Category: Guest post

Guest Post by Pratik Dalshi

When doing renovations, building a home, or dealing with clogged drains and busted pipes, you must seek only professional plumbers.

They offer permanent solutions and they have the tools to fix any issue you may be facing.

Plus, if you choose to deal with it yourself or rely on a neighbour that knows “a little” about plumbing, it may result in bigger problems in the future.

So why risk it, right?

With the right plumber, you can get rid of issues faster and more efficiently.

You can also ensure that newly installed fixtures and appliances are safe and are compliant with plumbing standards and regulations. Now, if you don’t have a plumber yet, don’t worry.

Since plumbing is one of the most important systems of your home, it is only proper that it’s handled by a reputable local company.

If you don’t know one yet, here’s a guide on what to look for when choosing a plumber.

5 Things to Look Out For in a Reputable Local Plumber

Professionalism

Most clients prefer to work with people who look professional.

This is because it makes a good and lasting impression.

More importantly, it’s a sign that they are taking you seriously. So when choosing a plumber to work with, try to see how they present themselves. 

How do they communicate?

How do they respond to your queries?

Moreover, how are they dressed? . . .  . many good plumbing companies take great pride in how they carry themselves and their brands.

This is why they try to communicate respectfully, answer your questions in detail, and appear presentable. 

So try to call or visit their shop before getting their services. If you’re looking for a local company in Sydney, check out Inspired Plumbing . All their plumbers are professionals and courteous.

They’d even leave their shoes at your door.  

Licenses or Credentials

To see if a plumber is qualified to work for your home, check if they have a license.

Every state in Australia requires plumbers to secure their licenses before they can work, which can be checked online.

Cost

Before making your decision, it’s best to know how much a plumber’s services would cost.

Reputable plumbers will inspect your problem and present you with the total cost inclusive of GST, making sure that they explain what and why things are needed to be done. 

Service orientated plumbers offer flat-rate pricing to unclog your drains.

Emergency Response

In plumbing, problems can happen anytime.

This is why it’s important to choose a professional plumber that you can call whenever you have issues with your system.

Look for a company that offers 24/7 emergency services. so no matter how late or early it is, you will have people dealing with the problem and preventing it from getting worse.

During emergency responses, check their timeliness.

Did you call for an emergency but they arrived 5 hours later?

Or did they call back after an hour and arrived at your place within minutes?

Use this as a reference on whether or not you should continue using that company. 

Insurance and Guarantees

A company that can provide insurance for any damages done to your property is important when something goes wrong with a job.

This is so you don’t have to pay for anything else or go through an exhausting process to be reimbursed for their mistakes. 

Finding a Local Plumber

A local plumber is best to deal with your urgent needs.

They are closer.

Thus, making it easier and faster for them to arrive when a drain suddenly clogs or pipes start leaking.

If you are looking for a trusted and reliable company now, you can check out Inspired Plumbing in Sydney. 

 

Guest Post

For a lot of people, having an air filter system is very important to control the indoor air quality of their homes.

If this sounds like your situation, try to remember the schedule when you are supposed to remove old and dirty air filters and insert new, clean ones.

If you want to know more reasons why you should change your air filter regularly, here are some of them:

Clogged Up Air Filters Make Your HVAC System Work Harder

You might not know it, but there is a close relationship between your air filter system and your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Often, air from the air filter system goes into the HVAC system, where the air is heated or cooled before it is sent back to your rooms. I

f the air filters are already clogged with dust, pollen, pet hair, and any other indoor air pollutants, that will make your HVAC system function at a reduced capacity.

It might also lead to your HVAC conking out completely, making you and your family feel extremely uncomfortable during extreme heat (summer) or extreme cold (winter).

To avoid these situations, you simply have to remove the dirty filters and insert new ones, especially when prompted by your air filter reminder.

Dirty Filters Can Drive Up Your Energy Bills

If your energy bills seem to be costing much, you may want to look into your home’s air filter system.

