Cape Town’s very own Park Lane

Park Lane, a new 11 000 sq m office park being developed at Century City will offer buyers land at prices ranging from R3 150 to R3 400 per bulk metre. The sites vary in size from 440 sq m to 1 100 sq m.

According to John Chapman of Rabie Property Group, the development is a result of a demand from buyers for smaller plots of land that had office rights.

The site for this development is in the heart of Century City, adjacent to Central Park and within easy walking distance of Canal Walk, Intaka Island and the public transport interchange.

Chapman says the entire office park has been designed holistically as a village of offices. Architectural guidelines have been drawn up by Tim Hughes Architects to ensure that each individual building will protect each purchaser’s investment in the area.

The designs apparently allow for a mix of undercover and courtyard parking although there is a strong emphasis on pedestrian pathways. Servicing of the site will start at the end of this month and the transfer of land will take place in April next year.

Chapman estimates that the investment in Park Lane will reach about R200-million and will bring the amount of commercially zoned land developed or sold at Century City to just under 300 000 sq m.

What lies beneath your home?

Buying a home is risky business. After a lengthy search, you’ve found your perfect house in the right suburb but neglected to investigate what lies beneath the surface. Sellers in South Africa hide behind the ‘voetstoots’ clause and can get away with a myriad of undetected defects.

“As a buyer you need to do your homework”, advises Eric Bell, CEO of Inspect- A-Home, a national home inspection company. “Buying a home will probably be one of the most expensive investments you ever make – you don’t want to rush into it without checking out some key elements.” Bell recommends a thorough examination of the home, paying particular attention to the following:

Damp

Do you notice signs of paint blistering or peeling off in places? You might also see dark stains or a white powdery substance on the walls, ceilings and the inside of cupboards. This could be an indication of damp and, depending on the severity, could be quite expensive to repair.

Leaky Roofs
A good time for house hunting is on rainy days, especially if you are looking at buying an older home. Look for evidence of a leaking roof – do you notice any water marks on the ceiling boards, are there any dried streaks running down the walls? Repairing a leaking roof can be extremely costly so ask the agent to find out if there are any problems with the roof.

Gutters
Does the home have gutters? If so, are they in proper working order? Check for holes, visible gaps, broken off ends and also ensure that the drains/gullies are clear of debris and look unblocked. Poor storm water management can cause subsidence of the foundations, which will cause cracks to appear.

Cracks
Most homes do have some light plaster cracks and these are not cause for concern. However, if you notice large cracks in the walls it would be best to have them analysed as these could be structural cracks, which could impair the integrity of the wall structure. If underpinning of the foundations and metal stitching of the cracks is required, be sure that there will be a large bill attached!

Swimming Pool
Ask the agent to find out if the pool motor and the filtration system are in good condition. How old is the pool and has the motor been repaired before? If it is a new pool, ask for a copy of the plans and the guarantee. Check the pool paving, is it in good condition and are there expansion joints in the paving around the pool? Can you notice any cracks on the steps or in the pool?

Plumbing
Turn on the taps to check the water pressure and ask the agent to find out how old the geyser is. If it is an old geyser, make sure that it is covered by your insurance policy. Your insurance might want the geyser installation updated to comply with the SANS 10254 regulations. Another tip: flush the toilets, check the base and behind it to see if you notice any leaks.

Paint
Does the home look like it has just received a new coat of paint? Most agents advise sellers to paint their homes before placing it on the market. However, sometimes a fresh coat of paint is used to hide things more sinister. Ask the agent if you can look inside the cupboards as often sellers touch up the walls but leave the cupboards in their original state. The inside of the cupboards might reveal cracks, damp or even tubes of Polyfilla. If you do come across these, you need to investigate further.

Home Inspection
A professional home inspection is a worthwhile investment. Inspectors are trained to detect defects and they perform a thorough inspection from the roof cavity (check the integrity of the roof trusses) through to the boundary wall. They issue a detailed report, supported by photographs, highlighting areas of concern and what maintenance needs to take place to rectify any problems uncovered. They will also provide clients with an estimated cost to repair the items identified and this will provide you, the buyer, with a tool to negotiate a morerealistic price.

Article courtesy of: www.home-dzine.co.za

About Cape Town and the Area

Welcome to Cape Town.

A city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities on offer. From lavish and luxurious to back-packing on a budget, Cape Town has something for everyone. From the landmark beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to the vibrant V&A Waterfront and Cape Town city center and the award winning wine farms of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek - time spent in Cape Town will not be forgotten.
Cape Town is Southern Africa's most beautiful, most romantic and most visited city. Indeed, few urban centres anywhere can match its setting along the mountainous Cape Peninsula spine, which slides into the Atlantic Ocean. By far the most striking – and famous – of its sights is Table Mountain, frequently shrouded by clouds, and rearing up from the middle of the city.
More than a scenic backdrop, Table Mountain is the solid core of Cape Town, dividing the city into distinct zones with public gardens, wilderness, forests, hiking routes, vineyards and desirable residential areas trailing down its lower slopes. Standing on the tabletop, you can look north for a giddy view of the city centre, its docks lined with matchbox ships.

Looking west, beyond the mountainous Twelve Apostles, the drop is sheer and your eye will sweep across some of Africa's most valuable real estate, clinging to the slopes along the chilly but spectacularly beautiful Atlantic seaboard. Turning south, the mountainsides are forested and several historic vineyards and the marvelous Botanical Gardens creep up the lower slopes. Beyond the oak-lined suburbs of Newlands and Constantia lies the warmer False Bay seaboard, which curves around towards Cape Point.
To appreciate Cape Town you need to spend time outdoors, as Capetonians do, hiking, picnicking or sunbathing. Sailboarders from around the world head for Table Bay for some of the world's best windsurfing, and the brave jump off Lion's Head and para glide down close to the Clifton beachfront. T he city offers sedate pleasures as well, along its hundreds of paths and 150km 's of beaches.

Our Services

We are able to offer and book a number of services on your behalf from car hire, airport transfers, adventure tours and the like.
For further information please don't hesitate to contact us.

Please see below for a few examples of the many services we are able to offer you:

Airport Transfers

Car Hire

Baby cot hire

Cleaning and Inventory services

Giovanni's Delicatessen and Catering Service

Helicopter Rides and Tours

Hotel Guesthouse and Conference bookings

Extreme Adventures, shark cage diving, bungee jumping

Wine Route Tours

Historical Tours

Welcome to The Accommodation Shop's New Blog

Welcome to our new blogger. I am going to start by telling you a little more about The Accommodation Shop.

"Accommodation Shop established in 1991 has grown and gone from strength to strength over the years with many of our original clients still with us today.

Located along the Atlantic Seaboard and also in the heart of Cape Town's Central Business District, The Accommodation Shop offers a range of long and short term accommodation, furnished or unfurnished from studio apartments and family homes to luxury villas.

We have a large variety of holiday properties available on daily rates (7 - 14 day minimum) throughout the year to suit all budgets. For those visiting Cape Town for business trips or contract work we have a number of apartments available on a short term monthly basis, many of these apartments have secure parking, internet access, DSTV, and cleaning services as well as communal facilities such as swimming pools and gyms.

For the long term tenant we have an extensive portfolio of both furnished and unfurnished properties to suit all needs.

Our focus areas include Cape Town CBD and City Bowl, Sea Point, Green Point, De Waterkant, V & A Marina, Mouille Point, Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Fresnaye. Although these are our focus areas we often have properties available in other areas, for example Langebaan, Milnerton and Hout Bay.

Our team of professional agents will help you find the accommodation that suits you, quickly and without undue hassle."