Nor'West News: July 09, 2020

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6 Thursday July 9 2020 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz NOR’WEST NEWS News Students go shopping for a cause A SHOPPING spree isn’t necessarily common during a school day, but for four Selwyn House School students, it was all part of a mall mission with meaning. Year 8 students Qiana, Mia, Narin and Lillie have taken on a project to provide care packages for women and children in Women’s Refuge shelters. The group are part of the school’s Innovation Hub, which sees students come up with innovative and authentic projects to improve their school or the wider community. Prior to lockdown, the group decided to focus on supporting women and children while taking refuge. When Covid-19 hit and schools closed down, the project was put on hold. “While we were in lockdown we started thinking about how the resources for play and learning we had at home helped to make things easier for us, but that some children might not be so lucky. “So when we got back to school we contacted Women’s Refuge and they suggested that some activity packs for children would be really helpful,” Qiana said. The packs were donated to the Battered Women’s Trust who empower women to create a safe, KINDNESS: Lillie, (left), Mia, Sarah, of Battered Women’s Trust, Qiana and Narin with children’s activity packs which were donated to the trust. healthy life for themselves and their children, free from family violence. “Sarah from the Battered Women’s Trust explained that, since Covid-19, they had not been able to provide toys to families like they normally would because of the risk of spreading germs,” said Mia. “We thought about how hard that would be, especially for children who might have to leave their own toys at home when they went to Women’s Refuge. “So we started looking for some sponsors to help us create individual activity packs that can be given to children when they arrive at a shelter.” Kmart answered the students’ call for help, providing a voucher to be spent in-store, and the students have now created more than 18 care packages for various ages and hope to make more. Sarah, from the Battered Women’s Trust, said the donated packs will be much appreciated and a wonderful way to support other young people in the community. “We were blown away by the thoughtfulness of Lillie, Mia, Qiana and Narin and their awareness of our services in the community,” said Sarah. “The activity packs are an ideal way to put a smile on a child’s face at such a stressful time for the family.” Selwyn House teacher and Innovation Hub leader Fiona McKenzie said the hub gave students the freedom to pursue meaningful projects based on their own passions. “These girls identified a genuine issue in our own community, worked as a team to find a solution, and applied their can-do attitude to making their solution happen,” she said. “That is real-life learning that benefits not only the students themselves, but the world around them.” Is it time to make the move? Our boutique Parklands Retirement Village offers you company and security while living in an active, likeminded community. Open home | Sunday 12 July, 11am - 1pm One bedroom apartments from $335,000 and two bedroom from $379,000. All have: • Modern kitchen with open plan lounge and dining room • Fisher & Paykel appliances – fridge, single dishdrawer, cooktop, oven, rangehood, washing machine and dryer • Quality light fittings, drapes, floor coverings and heatpump • 24-hour emergency alarm and on-site care home 1 bdrm apartments from $335,000 Call Lynda on (03) 926 3062 or 027 702 9619 | 429 Papanui Road, Papanui | www.bupa.co.nz/parklands
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday July 9 2020 7 NOR’WEST PROPERTY UPDATE Is now the right time to sell? As we wake up to single digit temperatures and look out the window at almost non-stop rain it may seem like completely the wrong time of year to consider putting the house on the market. However, as Karen Ellis, owner of Ray White Bishopdale points out, in fact this is an ideal time. “There are not so many properties on the market at present, but plenty of potential buyers, which we can see from the numbers coming to our open homes. “The demand is there now, and if you waited until spring there may be more competition from other sellers,” Karen says. Of course, taking your home to market requires some preparation, and at this time of year what’s most appealing to potential buyers is a home that’s warm and dry, she says. Condensation, or leaves blocking drains and guttering can be off-putting to potential buyers. Buyers will understand the garden won’t be at its best but adding a few pops of colour with winter annuals can enhance its appearance. Inside, a light, bright house is always more attractive, so keep the blinds open and drapes pulled back, with fresh flowers on the coffee table to set the scene. Having the carpets cleaned will also create a fresher, brighter environment, Karen says, and she advises kitchen, bathroom and laundry surfaces be kept clean and uncluttered. Beyond the basic cleaning and freshening-up, staging has become a popular way of presenting a home for sale and this can make a big difference, Karen says. “It has become more cost-effective but get quotes from the different staging companies and find out what they offer before you decide who to use.” Staging can be especially helpful if the house is empty, as some people find it hard to visualise what furniture will fit into the various spaces and how rooms will look when they are furnished, Karen says. “Whether you are living there or not, a well-presented home may attract a higher price and may also sell quicker,” she says. Another aspect to keep in mind when preparing your property for sale is the target market – who are the potential Karen Ellis, Ray White Bishopdale owner buyers and what will they be expecting. This is important if you are considering whether to spend money on replacing the carpet or repainting the interior, for example. If it is a family home, installing a new kitchen or bathroom may not be a good idea as potential purchasers may have different ideas about colour and style, and you may not recoup the full cost. The question is, are you making the home more valuable or just more sellable? However, a fresh cost of paint on the front door or a new letterbox could be the finishing touch that clinches the deal. So, if you have selling on your mind either now or in the future, Karen and her team at Ray White Bishopdale will be happy to advise on all aspects of property preparation. For a consultation appointment give them a call on 359 1627. Have a question? Email enquiries.inline@raywhite.com Meet the sales team. Karen Ellis 021 519 275 Brent Rushworth 021 451 177 Penny Wilson 027 361 5414 Hasna Ngara 021 262 4943 Maria Paterson 027 543 4689 Rosemary Schulte 027 539 8989 Livia Turton 0204 008 5752 Jiby Thomas 022 417 9858 Chris Main 027 555 1249 Ray White Bishopdale & Strowan 0800 YELLOW (0800 935 569) rwbishopdale.co.nz | rwstrowan.co.nz Inline Realty Limited (Licensed REAA 2008) Proudly owned by Karen Ellis 021 519 275 Barry Ellis 021 519 274
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Nor'West News: July 09, 2020

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