If the filters are clogged, it means that the fan has to work double time to push air into your room.

Once that happens, your energy consumption is bound to go up.

Uncleaned Filters Can Breed Mold And Bacteria

If your air filters are not cleaned regularly, these can trap moisture from indoor air, which, in turn, can become the incubation site of mold and bacteria.

If these elements are allowed to spread, you and your family could be breathing them in, going straight into your lungs. This might lead to illnesses, such as fungal and bacterial infections.

Filters That Need Replacing Fail To Screen Particulates

Another problem with dirty air filters is that they may stop filtering out indoor air pollutants, which is bad news for people suffering from allergies and asthma.

Dirty air filters put all the household members at high risk of breathing in indoor air pollutants that can trigger allergic reactions or make it hard for them to breathe.

When Is The Right Time To Change Your Air Filter?

Your home’s air filter system needs to be changed on a regular basis so that you don’t forget doing such an important task.

If you set a date for cleaning or changing your air filters, it becomes a habit for you, thus you won’t need to be constantly reminded about when that should be done.

For example, you could make the first Saturday of every month as the fixed schedule for changing air filters.

Doing so would make it so much easier for you to integrate changing air filters into your regular routine.

Some need to be changed less often, depending on the quality of the filters.

So, you can actually opt for an air filter system that only requires to be changed every three months rather than every month.

If you are using an air filter system that is reusable, it will probably require cleaning once a month for it to function efficiently.

If you are using disposable filters, you may need to stock up on the replacement filters so that you won’t have to worry about consistent supply.

This is especially true if the air filters you use at home tend to go out of stock as the specific brand or made you need could be popular in your location.

Some stores may allow you to make bulk purchases of filters, thus you need to take advantage of this opportunity.

But, don’t store these filters just anywhere; you need to keep them somewhere clean and dry if they are not in use.

Conclusion

Changing filters is a necessity, especially if your air filter system is connected to your HVAC system.

This is for the reason that your HVAC system may perform poorly or even break down if the air filters are dirty or clogged.

Having said that, you should make it a point to change or clean filters on a regular basis.

Having clean filters will allow your air filter system to perform at normal capacity, which directly results in your HVAC system functioning properly, enabling you and your family to enjoy clean, fresh air that is devoid of any pollutants.

 

 

Guest Post by William Turner

Indoor ceiling fans can be a great fixture for any house, and most people will consider installing them in their own home or in any construction they’re working on.

However, outdoor fans can often prove just as beneficial in a house new or old. Whether it’s for a patio, deck, or any other area of your house or backyard, outdoor fans provide significant utility for a variety of installations. 

Efficient Cooling

Although a common patio fan may come to mind when you think of outdoor fans, the world of outdoor fans has a wide variety of designs and products to offer.

One of the biggest differences you’ll find between many fans is the length of the blades.

While most indoor ceiling fans for residential use feature blades of similar length across different products, the range in common outdoor fans is much larger.

A small patio can usually be efficiently cooled by a fan much like one you’d find in an average household room, with three to five blades of moderate length. 

However, if you’re looking to cool a larger area, it might be beneficial to look into high CFM fans, which move more air and provide more intense circulation.

Fans like these might have blade spans of up to 100 inches.

Like normal indoor ceiling fans, high CFM fans can be found with only three blades, but you’ll also commonly encounter models with six to eight blades.

Don’t be deceived simply by size and amount, however.

The shaping of the blades and the power behind a fan can have as much of an impact on cooling, and you might find a reasonably small three-bladed fan with surprising efficiency. 

Look into options with multiple speed settings and high specs from reputable brands to find the most power in any category. 

Pest Management

There’s nothing more annoying than trying to relax on a patio or porch and encountering droves of mosquitos or gnats.

Outdoor fans can help keep off unwanted pests as more powerful fans will create more intense air circulation that discourages small insects from attempting to fly into your area.

With a nice fan above your head, you can finally enjoy that cookout or family dinner without insects landing on your food left and right. 

