As we head towards summer here in Australia, it’s a great time to clean out your closet but also think about how our wardrobes are best organised to suit your COVID clothing needs.

Those of us who are primarily working from home these days are more likely to be wearing more casual and relaxed clothing, meaning those blazers and high heels no longer need to be front and centre in your wardrobe. However, your dress sense doesn’t have to fly completely out the window.

COVID-19 has even affected the way we wear our clothes. Picture: Getty

---

Here are some things to consider when organising your wardrobe to best suit your COVID lifestyle.

1. Casual doesn’t mean productive

Even though you’re working from home, there have been a number of recent studies that suggest people are more productive at home when they wear work-like clothes.

Also, as we are all in the age of video conferencing, you want your colleagues, managers and clients to have the impression that you’re taking your job seriously and your attire is their first clue to that. So, make sure – at the very least – you are wearing an appropriate shirt or top.

Assess your new work style and consider how professional you’re coming across. Picture: Getty

---

Keeping these items grouped together in an easy-to-reach place in your wardrobe will help you remember how to dress for productivity.

2. Use the extra time to declutter

Let’s face the fact that we are all eating a little bit more during lockdown – and perhaps some of us have added a bit of weight.

Those elasticised waistbands may have become our new best friends, and I’m not going to beat anyone up for adding a kilo or two during these intensely stressful times.

I am, however, going to invite you to use this time to do yourself a much-needed favour and get to decluttering your wardrobe.

You may keep your stretchy pants.

Take this time to purge anything that no longer fits, that is no longer in style and that you frankly just aren’t wearing or are unlikely to wear in the future.

This is the time to ask yourself how many neckties you really need (are we still wearing neckties on video conference calls?) or how many pairs of work shoes need to be in our closets.

While working from home may not last forever, there is definitely a new mood around work dress sense. Go through your wardrobe and let go of items that no longer work for you.

Let go of the items that you don’t think you’ll wear again. Picture: Getty

---

4. Keep your favourites at hand

Make sure your closet is organised in a way so the clothes you are wearing most often are at eye level.

In the past, I’ve advocated that you organise your wardrobe based on season, putting the clothes you wear the least, up high.

With many of you working from home now, an alternative strategy of keeping items that are most regularly part of what you wear daily in an easily accessible spot may work better.

Accessibility is key to making your wardrobe work for you.

Finally, recent data suggests that we are buying far more groceries and eating at home more often than we used to. However, the one category that has gone down in terms of purchasing is laundry detergent.

Take a look at the clothes you’re wearing the most right now and assess how professional you’re looking. Picture: Getty

---

Perhaps we just don’t need to do as much laundry since we are at home much more. That might be the case, but whether it’s tracksuit pants, activewear or your favourite video-conferencing shirt, I’m hoping your laundry is done regularly and your clothes are fresh and clean, even if no one can smell you. You deserve to have clean clothes.

Don’t stress, it happens to the best of us.

To prove it, we spoke to a cross-section of different folk – including professional declutter, Chelsea Smith of The Organising Platform – and asked them which vital items they’d forgotten when they moved to a new home.

Here’s what they said.

Electricity

Research from realestate.com.au shows that 30% of all movers still forget about connecting their electricity when they move.* 

“A friend moved house recently and didn’t tell her provider she was moving,” Chelsea shares. “She arrived, didn’t have electricity and couldn’t open her [electrical] garage door.” D’oh.

Professional organise Chelsea Smith reminds us to connect our electricity. Picture: Eugene Hyland

---

“She spent almost half of her moving day without electricity. It was one of those really hot days and she couldn’t put on fans or aircon.”

Save yourself any hassle by contacting your provider before you move.

Organise your electricity before you move to avoid winding up in the dark. Picture: Unsplash

---

Relevant keys

“When we moved house, we left a key to our safe hidden in the felt under a billiard table,” Deanna Nott from the Gold Coast begins.

“The safe came with us, but we were never able to get the key back because the new tenants refused to let us in to get it and claimed they could not find it! We had to get a locksmith to crack the safe.”

We all have little things that require keys, not least of all are safes containing precious items! Remember where you’ve hidden keys so you don’t get locked out of anything vital.

The bed (wait, what?)

Hear us out!

Jessica, a former Sydney resident who now lives overseas, once signed the lease on new rental property before ordering a mattress, only to then face a rather lengthy delivery time.

