Month: November 2017

Moving? – Helpful Tips Make Setting Up Your New Home Simpler

Guest post by Andre Smith

Setting up your new home is about so much more than simply unpacking and decorating.

Your job is to begin pre-organizing the move into your new home long before you ever step foot into your new house, but don’t let this seem daunting.

You can help make the move easier, more efficient, and a lot less stressful by setting up, organizing, and planning for specific features of your new home and your new life before the movers arrive.

Call Your Insurance Provider

One of the first things to do when you buy a new home is call your insurance company to discuss changes.

Some homeowners assume their insurer will handle things like this when they are notified you bought a new home, but it’s not the case.

You’re insured, of course, but did you know you must be the person who calls and asks about specific coverage, changes, and addendums to your current policy?

Call and be sure there are no specific changes you must make, and ask about those you’re looking to make.

Change Your Address and Re-Route Your Mail

You can do this well in advance to take a little stress off yourself in the days leading up to your big move.

Call the post office and set up a change of address form as well as a re-direction withAustralian Post.

This allows you to have your permanent address changed on the post office’s record as well as the records of everyone who mails anything to you.

It also allows the office to redirect your mail so it stops going to your old address on the date you specify.

It’s then gives you time to tell all your contacts of your permanent change of address.

Change Your License

Now is the time to contact the government about the address on your driver’s license.

You might need specific documentation stating you have a new address, and you might not be able to
get this until you move and have a utility bill, or any other proof of address on record.

Connect Utilities and Other Services

It’s time to check on moving house electricity rates, phone service, internet providers, and more before you move.

You want most of these things set up prior to moving into your new home to make life easier.

Spend a little time on this step prior to moving into your new home.

It’s helpful to find the best rates, to discuss the dates you want service, and even to focus on disconnecting your old service as of a specific date.

Other Details

Depending on where you are moving, how far you are moving, and what you are moving from and into, there may be other things you need to do to make your move a little easier.

You can arrange for babysitters for the kids, pet sitters for your animals, help moving, and so much more.

It’s helpful to begin making a list now so you don’t forget anything as you think of it.

Moving is never entirely fun, but it’s the beginning of a new life in a new home.

Now is the time to make sure your move is as seamless as possible by handling what you can in advance.

It’s never too late to get started making your move easier, and it’s never too early to begin planning.

Being organized during a move helps you focus on making your home more of a home, and it
helps you make the process as simple as possible.

Is you House Sick?

photo from: www.frankie965.com

Like this sad house?

Or Just Making You Sick?

I frequently hear of about ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ where the chemicals used in the construction and the lack of ventilation can make you ill.

One organisation that is working to reduce the risks are the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability.

They aim to provide house owners with objective information, and promote a holistic, sustainable, healthy approach to building.

Here are some of their key principles

  • Use natural and unadulterated building materials.
  • A building shall have a pleasant or neutral smell, not releasing any toxins.
  • Promote good indoor air quality through natural ventilation.
  • Minimize energy consumption while using renewable energy whenever possible.
  • Prefer regional building materials, not promoting the exploitation of scarce and hazardous resources.
  • Select light exposures, lighting systems, and colour schemes following natural conditions.
  • Locate residential homes away from pollutant and noise sources.
  • Provide low-density housing with sufficient green space.

Interested?. . . . Want to find about all 25 Principles?

For more information check out the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability

 

The Patio Planner

3 Tips For Creating the Perfect Australian Patio Setup

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

I’ve always loved the summer.

The bright blue sky, the wonderful heat, the plethora of fantastic outdoor events that pop up around this time; all of this comes together into one of the most amazing times in the Australian calendar.

So, why not fully embrace it from the comforts of your own backyard?

A perfectly-prepared patio is an excellent place to host get-togethers, eat dinner under the moon, or just enjoy a good book.

Unfortunately, when many people think of crafting a lovely outdoor area for themselves, there’s a perceived air of difficulty and frustration that seems to turn people off the idea.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth!

To help you plan your preparation, here’s a few tips we’ve put together on how you can take a DIY approach to your dream patio.

1. The Cooking Consideration

Nothing says “Australian summer” quite like the scent of meats and smokey treats wafting through the warm December air?

An infrared BBQ or charcoal grill is the perfect addition to a patio setup, especially for those that are a fan of playing host for outdoor parties or get-togethers.
When deciding on a barbecue for your backyard, it’s important to consider space as a major contributing factor.

While that giant gas grill may pack a powerful punch if you’re trying to quickly feed a small army, it’s more likely to become an unnecessary obstacle for those with less space in their backyard.

None of this is to say that larger barbecue setups are unnecessary, it’s just good to think about how much space you have before you start giving it up.

2. Started From the Bottom

Unlike interiors, which have walls that act like a frame for your decor, it can be difficult to make an outdoor space feel cohesive and self-contained.

However, there are ways to make your way around this obstacle of exterior decor.

An outdoor rug can be the saving grace of defining your space, whilst also creating a more comfortable place to rest your weary feet after a long day.

A rug makes your patio decor look intentional and methodical (a nicer way of saying “method to the madness”), and can be the factor that truly makes your space feel complete.

Just make sure to find a rug that can hold up to the elements. While the roof of your patio should protect it from the rain, a material that is damaged by extended periods of sunlight isn’t going to fare well in the outdoor arena.

