By Chris Kennedy, CEO Harcourts NZ

Did you know ... The first week of April isGlobal Asbestos Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the deadly toxin and preventing future asbestos-related illnesses from occurring.

It’s often Christmas time when thoughts turn to lighting up your home exterior – and then it’s all about creating a bold festive focus. But, if, say a visit to the Auckland Lantern Festival, has you inspired to light up your landscape in a more permanent way that’s really going to show your property off while maybe making it safer, here are a few things to think about:

It's all too easy to associate dark colours with negative connotations and a general sense of doom, but don't be too hasty, say the team at Resene.

Have you considered a career in real estate?

If you’re thinking about a career change and are looking with something that offers a huge amount of flexibility and the ability to manage your own workflow, with the potential for huge rewards, you may want to consider a career in real estate.

If you’re considering it, here’s what you should know:

Our latest market figures show the average house price at $618,459. Let’s have a look at what that – or less – will buy you around the country.

The decision to sell is made, but how do you ensure potential buyers know your house could be their dream home? Here are five top marketing tools to help you get the best possible result for your sale.

Buying, selling, moving and renovating are all major life events, and it’s important you are covered by insurance every step of the way. Here’s how you can best manage insurance requirements so you aren’t caught short.

When purchasing a house

It’s best to contact insurance companies to arrange house insurance ahead of time as they may need extra information such as building reports, and if it’s an older home, details of re-piling, re-wiring and new plumbing.

If you can’t secure insurance before putting in an offer, then consider inserting a ‘subject to insurance’ clause into the sale and purchase agreement so you have time to confirm before it goes unconditional.

Take the time to understand the different types of insurance available to you – in New Zealand you can get total replacement, sum specified, and present day value policies. See the Insurance Council of New Zealand website for more information – www.icnz.org.nz.

When it comes to selling your house, we know getting the very best price with the least stress is your top priority. Auctions are often the best way to achieve this, as well as offering several other benefits for sellers too. Read on to find out why going under the hammer will likely work for you.

• Short and sweet

Auctions get maximum exposure for your property in a short period of time with a structured, intensive marketing campaign over a few key weeks. This approach not only creates a sense of urgency for buyers, but has the added advantage of meaning you won’t have to keep your house clean for months of open homes or agent visits, and you have a defined timeline to plan around.