If ordering new furniture, make sure the delivery times align with your moving needs. Picture: Getty

---

“I was leaving a furnished property and I knew I was going to need a mattress; I just didn’t realise how long it would take,” she says. “I then spent the first month in my house sleeping on a single air bed.”

This is a good reminder for anyone buying new furniture suites or items that need to be delivered. Ensure you shop around in advance and check delivery windows to ensure they align with your moving plans.

The assembly order

You’re unlikely to forget the fridge itself (right?) but Chelsea warns against forgetting to organise your move so that your fridge is in your house and ready to go when you need it.

Organise your move so the fridge is the last thing out and the first thing in. Picture: Eugene Hyland

---

“For me, one of the hardest things to get right moving homes is timing,” Chelsea says.

“You will probably get rid of a lot of your fridge and freezer items, but there will be some things that can survive the transit. You still want to time moving your fridge or freezer so it’s one of the last things you take out and one of the first you move in to the new place.”

Essential supplies

Don’t forget to keep some essential supplies separate and have them at the house when you need them. Consider things like cleaning equipment, a vacuum and toilet paper.

“Having to run out and buy toilet paper while you’re busting and in the middle of moving is not the kind of race against time anyone enjoys,” says Rebecca from Sydney. “It happened to me once and I won’t forget it again!”

Like with many things in real estate, there are pros and cons to all options. The deciding factor, will often come down to what best suits your financial circumstances and lifestyle. That’s why it’s important to know what questions to ask a property developer or sale person.

To help you decide if buying off-the-plan is for you, here we take a look at eight of the most frequently asked questions asked by first-time off-the-plan property buyers.

When buying off-the-plan, you’ll most likely need to pay a 10% deposit when you sign the contract, with the balance due when it’s finished.

Typically the developer receives the interest on the deposit. However, it’s always wise to ask the sales person this question, as often you can negotiate to share part or full payment of the interest with the developer.

Your deposit will be held in a solicitor’s trust account until the project is finished or the registration/sunset period expires.

2. How long does an off-the-plan apartment take to build

Construction times vary depending on the size of the building, with larger apartment developments usually taking longer to build.

The display suite will be a good measure of the quality of your apartment’s finishes, but beyond that, you’ll need to inspect what you expect and ask the sales consultant how your apartment will differ from the display, as there are usually many different apartment types within every building.

Ask whether the display is the same in terms of kitchen, bathroom and bedroom dimensions and layout.

First home: Tips for buying off-the-plan as a first time buyer
Search tool: Find new apartments

4. Do you pay stamp duty when buying off-the-plan?

Whether you pay stamp duty or transfer duty on your new off-the-plan apartment will depend on a few things, including what state you have bought in, the price of your new home and whether you’re a first-home buyer, owner occupier, local investor or foreign investor.  

However, most states have incentives and concessions that may reduce your stamp duty. For example, Victoria has the off-the-plan duty concession where the dutiable value of your home (the amount your stamp duty is calculated on) is calculated as the contract price minus any construction costs incurred on or after the contract date. So, if you and your property meet the eligibility criteria for this concession, you’ll pay a lower stamp duty amount.  

5. When is settlement for buying off-the-plan?

Your contract should contain the specific settlement details, but as a general rule of thumb, you will be obligated to settle within in two weeks of the registration of the unit’s plan.

6. Can I get a mortgage to buy off the plan?

Yes, you can get a mortgage for off-the-plan. It’s best to speak to your bank or financial adviser to find a loan that best suits your situation.

It’s worth noting, that fixing your interest rate is one way to minimise exposure to interest rate rises. However, locking in a fixed loan rate may mean you may have to pay break costs if you want to pay out the loan early.

More from Guides

How to buy a house before you sell your current home

A variable mortgage means you’re exposed to rate rises. Another option is to take an even way bet and fix part of your loan.

Investor’s guide: Tips for buying off-the-plan as an investment

7. How much are the levies or strata fees for off-the-plan?

A levy is the fee that the owner of an apartment in a strata plan must pay to the Owners Corporation for the management and upkeep of the building and common property.

Levies are generally payable quarterly, with the cost varying from one building to another, depending on the facilities and the number of apartments contributing towards the building’s upkeep.

