Month: April 2017

Smart Renovations to Save on Your Water and Electric Bill

Guest Post from Joel Sidaka

As a property owner, it is quite common to spend around $300-$400 on utility bills every month.

Sometimes, it can even go as high as $500!

This can be a hard pill to swallow.

Fortunately, you can reduce your utility bills by doing a few renovations and we have gathered some that are worth trying.

8 Ways to Save on Your Water and Electric Bill

1. Look at your Hot Water System

If you own rental properties, then you clearly have a real estate investment to take care of.

That means you have to be willing to do renovations that would help you reduce the utility bills to keep your tenants happy and content.

Heating hot water is one of the biggest power users in your home, and these days there are several alternatives.

A Solar Hot Water, or a Heat Pump, are both alternatives that can save between 60% and 90% of water heating costs.

2. Upgrade the Clothes Washer

With an energy-saving washer, it is possible to save water that could fill up three backyard swimming pools!

That means you’ll be able to save $135 per year, especially if you’re still using a washer that’s over 10 years old.

3. Weather-stripping Should Be Applied

Contrary to popular belief, weather-stripping is not that difficult to install, but the effects it could have are definitely life changing.

For instance, without weather-stripping, you can feel the cold wind coming through your doors, but once it has been installed, it will be able to keep the rain and air from coming in and out of the room.

It’s also an inexpensive project that wouldn’t take much of your time to install.

Even those without any home improvement skills are capable of putting these on.

4. Making Use Of A Smart Meters

More and more homes now have a smart meter, but are you taking full advantage of it?

Most electricity providers allow you to check your power use on an hourly basis using a phone app.
However, you ought to know that smart metering programs do vary, but the basic idea is the same.

We use that to ensure that we are minimising power usage when the tariffs are high and maximise it when power is either low cost, or free (If you have solar power).

5. Install Low Flow Fixtures

In Australia most properties now have low flow showerheads.

Don’t forget that other fittings can also be converted to low flow.

A small investment like this would allow you to save as much as 60% on your water bills.

6. Install Timers

Timers ensure that your water heater is turned off at night or when it is not in use.

If you do this, you will never forget to turn off the heater during peak hours.

7. Replace Your Existing Lights with LEDs

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) used to be one of the most effective ways to save money.

Things have now moved on with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) dropping on price.

These typically use half the power of CFLs (85% of incandescent bulbs), start faster than CFLs and last around 15,000 hours.

8. Look at Installing Solar Panels

With the popularity of solar  power on the roof Photo Voltaic (PV) Panels have never been cheaper.
With continually rising power prices the installation price can be recovered in a few years

Final Words

We all want to go green and be able to lower our utility bills.

By following these tips, you will be able to save a lot of money from utility costs.

You will also be able to ensure the satisfaction of any tenants you may have, at the same time.

Landscape Ideas for Saving on Energy

Guest Post by Joel Sidaka

Would you believe that with strategic landscaping, you would be able to save money, increase property value, and make your place look more appealing?

Yes, you read it right, by following some of these property renovations, you will be able to conserve energy through landscaping.

6 Ways to Save Energy Through Landscaping

1. Pay Attention to the Wind

The first on the list of our property maintenance tips would be to pay attention to the wind and utilize fences or shrubs to guide direct cooling breezes to your property.

Aside from that, you will also be able to stop the sun from directly hitting your home and turning it into an oven. You should also consider planting large evergreen trees on the west side of your home, as it would effectively block the hot rays of the afternoon summer sun.

Drought-tolerant plants are also helpful, because they could decrease the effects of humidity as well.

Also refrain from directly planting thirsty plants near your home. . .  Instead, put them in the corners of your garden.

2. Proper Shading Is Also Important

You also have to pay attention to where you are going to plant the trees.

Many landscapers suggest that you plant them on the west windows and the east should be your next priority.

Also, choose a tree that could be planted within 20 feet of the window, and would be at least 10 feet taller than your window. By doing so, you will have the assurance that you will get ample shade from it.
If you are thinking of planting a tree to protect you from the noon sun think again.

During summer, the sun is high at noon, which  means that the tree shadow would fall directly under it, and would not be able to shade  your home.

On the other hand, during winter, the shadow of the tree would fall on the house all throughout the day. Thus, it is not efficient at all.

3. Natural, Organic Mulches Are Heaven-Sent

If you’ve been doing DIY landscaping for the past few years, you probably know by now that watering flowerbeds are nothing but a necessity; since all plants need water, even the healthy ones.

