So you’re in the market for your first home and are scouring  the classifieds and property listings for flats for sale. While there are many benefits to owning a flat vs. a stand-alone house in your very own yard, there are also some pitfalls that come with purchasing a flat. We’re not by any means discouraging you from going after the apartment of your dreams, but perhaps take the following tips:

1. You’re buying one part of a whole building

Even if the flat you want has been newly refurbished, it’s still part of a building, which – if it hasn’t been well-maintained on the outside – could eventually devalue your apartment. Also, if the apartment building looks like it may need some repairs and maintenance, it will be you (along with other residents and owners) who’ll be paying for those repairs. The collective levy is supposed to cover such repairs, but if they are extensive, a special levy will need to be collected, which may set you back financially.

2. Your neighbours will be in close proximity

Sometimes new flat owners underestimate the proximity of their neighbours. You may one day describe your flat walls as being “paper thin”; that you know what happens on a particular TV series, even if you don’t watch TV. That said, perhaps you enjoy your music, then your neighbours will hear it and possibly complain. Living in an apartment building means you will always need to take your neighbours’ comfort and preferences into consideration (and vice versa). People aren’t always very good at managing this.

3. You’re interested to buy

Even before you start flat-hunting and find the apartment of your dreams, request a loan pre-approval from a number of banks to see how much you qualify for in terms of a home loan. This will save you any disappointment later on when you have made an offer on a flat, but are waiting for bank approval. Before you go looking for property to buy, know how much you can afford and stick to that price bracket.

4. Shop around

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of flats for sale, especially in the city. Shop around as much as you can to see what’s available and how much the flats you like, cost. Compare prices, convenience factors, and travelling times to work and back, to determine which is the best deal. Return to the apartment block at different times of the day and week to see what the environment is like – whether it’s busy, noisy, safe, etc. – and decide then if this really is the place you want to stay in.

 visuals are courtesy of: ihomeconnect.com and dreamstime.com

When it comes to home renovations, demolition is part of the job. However, breaking down what might look like a simple wall is a rather big and messy job. Some people opt to use a sledgehammer which is a great tool for such a job, but you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one tool. All of this depends on what you’re demolition; different demolition jobs require different demolition equipment. We take you through some of the most common tools you’re bound to need in any demolition job.

• Pry Bars

Most demolition jobs require the use of a crowbar. Some well-placed crowbars can safely remove nailed wood which isn’t an easy job. Crowbars are also great for pulling out stubborn nails, wood flooring and for taking up old tile. For any job it’s a good idea to buy an S-shaped crowbar, one that ranges between 46 to 61 centimetres.

• Hammers

The most common hammer is the standard claw hammer; this is perfect for small pry jobs. The standard claw hammer is also ideal for knocking small holes in drywall especially when you’re looking for water, power or gas lines. Heavy hammer also known as a mini-sledgehammer is perfect for knocking interior framing and wood support beams. There’s also the full-sized sledgehammer great for brick work.

• San Angelo Bar

This pry bar stands at 72 inches (183 centimetres) and weighs 17 pounds (7.7 kilograms). It’s similar to a spear with a sharp point at one end and a chisel on the other. The San Angelo Bar is the best tool for stubborn floor tiles or any type of flooring job.

• Safety Equipment

Safety equipment is very important in any demolition job. Some demolition jobs are dangerous and to work without any form of protection is just as dangerous. A good pair of working gloves with leather palms is great for protecting your hands. Other safety measures include safety goggles, a helmet, cotton masks and a good respirator.

• Screwdrivers

Demolition jobs sometimes require delicate work where you can’t use a sledgehammer. Screwdrivers are perfect for taking up tile and wood flooring especially when you don’t plan on removing the entire floor. Philips head screwdriver is perfect for most jobs.

Image courtesy of: motorsport-tools.com 

The shopping centre will offer an eight-cinema complex, a massive shopping mall featuring 175 retail outlets and an ice rink. The construction of this shopping centre is the idea of well known owner of Billion Group and property developer, Sisa Ngebulana. The construction will also include offices, motor showrooms, a 20, 000 m2 value centre, two hotels and residential homes. This will also form part of a substantial new multi-functional precinct also known as Forest Hill City. Nedbank took the decision to provide the necessary funds for the development.

Ken Reynolds said that Ngebulana possess an impressive property development track record. This includes amongst other things the 2011 listing of the Rebosis Property Fund. Reynolds also said that, Ngebulana shares Nedbank’s confidence in the future potential of the country’s retail property market which has thus survived the financial milestones some of which have had a negative impact on other commercial property sectors as seen in recent months.

Reynolds concluded by saying that the shopping centre’s tenant diversity and long-term development plans highlight a clear understanding of the brainchild’s of the growing trend. This is seen amongst a number of South Africans where a visit to the mall currently exceeds the typical shopping outing and has thus become an entertainment adventure. Reynolds also said that by capitalising on this trend, attractive tenant diversity and fresh design, the centre will ensure continued growth and profitability into the future.

