BNZ GoodHome

Reading is an enjoyable pastime all year around but there’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book in winter. What’s even better is when you have a special corner at home dedicated to doing just this. With comfort in mind, here are my essentials for creating a cosy reading nook.

A Dedicated Space

First decide on a good spot for your nook such as a corner of the living area or bedroom. If necessary rearrange the furniture to allow for the new space.

Comfortable Seating

An essential element, seating is also a very personal one. My ultimate reading nook chair would be the iconic Flag Halyard Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner shown below! But depending on your taste in comfort and style (and your budget) options to consider include an armchair, rocking chair and ottoman, daybed, comfy vintage chair, bean bag, swing chair or even an indoor hammock.

The Apartment by The Line / photography by Carolina Engman

Cushions and a Throw

Enhance the level of comfort with cushions and a throw. Choose beautiful textiles that appeal to you, so that they entice you to curl up feeling cosy and warm. In winter I swap my lighter cotton, linen and silk throws for wool. My current favourite is the incredibly soft Alpaca Throw from the new Kate and Kate winter 2016 collection which you can see on my daybed below. When it comes to cushions, I have a preference for natural materials that add texture, and right now I am loving the felted wool and linen covers by local designers Penny + Bennett, Nodi and Kanuka Collective. I also favour natural feather down inners which regulate temperature, mould beautifully to your body and stay super soft.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

A Place for Books

While it helps to have a bookshelf close to your reading nook, it is not essential. Even though I have several books and magazines on the go at one time, I use the Loop Design Felt Storage Basket from Resident GP (shown above) to store and transport them from room to room.

A Small Table

Allow for somewhere to place your cuppa while you turn the pages. This could be a side table, stool, pouffe (with the addition of a tray or hard cover book for stability) or even just a stack of books or mags.

Styling by Greydeco / photography by Jonas Berg

Lighting

Adequate lighting is essential for reading, so avoid choosing a dark corner for your nook. Ideally you will want to position yourself near a window to allow for natural light during the day, and use a lamp for night time reading. Choose from a pendant light, desk lamp (placed on a side table) or floor lamp. Personally I love the versatility of floor lamps, especially if they are adjustable.

Styling by Greydeco / photography by Janne Olander

Personal Style

Inject some personal style into your reading nook. Hang artwork on the wall, add fresh flowers or plants and a cosy rug underfoot. These finishing touches make all the difference. In fact, you may never want to leave!

This article is intended as a general discussion only. BNZ recommends the recipient get independent advice. The views expressed are the writer’s own and do not necessarily represent those of BNZ or its related entities.

Having a mortgage is one of those grown-up things most of us do at some point in our lives to help us have the home of our dreams. Once you’re living in your dream home, the next dream is being mortgage-free.

At BNZ, we want to help you get there, faster. So here are a few tips on how to get there sooner, rather than later.

Look into offsetting

Reduce the interest you pay by offsetting with a TotalMoney home loan. It combines the balances of your everyday accounts and subtracts them from the total owing on your mortgage, and you only pay interest on the difference. This means you could get mortgage free faster, while saving thousands of dollars in interest.

Calculate how much you could save with TotalMoney

Have you thought about tailoring your repayments?

Your financial situation changes over the years with different factors coming into consideration. Pay rises happen, kids leave home and you find yourself with a little bit of extra cash. Instead of putting those extra pennies towards something else, why not look at increasing your repayments to suit your new financial situation and help pay off your home loan faster? With BNZ’s Tailored Repayments*, you’ll get a little reminder every year, giving you the option of a small automatic increase to your loan repayments. You can choose to say yay or nay, so you’re in control.

See how Tailored Repayments can work for home loans.

On that topic of extra pennies… pay extra when you can.

Anything you pay above the minimum amount will come straight off the principal of your home loan, which means you will end up paying less interest over the life of the loan*.

Pay an extra $20 a week. On a 25-year, $250,000 home loan at 6.5% this could save you nearly $33,000 in interest and knock two years off your mortgage.
Round your repayments up (for example, instead of $634, pay $650).

