Look & Feel Of Your Home.

Choosing a theme and carrying it though the house has a huge impact in creating a calming space that feels well loved. Choosing a neutral paint colour for the whole interior that ties in with flooring and any built-in elements is a good place to start.

Do not be afraid to paint over wood or brick as this often updates and unifies the look and feel of older homes that have these features.

Next consider standardising small details like door and cupboard handles, curtain rails and entry level contractor doors as these really set the tone for the overall feel of the home. Repetition is key to creating a space that looks put together so remove any elements that don’t repeat.

13/10/2017

Regular Inspections & Insurance Policy Checks Important To Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

The severe storms which has stricken South Africa this week are likely to become more frequent. Here is how you can protect your home from future storms.

Anyone who has been caught up in the storms that have been lashing the country recently are fully aware of the damage that can be unleashed when Mother Nature loses her temper.

Climate change is thought to have wrought havoc on weather patterns globally and unfortunately, scientific studies indicate that extreme weather events are going to become more frequent, thanks to the rise in the average global temperature. In other words, storms are going to become fiercer and cause more damage.

Heart-breaking pictures of the storms that recently hit Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal bear testimony to the dangers involved and although there may well be times when nothing can be done to stop the ensuing destruction, there are guidelines to ensure that your home fares better when bad weather hits.

Inspect the roof regularly and replace broken tiles and repair loose fascia boards. Repair roof leaks as soon as they become apparent, as these could cause major damage if the weather turns really bad. According to experts, a brand-new roof should be able to stand up to the elements, however a roof that is five to ten years old should be inspected regularly.

Roofs that are over 15 years old are at particular risk and should be inspected frequently even if there are no apparent problems.

Trim trees on the property regularly, paying particular attention to branches that could cause damage to your home during a storm. Regularly remove dead branches. Check the condition of all trees in the garden and remove those that are at risk of being uprooted in strong winds.

To read the rest of this article, please follow the link to our website.

The severe storms which has stricken South Africa this week are likely to become more frequent. Here is how you can protect your home from future...

12/10/2017

Places To Volunteer In Cape Town - Giving Back To The Community

It’s no secret that South Africa still battles to find solutions to dire social and environmental problems, and more and more, the support of the general populace is crucial to overcoming these obstacles.

That said, finding the right place to volunteer in Cape Town can be an overwhelming mission. There are countless causes, non-profit organisations, community initiatives and NGOs all looking for people willing to lend a helping hand; however, to find these endeavours and to figure out how you can donate your time and you skills is another matter altogether.

Thus, to better help you give back, what follows is a list of worthy places to volunteer – complete with information about the first step you’ll need to take to start donating your time.

Wildlife and nature

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
If you love animals and would like to make a difference in the lives of rescued and homeless furry or feathered friends, then consider becoming part of the SPCA’s special group of volunteers, also known as animal angels. There are various ways in which you can get involved, including exercising dogs, cleaning cages and grooming cats; alternatively, you can also make food and gift donations if you can’t volunteer your time.

Those interested in volunteering at the SPCA can attend a volunteer orientation session. These volunteer sessions take place once a month, and are designed to help you make an informed decision before signing up.

Or Help2Read

The Help2Read initiative aims to recruit, train and support literate adult volunteers from local communities in an effort to, ultimately, help disadvantaged primary school children who struggle to read.

The volunteer readers work on a one-to-one basis with children. Their reading sessions take place once a week, and usually last half an hour. In order to become a volunteer, you have to meet certain requirements: you have to be over the age of 18, be able to speak, write and read English proficiently and you have to undergo a criminal background check.

Volunteers undergo a one-day training course for free! This course will equip them with the skills to understand and assist a struggling learner with their reading. The volunteer is then able to encourage the love of reading, build self-esteem and improve literacy skills. You can also volunteer at the Help2Read fundraisers, or help with daily administration tasks at the Help2Read office.

For many more places to volunteer and give back, please follow the link.

http://www.capetownmagazine.com/volunteer-cape-town

12/10/2017

This Is What 87 Litres Of Water A Day Looks Like … For Capetonians

With Level 5 Water Restrictions introduced to drought-stricken Cape Town, South Africa, the city is getting even stricter with water usage.

The 87-litre per person limit remains in place for domestic properties, but the cap on individual domestic property usage is now set at 20 kl per month… beyond which the property owner will be subject to a very high fine – expected to be in the region of R5,000 to R10,000.

To make sure you use less than 87 litres of water per day, here is a video with a breakdown of what a Capetonian could do with their recommended ration of water.

Source - SA People News/ Video - Anthony Molyneaux

11/10/2017

South African Property Market Receives Vote of Confidence By Repeat Property Buyers

The property market has received a vote of confidence from the majority of current home buyers (52%) who are repeat buyers and re-investing the proceeds of their own sales.

According to Shaun Rademeyer, BetterBond’s statistics show a 4% year-on-year increase in the household income of the average repeat buyer at end-September to R56 000, and a 5% year-on-year increase in the household income of the average first-time buyer to R37 000.

This accords with the BankservAfrica Salaries Index, which shows that real (after inflation) salaries in SA increased by 1,1% in August – which was the sixth consecutive month of growth.

The underlying strength in the market is further evidenced, Rademeyer says, by the fact that the percentage of loans formally granted has risen over the past year from 59,2% to 61,4% of applications, with both repeat and first-time buyers displaying an increased determination to proceed with their purchases in spite of SA’s current socio-economic problems.

For the rest of this article, please follow the link to our website where you will find many more informative articles.

The property market has received a vote of confidence from the majority of current home buyers (52%) who are repeat buyers and re-investing the...

10/10/2017

Home Garden Tips - Spring

The sun is shining more, birds are singing even more and it’s time for your garden to come back from the winter weather.

Your garden needs some help getting back in shape, though, so it’s time to get the supplies from the home improvement store, pull out the tools from the shed and get to work.

As you begin to work more fervently in your garden, you will be rewarded with a healthy eco-system, beautiful flowers and a great sense of accomplishment - yet another reason to love spring.

This series will share some tips for your getting your spring garden green and beautiful by the time the season reaches its peak.

#6 - Start A Compost Pile

Start a compost pile, or use a compost bin, if you don't have one already. Begin by collecting plant debris and leaves raked up from the garden. Chop these up first to speed up decomposition. Turn regularly. Continue adding to the pile throughout the season for rich, homemade compost next spring.

09/10/2017

Our Conveyancing Attorneys Explain Personal & Praedial Servitude

“I applied to my municipality to have the building plans for the extension of my garage approved. The municipality rejected my proposed extension on the grounds that it would be constructed over a servitude registered against my title deed in favour of the municipality. What is servitude? Can I have it removed?”

What is the definition of Servitude?

A “servitude” is a limited real right registered in the Deeds Office against the title deed of the property of a person in favour of another person or entity. The holder of the servitude (right) will therefore be entitled to exercise some right on the property of another or prohibit the owner of the property from exercising some of his ownership rights.

Personal Servitude

A distinction can be made between personal servitudes and praedial servitudes, of which the most important difference is that a personal servitude is a right attached to a specific person to use and enjoy another’s property and cannot exist longer than the lifetime of the person in whose favour it was registered. The most commonly known personal servitudes are a usufruct, right to use, or the right to occupy the property.

To read the rest of this article, please follow the link to our website.

A “servitude” is a limited real right registered in the Deeds Office against the title deed of the property of a person in favour of another person...

08/10/2017

Quote For Today - Where Focus Goes, Energy Flows