Outdoors, the worst effect of damp is to cause walls to become waterlogged and collapse, but before that it usually also causes plaster and paint to bubble, burst and flake off. Indoors, it will cause a musty smell to pervade cupboards, rooms or even the whole house, and in severe cases cause unsightly mold and falling tiles in showers, bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.

Indeed, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, damp needs to be taken seriously and treated properly, otherwise it will be a continuing source of discomfort and even illness to the homeowner – and a severe deterrent to potential tenants or buyers of the property.

“Serious rising damp from the foundations will of course require the services of damp proofing specialists, but homeowners can do much themselves to prevent damp from other sources getting a grip.

“They can, for example, ensure that there is no loose flashing on the roof and that the gutters aren’t clogged up or broken. Downpipes must be angled to direct water away from the house and runoff from the garden should also be channelled away.”

Homeowners should also check for ill-fitting windows and doorframes, plumbing leaks and damp patches around small cracks in the wall, all of which can be relatively easily repaired with insulation, filler and damp-proof paint.

“Indoors, however, the biggest problem is like to be condensation rather than water seeping in,” says Schultheiss, “and the best course is to achieve better ventilation, perhaps by unblocking airbricks or installing an extractor fan to get rid of steam in a bathroom or kitchen.

“In South Africa we are also very fortunate in that our homes are generally not sealed up against the weather as they are in Europe or many parts of the US, so we can still open doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate – and that is still one of the best ways to get rid of a musty smell and prevent mold from forming.”

ISSUED BY HARCOURTS AFRICA
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL
MARTIN SCHULTHEISS ON
031 201 1060 OR VISIT
www.harcourts.co.za

Managing Director for Harcourts Mike Green said the company’s motto for 2010 is ‘one team – in touch’, which will be woven throughout all actions by all Harcourts employees.

“Technology is now making it easier and easier for us to communicate with our audience.

“Our team is constantly utilising this technology to ensure we are operating in all channels of communication,” Mr Green said.

“While last year we focused heavily on upgrading our websites and internal communication tools, this year we are focusing intensely on new media and social media,” he said.

The iPhone application is the latest communications technology to be developed as part of the yearlong campaign to keep both the Harcourts team and wider community updated with all exciting news and information.

The application was designed using the iSite platform by Harcourts’ Head of Marketing and Communications, David Martin and is now available to download.

“Anyone can download this free application that has an Apple iPhone or android handset,” Mr Martin said.

“All the latest media articles, newsletters, and video updates will be delivered direct to your device. Simply visit Apple iTunes or android marketplace to download this free application,” he said.

Mr Thomson says that according to feedback from within Harcourts, New Zealand’s largest real estate group, there is a good pool of buyers in the market and a larger volume of properties coming to the market now.

“So we expect to see February and March being significantly ahead of December and January.  Initial February sales figures are certainly encouraging,” he says.

Reporting the group’s January statistics in the latest Harcourts MarketWatch newsletter Mr Thomson points out that while industry-wide the volume of sales of both residential and rural properties slumped last month, Harcourts had an increase in written sales compared to January 2009 in three of its five regions, reflecting growth in marketshare.

Most notable was a 22% increase in written sales in the group’s Northern region, which encompasses the area from Pukekohe north.   Harcourts also had a 13% increase in written sales in its Central region and a 7% increase in its Wellington region, which encompasses Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa, the Kapiti Coast, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wanganui and parts of the Central Plateau and East Coast districts

Harcourts January figures also show average written sale prices remained solid, with increases in three of its regions (by 3% to 6%) and small drops in its other two regions.

Mr Thomson says there has been a lot of speculation about the impact of tax reform uncertainty and other things in December/January and there is no doubt the final February figures are eagerly awaited to see if any ongoing trends have emerged.

For more information see the latest  Harcourts MarketWatch newsletter. (NZ, February 2010)

Due to previous rate rises, banks have increased their interest rates by several points over recent months.

Glenn Stevens Governor of Monetary and Policy Decision said since information about the early impact of these increases is still limited. The Board judged it appropriate to hold a steady setting of monetary policy for the time being.

Managing Director of Harcourts International, Mike Green, said to ensure the market is able to withstand further increases in the future, the RBA needed to make the decision they did.

“It would have been premature to count our economy strong enough to endure four rate rises in less than six months.

“This has already been reinforced by the weaker retail sales figures for December, which were released today.”

“The number of people already in “mortgage distress” is high, and growing, so this would have worsened many householders’ situations,” he said.

Economists have said it would have increased the average repayment on a $300,000 mortgage by $50 per month.

While this would have been the case, the real issue would have been adding this extra $50 to the cumulative rise over the last 12 months, equalling nearly $300 a month.

“The real estate market is still only in the recovery stages from the downturn of the past eighteen months.

“Sales nationally in January were lower than expected. Although ahead of last year’s figures it was only a slight increase,” Mr Green said.

“There has been a significant drop in first home buyers after the first home owner’s grant (FHOG) was cut right back last year.

“On the flipside, the low interest rates are encouraging investors back into the market, so we have seen investor numbers lift significantly in the last couple of months,” he said.

“The Australian property market has been experiencing consistent growth over the past six months, and I believe we are going to see a steady year ahead in terms of investment,” he said.

The property industry is an important element to the Australian economy and the RBAs decision was certainly a positive move for ensuring the moderate rate of recovery continues.