3. Furnishing Factors

Unfortunately, for those of us that have a family to contend with, it’s not just our needs that get to be factored in when developing a patio setup.

So, when deciding on patio furniture, make sure that you’re considering what you want to actually DO with the space once it’s complete.

If you want to host parties, then a considerable amount of chairs and table space is a must. If you’re looking to stay warm in the winter, you should consider a fire pit of outdoor heater.

If you want to just rest and relax in the lap of luxury, then thick, comfortable cushions are going to serve you well.

In the end, it all comes down to taste. Just make sure that everything that you’re getting can withstand a little bit of sun damage.

You’re putting time and money into choosing this setup, you might as well make it last as long as possible!

 

So, there you have it!

There are so many things that you can do with an outdoor space, especially one that still offers the serene security of a roof.

Just get creative, work out what you want to do outdoors and throw yourself into it full-force!

Good luck and happy holidays!

Homeless Shelter

Would you like to sleep in this?

This is a shelter designed for the homeless

An artist and builder, Gregory Kloehn of Oakland, Calif, makes shelter like this from salvaged materials he finds in the trash,

Up to now Gregory and a team of volunteer have built ten homes.

To find out more check out the Homeless Homes Project

 

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

 

Disaster Planning for Your Home

Well summer is almost upon us and I am reminded of a poem by Dorothea McKeller

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!

The poem is called My Country

I also love Australia, but there are plenty of potential terrors

As well as the large disasters such as Floods, Bush Fires, Cyclones, there are many events that may be a disaster to you on a more personal level. . . . .  so are you prepared?

Have you thought

    • How you might react in an emergency?
    • What you might need?
    • How your pets would be protected?
    • What is valuable to you?

Well the Red Cross, who have had a lot of experience in disasters, have provided some very useful information.

Check it out at the following link: RED CROSS – DISASTER PREPARATION

 

 

If you find it useful you might like to make a donation!

A Different Approach To Buying Furniture

Guest post from Greg Harris

Do you like shopping for furniture?

I get confused if we need to get more than a couple of pieces at a time.

Buying enough to fit out an entire house would be a challenge.

Sometimes we don’t have any choice:

  • It could be an unfortunate event such as a fire, or a flood;
  • Moving out of your parents homee
  • Perhaps you want to furnish an investment property:
  • If your job requires an interstate move, you want to keep your existing house, as well as setting up a new home;
  • For some it could be a holiday house;

Avoiding the Hassle

These days there are companies that can take the hassle out of buying furniture for a house, or flat.

The same companies that furnish display homes can provide a Furniture Package that will suit your needs.

It could be or entire house, or just one room.

They can even include electrical items, carpets and curtains.

 

Perhaps you should get a quote next time you need some furniture.

 

 

Planting Shrubs

A lot of gardening web site tell you that you need to improve all your garden soil before you start planting.
Well in the case of shrubs I take a different approach, which has worked well for me.

Starting

The ground of a typical site following the build is in pretty poor condition.

Little top soil so even the weeds are struggling to survive.

A week before planting I look to kill all the weeds using  a weedkiller containing Glyphosate. (If you want a non chemical solution I would suggest using a steam gun) You are aiming to kill the roots , not just the foliage.

I normally follow up with a second weedkiller the day before planting.

Planting

Rather than improve the whole area and give potential weeds a break I concentrate on the area where the weeds will spread over the next 2-3 years.

I dig a hole around 3-4 times the diameter of the shrubs pot and around 100mm deeper and place the plant on a bed of compost in the hole.

I then backfill around the rootball with a mixture of 50% compost and 50% material excavated from the hole.

If you have got a worm farm it’s a good idea to include a couple of trowels of that material, with a few of the worms.

Make sure the backfill is firm so the plant doesn’t move around.

Mulch

Rather than buy expensive wed mat I simply use a layer of newspaper, typically at least 3 sheets thick with generous overlaps.

I then cover the paper with a mulch, either gravel, or bark as in the photo.

If you are doing a big garden don’t buy your mulch by the bag, it’s cheaper to buy it by the cubic metre from a garden supplier.

 

 

Thinking About Pets

Did you think about your pets when you planned your new House?

Will the House and garden be safe for your pets when you move?

Here are some things to think about:

Planning

Where will the pet sleep at night?

Where will it have access to during the day?. . . . For instance check out this Cat Lovers House

Where will it food be placed? and a litter tray be for cats? I like to keep the litter tray away from carpets, and anywhere else where I might walk with bare feet.

Are you going to give a dog access to the whole of the back yard or just a run.

Will there be shelter for the dog in the yard? We used to leave the dog bed under the verandah at one house, at another we had a porch at the back door.

How are you going to deal with a wet dog after a walk?. . . a regular reader of this blog told me they have planned an extra large laundry with a shower big enough to wash their two dogs.

When You Move In

Are any fly screens cat/dog proof , , , I would recommend any fly screens that protect doorways have a strong metal mesh.

Are all gates in place.

Do  the fences go right down to the ground, and are high enough to prevent jumping. . . . we had a medium sized dog which had never escaped until we moved to a new house and my wife got a job.  . . . It then started jumping a 1.5m brick fence.

Is there a risk your pet will try to dig under the fence?

Do you check your plants to check they aren’t toxic to your pets?

 

We have only had dogs and cats as pets, so there may be other questions for different pets.

 

 

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