Low interest rates? Don’t be tempted

When the interest rate drops, it can be very tempting to lower your repayments if you have a variable home loan. But, if you continue to pay the same amount, more of each payment will go towards repaying your principal – you know what that means. You’ll be reducing your outstanding balance faster and lowering your overall interest costs.

Switch it up to fortnightly repayments

If you’re currently paying off your mortgage monthly, you can jump ahead a little bit by changing to make your repayments every two weeks*. With 26 fortnights in a year, you’ll end up making two extra repayments every year without even noticing.

To find out more about paying off your home loan faster, pop in to your local BNZ, give us a call on 0800 275 269 or click here to find out some more information. You never know, you could be mortgage-free faster than you thought.

BNZ Lending criteria, terms and fees may apply. *Early repayment charges may apply. Tailored repayment are not available on interest-only or progressive draw-down loans.

This information is for general information purposes only. To the extent that it contains financial advice, it does not take into account your particular financial situation or goals. BNZ recommends that you seek advice specific to your circumstances from your financial adviser.

Generally, if you require a piece of furniture you go to a store or two, choose a design you like on a budget you can afford and purchase the item.

As a builder I can’t see myself constructing my own sofa or chairs, but items like bed frames, tables and desks are all things I’ve had a go at, with successful results. Making an item from scratch no matter how simple gives a feeling of achievement you don’t get from store-bought furniture, and if you’ve designed it yourself, even better.

Here’s a desk you might like to have a go at and because the materials and method are simple, maybe change it up and design your own coffee table, dining table, side table or stool. Maybe even a bar leaner.

Tools:

Ruler
Tape measure
Pencil
Drill
Impact driver – screwdriver
28mm Speedbone drill bit / 3mm drill bit
Sand paper
Allen key
Craft knife
45mm screws / 8 gauge
Super coarse plastic

Materials:

24mm Plywood (I’ve used birch)
1 piece at 1600mm long x 700mm wide
2 pieces at 640mm long x 70mm wide
20mm Galvanised water pipe
4 pieces at 660mm long
2 pieces at 540mm long
4 x 20mm x 90 degree quick clamp elbows

I chose birch ply for the desktop as it is strong and stable, the colour is light but can be stained any colour and is relatively easy to finish with oil or polyurethane.

I have the equipment to cut the plywood accurately but suggest getting a joiner to cut your plywood components accurately. With the desktop being 700mm wide I have a 2400mm x 500mm off cut which I can use for another project. It may become shelves or a coffee table, but because of the price it will not go to waste.

I had the galvanised pipe cut by the merchant (Steel and Tube) at a very low cost and it made it easier to transport.

Important to note:

Although the pipe has a nominated size of 20mm, this is the internal diameter of the pipe and the external diameter is 27mm.

Step 1 - Legs

The two pieces of ply (640mm x 70mm) are the base for the legs. Each of these pieces need a 28mm hole drilled through at each end. Mark 35mm in from the side and 35mm in from the end.

Drill a 28mm hole right through the ply.

It would be ideal to drill a 27mm hole, as the pipe diameter would be a perfect fit, but speedbore drill bits don’t come at that size. To make the leg fit tightly, a shim of super coarse plastic is just the right size. Cut a strip of super coarse.

Place in the hole.

Fit 660mm length of pipe into the pipe hole.

Then twist clockwise until the pipe is flush with the other side of the ply.

Repeat for both pieces of ply and all four lengths of the 660mm pipe.

The quick clamp elbows have Allen key threaded grub screws, which clamp firmly to the pipe. Loosen all of the grub screws off so that the pipe can slide into the elbow.

Fit one elbow to each end of the two pieces of 540mm long pipe.

The measure between the two legs fitted to base ply should be 570mm centre to centre.

Fit the other elbow to the end of 540mm pipe and ensure it is 570mm between the two elbow centres before tightening.