8. Can I negotiate off-the-plan prices?

While most off-the-plan properties come with a fixed price, vendors might still be open to a negotiation.

Your best bet is to get in early once the properties hit the market – or during pre-sales – as they will likely want to show a good sales rate during the early phase.

When buying your first home, there are a lot of things you need to get in order. Some are obvious, like getting your finances together. However, some others aren’t quite as clear.

If you’re thinking of buying your first home, here are some essentials to consider before taking the plunge.

1. Get organised early

From home loan pre-approval to First Home Buyer Grant applications and everything in between, you’ll be expected to hand over piles of documents throughout the buying process.

Figure out a filing system – physical and digital – for all your relevant documents. Picture: Pexels.

---

Consider keeping an organised file of your pay slips, tax documents, copies of various ID (birth certificates, passports etc.), proof of shares, bank statements, written references and so on.

Also, consider whether you’ll need to have any of these documents certified and get on to this before you even start your property search. You don’t want to be rushing around taking care of nitty gritty details when you’re ready to make an offer.

2. Get thorough inspections

Before you’ve laid down any deposits, it’s vital to check off a few inspections, particularly a pre-purchase building inspection.

You may fear it will delay the purchase or add to your mounting costs, but this isn’t the section to skip!

A pre-purchase inspection can detect drainage issues, mould, rot, foundation and structural issues as well as a range of other faulty features in the home. It can also detect anything in need of repair or help estimate costs of repairs down the track.

Remember this may not include a pest inspection, which is also an essential step.

3. Create or update your will

For most of us, real estate will be our single largest asset. Therefore, it makes sense to create or update your will.

“It’s important that real estate is distributed in accordance with the homeowner’s wishes upon their passing,” State Trustees lawyer and will writer Jason Falzon tells realestate.com.au.

“If you pass away without a valid will (‘dying intestate’), intestacy laws will apply. This means that the law will dictate who receives your assets upon your passing,” Falzon says.

“These people may include family members who you are no longer in contact with and/or ex partners.”

This could likely become an issue for many especially if you do not have any immediate family, have a former spouse/defacto partner, a blended family or a complex relationship with your family member(s).

Even if you have a simple family structure, Falzon informs that “passing away without a will usually leaves behind an unnecessary mountain of stress for your loved ones during an already difficult time.”

Not having a will can result in unintended consequences for your assets and make things more complicated for loved ones. Picture: Pexels

---

Another reason to have a will is to legally record how you want real estate and other assets to be distributed.

For instance, do you want someone (say a housemate or relative like a parent or child) to live in your real estate after your passing but not necessarily inherit the asset itself? Put it in your will. Do you want to give your real estate and your household belongings to different people? Put it in your will.

Understanding the ownership of your real estate is also essential.

For example, did you buy real estate with another person? If ‘yes’, you should be made aware that if you own real estate ‘jointly’, a surviving co-owner will automatically receive your share of the real estate when you pass away regardless on the terms of your will. On the other hand, if you own real estate as a ‘tenant in-common’, your share of the real estate will be distributed through your will.

If you need help preparing a will or recording special wishes regarding your real estate, book a Will Consultation with an expert will writer who can guide you through the process and prepare a will for you.

Otherwise, if your circumstances are straight forward and you have the confidence to give it a go yourself, an Online Will is a great option.

4. Update your insurance policy

The admin is not over yet! Once your contracts are signed, you may want to update your insurance as soon as possible. While laws vary between states regarding responsibility for the home during the settlement period, in many cases you may need to get building insurance to cover your purchase ASAP.

Furthermore, contact your insurer to ensure your contents are covered during and after you move into your new place.

Ensure you have home insurance prior to moving in and then make sure your contents are covered too. Picture: Getty

---

Starting early on this step may also allow you to review your insurance policy and compare it to others on the market. Who knows, you may save yourself a few dollars at a time when it is desperately needed.

5. Triple check your budget

When buying a house, brace yourself for the many hidden costs that may arise.

When factoring in how much you can spend on a home, be sure to include stamp duty (in most states), council rates and Lender’s Mortgage Insurance if you’ve saved a deposit under 20%

Some hidden costs may be one-offs, while others you may need to pay more than once, such as conveyancing, building inspections, loan application fees and more. These can be particularly painful if your journey to homeownership is long and full of false starts or unsuccessful offers.