How to make the most of open-plan spaces in your home – The Irish Times

Every January brings a fresh wave of advice on how to reset our homes. Decluttering has become a buzzword that suggests if we simply own less, life will feel calmer. And for a brief moment, after the post-Christmas clear-out, it often does. But unless our home supports how we actually live, that calm doesn’t last. […]

How to resolve fence feuds, while staying friends with neighbours

Fencing disputes rank alongside such things as noise complaints and arguments over trees as hot button topics between neighbours many New Zealand homeowners love to read. It’s relatively easy to become involved in one, though. The Citizen Advice Bureau has dealt with more than 2600 enquiries on fences and boundary issues over the past year, […]

Capital gain on property: How to pay lower LTCG tax using indexation benefit

Only transactions that involve real estate house properties are eligible for indexation benefits which can lead to lower capital gains tax in some cases. Previously, other assets were also eligible for indexation benefit. However, Budget 2023 eliminated indexation benefits for debt mutual funds purchased on or after April 1, 2023. Simply put, the indexation benefit […]

Home slow to sell? How to be a smart seller in a buyer’s market

Trying to sell a house right now? Stay alert, because with the number of houses on the market up, prices down and sales slow, your buyer is holding a great hand of cards right now. Frances Cook has some tips. Figures from realestate.co.nz show that while the number of properties on the market has rapidly […]

How to sell your house

New Zealand’s housing market might have turned a corner, but it is still a tough time to be a seller. While activity and prices are picking up, there is large amount of stock on the market, and it is keeping a lid on prices. In January, the Real Estate Institute reported a “days to sell” […]

How to legally donate your estate to charity by preparing will

I want to prepare my will and donate everything to charity instead of leaving it to my children. I am 68 years old and a divorcee, with four children who are all well-off. Is there anything I should consider? —Name withheld on request We assume that the assets and properties owned by you are all […]

How to buy an island – and truly work remotely

Krolow is talking about islands such as Motu Teta Rangiroa in French Polynesia, which is on the market for just over £1.5m. If you told a child to crayon a picture of a private island, this palm-tree studded paradise is what they’d draw. Thanks to Starlink, owners can live on coconuts while trading shares on […]