Tags: Consumer Affairs
If you want to fix your bond rate, now’s the time!
March 17th, 2010Interest rates are currently at a 28-year low, but are expected to start rising again later this year, so now is a good time to think about fixing your home loan rate.
So says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, who notes: “The time to fix your rate is at the bottom of the interest rate cycle, not when rates are rising and your finances are under pressure.
“And at the moment, there are some banks that are not even charging a premium when you change from a variable rate to a fixed rate for up to three years.”
The main reason to fix your rate, he explains, is to protect yourself against future increases in the prime lending rate, which usually also causes banks to raise their home loan interest rates.
“The potential value of such protection can be seen if one considers the last round of rate increases from 11% to 15%…
Tags: Consumer Affairs, Harcourts Africa, Press release
How to Banish Damp
March 4th, 2010The high level of rainfall in many areas this summer has brought to the fore the home maintenance problems that can be caused by the presence of damp.
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…
Tags: Consumer Affairs, Harcourts South Africa
Consumer Affairs approves Harcourts Academy as Registered Training Provider in Victoria
February 11th, 2010Consumer Affairs Victoria is well known for its strict policy and quality control surrounding training providers in the business arena.
Harcourts Academy training is often regarded as setting the benchmark for the entire real estate industry.
Already operating successfully as an RTO in all other states of Australia, the Harcourts Academy is excited to have been selected as a quality provider for Victoria.
Based in Melbourne, the RTO ran its first Agent Representative Course last week, with significant positive feedback from attending students.
Academy trainer Leah Young said the course was a great success, and it’s great to be actively involved with the Academy programme writers as we seek to make the course even better.
“We are all qualified in accelerated learning techniques, which see students actively apply what they learn.
“This is our key focus for the future development of the programme,” Ms Young said.
Head of Academy Irene Green said our application to become a…
Tags: Consumer Affairs, Harcourts Academy, Harcourts Victoria, Irene Green, real estate training, RTO
