Don’t leave as is
Everything in your home must be in good working order before you put it on the market. Take some time to look at the house from a buyer’s perspective and make a list of things you need to attend to before putting the house on the market. Attend to things such as:

• Damp
• Roof leaks and marks on ceilings which resulted from the leak
• Peeling gutters and facia boards
• Broken windows
• Loose window putty
• Wooden frames and doors in need of treatment
• Broken fixtures, such as light fittings, sanitary ware and door handles
• Dripping taps and leaking toilets
• Loose cupboard hinges
• Outdated or worn wallpaper

Boost curb appeal
Many people thinking of viewing your home will do a quick drive-by first, often deciding on the spot if it is even worth a look inside. Make sure your home is inviting to potential buyers with these tips: 

• The boundary wall or fence, gate and pavement must look neat, and the house number must be clearly visible. Give the wall or fence a coat of paint if necessary.
• Power wash the driveway and remove any oil stains with a chemical solvent.
• Tidy up the yard and put away stuff that is lying around.
• Mow the lawn, trim trees, shrubs and creepers, and weed beds.
• Clean gutters.
• Throw out unsightly pots with dead plants.
• Put out a few attractive containers with flowering plants to create a splash of colour in focal points.
• Make sure walls and windows are clean. If you are not repainting the house, power wash the walls.
• Outdoor lights must be working!
• Even if you have only a tiny porch, make it say "welcome home" with a clean doormat and potted plants.

Get the house sparkling clean and tidy
From shining floors and gleaming windows to clean counters, every surface should sparkle. Even a modest home will look good when it is clean and tidy.

• Spring clean. Wash walls and windows, remove finger marks from doors and polish door handles.
• Have carpets washed.
• Let fresh air and light in. Open windows and remove or open net curtains where possible.
• Pay special attention to bathrooms – scrub grout and clean shower doors. Put out fresh towels, soap and toilet paper. Put away toiletries which may look untidy.
• In the kitchen, clear working surfaces as far as possible, make sure the stove top and oven are both clean, and do the dishes and put them away.
• Make beds and put clothes away.
• Clear away clutter. You want prospective buyers to look at the space, not get distracted by your personal belongings. Store piles of paper and stacks of magazines in boxes out of sight, put away stray children’s toys, and if you have a lot of ornaments and family photographs, put away some. Store your collections in a safe place for the duration of the selling process. Make your house a place that anyone could imagine living in.
• Get rid of everything you wouldn’t want your mother to see. Prospective buyers will open the oven, investigate drawers for function and capacity, and study your closets and medicine cabinet. Part of preparing your house to sell is a ruthless purging of all these places and a thoughtful review of potentially embarrassing items.
• Plump out cushions and check paintings – don’t let them hang skew!
• Create a sense of homeliness and evoke a feeling of contentment with a bowl of fresh flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit. Place this for example on the dining room table or coffee tables, instead of magazines or books.
• Clear up and clean the garage – let buyers see there is space to park the car!

Pleasant scents
It is important to keep your home smelling nice. You can do this in various ways, from using scented candles to having a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen or rusks drying in the oven.
Also:

• Empty the garbage bin.
• Load dirty clothes into the washing machine.
• Run a lemon rind through the disposal unit.
• Give wood furniture a quick polish.
• Clean the litter box.
• Refrain from smoking inside the house.

Keep your home at a moderate temperature
This will encourage potential buyers to stay longer in the comfortable surroundings.
In winter:

• Light a fire in the fireplace or use a heater to heat up a cold room.
• Close curtains at sunset to keep the heat inside.

In summer:

• Open windows and doors to create a draught.
• Use a ceiling or standing fan.

Staging the interior
This American and European concept has not quite established itself here as yet, but sometimes a few small changes may make your home look more appealing.

