A wallet-friendly guide to transforming your house into an eco-friendly habitat
When it comes to trying to make the shift into living a greener life, many are under the impression that the changes they have to make to their lifestyles and homes will absolutely break the bank. Whilst this can indeed sometimes be true, on the flipside, there are actually a large number of ways you can transform your home into an eco-friendly household without busting a hole in your pocket. Have a look at our wallet-friendly guide to transforming your house into an eco-friendly habitat.
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Get Decked Out
Thinking about what flooring or paving to choose for your patio, outdoor room, poolside surrounds, entertaining area or pathways?
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How to design your perfect backyard
Designing the perfect outdoor area in Australia is often influenced by climate and lifestyle. Not only do you need to consider what kind of design will keep you feeling comfortable, but what design will allow your plants to survive, and to thrive. There is no perfect formula. Each garden is as unique as the land, house, and people who live there. However, it’s always a great idea to plan sustainably, and a water-saving garden is never a bad choice!
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Increasing the market value of your home
Increasing the value of your home is always a good idea, regardless of whether you are thinking about selling soon or not. Investing in a few upgrades for your place will significantly increase what it is worth, especially if you focus on the right elements.
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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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Beat the Melbourne climate install air conditioning
Australia is a country of climate extremes and while traditionally we embrace the summer months it can be exhausting and debilitating when the temperatures and the humidity rise. Our houses heat up during the day making it very uncomfortable to sleep at night. It can be just as uncomfortable trying to stay warm during the chilly winter months and if you live in Melbourne you could well experience all four seasons in one day. The perfect solution to this changing and sometimes unpredictable weather is air conditioning.
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Building Quotes: How to avoid hidden costs
Building Quotes and avoiding hidden costs is possible if you know what to look for. Not all Building Quotes are created equal! If you are embarking on a home building or renovation project, you have probably contacted several Builders and have their Quotes in your hot hands. Some may look cheaper than the others, but are there hidden costs? Learn what to look for and why a cheaper quotes may cost you more in the long term.
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4 common house defects uncovered by property inspections
A property inspection report is a must have document when you’re deciding whether or not to buy a house. Many homes have defects which will be uncovered by property inspectors. Some are serious, and others, less so. The building inspection gives you the power to make an informed decision about whether it’s the right house for you. These are some common issues which may be uncovered in the report:
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Choosing exterior shutters for your home
Adding shutters to your home is a great way to increase value, security, privacy, and curb appeal. They’re stylish and low maintenance, and there are plenty to choose from. The two main types of exterior shutters are plantation shutters and roller shutters.
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Fencing to reduce traffic noise
If your home or business is located on or near a busy road, noise can be a real problem. There are ways noise can be reduced inside your home, from using glazing on the windows and insulation in the walls. There are also certain types of walls and fences that can be built around your property that can help significantly reduce the sound of passing traffic.
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Building Inspections – Know What You are Buying
If you are seriously considering buying a property it is essential that you get a qualified building inspection before you make that big investment. We can get caught up in the excitement and perhaps emotion of our new purchase and overlook an inspection and end up buying a whole lot of trouble, not to mention the expense of costly repairs that may be way over your budget.
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The Modern Day Butler’s Pantry
The traditional Butler’s Pantry has evolved over many years from what were a series of rooms such as the scullery, pantry and larder where each stage of food preparation and clean up was conducted. These rooms were eventually condensed into one room being what we would now call a kitchen.
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Why should you get an inspection?
When purchasing an existing property it is important to understand that you are buying the property in an as-is condition. What this means is that the condition of the property at the time of the inspection is what you are purchasing. This article explains why a property inspection is important and what these inspectors are looking for.
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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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Exterior Window Coverings
We all like a little ambiance and privacy at home by dressing our windows with curtains, blinds or shutters. Did you ever consider external window coverings? The European roller style block out shutters have long been a common way to provide protection not only from harsh sun, wind, rain and hail but also they act as a security shield and reduce the level of external noise all while providing complete privacy. Block out roller shutters will also help protect your home and stop windows from shattering during a bushfire.
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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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5 practical ways to create a seamless flow between interior and exterior living
Enjoying time outdoors is a wonderful thing. To have a house that has outdoor recreation areas means having space to play games in the backyard, host barbecues, and form many fond memories. One of the best parts about the outdoor sections of a house is the way they integrate with the inside of a house, and the more flexible and changeable the middle-ground is, the nicer the overall effect. Sometimes it can be hard to work out ways to make one’s outdoor area more indoor-friendly, but not to worry, we’ve created this straightforward
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Why not add a Spa Bath to your Bathroom
Although Spa Baths have been installed in Australian homes for many years, they went out of favour and the numbers dropped in popularity. People were removing them from their homes when renovating or no longer including them in a new build. But Spa Baths are on trend again.
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Professional Carpet Cleaning
As much as we love the soft feeling on walking barefoot on our carpet or the peaceful noiseless footsteps of shoes walking on carpet, you may be surprised what lies beneath.
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7 ways homeowners can benefit from professional landscaping
For many homeowners, notions of professional landscaping are a bit farfetched. They don’t feel relevant to life because, well, not everybody needs a lawn fit for the Chelsea Flower Show. What they don’t realise is that the term ‘landscaping’ covers all kinds of different features, designs, and arrangements; not just high maintenance e blooms and lavish water fountains.
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