Articles
Cracking: Is My House About To Fall Down?
You’re sure it wasn’t there when you looked yesterday! Something must have happened during the night and now a long, spidery vein is inching its way across the dining room wall. It seems to be spreading even as you stare at it! So what does it mean and how can it be fixed? Is the house about to fall down? First of all, don’t panic! A crack, while unsightly, does not generally indicate a major structural problem and in most cases, requires only cosmetic attention. And fortunately, there are a number of basic remedies you can adopt. To...
Download PDF version Read morePre-Purchase House Inspections: ‘Are You Ready To Commit?’
Your offer has finally been accepted and the excitement is building – you can almost smell the packing tape! Just a few more hurdles and you can book that removal van. But having seen the property only two – three – maybe four times, it’s a little daunting. You’re about to make a decision that has serious consequences. Are you really ready to commit? Buying a house is a BIG step. It’s probably the largest financial investment you will make, so while it’s exciting, you want to be sure that the house measures up to careful...
Download PDF version Read moreNew Home Inspections: Put Yourself In The Frame
Building a new home is a big undertaking, and not for the faint-hearted! From the original concept through to final handover, there are a myriad steps and decisions to make. You’ll need to keep a close check on the construction work through every stage, to make sure it is being built to your specifications. Discrepancies can sometimes occur between the original design documentation and what you actually see being built. And it can be daunting having to deal with builders or developers who speak in jargon! Harnessing the experience of a...
Download PDF version Read moreOwner Builders: Know the Ropes
Tackling your own building work can be a satisfying experience – provided you survive the frustrations that go along with it! You just can’t buy that sense of pride and accomplishment when you can look at your shed or your house, knowing you created it. With the glow of achievement, however, come real obligations, particularly if you are selling your property. Section 137B of the Building Act 1973 lays down the rules for Owner-Builders, as a way of protecting purchasers from faults in workmanship and materials that may arise. It pays...
Download PDF version Read moreVendor Reports: Selling? Give Yourself The Best Chance
Selling your house can be an emotional experience. Those ‘four walls’ have housed a lot of memories and you have an investment in the property that goes well beyond monetary value. The process of selling is therefore a big exercise. Apart from the rather daunting number of decisions you now face – how much, who with, how to – you need to step back and look at your home objectively. It helps to remain detached throughout the selling process. Easier said than done! With your inner sanctum now open to public view, it can be confronting...
Download PDF version Read moreTermites: The Guests you don’t want over for Dinner
You know the types. The guests who arrive unexpectedly and unannounced, and you don’t want them to stay. What’s more, they eat you out of house and home. Termites are those kinds of guests – but they literally eat your house and home. The voracious nature of their appetite, and the insidious way they sneak into a property marks them as Enemy No.1 for the Australian houseowner. By 2010 figures, about one in three homes in Australia have a termite or invasive pest problem. That’s a seriously large number! The problem has forced the...
Download PDF version Read moreAsbestos: What’s All The Noise About Asbestos?
Asbestos is a word that can strike immediate fear. Its reputation is deservedly bad. However, treated with respect and understanding, asbestos doesn’t have to pose a serious problem to a houseowner or renovator. This article has been developed to provide you with the most recent information available so you will be better informed about the in’s and out’s of asbestos. You can then take the necessary precautions and minimise the risks to you and your family. What is Asbestos? Asbestos is the collective name for a group of fibrous...
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