Lighting can often be a challenge for outdoor areas.

Although sunlight can work its magic during the day, you’ll need something to supplement as the evening starts to wane.

You can avoid the instability of standing light fixtures and the clutter of more overhead lights by investing in a fan with a central ceiling light.

This can open up a whole new world of usability in the evening and night hours, and effect of air circulation on pests will help counteract the issue of drawing bugs to the light that you might suffer with many other light fixtures. 

Outdoor resilience

Most indoor ceiling fans would have difficulty holding up to the elements, but many outdoor fans are built to weather the storms.

If a fan is damp rated, it means it can handle the moisture of being outside on a covered patio or a similar structure. You shouldn’t have to worry about minor water damage or issues like the blades warping.

However, for a more fully exposed outdoor area, it’s best to look into wet rated fans, which are properly waterproofed to withstand rain in the environment.

Normal environmental conditions shouldn’t cause damage to the motor or tarnishing of metals with proper wet rated fans.

No matter what the purpose, an outdoor ceiling fan brings an enormous amount of value to the table.

If you’re designing or remodeling a space like a patio or porch, be sure to think about how you could naturally incorporate a fan.

You might be surprised by just how much it can transform an area!

Guest Post by Andrea Estrada

If you are serious about buying a new dream house for you and your family, then you have to be extra careful before you put pen to paper.

For all you know, your dream house may turn out to be a complete lemon – beautiful on the outside, but a total wreck on the inside. . . . and because of that mistake, you’re the one who’s going to be paying for all the pending issues.

We understand how badly you and your family want to get into a new house but it’s not worth it if you’re going to end up being worse off financially.

So to ensure you don’t regret purchasing your new house, it’s highly recommend you inspect the home more diligently to look out for any lingering issues that need fixing or addressing. 

To help you out, we have put together a new house checklist highlighting some of the common issues that you should be wary of before buying.

Warning Signs Before Buying a New House

Problematic Construction

This is one of the more prominent issues that can, sometimes be determined with your own two eyes.

It’s not that easy to notice at first glance or from afar.

That’s why we suggest inspecting things up close to ensure there isn’t anything unusual with the walls like holes, cracks, or flaking paint. 

Sometimes, such structural issues can be very well hidden by home sellers to sweeten the deal to their clients.

You might never know when the problem isn’t obviously visible until and unless rain starts pouring down, a friendly neighborhood electrician comes in for a checkup, or a family member who works in construction notices something peculiar.

So before someone else’s problems become your own, wouldn’t it be better to get a proper inspection of the place done before officially committing to a deal?

If you don’t want to take any chances, you can hire a professional house inspector to browse around right in front of you and ensure everything in good condition.

Will Local Projects Affect the Home

You should also look into the construction of infrastructure around your home.

For those living in Australia, learn more about the various projects underway in your home area.

Noise and extra traffic for these projects may negatively impact your home’s value.

You can get a renowned, professional real estate agent to guide you over the process, giving you particular advice for the area where your new house is located.

Water Damage

Like construction, water damage can be, at times, easy to spot – like when you see a dark ring on the floor or the ceiling – and sometimes not.

Be sure to check for tiny cracks in the ceiling, some missing tiles from the bathroom, peeled off or bubbling paint.

These are obvious indicators of leaks from bathrooms, sinks, the roof, and other places.

If a simple repair is all it takes, then there’s nothing to worry about.

However, we implore you to pay extra heed to water damages and do not leave them up to chance as it could lead to bigger potential issues later on.

For instance, if the ceiling or the tub has been leaking for a while, it could result in grandiose structural problems.

Burning Smells

Another critical aspect of the ‘moving into a new house checklist’ is looking for burning smells.

Aire Serv owner Richard Ciresi says that some burning smells are quite common and harmless, especially when we turn on the heat, but others can be a lot more concerning.

For instance, a burning smell coming from the heater could suggest that the blower motor might have overheated due to frayed electrical wiring or mechanical issues. 

