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Property & Home

Discover the latest news, tips, and advice on property and home for over-60s.

Latest news & insights

Creative ways to declutter your space
Starts at 60 Writers avatarStarts at 60 Writers
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Source: Getty images
Downsizing & Decluttering

Simple steps to declutter and organise your pantry like a pro

Simple steps to declutter and organise your pantry like a pro

Tackle the clutter head on and restore your pantry to its former glory with these simple steps.
Source: Getty Images.
Tips

Safe ways to remove Blu Tack from your walls without damaging your walls

Safe ways to remove Blu Tack from your walls without damaging your walls

Blu Tack can be a safe alternative to tape on wall paint, but only if you know how to effectively remove it.
Source: pixabay.
Home hints and DIY

How to get rid of spiders and keep them out of your home

How to get rid of spiders and keep them out of your home

This no-contact solution is perfect for those with arachnophobia.
Source: gyro from Getty Images
Tips

The surprising hack to eliminate hardwood scratches

The surprising hack to eliminate hardwood scratches

Learn how natural oils from nuts like walnuts and pecans can restore your floors and explore alternative methods like using coconut oil for untreated surfaces.
Source: chamillewhite
Home hints and DIY

Freshen up your home naturally with DIY scented sprays

Freshen up your home naturally with DIY scented sprays

Learn how to mix rosemary, sage, lavender, lemongrass, lime, and ginger to craft air fresheners that can keep your home smelling wonderful all year round. Perfect for those who love natural products and a fresh, clean scent.
Source: Fevziie Ryman from Getty Images.
Home hints and DIY

How to safely remove toxic mould from your home

How to safely remove toxic mould from your home

Skip the bleach and get straight to these proven tips from an Environmental Health Assessor.
Source: dropStock from Getty Images.
Gardening

8 indoor houseplants you can easily nurture to brighten up your home

8 indoor houseplants you can easily nurture to brighten up your home

Indoor plants can transform your home into a light, airy and breathable space — and they pair well with many interior design palettes!
Source: Getty Images.
Home hints and DIY

How to get rid of ugly scratches on hardwood floors

How to get rid of ugly scratches on hardwood floors

There's a secret trick to getting rid of scratches on hardwood floors and all you need is a walnut.
Source: Getty Images.
Downsizing & Decluttering

How to stay within your budget while downsizing

How to stay within your budget while downsizing

If you're downsizing, furnishing your new home can be a hassle and costly — here are a few ways to avoid breaking the bank.
Source: bhofack2 from Getty Images Pro.
Gardening

How to grow your own ginger at home for cooking

How to grow your own ginger at home for cooking

Fresh ginger is a great way to add a little bit of unique flavour to your dishes.
Source: Department of Health and Aged Care.
Aged care

How do I know I’m choosing the right aged care home?

How do I know I’m choosing the right aged care home?

There’s an easy way to compare the quality of care, safety and services of residential aged care homes.
Source: Billion Photos.
Food

How to grow your own delicious mushrooms for cooking

How to grow your own delicious mushrooms for cooking

Save a couple of bucks on those store-bought mushrooms and harvest your own for your next meal!
Source: Marcus Aurelius / Pexels.
Gadgets

Got spotty Wi-Fi? Here’s how you can strengthen your home Internet connection

Got spotty Wi-Fi? Here’s how you can strengthen your home Internet connection

Say goodbye to those pesky “dead zones” around the house with this clever fix.
Source: Monkey Business Images/Canva
Downsizing your home

5 ways to make your downsizing experience easier

5 ways to make your downsizing experience easier

There are some tried and tested tricks to help ease the transition.

Resources

FREE Downsizing Essentials eGuide

Need more help? Register your interest to download the Starts at 60 Downsizing Essentials eGuide, packed with insights from both the Starts at 60 and recognised industry experts that will help you understand your downsizing options and all. the big need-to-knows.

Register your interest

Explore the sections

Downsizing & decluttering

Downsizing & decluttering

This section covers selling a home, choosing a new home and making over-60s lives simpler by decluttering.

Home decorating

Home decorating

Add some zhuzh to your home with tips, ideas and inspiration from design and decorating experts

Gardening and home improvement

Gardening and home improvement

Our expert gardeners guide over-60s on what to grow and when to grow it

The property market

The property market

Real estate experts keep us up-to-date on the property market

Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

Experts and insights to assist you when considering community living.

Property porn

Property porn

Stunning properties to inspire your next move.

Expert contributors

PROPERTY EXPERTRachel LaneThe Retirement Living and Aged Care Guru
Planning expertCraig ChristensenPrincipal Urban Designer
Money ExpertBrian HerdThe Elder Law Legal Eagle
DOWNSIZING EXPERTLorraine CoxThe Downsizing & Moving Guru
LIFESTYLE EXPERTSDi and Geoff EastRetirement Reviewers

Property & Home

The step-by-step guide to selling your home
Downsizing Your Home

The step-by-step guide to selling your home

It can be difficult to know where to start when you have decided to downsize and sell your family home.
Written byJessica Galley
‘Great house, nice neighbours, lots of wine: The Barossa is retiree heaven’
Bloggers

‘Great house, nice neighbours, lots of wine: The Barossa is retiree heaven’

Robin has lived in pretty much every state in Australia so knows the pros and cons of each.
Written byRobin Henry
Julia Zaetta’s 10 best tips for lower-stress decluttering
Downsizing Your Home

Julia Zaetta’s 10 best tips for lower-stress decluttering

"You CAN love something and still let it go and free yourself up."
Written byRachael Rosel

We ask retirement expert Rachel Lane

'What's the difference between a land lease community and strata title?'

