Five for 2025

Unsurprisingly, "exercise more", "eat healthier" and "save more money" are among the most popular new year's resolutions. This is according to Gemini, Google's AI-powered assistant, but anecdotally most of us are sure to agree. 

And while there is certainly nothing wrong with any of those, you may want to consider making a few commitments for things that add value to one of your most significant assets, your property. 

Michelle Cohen, Principal at Leapfrog Johannesburg North East, believes every property owner should prioritise the protection and wellbeing of this investment, as they would other things of value in their lives. 

Here are her top tips for setting your house in order, so to speak.

1. Money matters 

If saving more money is one of your resolutions, your property, and specifically the interest rate on your bond, is a good place to start. 

"Many people don't know this but the interest rate on the needn't be fixed for the full loan period. There is nothing stopping you from 'shopping around' for a better rate. Remember, a 1% difference in the interest rate can mean a notable saving on interest in the long term," Cohen explains. 

She adds through that moving a bond from one bank to another will incur costs, but a trusted property advisor can work with you to weigh up the costs, versus the savings over time 

Similarly, consider paying more into your bond each month. In the immediate term that's not a saving but if done consistently, you'll save thousands in interest over a longer period of time. Bond originator BetterBond has a useful calculator on their website that helps you easily work out how much you eventually save by paying more than the minimum into the bond each month. 

2. Property-related paperwork 

It feels like every year most of us have more "life admin" to deal with. More than just a feeling, Psychology Today refers to it as "invisible labour" which speaks to the toll it takes. 

And when it comes to your property there is more admin than meets the eye, which is why it's worth making a resolution to get it in order in 2025. 

Everything from reviewing the terms and conditions of your household insurance policy to getting in touch with a property professional to do a free property evaluation. Even things like making a (digital) folder for storing all documentation and policies related to your property in one place - don't underestimate the peace of mind paperwork that is properly organised can bring to your life!

3. Master of maintenance 

Don't delay, maintain today! Property maintenance can easily snowball - at first it was just that one bit of the gutter that needed replacing and the next thing it seems like the entire roof is leaking. 

"When it comes to home maintenance, the absolute best advice is to take care of things proactively and immediately as they occur. Allowing it to get out of hand will cost you more money, to say nothing of the headache it causes," Cohen says. 

Make a list of maintenance-related things that need to be taken care of in 2025, and prioritise accordingly to urgency, or as your budget allows. 

Maintenance doesn't mean reconstruction or retrofitting, it's about keeping your hand on matters -  fixing things when they break, replacing fittings that are old or outdated, and painting the interior and exterior every couple of years. 

4. Clear the clutter 

We live in homes, not storage facilities - and most of us own far more than we need or use - which is why regular and disciplined decluttering is important. 

"A client once told me she declutters quarterly as a means of honouring her home for the safe space it provides her and her family, and to bring new, fresh energy into the space. It's something that's always stuck with me and that I now do myself," Cohen shares. 

Quarterly may not be necessary but commit to doing it at least once a year. Donate the things that you no longer need but could be valuable to those less fortunate, or sell the things that still have a lot of value ("If you didn't get onto that bicycle once in 2024, it needs to go on Facebook Marketplace," Cohen quips).

5. Invest in your community 

No man is an island, the title of the famous poem goes, but the reality of modern life is that we tend to be quite isolated from the communities we live in. While this is partly by choice and partly by design, it is worth putting some effort into getting to know your neighbours and/or getting involved in a community initiative. 

"An easy way to start is to introduce yourself to your immediate neighbours and get their numbers. Next you may want to think about volunteering with the neighbourhood watch as a way of doing something for the greater good," Cohen suggests. 

Everybody wants to live in a safe and friendly neighbourhood, and that starts with a simple hello. Neighbours where people know one another and are aligned on the common good tend to be more resilient, safer, better looked after, and more appealing to potential buyers.