Other smells that we should be wary of are gunpowder-type odors from a fried motor fan or circuit board.

Any nasty smells coming from AC vents could mean that the unit’s wire insulation has fried.

Ciresi says that other types of burning heater aromas are not only possibly hazardous, but also quite expensive to repair, and require a professional heating technician to have a look.

The Roof

Usually, roofs are well maintained and can last at least 30 or more years – but those with tiles that are in poor condition or have been poorly installed could need to be replaced sooner than you expect.

If you notice the roof in such a condition, ask the seller how old the roof actually is.

You must also have the gutters inspected to ensure the drainage systems are in proper working condition.

Besides that, keep a sharp eye out for dry rot – usually the result of poor ventilation – that leads to crumbling and sagging.

Some cracks or damaged tiles may be visible from the ground, but it may be more feasible to have a professional roofer perform an inspection either while the offer is being made by the seller or during contract negotiations. 

But if the seller has already performed an inspection of the house before putting it up for sale, then ask them to review it in front of you.

Flood Zone

Another crucial aspect of moving into a new house checklist is checking to see if your new property is located in a flood zone.

Perhaps a picturesque waterfront view could serve as a unique selling point for a new house, but if that house is in a flood zone, then you could be facing a slew of problems over the course of your stay.

Unfortunately, many homeowners’ insurance policies don’t factor flooding as part of their plans and your bank probably might also ask you to invest in a flood insurance policy over the home insurance that you already have. 

Depending on the flood zone, insurance premiums can cost somewhere between hundreds or perhaps even thousands of dollars a year.

Guest Post by Andrej Kovačević

The work market is an ever-expanding organism that keeps adapting to the world’s needs, development rate and skills.

In the past decades we’ve seen a considerable shift towards digital jobs, the kind that require you to sit behind a desk and tackle more or less undecipherable information, while feeding it to a specialised software.

Fortunately, the world has not yet reached a point where traditional jobs are pushed out of the work market.

One of these is carpentry, this very essential line of work regardless where you are located and where the world is headed.

 

1. What Are the Financial Prospects of a Carpenter?

As with any other career choice, carpentry requires thorough training and apprenticeship, but once you’ve gone through all the steps, you’ll find carpentry to be a rewarding career, both morally and financially.

As there are variations on the tasks you can perform as a carpenter, in Australia you can expect a salary of $32 to $42 per hour of work.

However this number can go even higher depending on your specialty – for example as a formwork carpenter you can even earn $50 per hour.

2. How Can You Improve Your Skills and Pay As a Carpenter?

The increase in pay all depends on the amount of time you are willing to invest in developing your skills as a carpenter.

This means that you will need to invest time in getting extra certifications, as well as in organically gaining experience through more and bigger projects you take on throughout the years.

The first step in becoming a qualified carpenter is to complete a carpentry apprenticeship.

This typically takes three or four years to complete and it combines both the theoretical approach, by offering in-classroom classes, and the hands-on approach, by offering on-the-job training, such as on construction sites.

You will also need to officially get certified and you can do this by completing your Certificate III in Carpentry – it’s recommended that you do this before you complete an apprenticeship. 

In three years’ time you will have finished, after which you can develop even further by completing Certificate IV in Building and Construction, for example.

All these certifications will only further your knowledge, improve your skills and help you go up in the payscale.

Another benefit you get by becoming a carpenter is that you actually get the skills to build your own home, your own shed or anything else you dream of.

That’s not something many people can say or do for themselves.

3. What Type of Projects Does a Carpenter Work On?

The job of a carpenter is an exciting one, since it’s riddled with diverse activities, each one more complex and demanding than the other.

As a carpenter you will be able to read and follow plans when building, you will establish the framework of the structures you work on, and will determine the appropriate materials during installation procedures.

Additionally, you will measure, cut materials, assemble parts and even guide other carpenters or construction workers through the building process.

Without a shadow of a doubt, being a carpenter is a physically demanding job and sometimes comes with unforeseen injuries.

