8 neighborhood features that boost your property’s value

Neighborhoods have a big impact on the potential and long term value of a property. Outlined below are 8 qualities to look for when you are buying as they can have a positive effect on the long term value of your home. You’ve all heard the adage location, location, location…well here is a list of the neighborhood ‘location’ features that can help boost your resale and property value in the future.

Good schools

It almost goes without saying that if the neighborhood is located in a great school district it will boost the home’s resale value. Parents will always seek to send their kids to the best school therefore ensuring there is always good demand for these properties.

Low crime rate

People want to feel safe in the home and they want their kids to be able to walk freely around the suburb, therefore a neighborhood with a strong safety record and a low incidence of crime will add value to a property.

Public Transport

Properties within walking distance to good public transport are also sought after as it makes the commute to work and school that much easier. This may be a regular serviced bus stop, a ferry, a train or light rail station. However, being too close to a mass public transport hub can actually bring the property’s value down.

Amenities

There is increased interest in neighborhoods with “resort” like amenities. Many new home communities are being built with pools, tennis courts, fitness facilities, parks and play areas. These amenities do incredible things to boost a home’s resale value – especially for families looking to buy.

Even if your property doesn’t have these, if the neighborhood has public amenities such as pools, parks, gyms, picnic areas, dog parks, bike trails they too will add value to a property.

Walk-ability to services

Although we seem to be always jumping in our car or hopping on public transport, being able to walk to the corner grocery shop, coffee shop, bar and eateries is highly valued by home buyers. There is something about being able to walk out your front door and head down the street to great local services that appeals to potential buyers but also boosts your resale value significantly.

Additionally, if a neighborhood is in walking distance to schools, parks, beaches and public transport the value of the property is sure to be higher.

Mature trees

Having established trees lining the streets, dotted around the neighborhood, or even in people’s front gardens can have a big impact on the areas value. With so many developers knocking down trees to build new homes, neighborhood’s with a lush tree canopy tend to be rarer and therefore sort after. Buyers love well established neighborhoods and a feature of these is often older trees that provide character. The more natural a neighborhood is the better. We buy houses Weirton

Future amenities

Are there any planned upgrades in your neighborhood? The local council is a great place to head to as they are normally across any planned future growth projects. It’s worth asking if there are plans to upgrade the streets-cape, parks, or if there are any new amenities planned for the area. Are there new public transport routes such as a light rail or retail outlets in the pipeline. Some future amenities can add value to your property and neighborhood.

Historic charm

You can’t just create historic charm – this is built over years and years and it is this character that tends to help resale value as it is a feature that is hard to replicate. Many councils in Australia are conscious of maintaining a certain level of building / renovation uniformity which helps preserve the neighborhood aesthetic and in turn add value to the homes in it.

Ways to be a Happy Tenant

Are you getting ready to sign a tenancy agreement for the perfect property? As a soon-to-be tenant, there may be many questions running through your head.

Perhaps you’ve been living in a rental property, but you’re ready for a fresh start, whether it’s a bigger home or a new neighbourhood.

Whatever your reasons are for signing a new tenancy agreement, there are few things to keep in mind when you’re gearing up to rent a house.

Carefully review the tenancy agreement

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you understand what’s required of you.

Whether it’s a six-month tenancy agreement or something a little longer, it’s important to know what your obligations will be.

Not only that, you’ll need to know what your property manager’s responsibilities are. Taking the time to work through your respective obligations is a must, so you don’t end up confused if any issues arise further down the line.

Be sure to ask your property manager or landlord any questions you have – they’ll be happy to explain any terms you’re unfamiliar with.

Be Organised

Don’t leave it until the day your rent’s due to sort out your payments.

Being organised is key to being a happy tenant. Establish an automatic payment, so your rent gets automatically deducted from your account.

This way, you won’t even have to think about it. Just be sure that there’s enough money in the account each week, fortnight or month when your payment is due to go out.

Organisation also extends to keeping your property manager up to date about any repairs that are required.

Whether you need a tap fixed or a leak plugged, it’s essential not to leave this for days or weeks. After all, some issues could cause costly or irreversible damage if they’re not addressed immediately.

It’s your job to keep the property in reasonably tidy condition, but repairs are generally the responsibility of the landlord (unless of course you’ve been hitting golf balls inside!).

That said, your property manager can’t predict when repairs need to be made. Make sure you’re organised and let them know if anything needs to be tidied up.

This ensures you’re able to live in a comfortable property, while the landlord can keep their investment in good condition.

Be a Good Neighbor

It’s not just your landlord or property manager you need to forge a good relationship with in order to be a happy tenant.

Don’t forget to be respectful to your neighbours by keeping noise at a reasonable level.

If you’re planning on playing a bit of music over the weekend, don’t blast the volume! Better yet, extend an invitation to your neighbors, should this suit you.