Visual Courtesy of: propertywheel.co.za and tigervalley.com

With all the new office blocks going up in Rosebank, this once quiet and quaint neighbourhood is fast catching up to her sister suburb of Sandton as a commercial queen, where fashionistas and fun-seekers rub shoulders with the up-and-coming who’s who of Johannesburg’s cosmopolitan society. Rosebank’s popularity as the place-to-be has been solidified by one of the Gautrain nodes being built there, ensuring great property rentals on residential and office space because people want to live, work, and play where it’s all happening. Despite (or because of) Rosebank’s eager effort to keep up with the pace of local developments, the heart and soul of Africa still beats in the centre of this trendy suburb.

The African Craft Market

The African Craft Market has changed the landscape of local entrepreneurship. It was developed in 1993 as a place to give local hawkers a break – to take them off the streets of Rosebank and put them into a location that promotes not only interest in their crafting abilities, but also gives them something to take home and improve their quality of life as a result. Described as a “unique African cultural shopping destination”, the African Craft Market avails hand-made local and wider-African crafts, food, clothing and more, to a very interested consumer base.

What to see and do at the market

Tourists and local residents alike have incredible variety to choose from whether they’re looking for new, exciting décor, one-of-a-kind gifts, traditional food, or quality items of clothing. The craftspeople making use of this industrious platform to share their talents and goods far and wide come from all over Africa – from Ivory Coast and Congo, to Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Togo, Senegal and Malawi. Their traditional wares for sale include ceramics and beadwork, wooden carvings, jewellery, and yes – even those six-foot giraffes you see wrapped in newspaper being loaded as hand-luggage on long-haul flights back to Europe.

An award-winning place

The African Craft Market has developed a reputation as one of Johannesburg’s premier marketplaces and has been voted as such for over a decade. Perhaps the foot-traffic is helped along by the fact that the market is right next to the Mall of Rosebank and the popular Sunday Rooftop Market, but many shoppers descend on the market because of their desire to take home, wear or give a gift of something African.

When to go

Feel free to pop in and experience the wider African continent via the crafts on sale, any day of the week and even on public holidays. You could very well spend hours browsing through a wide range of stalls and support budding entrepreneurs, whether you’re buying a wooden mask or a meal or a drum to keep that African beat going.

Image courtesy of: truechase.com

Moving, redecorating, or ensuring that your landlord gives your key deposit back – these are three reasons why you’d want to repair nail holes in walls. If you’ve ascertained that the nails absolutely cannot stay in the walls, it’s time to pull them out and patch up the holes.

1. Clean the area

Since you’ll be filling and painting over the hole, you’ll want to clean away any dust and dirt before you start. Also make sure the nail hole is relatively clean.

2. Fill the hole

Gone are the days of mixing putty powder with water until you have the right consistency – you can purchase a ready-made filling compound in a small container, which is perfect for the job. For the purpose of filling holes, you probably won’t need a putty knife – in this instance, a handy toothpick will do (but have a putty knife ready to scrape off the excess filling compound). Take a small amount of the filler compound and paste it over the hole. Use the toothpick to ensure the hole is filled and doesn’t leave any indents in the wall. Wait for the filler to dry.

3. Sand down the dried compound

Using a small square of fine-grain sandpaper, sand down the excess filler so that the filled area is flush with the wall.

4. Paint the repaired wall

Using the exact same shade as the original paint, paint over the recently repaired area. If you are filling nail holes because you want to sell your property, perhaps now would be a great time to repaint the whole wall – it will add appeal (and therefore value) to the property.

Image courtesy of funadvice.com

Choosing the right colour isn’t as easy as some might think. Certain factors come into play, for example psychology and aesthetic appeal. Colour reflects our moods, state of mind and personality traits. When picking paint colours for a commercial property there are some points one needs to bear in mind.

• Knowing your customer is not only important for your business but it’s also relevant especially when it comes to your office space appearance. Bright colours are great but not for every company. You don’t want to get attention for all the wrong reasons. Choosing the correct main colour is important.

• The type of colour you choose needs to be in sync with your company’s image. For example the colour orange not only grabs our attention but it’s also associated with accessibility. So if for example your company strives to offer convenience to the consumer, then orange is the best choice.

• Most companies choose an exterior colour that reflects their business. However the colour a business chooses also needs to emotionally appeal to their clients. The last thing you want is to put off your clients based on how your company looks. Green is associated with healing meaning it offers a “helping hand to those in need”. Brown is associated with trust hence some legal services use this colour.

• If you’ve chosen an exterior colour for your commercial property, try and include a light or darker hue. If you’ve chosen green for example, introduce lighter shades and some darker shades in certain parts of your office.

• Colour not only reflects our moods, it also says a lot about our state of mind. Not every colour works, for example blue shows calmness and respect. If this is what your company is striving for, then it’s the best choice. Plus blue looks great when used in a combination.

Image courtesy of noobpreneur.com

The days of old, dreary and monotonous looking offices are a thing of the past. These days office architecture is artistic and creative. Most offices are bright, bold and have a touch of style. But in some cases the inside doesn’t usually go with the outside. So instead of settling for the typical office space, try a different approach. We list some of the most creative office conversions, some of which are definitely worth considering.