It is a job with a high degree of responsibility where you are held accountable for your decisions and judgement.

4. What Makes a Good Carpenter?

Carpentry is a complex line of work and, as such, it requires you to have a few qualities you will need to have in order to get ahead and manage to stand out of the crowd as a great professional.

As a carpenter, you will need to be good with your hands, to have reasonable mathematical skills, to have a good physical condition and to have excellent attention to details.

In addition to this, since you’ll permanently be working with others, you’ll need to be able to communicate well and work as part of a team.

These skills are all non-negotiable regardless if you’re a formwork carpenter, a framework one, a joiner carpenter or a green carpenter. Of course, you can only improve them in time, as you gain experience in your field.

At the end of the day, carpentry is a challenging line of work that requires you to train thoroughly and to maintain yourself active, both mentally and physically.

If you’re willing to put in the hours, are keen on working with other people and like creating something with an immediate, visible impact, then carpentry is definitely for you.

Guest Post By Ruby Anne

Transporting a car when you are moving house can be quite a challenging task, especially if you’re moving a luxury vehicle, or perhaps a treasured older car.

Chances are you won’t be driving your important vehicle from state to state because it’ll just put unnecessary mileage on the odometer.

Such a vehicle requires special attention if an owner wishes to transport the vehicle from one place to another.

You will want to be sure that your vehicle arrives safely to its intended destination because repairs can be quite costly.

You don’t want to entrust a Mercedes S-Class to a random car transport company that doesn’t specialise in this particular service.

Do your own research and figure out what are the best ways to find a reliable transport company, you may check Reef Group if you want your things to be secured.

Here we’ll be discussing several things you need to know about transporting luxury cars and what you can do to ensure that your vehicle is safe and secure throughout the trip.

Car shipping options

The first thing to discuss is your options when it comes to shipping.

In most cases, your luxury car will be transported via a trailer (for cars that need to be shipped domestically.) You have two options when it comes to domestic car shipping:

• Open air trailer
• Enclosed trailer

The process of how your car is shipped varies between the two so it’s important to know the differences. First off, let’s talk about how an open air trailer transports your car.

Open Air Trailer

An open air trailer (as the name suggests) has no enclosure to secure your vehicle from the elements. These trailers are around 70 to 80 feet long and are towed by a large truck.

This is the most affordable option when it comes to shipping your luxury car, but the downside is that your vehicle will be exposed to the elements.

Flying debris such as rocks and dust can leave scratches on your vehicle during transport.

Therefore, transporting your car via an open air trailer is generally not recommended to keep your car in pristine condition.

Some car transportation companies provide insurances for damages during transport so make sure to look into this first if you do decided to go with this option.

Enclosed Trailer

An enclosed trailer safeguards your luxury vehicle from the elements and provides added protection and security during transportation.

These containers are built with durable materials that can withstand even the harshest outdoor elements.

If you want your luxury car to arrive safely to its destination without a hint of scratches, shipping it via an enclosed trailer is your best bet.

International Transport

Most of the time, luxury vehicles are shipped either through air or ocean freight when being shipped internationally. Here you are also provided with two options to choose from:

• Air freight
• Ocean freight

Air freight shipping

Whether it be domestically or internationally, you can choose to have your luxury vehicle transported by air.

Shipping is much faster compared to ocean freight shipping and if you want to schedule a specific delivery date, you may be able to ship your luxury car by charter plane.

It’s one of the safest and fastest ways to deliver your new car and it’s also the most expensive.

It costs thousands of dollars, but it’ll ensure that your exotic car will arrive quickly,unscathed and in pristine condition.

Ocean freight shipping

Ocean freight shipping is commonly used to ship exotic cars overseas and the process is a bit longer compared to air freight shipping.

You can either have your car shipped in a roll on/roll off service, or a container service.

The former loads your car onto the ship and is fastened within a containment desk while the latter puts your vehicle inside an enclosed container before being rolled into the ship.