SOURCE: http://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2010/mr-10-02.html

Cooper & Co Principal Officer and Managing Director Martin Cooper says the purchase of Realty Solutions Limited will see the two companies combining forces under the Harcourts brand.

Mr Cooper, who has purchased the company along with his business partners in Cooper & Co, explains the acquisition enables Harcourts to strengthen its position in the local market, achieve economies of scale and gain some excellent real estate professionals, including the founder of Realty Solutions Limited Robyn Coles.

“Robyn has extensive experience in the industry and is a real estate identity on the North Shore so we’re delighted she will be the manager of Harcourts Mairangi Bay and that she and her team, which includes 12 sales consultants and a professional property manager, will be joining us in delivering the Harcourts advantages to buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants on the North Shore.”

Both companies’ clients will also benefit from the deal, Mr Cooper says.

“For example by combining our sales teams we can offer buyers a greater number of listings and sellers a larger amount of buyers, while by merging our rent rolls we can offer potential tenants a wider range of rental properties and achieve efficiencies in our property management operation too.”

Mr Cooper says Robyn and her team are activity involved in supporting the community, something he is keen to see continue and grow.

“Both companies have a proud history of supporting the community and this is something Harcourts Cooper & Co wants to increase in the Mairangi Bay area now we have an office there, in fact we have just become a sponsor of the Mairangi Bay Art Society and the Campbell’s Bay Tennis Club in addition to our existing sponsorships of the North Harbour Rugby Referees and the Mairangi Bay Bowling Club.”

With the sale of Realty Solutions Limited becoming official yesterday, the existing office at 400 Beach Rd is now being rebranded to Harcourts along with all of the team’s promotional material and the Harcourts systems are in the process of being introduced.

Robyn Coles says the move to Harcourts is an exciting step for her and her team.

Narelle Dorney, David Hooper, Gary Seaye and Steve Williamson have joined forces to make the Harcourts Croydon office one of the top real estate agencies in the area.

The four owners met at a competing agency, and because of their expertise in their respective fields, jointly decided to establish their own business.

Licensed Real estate agent Narelle Dorney said the agency will be focused on delivering superior customer service, and will incorporate the latest technology for the convenience of our clients.

“With nearly 50 years’ experience in the industry between us all, we are excited about boosting sales in the Croydon area and joining the Harcourts team,” Ms. Dorney said.

“We are all experts in our field, and have many years’ experience in the local area, so know the market inside out.

“By sharing our knowledge of the area and the property market in general, we can provide our clients with valuable insights as to where to invest,” he said.

Croydon is a rapidly expanding area, and we at Harcourts are looking forward to helping the community find value for money.

Individual information:

Narelle Dorney is a licensed real estate agent and has been in the property industry for 25 years. Her expertise lies in new and established home sales, and she has also worked extensively in national trusts.

Gary Seaye has 18 years’ experience in real estate, with expertise in auctioneering and extensive experience as a sales manager.

David Hooper has a background in IT, working in the industry for 10 years. For the past two years, David has been working in the real estate industry and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team.

Steve Williamson has been in real estate for seven years. He was one of the top performers while at the Barry Plant Outer Eastern Group and was a sales manager at the Croydon Office.

Harcourts New Zealand CEO Bryan Thomson says Ms Maw, who has an impressive track record as a Harcourts Sales Consultant and is also increasingly in demand as a motivational speaker, will be focused on opening new Harcourts offices in the Auckland area and recruiting sales consultants too.

“While Harcourts is already the largest real estate group in New Zealand and has more than 40 offices in Greater Auckland, further growth in this part of the country is crucial to the ongoing success of our group,” Mr Thomson says. 

“In recent months five new Harcourts offices have opened in Auckland, all operated by established realtors who chose to join our group, and we know there is potential to increase our presence and marketshare in New Zealand’s largest city even further, particularly with someone of Jackie’s calibre onboard to focus solely on achieving that.”

Mr Thomson says he is confident Ms Maw (pictured above) will achieve success recruiting new Harcourts business owners to open additional Harcourts offices in Auckland and in recruiting sales consultants to join new and existing Harcourts teams.  

As he  explains, Ms Maw has 20 years experience in sales, including an eight year career as a Harcourts Sales Consultant in Christchurch where she regularly earned a place in the top 20 in Harcourts’ Canterbury region.  She is also increasingly in demand as a speaker on self-motivation, improving sales performance or her journey towards becoming New Zealand’s first woman in space (as part of the Virgin Galactic space programme).   

“A fully-qualified, top-performing real estate professional, Jackie knows what it takes to succeed in this industry and can personally testify to the Harcourts advantages. When combined with her people skills, energy and drive we are confident she’ll make a big impact in this important role.”

 Ms Maw says she is thrilled with her new role in Harcourts’ corporate team as it combines two things she is passionate about – Harcourts and people.

 “I’ve absolutely loved my real estate career with Harcourts to date, helping both sellers and buyers achieve great results, and I’m really excited about this new challenge, helping business owners and sales consultants to achieve greater success through joining the Harcourts group. 

“In fact, the role couldn’t be more perfect for me as it combines ‘selling’ Harcourts, which because of my own experience I’m 100% loyal to, along with talking to and building relationships with people, which is something I love doing as well.”  

 Ms Maw is employed by Harcourts Group Ltd and based in the company’s head office in Newmarket.