How does the land-lease model used at lifestyle communities compare with strata title, which is more common in apartment buildings? 

Read more

Your Property Questions Answered

‘If we sell our farm and buy something smaller in town, how does that affect our pensions?’
Rachel Lane avatarRachel Lane
Downsizing & Decluttering
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If I sell my house, how long do I have to buy another one before I lose my Age Pension? Image source: Getty
Downsizing & Decluttering

‘If I sell my house, how long do I have to buy another one before I lose my Age Pension?’

‘If I sell my house, how long do I have to buy another one before I lose my Age Pension?’

Property and finance expert, Rachel Lane, answers the questions: 'If I sell my house, how long do I have to buy another one before I lose my Age Pension?'
Beware of these hidden costs associated with selling your home. Source: Getty
Selling your home

The unexpected costs to budget for when selling your home

The unexpected costs to budget for when selling your home

Selling a house involves more than simply listing it on the market. Here are some of the hidden expenses that sellers should not overlook.
Handing your house over to your kids when you're still alive can come with more complications than just naming them in your will. Source: Getty.
Estate planning

‘Should I give my home to my daughter now or will it to her?’

‘Should I give my home to my daughter now or will it to her?’

"I have seen many of these types of arrangements fall down because no one applied the 'what if' analysis."
There are some hurdles to jump over before a de facto can successfully contest a will. Source: Getty.
Estate planning

‘Can my ex-wife’s new partner rob our kids of her home if she dies?’

‘Can my ex-wife’s new partner rob our kids of her home if she dies?’

There are several hurdles a de facto partner must jump to successfully challenge a will. But it's not impossible.
Family fights are bad enough on their own, let alone when there's money involved. Source: Getty.
Estate planning

‘Can my estranged brother fight my attempt to sell our late dad’s house?’

‘Can my estranged brother fight my attempt to sell our late dad’s house?’

"I've received no benefit from my father’s will over the past 37 years, unlike Dad's de facto wife or my half-brother, who've lived rent-free for all of that time."
Downsizing expert Rachel Lane says the two options are like apples and oranges. Source: Getty.
Retirement Villages & Lifestyle Communities

‘What’s the difference between a land-lease community and strata title?’

‘What’s the difference between a land-lease community and strata title?’

Land-lease and strata title are two of the most common types of property ownership downsizers have to choose from – and knowing which one suits you best is vital.
Downsizing expert Rachel Lane says people should avoid falling into the trap of thinking land-lease communities are just full of oldies. Source: Getty.
Money

‘I’m a young 52! Should I wait until I’m older to buy into a land-lease community?’

‘I’m a young 52! Should I wait until I’m older to buy into a land-lease community?’

You don't have to be 'old' or even retired to live in a land-lease community.
Here are the top tips on staying financially secure in the current environment. Source: Getty.
Investment

‘How to protect your investment property portfolio in a risky environment’

‘How to protect your investment property portfolio in a risky environment’

Here's how to make sure your assets are always protected no matter the situation.
As this reader's assets increase, her pension may consequently be reduced. Source: Getty.
Age Pension

‘I’m worried that releasing $200K in home equity will impact my pension?’

‘I’m worried that releasing $200K in home equity will impact my pension?’

There are clever solutions that could allow this reader to downsize AND keep as much of her pension as possible.
Adding together all the building blocks of your finances will help to understand how much rent assistance you're eligible for. Source: Getty.
Financial planning

‘How much Rent Assistance can I get with a pension and nearly $600K in assets?’

‘How much Rent Assistance can I get with a pension and nearly $600K in assets?’

Bad news for self-funded retirees, as the rules around Rent Assistance are only applicable to those in receipt of a pension or government allowance.
Deciding which bucket to put your income and assets into can be difficult. Source: Getty.
Age Pension

‘Is it feasible to upsize, rather than downsize, to get a bigger pension?’

‘Is it feasible to upsize, rather than downsize, to get a bigger pension?’

Noel Whittaker has an answer for this community member, plus others on equity release and downsizing to pay off rental properties.
Building on family property might be more hassle than it's worth. Source: Getty.
Age Pension

‘Are there pension or estate issues if my parents have a granny flat on my land?’

‘Are there pension or estate issues if my parents have a granny flat on my land?’

Granny flats are an Aussie institution but they come with serious legal, financial and tax implications.
The rental market is a ticking time bomb according to the newest data. Source: Getty.
Money

‘A ticking time bomb’: Rental affordability crisis gets worse for pensioners

‘A ticking time bomb’: Rental affordability crisis gets worse for pensioners

A pensioner looking to rent can afford less than 1 per cent of all rentals, which is equivalent to just 625 rentals on offer out of the total 77,000 rentals that were surveyed.
This reader is tying to avoid being kicked out of her home. Source: Getty.
Estate planning

‘I live rent-free in a friend’s unit. If he dies, can his wife or kids kick me out?

‘I live rent-free in a friend’s unit. If he dies, can his wife or kids kick me out?

There are two ways to remove this worry, one more reliable than the other.
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