If you want maximum protection for your vehicle, opt for a container service when shipping your car through sea.

The enclosed container provides much more protection which means less scratches and less chances of damaging your car mid-transport.

What to do before shipping your vehicle

There are a couple of steps you need to take before your vehicle is shipped to ensure that it is prepared for transportation:

1. Discuss the shipping policies with the car transportation company to know how your vehicle will be shipped throughout the entire process.
2. Ask whether or not the company offers an insurance for damages. This is especially important since your vehicle is vulnerable to damage during transportation.
3. Take note of your vehicle’s odometer and discuss with the company about the distance your car will travel during shipping.

Your vehicle must be in running condition if you choose to ship it via a roll on/roll off service and make sure to provide the car transport company with a set of keys as well as keeping one for yourself.

For overseas shipping, customs will generally require you to have 2-3 notarized copies of the vehicle ownership which are to be presented at the port before the vehicle is shipped.

Most auto transport companies provide a high-tech GPS tracking system for your vehicle so that you can track its location anytime.

Conclusion

Transporting your exotic car requires careful planning and consideration since it’s an investment that you should definitely look after.

You want to make sure that your vehicle is transported safely and securely to prevent any damage during transportation.

Keep these options in mind so you can choose which method of shipping best suits your needs when transporting your vehicle.

Guest Post by Ruby Anne

The world has become so dangerous that if you do not take any precautionary measures, you may end up getting burgled or in worst cases—getting hurt in burglary incidents.

Many people  still cannot see why such home security systems are essential and  may consider this as additional expenses without anything to give back in return.

With that being said, a home security system is an important safeguard.

It is better to be safe than to be sorry.

A home security system does not only provide protection—it gives you peace of mind particularly if through reliable experts like Casa Security.

Lots of Options

Finding a good home security system can be difficult.

The market offers competitive packages and this can be quite overwhelming to look at if you have to consider which features are necessary for your household.

Therefore, we should take a look at the different types of security systems and identify which of these may be best suited for you and your household.

Local Alarm System

This is the most basic among all the home security systems that you can get.

They are usually un-monitored and very simple to operate.

They have sensors that you have to put on doors and windows. Its sensors have two parts that are somewhat similar to the wireless and wired systems. Its concept is quite simple.

When the circuit gets broken, an alarm sounds. This sound usually comes from the sensor itself.

With local alarms, you do not have to worry about the cost.

They can be found at many department stores and online stores costing around a hundred dollars per sensor.

They can be the most cost-effective among all the security systems but they are the weakest.

While they can be easily installed, they can easily be deactivated as well.

It’s really a minimal option if you only need something as a temporary option.

Wired Alarm System

This is the most conventional option that many people trust.

It includes a control panel, and can include sensors, motion detectors and cameras.

When someone trips any part of the system, an external alarm will set off.

If you have someone who monitors the system for you, they can immediately contact you and emergency services units if necessary.

You don’t have to worry much about batteries since this is a wired system but with Australian regulations you will need to use a professional installer.

Because of the need to run cables this is more suited to new houses, or ones that are being substantially remodeled.

Wireless Alarm System

Although this is similar to wired alarm system, the wireless communication means the installation cause less disruption, with no wires.

If the system is also monitored, you and the authorities will be notified.

This option is popular with existing homeowners and even renters.

However, the details still depend on the provider you have chosen for monitoring and the system you have at home.

Although you can install wireless systems if you can follow the instruction manual  hiring a professional to install it for you means that you can be assured that it is done right.

Because system works on batteries it means that you have to remember to replace them with high-quality batteries once every couple of years.

Its price per unit is also usually higher than the local and wired systems.

Finally

It may be hard to decide which one to use but you should consider what type of property you are protecting.

If you are renting a place, a wireless system is the best one so it will be easy for you to take them with you.

The same goes for apartments and units because they are easy to install.

If you own a business, or have a substantial home, having a wired and wireless security system is a good option.

