Most people when moving into a new home soon realise that there isn’t enough power outlets for their needs.
Although you can use extension cables and power boards these aren’t a great solution.
Having cables snaking round the room looks untidy and may be a tripping hazard.
Plugging several high power appliances into a power board can overload the cable and increase the risk of fire.
Long term the best solution is to add additional power outlets.
Planning
Once you have been in the house for a couple of weeks you will start to know where additional units would be useful.
Here are just a few examples:
Changing from double to quadruple sockets for TV/audio areas.
Having power outlets with USB charging points.
Additional outlets in the kitchen for toasters, coffee machines, food mixers, etc, etc
Convenient locations for table lamps and fans
Television in bedroom
Outside Entertaining area
Workshop area of garage
External outlets for Christmas lights
Installation
You can buy electrical outlets from a hardware store but I wouldn’t recommend that approach.
It’s much better to use an experienced electrical company such as Westline Electricans, Perth for the following reasons:
Knowledgeable Advice With up to date knowledge and contact with specialist suppliers an electrician may be able to come up with better alternatives than would be found in the typical DIY store.
Safety An electrician will prevent any risk of overloading any of the circuits is avoided, with it’s attendant fire risk.
Avoiding Damage Experienced electricians have the specialist tools that enable them to run cables behind the plaster so your walls and ceilings won’t be damaged.
Compliance with Regulations All electrical work needs a certificate of compliance to prove it has been installed by a competent person and meets the regulations. . . . Without the compliance certificate you could find your home insurance is invalid.
When I was growing up all the washing lines looked like this. . . . long straight nylon ropes.
Since then things have changed backyards have got smaller and some people don’t even have washing lines, everything goes in the tumble dryer
Well I think there are some good reasons why you should have a washing line.
Reasons for a washing line
Cost
A full cycle of a modern tumble dryer uses around $1 of power.
With just two of us at home now we would still do around 4 loads of washing a week. . . . That means tumble drying everything would cost around $200 a year.
Sustainability
As well as the cost there is also the sustainability aspect.
If the electricity from that full cycle comes from a coal power station it will release around 4kg of CO2.
Condensation
Unless you have got a venting kit you could be putting around half a litre of water into the air which can result in condensation problems.
If you start getting damp patches on the walls and ceiling mold can then become an issue.
Better Results
UV radiation from the sunlight kills bacteria and dust mites.
In addition nothing really beats the smell and feel of freshly air dried cotton sheets.
Less Wear Of Your Clothes
All that lint in the filter is the result of wear as the clothes rub against each other and the sides of the tumble drier drum.
Space
So how much space do you need?
The load from a typical front loading washing machine will take up around 10m of line, with a top loader it could be nearer 15m.
I would look at providing enough line for at least a couple of washes.
To get that amount of line in a typical backyard a good option would be a rotary clothes line (the traditional Hills Hoist) with line lengths ranging from 40 – 60m.
Limited on space? you could go for a wall, or fence, mounted rectangular folding frame which should give you around 20m of line.
With population increasing in Australia there are more and more contractors and construction crews hitting the pavement and building homes.
However, what you might not know is that this process wouldn’t even be possible without a drafter and drafting services.
This probably leaves you wondering what exactly is drafting.
Well, drafting in the process of creating blueprints and drawings to help an architect create clear and precise diagrams of buildings, bridges, homes, interior design, and is ingrained in pretty much all aspects of building.
A drafter’s job is to ensure that everything is drawn up in precise details, all the buildings are represented in actual size in a scale format, and everything is designed to the exact right specifications.
That being said, drafters don’t just have to stick to the construction industry.
With the proper drafting knowledge, you can easily navigate in the aerospace, engineering design, electronic or home appliances industry with a little bit of guidance.
Drafting requires an extensive and in-depth knowledge of computer aided design (CAD) software, as this will be the drafter’s go-to tool.
Drafters use these CAD programs to create drawings that represent real life structures or buildings.
Educational Requirements
While there are some individuals that have jumped right into drafting services without training, it usually does require some kind of secondary education before entering the workforce.
Either a one-year certificate 4, a two-year stint at a technical college or a four-year degree at university can supply you with the knowledge or skills that you need to get your foot in the door.
Technical colleges usually only require a one or two-year attendance before graduation depending on the industry, because they tend to focus more on task-specific CAD operation.
For instance, they will teach you about the CAD software and how to properly utilize it.
Four-year universities on the other hand, will not only teach you these skills, but they will also provide you with a basic understanding of building materials and engineering practices.
If you are looking to go into drafting I suggest investigating the industry you are interested in and then doing a technical college one-year or two-year degree.