Fit the pipe with elbows to the legs and measure to make sure both sides are even before tightening with Allen key.

The measure from the ply to the bottom of the elbow should be 610mm.

Trim off excess super coarse plastic with a craft knife and the legs are ready to fit to the desktop

Step 2 - Fitting to desk top

Lay top on stools using drop sheets or soft cloths so as not to damage the top of desk.

Sit legs in approximate position and measure it from end and edges 30mm.

Face the grubscrews on the elbows to the inside.

Pre-drill 3mm holes at each end of the base ply, approximately 15mm in from edge.

Before fixing the leg to the top, check that the screws are not too long. A screw coming though the desktop is not a good look. 45mm screws are perfect so long as they are not over tightened.

Using an impact driver, or screwdriver, screw the base to the top through the predrilled hole.

Two screws at each end of the base are enough to hold firmly to the top.

Fit the other legs the same.

Turn the desk over and hand sand all of the edges and faces of ply with maximum 220 grit sandpaper.

Desk can be left natural by oiling with teak oil or polyurethane.

Note. The height of the desk is approximately 720mm. Desks and or tables are usually between 710mm and 760mm. If the top is thin, then the desk can be towards the lower height. A standard chair is 450mm to the top of the seat and the general rule of thumb is to have a 300mm gap between the top of the seat and the top of the desk. With adjustable office chairs, a comfortable work height can be achieved by the raising or lowering of the chair.

So try my desk and have a look at how Michelle dressed it up. You can make your own industrial style bespoke table or whatever you dream up. I’ve given you an idea and a method, make it your own.

Cheers,

Cocksy.

Open shelving works well in every room in the home. When hung on the wall shelves provide a great place to store items and display favourite objects. And because they utilise unused vertical space, they are also ideal for compact areas. While simplistic in form, there are different designs to consider. Taking into account the location, what you will be using them for and of course your own personal taste, here are five great styles to choose from.

1. Multipurpose Shelving

Styling by Alana Langan / photography by Annette O’Brien

Right now I’m loving shelves that offer versatility, and the Plant shelf by Ivy Muse is a great example. Designed and made in Melbourne from powder coated or brass-plated steel and Victorian Ash, each easy to assemble plant shelf comes with a handmade slip-cast porcelain pot in a choice of two colour options; Feather Grey or Peach Eggshell. Easily converting to a right hand side or left hand side pot position, added grooves allow for the display of artwork and/or prints, posters or postcards.

Another minimal, stylish and multipurpose shelving unit, the Fold Shelf by Made of Tomorrow features a super practical way to display your favourite potted house plants with a unique suspended pot hole.

2. Leather Love

Becoming a popular alternative to traditional wood and metal brackets, natural leather goes hand in hand with wooden shelves. The beautiful Lightly Assemblages Leather Shelves draw on the utilitarian resourcefulness of the early 1900s and saddlery aesthetic that combines leather girths and belt buckles. Available from Cult NZ, choose from black or natural leather, paired with plywood shelves.

3. Design Classic

Styling and photography by Decordots

One of my personal favourites, The String Pocket is an iconic Scandinavian design that combines form and function, to suit any interior style. Visit Bob and Friends (online or in store) to view the range of colours on offer in NZ.

4. Picture Ledge

Styling by Greydeco / photography by Jonas Berg

Ideal for kids rooms, above a bed or sofa, picture ledges are great for displaying books and framed pictures. As you can see from the above image, they even work well in the kitchen. I love the versatility of the IKEA Ribba Picture Ledges which you can get in NZ from Living Concepts and Nordic Chill. Place the ledges one above the other to create a bookshelf as shown below, place them offset at different heights, or create one long shelf by placing them side by side. For a streamlined effect, match the shelf to your wall colour.

Styling and photography by Nina Holst/Styizimo

5. Style on a Budget

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

I get so many people asking me about my office shelves above. An affordable option that is both stylish and practical, I simply paired some IKEA brackets from Living Concepts with shelves from Bunnings. Too easy!

