Not only does a home need to look appealing to us, it is also smart to consider how healthy and comfortable it is to live in.  Home performance is also very important, a good question to ask yourself is, ‘how much will it cost me to live in this home each year.

When you buy a new car, you don’t only look at the paintwork, the upholstery and the style of car, you also want to know how many kms to the litre it will do, how well it handles the road and how safe and comfortable it is to ride in.  Taking this type of approach to buying homes will help you to ensure you buy a home that will last you well into the future.

Research has shown our homes are not what we expected.  A new home rating tool will be introduced in New Zealand in 2010 to help improve the standard of our homes.    Find out more.

Buying?  Are you are considering the aspects of a home that are the most important when it comes to having a home that will be comfortable and healthy in the future?

Consumer have produced a comprehensive checklist on what to look for when buying a home.   Check it out. Also where to go if you think a home may have watertight issues.

How do auctions, tenders and negotiations work, what professional advice will you need?  There’s plenty of helpful advice here.

In November 2009 the Real Estate Agents Authority became operational in New Zealand.  This is a governing body who have established new rules and regulations for the real estate industry.