However, there are also steps that could help you improve the health of your plants, and make them last longer even if you fail to regularly water them.

Not just that, it is also possible to make them heat resistant.

Organic mulches, such as wood chips are perfect for this.

You simply have to place the mulch around the roots of the trees and flowerbeds.

4. Maximize Dead Spaces

If you want to insulate your home in both summer and winter, then you should consider planting shrubs, vines, and bushes close to your property.

Make sure that as they mature they is space between them and your house as well as from each other.

5. Be Responsible When Watering

If you really want to control your energy use, it is important that you become responsible on how you use water.

According to the US EPA, its ideal to water your plants when the weather is cool, this is early morning.

Likewise, the sprinklers should be set to water only selected areas.

This would also help you prevent wasting water on other parts of the yard.

Invest in rainwater tanks and you can use the water you have collected for watering your plants.

Do not forget to check the taps, hoses, and plumbing to see if there are any leaks that need fixing.

6. Go Manual Whenever You Can

During the hot summer months, it is ideal to modify and raise the mower’s cutting height to let the grasses grow long.

This would not only shade the roots, but would also reduce the occurrence of browning.

As for the equipment, use manual tools whenever possible in order to conserve energy.

If you really have to use larger equipment, then just rent or borrow one. This would prevent you from overspending.

Final Words

Having a green landscape on your property can be your first step toward a more sustainable conservation movement.

Although it might seem like it will not do much, after quite some time, you will realize that there is great potential behind it.

By making your landscape more energy efficient, you will be able to save a few dollars, which you can spend on other things.

What Are Site Works?

The site works is all the work required to prepare the site and allow them to build that standard house.

The following are frequently encountered additional costs:

Levelling the ‘Construction Pad’

The standard project house is designed for a perfectly flat site, however most sites have some sort of Slope.

Depending on the slope the cost may range from $1,000 to in excess of $20,000

Building Retaining Walls

This is another consequence of a sloping site.

Although a level construction pad may have been constructed action to stop the construction pad sliding down the slope, or the block above sliding onto your block, is needed.

With space bieng at a premium the normal solution is a Retaining Wall

If the required wall is higher than 1m the wall will require a site specific engineering design.

Starting cost for a low retaining wall will be in the region of $250/sq metre.

Building Stronger Foundations.

The standard project home is designed to be built on ground that has a Soil Classification ‘M’.

In practice this is very rare.

Even if the underlying material is Class M most modern developments have been levelled to some extentn resulting in there being fill material.

Getting that flat construction pad can also require additional fill

Rock Removal

If you are building on rock Rock  there will be extensive costs for both levelling the pad and constructiong trenches.

Enev if there is no obvious rock builders will typically include a Provisional Sum of $2,000 – $3,000 for removing any large boulders found during excavations

Termite Protection

I think that all Australian houses should have Termite protection even though some areas are considered termite free.

The cost will depend on your prefered solution but can range from a nominal amount, to up to around $2,000.

Bush Fire Protection

Bush Fire protection will depend on the risk level of your block.

Even a fairly low Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) of 12.5 will require upgrades in the $5,000 – $10,000 range.

Higher risk zones and you could easily get up to $50,000.

Additional Utility Connection Costs

If you have a block that is much larger than 700 sq metres then you could find that the builder will charge for the extra length of service pipes to serve your site.

My last block which was around 1,000 sq metres had an additional $500 cost, larger blocks and the costs will rise substantially.

Root Barriers

Generally this will only be required in Knock Down and Rebuild projects.

It can cost in ecxcess of $4,000 to protect your house from one substantial tree.

 Minimum Energy Rating Requirements

Australian states require minimum Energy Rating of 6 Stars.

Although the builders designs will meet this requirement in an Ideal Orientation your block might have a far from ideal orientation.

Although the rating can be restored to 6 stars by improving the insulation values the cost be more than $10,000.

You will see from the above that some initial investigation of suitable block will benefit you in avoiding overspending your budget on your new home construction.

If you want to understand more check out the Guide to Buying a Block

Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink

Say No More!

 

I saw this sign on a truck while I was walking to Dandenong the other day.

If you want to be ‘upfront’ with a fence builder who has a sense of humour. . .  and you live in South East Melbourne Suburbs perhaps you should give Bob a ring!

This is not a recommendation as all I saw was the parked truck.

For more Unusual House Photos, Wins, and Fails, have a look at: What the………………….?

 

The Dedicated Designer – 6 Tips for Giving Your Home a Pre-Sale Makeover

Guest Post by Hubert Dwight

House envy. . . . The struggle is real. . . .We have all been there.