Investing in property could be a great way to take control of your financial future. So whether you’re new to property investment, or you’re building on your portfolio, here are some key things to consider if you’re in the market to invest.

What are the benefits?

Most people buy property as a long-term investment. But there are many other benefits, like equity inflation, capital appreciation gain, and more stability when compared to other types of investments like the stock market.

And as you build up equity in your investment property, this opens up the possibility of buying more properties or making other investments.

The big question: can you afford to invest?

One of the first things you need to figure out is whether you can actually afford an investment property. Calculating your budget is an important part of the process. So get started by crunching the following numbers:

How much equity do you have in your existing home?
How much money do you have saved?
How much do you need to borrow and can you afford the repayments?
If interest rates go up, can you still afford the repayments?

You might just discover that you’re closer to achieving your goals than you think.

Making a plan

Everybody has different reasons or motivations for investing in property. Do you want to set yourself up for retirement? Or do you want a property that you can pass down to your kids? Whatever your reason, you need to ask yourself these questions and make a plan for the future.

Finance options

Did you know that any equity stored up in your current home can go towards purchasing another property? There are many ways you could fund your investment property, which one you choose depends on you and your circumstances.

You’ll also need to decide what kind of loan to get. Interest only loans are a smart option for investors who want to achieve capital growth on their property over a shorter term.

Click here to find out more about your home loan options.

Property selection

One of the biggest worries many investors have is that their property might sit vacant on the rental market, so choose a home in an area with a high population rate and a high sign of rental demand. Also, look at areas that have a steady growth in value.

And if you’re worried about on-going maintenance and repair costs, then find a property that’s in good condition, as this will limit the costs.

10 common mistakes to avoid

Many New Zealanders make a number of mistakes when it comes to managing an investment property. So to reach your goals more quickly, be prepared and avoid these common pitfalls:

1. Property investment won’t solve your financial problems

Just because you own an investment property, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be wealthy. To make money, you need to put in the work and this takes time.

2. Do the numbers

Before you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, you need to understand the costs involved. This could make the difference between a purchase being a good investment or a long-term drain on finances.

3. Understand the risks

Many people get caught out by believing that property prices only ever go up. Most risks can be minimised, but you’ve got to know where they are.

4. Get advice

Avoid mistakes by getting advice from those who have already seen others make them. There are plenty of stories out there, so make sure you talk to the right people.

5. Finance isn’t just about getting a loan

Getting money in the bank is the “easy” bit, but many people don’t think about how they structure their mortgages. Talk to our Property Investment team.

6. Manage your property well

Many investors don’t review rents as often as they should or they don’t know how to deal with a tenancy problem. Always have additional money set aside to cover repairs and maintenance, to avoid being caught out in the future.

7. Doing due diligence

Many people let their emotions get in the way when buying an investment property and sometimes end up paying too much, or end up with a leaky building. Take time to do enough research pre-purchase.

8. Don’t just be interested when the market is hot

A lot of people become property investors when house prices are rising. In reality, you should be buying when the market is low.

9. Understand the difference between a home and an investment property

Your purchase should be driven by things like numbers, on-going maintenance and the local rental market – not how attractive or homely it is.

10. Buy in the right location

Look for property in places where there is population growth, infrastructure and employment.

Ready to invest?

Our dedicated residential property investment team are here to help you. So once you’ve done your initial research and believe you are prepared to take the next steps, get in touch with us today.

We all like to think retirement is something that’s a little way off for most of us. We love living in the moment and enjoying our family, friends and all the milestones in between. At BNZ, we know that we’re not all ready to move into retirement, but there’s no better time than now to start planning and saving for it, so we’re here to help with a few tips.

A little now, means a lot more later

Where do you begin when it comes to planning? When you want to retire, your main sources of income come in mainly three forms: your own savings, income from any investments you have made and the NZ Super.

The NZ Super is unlikely to be enough for your personal needs and the government only pay out when you reach 65, so looking into developing your own saving scheme and retirement plan is necessary.

Start with a budget and think about the life you would like once you retire. Thinking about the basics, such as insurance, maintenance on your home and car, plus a few extra pennies for some unexpected purchases, is a starting point. Also consider what age you’d like to retire, what kind of lifestyle you’d like and where you’ll be living.

When you keep these things in mind, you can make sure you’ve got a good basis to start your budgeting and begin putting away a little bit now to make sure you’ve got enough for yourself later on for whatever plan you’d like to have.
The answer to “how much you should be saving?” is different for everyone, according to their individual circumstances. For you it will depend on your:

current age
current income and lifestyle
intended retirement age
target retirement income (i.e. preferred retirement expenditure levels)
current retirement savings and assets
likely inheritances and other sources of assets

To work out your position, check out the retirement planner at sorted.org.nz

Own home or renting?

One of the big things to think about is whether you’ll be living in your own home or renting during your retirement. If you find yourself renting, you won’t have any money tied up in a home and no responsibility for home maintenance. At the other end of the spectrum, owning your own home means you’ll have more control over your finances. Plus, there’s no threat of being asked to move out or having your rent increased.

It’s a personal consideration as to what best suits you and it’s great to keep your options in mind as you continue to move towards a saving scheme.

Speaking of mortgages… how to avoid the mortgage trap

Paying off your mortgage prior to retirement is important but shouldn’t be the sole thing you take into account when planning your savings.

There are risks in leaving serious retirement saving until after you’ve paid your mortgage off. There is the chance you could end up having a mortgage for longer than expected due to changes in circumstances such as illness or loss of work. These factors need to be considered as they can affect your ability to make repayments. Click here for 5 ways to become mortgage free faster.

When KiwiSaver is on your side

KiwiSaver offers extra benefits, making it a great option for retirement saving – even if you have a mortgage.

As well as the money you put in and any growth in your savings over time, your employer and the Government may help boost your KiwiSaver account. If you’re working and are contributing through your pay, your employer must generally also contribute 3% of your before-tax pay to your KiwiSaver account. And if you’re eligible, for every $1 you put into your KiwiSaver, the Government may add an extra 50 cents, up to $521 per year.

A little bit of thinking about the future, and the type of retirement you’d like to have, the easier it’ll be for you to begin planning and budgeting a long-term savings plan – your future self will thank you for it. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help. Drop into your local BNZ store or call us on 0800 275 269 to find out more. We also have Authorised Financial Advisors ready to help you with any money advice you may need.

Article adapted from the original article at https://www.sorted.org.nz/guides/planning-for-retirement

Us Kiwis love to use our decks and outdoor areas. Be it for nightly summer barbecues, family and friends’ gatherings or kids parties, our outdoor spaces are special and designed to fit our needs.

We also love our privacy and in residential areas, this is sometimes hard to obtain, especially when neighbouring houses have views into your outdoor spaces. Fences, trees and hedges can go a long way to creating privacy between neighbours but sometimes they just don’t cut the mustard.

The simple answer is to create a screen type barrier between you and your neighbour so that both parties feel comfortable that they are not intruding on each other’s privacy.

The screen I have created, for a family in central Auckland, only became necessary because their neighbours extended and elevated a large extension to the rear of their home and both parties privacy was compromised.

The new living room looks directly onto the deck of my client so the solution became simple. Let’s create a screen.

Tools:

Drop saw
Circular saw
Clamp
Hand plane
Hole saw
Battery drill
Impact driver
Drill bits
Counter sink bit
Hammer
Chisel
Tape measure
Ruler
Pencil
Square
Socket set
Protective eyewear (Glasses)
Hearing protection (Ear Muffs)
Materials:
Posts – Ex 100 x 75 H4 Pine
Coach screws M12 x 160mm S/S
Washers M12 x 3mm round
Or M12 x 50 x 50 x 3mm square

Vitex decking – 140 x 19 machined to varied sizes as per design. I have 4 sizes: 30 x 19, 40 x 19, 95 x 19 and 140 x 19.

Decking screws – 65mm x 10 gauge S/S

Step 1 - Attaching posts to deck

I chose to attach my posts to the deck only as there was an existing concrete path making it difficult to embed them into an in-ground concrete footing. In most cases a screen, much like a fence, would require posts to be set in 600mm deep x 300mm x 300mm concrete footings.

My connection into the deck’s boundary joist is with the use of an M12 x 160mm stainless steel coach screw.

To make a neat job of the connection I chose to flush the head of the screw and washer into the post.

Mark the centre of the screw position on the post.

Square the mark around to the front of the post and mark the centre.

Using a hole saw, slightly bigger than the diameter of the washer, drill into the post approximately 12mm.

Chisel out the hole to the depth of approximately 12mm.

Drill a 13mm hole through the post.

As an alternative, a square washer can be used. These are 50mm x 50mm x 3mm. Mark around the washer and chisel to a depth of 12mm as per the round washer.

Position post and clamp firmly in place, ensuring it is plumb.

Drill into the deck boundary using a 8mm drill bit.

Using a socket wrench fit coach screw and washer and tighten.

Repeat process for remaining posts.

With all of the posts fixed, establish a height and level across all posts.

Using a circular saw and protective safety equipment, cut posts to height.

Use a hand plane (block plane) to erase the edges on top of the posts.

To keep the posts in vertical alignment, a board needs to be attached to the top of the posts. Measure between posts at the bottom.

Screw a board flush to the top of the posts and spaced as per the bottom measures.

If you want to paint the posts, now is the time, before the boards are attached.

Step 2 - Attaching boards to posts

With the top board screwed in place to hold the posts in vertical alignment I have also created a datum for measuring down to the start of the first board as relying on the deck to be level is not accurate enough.

Get the first board straight and level and it’s plain sailing to the top. Each board is spaced with an offcut (19mm) and aligned with the board below before being screwed.

The screws are 65mm S/S decking screws with a counter sunk head.

Pre-drill all holes with a countersunk drill before screwing.

With my four different sized boards the pattern is random, with only the 30mm wide board being used on the edges.

All ends of the boards are erased using the block plane.

It would be ideal to have all of the boards as full length but unfortunately with Vitex, random lengths mean there are joins. Alternate the joined boards with the full boards so that the joins are randomly positioned.

Continue fixing boards in this manner until you reach the top board. The top board can be adjusted up or down to create even gaps or alternatively adjust the gaps in the last few boards by a couple of millimetres to make it to the top board evenly.

With the screen in place I cut and fixed some angle braces between the bottom of each post and a deck joist. This will prevent wind moving the screen out of plumb. If your posts are set in concrete this isn’t required. Cut a 45 degree to one end of the brace.

Measure and cut.

Check before fixing in place.

Pre-drill 6mm holes in both ends of the brace.

Screw to the joist.

Then level and screw the brace to the post.

Use 100mm x 14 gauge galvanised bugle screws. These go in easily with an impact driver and are fast becoming the go to fastener for builders and designers.

And with the neighbours blocked out it’s time to put the barby on.

Cheers,

Cocksy.

Room Series #7 | The Workspace

While there are benefits to working from home, keeping distractions at bay can be challenging. Creating a separate home office or study that is stylish, functional and conducive to work will encourage productivity and the flow of creative ideas. In terms of interior design and styling, the home office lends itself to a much more personal approach than that of a traditional office. Here are my tips for bringing function, style and fun to your home office space.

Think Outside the ‘Office Furniture’ Box

Create a natural sense of cohesion with the rest of your home by choosing furniture that doesn’t seem out of place. A comfortable, stylish dining chair is a great option for the study. Pair it with a cosy sheepskin for extra comfort and warmth. Add rustic warmth with a vintage desk or give it a fresh lease of life with a coat of white paint. An alternative to the traditional desk, tables can also work well – consoles are great for compact spaces while dining tables are well suited to larger ones. I also have an affordable DIY desk option. Keep reading to find out more.