On the other hand, if I had my time again, looking for a job in the Perth drafting scene. I would call every company that has the need for drafters in my field and ask for a trainee ship for a year so you get paid while you learn.
I have heard of this happening many times before, so why not give it a go?
The cost of living is increasing at an alarming rate. So it pays to be on an active look out for ways that you can cut costs. And this cost-cutting should begin at home.
There’s lots you can do to limit the amount you spend.
You can adopt energy-savvy saving techniques like turning off appliances at the wall or setting your heating and cooling to certain temperatures.
Or you can air dry your washing instead of running the dryer.
But one thing many people don’t consider is their lighting.
Let’s look at a few ways that sun tunnels can save you some hard-earned coin.
Essentially it lets in all the good light of the sun during the day, and then turns on a special LED globe when the sun sets.
That means your room is properly lit from the moment the sun rises to the moment until after it sets in the evening.
Bear the Cost of Installation
Sun tunnels will cost you some money to install.
This may make you hesitate at first, but trust us – the long-term savings will outweigh the initial cost.
Just make sure to pick a reliable installer.
Read some more below on exactly how these skylights an save you money.
No Money Spent on Lighting During the Day
A sun tunnel means that you don’t need to use electricity during the day to light your home.
If you install one in every room that’s a huge saving! You will definitely notice it when your power bill comes in for the quarter.
Sun tunnels can be especially useful if you work from home or have members of your family who spend a good deal of time at home.
In summer with daylight savings the LED light in them won’t even come on til the sun sets after 8 – meaning you’re only paying for a few hours’ worth of lighting.
Position Matters
You need to have a careful think about where you’re going to install your sun tunnel.
You can’t just bang it in anywhere and hope for the best. Ideally you want to place your new skylight in a south-facing or north-facing roof for the best results.
Also, if you have large shade-casting trees in your yard you may want to consider if you remove them or not – as the shade can block the sunlight for the sun tunnel and make the installation a wasted endeavour.
Heating Savings
A good sun tunnel lets in all that nice warm solar heat during the winter months.
If your latest gas bill made you hit the roof then you’ll be glad for a skylight up there next winter!
Think of what you can put that saved money towards – a holiday, a new gadget or toy or maybe towards some more renovations in the future?
Let There Be Light – A Conclusion
A sun tunnel is a skylight with an LED component that comes on when the sun sets.
It may cost a bit to install these innovative lighting solutions in your house at first but you’ll save money down the track.
You won’t spent a cent on lighting during the day, and you’ll spend less on your lighting at night with energy-efficient LEDs.
Just make sure that you install them in the right position and that you don’t have huge trees in your yard which may block out the sun.
You’ll also find that you save money on heating in winter, as the warm solar rays will provide a nice amount of natural heat during the cooler months.
Generally you don’t have to go far to find a front brick fence falling over like this one.
Normally they fall over in the direction of the street.
So why is this failure so common?
Reasons For Failure
People think “It’s only a brick fence” so don’t put a good foundation in, and only make it a single brick thick.
Simple brick construction is fairly brittle when any stress is placed at 90 degrees to the wall face.
Frequently the soil is built up on the garden side of the wall making the wall a retaining structure. with the consequent stresses which can be significant.
If the wall is built on reactive clay the street side of the wall is kept dry by the pavement while the garden side gets water seeping through and can be subject to soil heave.
What You Can Do
Construct a substantial foundation
Make the wall at least two bricks thick with steel reinforcement built into the wall.
It is also certain that you’ll suddenly feel lost if an electrical problem causes your television to break.
At that point you’ll need to have the number of the Electrical Detectives to hand; the sooner they sort the issue the quicker you can get back to your favorite programs!
To help prevent problems it is essential that you care for your television and other accessories:
Cleaning
Dust is one of the biggest enemies of any electrical item.
This can cause chips to overheat and fail. In worst case scenarios the chips can actually catch fire.
You need to wipe your television down on a daily basis with a dedicated television wipe.
This will remove dust and other dirt without scratching the surface of the screen.
It is important to use the right wipe; many contain alcohol or ammonia which will damage your screen.
You can also gently vacuum the air vents on the back of your television to remove dust from inside the device.
Environment
Electrical items don’t generally like humidity or extreme cold or hot rooms.
You need to consider the environment in the room where your television lives.
Keep the temperature steady between 10 and 25 degrees Centigrade and if you notice excess humidity consider investing in a dehumidifier.
This will help to prolong the life of your television.
Power
It is also important to look at your power circuits.
Plugging too many items into one socket can cause an overload which could short out equipment and even cause a fire.
Equally no matter how good your power supply is there will be times when there are power surges.
These can destroy the sensitive electrical inside devices like your television.
To protect against this you need to invest in a surge protector for your sockets.
This will ensure the power supply to your television remains constant.
