How can I make it easier to look after my property while living alone?
Michael Cox and Casey DeMichele from Raine and Horne Murraylands offer some advice about retaining your home’s value with limited free time or ability.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Raine and Horne Murraylands.
If you’re the only person living in your home in the Murraylands, it might sound strange, but: you’re not alone.
In the Murray Bridge district, more than 30 per cent of households are occupied by a single person.
When you’re on your own, it can be hard to find time for all the little jobs that keep your home ship-shape, even if you have the physical ability.
But there are still things you can do to ensure your property will retain its value for years to come – and help is available locally, too.
Here with some advice are Raine and Horne Murraylands’ Michael Cox and Casey DeMichele.
Simplify your garden for enhanced street appeal
“One of the first things you might think of is how your property appears from the outside: its street appeal,” she says.
“There are some easy adjustments you can make to make your home a bit more low-maintenance.”
For example, you might think about using mulch or river rocks instead of crowding every free space in your garden with shrubs and flowers.
“A nice little patch of grass with river rocks around it and a few plants can look just as effective as a cottage garden,” she says.
Other jobs you might tackle, or enlist a helper for, include:
- Cleaning the gutters
- Oiling wooden surfaces, such as decks
- Replacing any worn shade cloth
Prioritise maintenance jobs that will make a difference
You might not have the time or ability to apply a fresh coat of paint to every wall in the house.
But there are some more minor jobs which will really help your home stand out:
- Dusting ceiling fans and air conditioner vents
- Cleaning the exhaust above your stove, or the oven
- Scrubbing any mould in your bathtub or laundry
We never promised they would be exciting, but jobs like those will make a huge difference to anyone visiting your home.
Better yet, they’ll help your fittings last longer and help your home retain its value.
Help is at hand
Phew – that all sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?
Fortunately, help is available.
If you’re of retirement age – or Indigenous and aged 50 and over – you may be able to access help with minor maintenance tasks and modifications through the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
You’ll first need to register with My Aged Care, then find a provider in your local area.
You may also be able to access help with home modifications if you are registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme – just talk to your provider.
For anyone else, there are no shortage of expert local contractors who may be able to help you with jobs you don’t feel confident about doing yourself.
The team at Raine and Horne have connections with many of these contractors, who may work on the rental properties the agency manages or on homes being offered for sale.
“As real estate agents, we understand that you may reach stages of life where you’re reliant on others and can’t necessarily do what you want to do (around the house),” Michael says.
“Our job is to assist with that, whether it’s aligning you with contractors who can help or advising you about whether to consider downsizing.”
He invites you to come and have a chat about your plans for your property at any time – and, if you’re on your own, to bring a trusted person with you.
“We don’t want you to feel intimidated … we’re happy to work with you and help you feel comfortable about all these things,” he says.
- More information: Visit www.raineandhorne.com.au/murraylands, call 8532 3833 or drop into Raine and Horne Murraylands’ office at 4 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