Image via Entrance Makleri

Get Creative

My top tip for the home office is ensure that it reflects your own personal style. Affordable and fun, create a moodboard with magazine tear sheets, postcards and anything else that inspires you. My work is focused around interiors but right now my office moodboard includes a mix of fashion, design, landscapes, photography and architecture across a colour palette I am currently loving. Inject further personality and interest by displaying your favourite objects, light a scented candle for ambience, add a vase of fresh flowers and choose an artwork that makes your heart sing.

Styling by Pella Hedeby and photography by Sara Medina Lind via Stil Inspiration

Storage Ideas

Save your valuable floor space by doing away the filing cabinets and installing some wall shelves. For some great options, check out this issue’s 5 Types of Shelving article. Not only will this keep everything you need at hand while keeping your desk uncluttered, you can use the shelves to display those favourite objects mentioned above. Other stylish ideas for wall storage include the Mathilda Clahr Leather Hangers and Normann Copenhagen Pocket Organisers (pictured below) and the Felt Wall Organiser by Made of Tomorrow.

Styling by Michelle Halford for TDC

Light it Up

Whether your office is a separate room, small nook or corner, I recommend positioning yourself near natural light as this will lift your mood and encourage productivity. Combine overhead lighting with a directional lamp in the form of a table or floor lamp. I currently have a Clip Cage Light in my office which is clipped onto my shelves providing great directional lighting when I am working at my desk in the evenings.

Plant Power

A must for the home office, plants are proven to increase productivity, reduce sickness, improve air quality and increase creativity. Place a small plant such as a succulent on your desk or shelves and a larger one on the floor. For something different, try housing the bigger plant in a basket or use a stylish plant stand. Check out the Seagrass Basket and range of Plant Stands from Tessuti.

As mentioned at the start of this article I have a DIY desk to share with you thanks to BNZ GoodHome builder Cocksy. Made from plywood and galvanised pipe, the clean, simple lines mean this desk will fit easily into an any interior setting. Inspired by the desk legs, I paired it with the classic PK9 Chair by Fritz Hansen which is made from leather and stainless steel. I then added my own personal touch with stylish desktop accessories, fresh flowers and beautiful artwork. I love how these details compliment the desk while softening its industrial edge. The overall look is sophisticated and elegant. Natural light and greenery will enhance productivity while overhead and directional lighting ensure the office is a well-lit space. See the full list of products below the images and for step by step instructions on how to build the desk, take a look here.

Before getting started I placed some adhesive felt circles to the bottom of the legs to protect our floors.

Styling by Michelle Halford / photography by Alistair Guthrie

WHERE TO BUY

PK9 Chair by Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen – Cult Design

Cobra Lamp by Greta M. Grossman for Gubi – Cult Design

Hay Box Box, Thomas Jenkins’ Lens Boxes for Wrong for Hay, Archive Hill Oak Storage Box - Hay Accessories / Cult Design

Höst Concrete Candle – Zakkia

New York Elevations Print – Studio Esinam

National Theatre Photographic Print – Studio Esinam and Rory Gardiner

All other products, stylist’s own.

A Certificate of Title is a record of who owns or has an interest in a property and it’s important that home buyers understand the rights and implications of each type of title before making a purchase.

There are four main types of title that you are likely to come across:

Freehold Title (sometimes called Fee Simple)

If you have a freehold title it means that you own the property, with minimal restrictions. It is the most common form of title in New Zealand and the most preferable because it provides the most rights and least restrictions.

Watch out: Freehold may be the most preferable title but you will still be subject to council restrictions depending upon zoning and resource consent requirements.

Cross-lease Title

Cross-lease ownership is common where there is more than one property on a single title. The owners of each property jointly own the land and each leases their own property (called Flats), which collectively form the cross-lease title.

Cross-leases became popular with property developers from the 1960s on, because it was a more affordable form of sub-division compared to creating a freehold title for each home.