• Let the light stream in. A bright home appeals to buyers. Trim plants which darken a room. A room which is painted in a dark colour will seem dark. Neutral walls, pale furniture and soft lighting go a long way toward creating a crowd-pleasing interior.
• Remove extra furniture that clutters the space - side tables, footstools and magazine racks.
• Create simple arrangements with maximum impact. Often people arrange their living room as if they’re hosting the neighbourhood meeting, with all the furniture lined up along the walls. Instead, place a sofa facing the fireplace, and flank it with two chairs and coffee table in between. This will create visual depth and an inviting picture.
• Borrow pieces which could make a difference – a painting to fill an obvious gap, a carpet to warm up an uninviting room, even furniture for an empty room.

Stage the outdoors too                                                                                                                                                 Buyers often buy a lifestyle. Use this to your advantage.

• The pool must be sparkling clean – a neglected pool will remind buyers that a pool means work. An unkempt garden will have the same effect.
• If you have a table and chairs on the patio, put out cushions and cover the table with a pretty table cloth.
• Hanging a hammock in your backyard could be the perfect touch.
• Play up a postage–stamp size balcony or corner in the garden with a cafe table and chairs, a cheerful tablecloth and even a tray of dishes. Let them see that it is the perfect spot for breakfast!

Following a Cabinet meeting on the 4th of September 2013 Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said: "Denying previously black-listed consumers credit hinders growth."

She said this as many South Africans struggle to access credit either due to negative rating due to late payments on their study loans, default judgements from unpaid clothing or furniture accounts and those who approach the National Credit Regulator to get help with the management of their debt.

“The key to the option is to ensure that those that have settled their debt and are able to afford [taking up more] debt should be allowed to do so. They shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the five years waiting period because, if you may be aware, currently what tends to happen is that even if you have settled your debt, you still have to wait for a period of five years.

“The proposal that has been made is to ensure that those that have settled their debt are able to continue their lives in terms of doing the business that they may wish to engage in,” she said.

This proposal will soon come into effect after the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations following a report from the Removal of Adverse Credit Information Project.

The report’s recommendations were first discussed in Parliament last year after it was noted that denying credit to those that were previously blacklisted without considering affordability was detrimental not only to consumers, but also to the economy.

Williams said the Department of Trade and Industry still needed to conclude internal processes before the Cabinet’s decision can come into effect.

National Credit Amendment Bill approved

Meanwhile, Williams also said Cabinet had approved several other Bills, including the National Credit Amendment Bill for introduction to Parliament with an aim of assigning the national regulators more powers to implement and enforce critical credit provisions.

“The Bill aims to strengthen the capacity of the National Credit Regulator (NCR) to address certain challenges especially around court processes and to strengthen enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005,” Williams said.

She also said that central to the challenges that led to the amendment to the Bill was that while the regulator would give consumers amnesty, there were loopholes that would see consumers being trapped in spiralling debt when they, for example, applied for more credit cards while they are undergoing debt counselling. – SANews.gov.za

Blinds fitted as the only window covering, complement a modern minimalist look. Blinds can also be used in combination with curtains for a classic, layered look.

Roman blinds are equally suitable for contemporary or traditional settings. Made up of fabric, they are custom made to suit the furnishings of the room. When raised, the folds look neat and, when lowered, the flat panel is very effective to provide privacy. It is a very practical solution for bay windows as one can have the blinds made up in sections.

Venetian blinds are slatted blinds which come in timber, aluminium and PVC versions. Timber offers excellent insulation, aluminium creates a contemporary feel and PVC offers durability. Venetian blinds provide absolute privacy when closed. One can alter the angle of the blind slats to control the level of light in the room.

Roller blinds are popular because they are easy to operate. They roll up tightly at the top of the window, allowing light to stream in during the day. Roller blinds are especially suitable when wall space is limited, as a roller blind can be fitted neatly into the window recess. One can combine it with other window coverings, such as curtains. When made of block-out material complete privacy is ensured.

When selecting blinds, make sure they harmonise with the interior and meet practical needs. When it comes to choosing blinds for the home, the following factors should be taken into consideration: