Avoiding a DIY disaster – When to call in the professionals
Not every job requires professional help, especially if you are willing to put some time and effort into learning how to do a project properly
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Buying sustainably and how to do it effectively
Do you wish you knew how to shop for pieces that veer towards the sustainable side of things? Buying environmentally friendly items can be hard to spot without asking a million questions, and although these types of questions are always welcome it’s nice to have some knowledge before hitting the shops. Let’s look at some of the criteria to spot an eco-friendly choice.
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The benefits of cladding
In many parts of Australia cladding is having a resurgence in popularity. A smart way to update your home once and for all. Depending on the type of cladding you choose you, once installed it will last about 50 years and that’s a life time of no more painting or maintenance.
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How to create kerb appeal
We have all admired other people’s homes. Regardless of the period, style, size and location there are many homes you look at and just say “wow”, “I could live there in a heartbeat” , “that’s my dream home” , “if I won Lotto that’s where I would want to live” and so on. We can be equally critical about the homes we don’t like. The ones we look at and say “what were they thinking?” “look how untidy that yard is”, “I don’t like the colour scheme” or “it looks very ramshackle”, “maybe its abandoned”.
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Rendering a fresh look
There would be few homes these days that do not have some interior or exterior rendered walls. Many contemporary homes are rendered entirely on the outside especially new builds, while a large number of existing or older style homes are rendered to give them a new lease of life and more kerb appeal. Rendering creates a modern elegant finish with clean simple lines while providing a protective layer to the walls making them longer lasting and lower in maintenance.
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Making the most of your water
Water is the world’s most precious commodity, therefore it just makes a whole lot of sense to harvest rainwater and recycle our grey (used) water as much as possible. Whether we live in a rural area or a house in the city we can all do our bit for the environment and reduce our water usage and costs.
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Building inspection - why do you need one?
What is a Building Inspection? A building inspection is an examination by qualified professionals which identifies faults and hazards in a property. These can include anything from maintenance and safety issues to serious structural faults or damage. Often the problems identified are not immediately visible or apparent to the untrained eye. Special equipment may be used to gather more information. After the inspection, a report is provided which details the issues. This allows home owners and potential buyers to make informed decisions.
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Start the New Year with a spring clean
Christmas is a faded memory and a New Year has begun and what better way to start the New Year than with a spring clean and maintenance of your home and garden. Have you let all those little odd jobs mount up during the past year while you kept telling yourself that you will get around to fixing them. So hire a handyman and kick the year off with a good clean, repair and rubbish removal.
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Warning signs of pest infestations to look out for while house hunting
Check open spaces for anthills, window frames for wasps nests, trees for termite nests, and sheds and trees for possum nests. Be on the lookout for other evidence that pests are living there such as droppings under trees and the skin being eaten off lemons on fruit trees. Secondly, observe greenery in the area. If there are damaged plants or patches of grass pests may be to blame.
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A homeowner’s guide to cleaning the fireplace
There are few things guaranteed to warm the heart (and the limbs) faster than a beautiful open fireplace. As a design feature, it is delightfully sophisticated and wonderfully stylish. While many of the traditional Georgian and Victorian fireplaces have now made way for more contemporary shapes and forms, Australian homeowners still love the crackle and heat of real wood fires.
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Pest control: why you should hire a professional
Pest control products are likely available for purchase in your local store, and the directions seem fairly straight forward. Is there really any risk to skipping the professional and managing your pest control yourself?
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Relocating to a new home
Moving home can be a very stressful and emotional time in your life. Moving downtown, across town, interstate, overseas, downsizing or upsizing it’s a big job that requires a lot of thought and planning. Being organized and well prepared will make the whole process much easier.
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Bring your tired timber floors back to life
There is nothing like the natural beauty of a timber floor. For centuries all kinds of timbers have been used all over the world as a choice of flooring. If looked after properly, a timber floor will long outlast us and still look good.
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Simple ideas to lighten and brighten your home
Most homes have a dark corner, hallway or room that has little or no natural light. There are many ways to remedy the problem without needing to have the lights on all day. Here are some ideas that will not only transform the mood of a room but also create a feeling of space without the hassle of a major renovation and a strain on the budget.
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ALARMING! Help to upgrade your home security
No matter what the size and value of our home is we want to protect it, just as we want to protect our family, and the best way to do that is with security.
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Tips For Finding the Best Interstate Movers
Moving across state lines may be incredibly thrilling and quite stressful. Moving can be challenging, particularly if you've never done it before. You should conduct a thorough study before selecting the top interstate movers to simplify the procedure.
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Tips for preparing your house for sale
So often first impressions are lasting ones so the presentation of your home for sale is extremely important. Both inside and out should be clean, neat and tidy. Your home should have street appeal and a cared for appearance so that prospective buyers are instantly attracted to your property and not overwhelmed by too many things that need fixing.
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Renovations for the older folk
Downsizing or moving into a Retirement Village can be a daunting prospect for the elderly. Many older folk would prefer to stay in their existing home if possible so that they can still be surrounded by their memories, chat to the neighbours they have know for decades and remain independent for as long as possible.
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How to light your home
When planning lighting solutions for your home, it is important to consider what each room needs, in terms of ambiance, decoration, and utility. Using a few different types of lighting in each room will give the best effect, and provide you with greater control. Installing dimmer switches on your lights is also a great way to easily manipulate the ambiance of a room.
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Seven simple DIY ways to clear a blocked drain
Most residents give little, if any, thought to the things they flush down the toilet and wash down their sinks. Water companies spend millions each year clearing out foreign matter that has ended up in our increasingly overloaded sewer systems. But the water companies aren’t the only ones responsible for drains. Find out more and what you can do about it here.
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