Watch out: If you want to change the “Flats Plan,” e.g. by building an extension to your home, then you will require consent from the other parties to the cross-lease. If there are multiple owners this could be a problem.

Leasehold Title

A Leasehold title refers to when someone other than the occupier of the property owns the land and charges ground rent to the lessee. These titles may be perpetually renewable, or can be terminating, after say, 50 or 100-years.

Watch out: Ground rent charges will usually be based on the value of the land and be reassessed every seven-years. In a property boom this means that ground rents can sky rocket and become unaffordable for the occupier. Leasehold properties are often more difficult to sell because of this uncertainty.

Unit title

This is a form of ownership typical for apartments and units, where each owner has freehold title to their individual unit as described on the unit plan. Owners have common areas and share duties for any common property, such as driveways, lifts, lobbies, etc. The seller must provide a buyer with a pre-contract disclosure statement. This will cover everything you need to know about the unit title and any specific information about the unit you are buying and any outstanding levies.

Watch out: Body corporates can be good, bad, or ugly. Make sure you check the minutes of previous body corporate meetings to fully understand any current issues and identify any areas of dissent.

No matter what type of title you are faced with, it is vital that a solicitor reviews it thoroughly. To check out legal service providers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, click here.

Stephen Hart runs Hometopia.co.nz – the free online resource centre for home buyers and sellers - and buyers’ agency, Auckland HomeFinders.co.nz

People invest in property to make money. Successful investing is about maximising income and minimising outgoings and there is likely to be no greater outgoing than the cost of a professional property management company.

Property managers typically charge a fee of about 10%, all up, of the rental income. So, if your property is renting for $600 per week, then $60 + GST every week is heading to their bank account, not yours.

And there are usually other fees; property inspections at $30 each, 10% commission on accounts paid on your behalf, $500 sale penalties during an existing tenancy, etc. Real estate agent managers even charge tenants a week’s rental, which could put some tenants off your property.

So, surely you should do-it-yourself? Well maybe, but first consider some benefits.

· Minimum hassle – they get the phone call about a burst pipe in the middle of the night, not you

· Selecting the right tenants – they’ve seen it all before and understand the pitfalls of accepting dubious tenants. You will benefit from their judgment

· No more Mr Nice Guy – if the rent is overdue or there is a tenant problem, they are there to sort it, professionally, efficiently and without emotion. Are you ready for potential run-ins with your tenants?

· Absentee landlord – if you are based in a different city/country than your rental property, it’s a no-brainer

· Time is money – even if you only live around the corner, being an active landlord is going to absorb your time that could be spent doing other things. That’s fine with some, but not with others. What happened to that “Passive” investment?

· Admin avoidance – they’ve got the spreadsheets in place and will organise monthly statements, and the like, that will make it easy for you to file you to manage your investment and file your tax returns

· They maximise the rent payable and occupancy levels - they have the finger on the pulse of the market and ensure you are charging the correct rent. Would-be tenants are already on their books and should result in a quicker letting or replacement tenancy; occupancy levels are key.

· Sure the fee hurts, but remember, it’s tax deductible.

If you simply cannot afford a property manager’s fee, then you have no choice but to handle things yourself. Otherwise, for the majority of property investors a professional property manager is often money well spent.

Click here to check out property managers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Stephen Hart runs Hometopia.co.nz – the free online resource centre for home buyers and sellers - and buyers’ agency, Auckland HomeFinders.co.nz

A collection of inspiration and tips from our experts, designed to help you be good with your home. Brought to you by our experts - Stephen Hart, Michelle Halford and Cocksy

Creating a cosy reading nook

5 ways to be mortgage free faster

DIY | Desk

5 types of shelving

Property Investment | Things to consider

Planning for your retirement

DIY | Privacy Screen

Room Series #7 | The Workspace

Know your titles – Leasehold, Freehold, Cross-lease – what’s the difference?

Property Investment – Hire a Property Manager or do-it-yourself?