You can even get surge protectors to safeguard an entire circuit; allowing you to protect all your sensitive electrical gear.
Repair Early
Televisions can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of replacing them; especially if an issue is caught early enough. When you undertake your regular cleaning visually inspect the television.
You should also keep your eye open for any irregularities when you’re watching it.
If you notice anything, then get the television repair person to look at it sooner rather than later; it could save you a lot of money.
In the same way you should be vigilant about any accessories that are connected to your television; such as a DVD player or surround sound system.
When you take the keys for your new home the house should comply with all regulations relating to falls. . . . . but after you move are you planning to do some improvements.
If you are planning a deck for entertaining or modifying the garden with retaining walls you need to think about protecting your family, and guests.
You can do a lot of damage with a fall from from a relatively low height.
If someone falls and you haven’t provided appropriate barriers you could be personally liable and the insurance company has the opportunity to avoid paying compensation.
National Construction Code
Here is a summary of the current regulations on protecting from falls:
Where people could fall 1 m from a floor, or through an opening a barrier must be provided.
The barrier must be continuous and extend for the full extent of the hazard; and be high enough to protect people from accidentally falling
The construction shall prevent people from falling through the barrier, including small children, and should be strong enough to withstand thee impact of people; and the pressure of people pressing against it.
When you think about buying a new home, it usually means looking for the ‘forever house’ that your family can move into.
Finding a new house on sites like Gumtree Real Estate is undeniably
an exciting experience but it can also be pretty daunting — especially if you’re a first-time
buyer.
Sometimes, we get can get caught up with the spectacular views, even if the house needs more work.
Or, we could be drawn to ‘ancient feels’ despite an out-of-the budget price tag. Knowing what you want in a house and actually going extra lengths to make it happen are extremely important in the whole home buying process.
You have to make sure that you are in it for the long haul, or else, you’ll be stuck with an unwanted home until you have the financial means to purchase a new one.
While most homeowners don’t usually get exactly what they want in their new homes, it is still completely possible to ensure that you will enjoy your new house and avoid any potential pitfalls you may fall into during this process. To do that, here are some factors you should seriously consider before claiming the key to your new home.
Location
Deciding on which location you want to live in is critical in this whole home buying procedure.
This may sound easy to you, but you actually have to consider a lot of things such as the availability and accessibility of public amenities, the degree of traffic, the quality of schools, the proximity to public transport, and much more.
Your lifestyle, for instance, could be greatly affected by the location of your new home.
If you’re into shopping and nightlife, then you have to choose a place where such needs will be met.
It all depends on you. Some people may prefer a quiet and peaceful farmhouse as their first priority and others may want a place where schools for their kids are within walking distance or just a few-minute drive away.
The key here is to really assess what you need and think about how the location of your new home will affect you in any way.
Price
Have you thought of a budget for your new house?
Are all the qualities you look for in a home fit with your financial capacity?
Needless to say, your new property has to be within your budget.
Do not exhaust your funds because you want to buy a grand home only to be left with no choice but to sell your new home and look for a cheaper one.
Remember that you also have to consider other expenses like property and insurance taxes.
Be as comfortable as possible with how much you are paying for your home.
Adjust your expectations according to your budget and what payment you can afford without breaking your back to make ends meet.
Size
Before youmove into your new home, you have to also think about the size that you and your family will need and want.
This includes the number of bedrooms and bathrooms the house has, and the size of your kitchen, living room, and any extra necessary space.
Some people want a huge backyard while others just want a standard-sized patio but a bigger space in the house.
Whether you want to build some guest rooms, install a swimming pool, or create a bigger master bathroom, it all boils down to one thing — and that is choosing the right size.
Transportation
Moving into a new house in a new location means that residents will have to adjust to how they will commute to work or school.
Is there public transport nearby and readily available in your new place?
You don’t want to live in an area where you have to go through the hassle of a multi-transfer commute to work every single day of your life.
If transportation is truly a big deal for you, then make sure to check if there are bus stops, or subway or train stations near you.
Noise and traffic
When you visit a potential house for a viewing or open house, then you may notice that the surroundings are quiet and peaceful.
While that may be the case, observe how the area sounds during peak hours and on the weekend.
Living close to the main road is a wonderful thing, however, if you’re the type that dislikes having to hear all those awful traffic noises, then this may be a deal breaker for you.
In addition, you also have to consider your neighbors because if you’re living in an apartment complex filled with students, then you may find yourself constantly filing noise complaints.
Conclusion
Shopping for a new residential property that you and your family will really feel ‘at home’ in is a matter of knowing what factors are most important to you.
If you’re unsure about doing this ‘house hunting’ on your own, then you can help from a real estate company in your area.