You walk into someone’s home and your eyes dart from corner to corner in disbelief that everything is so in-place and perfect.  

Trying to play it cool, you say something like “I like what you have done with the place”, while inside you are screaming “I WANT TO LIVE HERE!”.

Well folks, that is just the sentiment you need to capture when you are prepping your house to go on the market.  

The smell of fresh baked cookies and a reasonable price are not going to cut it in today’s real estate landscape.  

So, for those looking to put their house out for sale, read ahead for 6 tips for giving your home a pre-sale makeover.

1. Help is Available

If you read that intro paragraph and immediately started to panic, don’t worry, you have options.   

So style and “home-making” is not your specialty, you are certainly not alone.   

Many people preparing their home for sale will turn to a trusted company for property styling in Melbourne.  

Good styling companies will turn any house into a high end, classy and elegant home.   

With a competitive buyers market, styling your home is an integral part of selling your home quickly for the price you are after.

2. Love your Lighting

Ambient lighting, correct wattage, and purposefully placed candles will transform the feel of your house.  

Make sure very room in your house has a cozy, welcoming lighting rather than harsh high watt bulbs that make anyone cringe.  

Don’t underestimate the power of candles in your house either.  Investing in some high quality candles will whisk potential buyers away to their favourite beach, or coziest fire place, all whilst standing in your living room.

3. Bring the Outdoors In

Indoor plants can have a calming effect by bringing in the natural healing properties of mother nature.  

Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, they are scientifically proven to improve health.  

Indoor air, like outdoor air, can contain harmful pollutants.  

Indoor plants can actually act as a natural air filter, making your house have that fresh, clean air feeling – something any home buyer will be drawn to immediately.   

Feeling like your green thumb is a bit out of practice?  . . . Don’t worry, help is available in choosing the best plants for your indoor space.

4. Soak up the Seasons

You know that feeling when you go to your mum’s house at Christmas and it is perfectly decorated and you get all warm and fuzzy inside?  There is no reason not recreate this feeling all year long, with every season.  A bowl of fresh cherries in Summer, fresh tulips in a vase in Spring, a bowl of pinecones in Winter.  These small touches will really make a house a home.

5. Size Matters

Stressed about the small size of some of your rooms?

Boost the perceived size of any room with large feature mirrors.  

From bathrooms to small second bedrooms,  mirrors make rooms feel larger and also increase the amount of natural light reflected into a room.

It also is a way for people to literally see themselves in the home making a quick purchase more likely!

6. Beauty and the Bathroom

Did you know the average human spends 1 hour 42 minutes in the bathroom per week?

That is a lot of time!  So you should put in some serious love into your loo.  

Creating a mini-vacation feeling in your bathroom will highlight the room as a feature in the house.  

A clean, crisp, well-organised bathroom will catch the eye of any style savvy home-buyer.  

Plush towels, fresh flowers,  clean and crisp surfaces and a scented candle will transform your bathroom into a holiday escape.  

You don’t need to remodel to get that feeling, small style tips can make all the difference!

 

Selling your home is a scary and exciting time.

Taking the time to assess your style, and how it will fare to a wider audience is an essential part in the process.  

A pre-sale makeover may be just what you need to pass on your property to the next owners.

Whether you seek expert guidance from a company, or re-style room by room, take the time to create that “wow” moment for anyone who walks through your front door.  

You never know who will insist on making that their front door after one look at your perfectly styled house!

Ghost Houses 2017

Walking around my local area I came across this abandoned partially built house. . . 

. . . and next door this abandoned 3 house development.

They are reminders that things can go wrong, and if you are over committed financially you can’t find a a way back.

Here are just some of the ways that you can run out of money during the build, and finish up owning a ghost.

  • Builder going Bust, Even if you have a guarantee it is still going to cost you extra to have another builder take over the job.
  • Additional Site Works costs.
  • You split from your partner.
  • You, or your partner, loses a job.
  • Your employer suffering a downturn restricting the amount of overtime you were expecting to earn.
  • Illness reducing wages for several months.
  • Rise in Interest Rates.

Make sure you aren’t over committed!

Sliding Doors/Windows Security

Does your new home have sliding doors and or windows?

Did you know they aren’t very secure? . . . as they can easily be lifted out, even if they are locked.

Here is a low cost fix that stops that happening.

Its just a thin piece of wood screwed to the top door/window track with a self tapping screw.

The door slides under the wood to close, but once closed can’t be lifted.

Total cost around 10 cents and about 5 minutes of your time!

 

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