• Power Plant
Now this might not be your typical office space however, some companies have changed that mindset. Some companies have opted for power plants usually built in the 1980s and it’s paid off. The old building makes it ideal especially for a large number of employees.

• Galleries
When one mentions the word gallery small to medium and intimate spaces come to mind. With the right architecture the sometimes small space can be converted into an amazing office space with a conference room. It all boils down to the correct use of space.

• Houses
Due to financial constraints some companies have opted for residential houses. It’s quite easy to turn a cramped house into a cosy office. Some offices might be bigger than others however, it’s quite ideal for small companies.

• Warehouses
A warehouse is probably one of the most ideal office spaces. Some warehouses offer enough space to house 50 employees and a big conference room. Some warehouses can be found near industrial property for rent.

• Lighting tricks
One aspect that contributes to great office space is the use of light. Using proper light is important, it makes it ideal for employees to work and it makes any room look larger. Also the proper seating is important especially for a bigger group.

Image courtesy of workalicious.org

The accelerator includes mentoring, workspace and coaching. There’s also access to specialised investors meaning each of the businesses get the opportunity to raise R2m over the 13 week boot camp.

The Seed Engine prides itself in ensuring the success of the chosen candidates. By doing so the Seed Engine is supporting entrepreneurs thus creating employment. Entrepreneurs are faced with a number of challenges and entrepreneurship in South Africa isn’t the easiest industry to break into.

Entrepreneurs with amazing concepts will receive the funding. This is also based on existing revenues. This usually takes time something which a number of entrepreneurs don’t have.

The Redwood Capital a Seed Engine initiative is a business accelerator that’s specifically developed for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs who not only understand success but wish to live it through their business ideas. The accelerator programme is in search of the best 10 business concepts in the country.

A selection will be made then ten teams of entrepreneurs will embark on programme through a 13 week business boot camp. The chosen candidates will each receive R100 000 as a start-up capital to help them in converting their ideas into proper business plans which could be anything such as investing in commercial property.

The entrepreneurs will be offered mentorship, coaching and the much needed support to help them grow their concepts into successful businesses. Interested entrepreneurs can apply by going on their website www.seedengine.co.za and complete an application. The shortlisted candidate will undergo various interviews which include a number of entrepreneurial and thinking tests which will have to be completed before acceptance can be granted into the programme.

The programme lasts 13 weeks and only takes time 3 times a year. Applications are open till the end of November 2012.

The Johannesburg CBD doesn’t seem to have the same system in place. Over the years many blue-chip companies left the CBD but some influential ones remained and continued to reinvest in the various properties. This is seen in banks such as Absa which has its headquarters next to the Carlton Centre. Standard Bank is situated in Simmonds Street and FNB is located in Sauer Street.

All these banks have played an important role in improving the environment of the CBD. This has prompted mining companies such as BHP Billiton, Anglo American, Wits Gold and the South African Chamber of Mines to improve not only where their situated but the properties themselves.

A property developer who still believes in the value of the CBD is Mr Olitzki who owns Olitzki Property. His company specialises in buying old derelict properties in the Joburg CBD and redeveloping them into modern offices.

Olitziki Property aims to try and get people out of their offices and into the streets. This can be achieved by developing pedestrianised walkways. This also involves improving the streets of the CBD. This has had a positive outlook on the CBD by making it visually appealing.

Other developments include Gandhi Square, Newtown precinct and a new development called Newtown Junction. This has prompted more investment companies to contribute into the development of the Johannesburg CBD.

image courtesy of worldsoccerjourneys.com

Our economy hasn’t made it easy for anyone. We’re all encouraged to use money wisely and save where we can. The same applies for companies looking for office space. You need to find a location that’s perfect and won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Most companies sign a long-term rental agreement which makes sense at the time but due to unforeseen circumstances the company fails to live up to the payments. In addition we all know that contracts are binding and the last thing you want is to face a legal dispute.

1. 1.    Profit from someone’s misfortune

A number of companies were forced to downsize due to financial reasons. This means empty office space which opens room for subletting. For companies looking for commercial property this is perfect. You get office space at a fraction of the initial cost thus saving you money.

1. 2.    Let yourself be lured

When looking for office spaces have an open mind. This means accepting offers that come with incentives. This could be moving to developing areas which will that attract business which should benefit your company in the long run.

1. 3.    Share

Ever heard of the phrase “sharing is caring”, well it’s true. These days a number of companies choose to share office space. It’s not because they are forced to do so due to financial reasons, it’s usually a mutually beneficial agreement. For example a publishing company can share office space with a small magazine or newspaper.

1. 4.    Strike a deal

If you find yourself with a lot of office space consider your clients. Some might be in need of space. This can be beneficial for the both of you in terms of meetings and brainstorming sessions. Plus it’s bound to make your partnership a stronger one.

Image courtesy of: regus.co.za