Guest Post by Asad Shoaib 

A hot water system is one of the most important elements of your home that adds to your ease and comfort.

Not many people like a cold shower!

The more aspects you take into account while buying a water system, the more informed and calculated decisions you will be able to make.

Here are a few buying tips or guide mentioned to help you buy a hot water system for your home.

Types

The most common types include storage tank, Instant (tankless), solar, and heat pump.

You must know about the pros, cons, and features of each one of the available types to be able to make the right buying decision.

It will also help determine which particular type of hot water system is suitable for your personal needs.

Budget

The other most important thing to do while buying a hot water system is to consider your budget plan.

You must have a clear idea about your budget constraints or limitations to make sure that you know the exact amount you can spend on buying a hot water system.

It would help you prevent from falling for unnecessary temptations.

Also, you won’t have to face any financial crises later.

Location

You must also decide about the location or spot where you are going to place your hot water system.

You don’t want a location too far from your main taps or the hot water takes too long to arrive.

It would help you pick the right style and size to ensure that the system looks aesthetically pleasing after the installation.

If you don’t consider such important aspects beforehand, you would have to deal with a lot of mess of moving things around to create some space for your new system.

Need

You must also determine your personal needs and preferences beforehand.

If your old hot water system is leaking every second day, you must go get a new one that can fulfill your needs effectively.

For instance, if you have a large family, the hot water system you buy must have the capacity to provide enough hot water for laundries, showers, and dishwashers of each family member. 

Efficiency

Efficiency is another most important factor which you cannot ignore while buying a hot water system.

You can determine the efficiency of a system through its energy factor (EF). The higher the energy factor, the more efficient a hot water system will be.

You can also consider the recovery rate or flow rate to analyze the volume of hot water a system can provide you with in the first hour after you open the tap. 

Online Reviews

Online reviews and suggestions are the best way to know about different types of available hot water systems.

Since these are the words coming from past customers, it would help you see the other side of the picture before making a final buying decision.

Guest Post by Andrej Kovačević

A house isn’t the best thing for everyone.

There are plenty of people who like living in apartments like these Highline Westmead apartments.

Some people prefer their home to be in an older low rise apartment.

There are also lots of investors that buy apartments to rent out.

Advantages

• • Good for Singles and Couples – Smaller simpler space may well be big enough and apartments are likely to be closer to jobs and restaurants.
  • Less maintenance – Most maintenance is taken care of by the the body corporate, making one less major worry for you.
  • No Lawn Mowing – or sweeping paths!
  • Amenities – Depending on the development there may be array of amenities. These usually include covered parking and a security system but can include things like: a swimming pool, a communal barbeques, a gym,
  • Smaller Utility Bills – Generally heating, cooling an apartment is easier than a house  electricity gas and water bills will be lower.

  Disadvantages

  • Storage Space – This can be a significant problem if you are downsizing from a house.
  • Noise – Although wall and floors between apartments are more substantial than most domestic interior walls from time to time you will hear noise from adjoining apartments.
  • Making it ‘Yours’ – Body corporate rules the extent to which you can personalise your apartment without body corporate approval.
  • Parking – Its rare to have more than one parking space which can be a problem if you are a two car couple. This can also  make it difficult for visitors.

   

  Apartment living may be well suited to many but there are disadvantages you need to take into consideration.

Guest Post by Andrej Kovačević

Most people want to see a quick garden when they move into their new house. . . but they are faced with a clayey mess.

That makes turf very popular . . . . but it doesn’t mean its instant!

If you are going to have a quality lawn you do need to spend some time on preparation before laying the turf.

Ordering Your Turf

Before you start you need to think about the type of turf you want and where you want to get it from.

Although I am a big spender at Bunnings I wouldn’t buy turf from there.

I would be talking to a quality turf supplier who can provide me with good advice on turf varieties and deliver freshly cut turf.

You don”t want to buy turf that has been cut for a week or more.

Preparation

Its going to take at least three weeks before you will be ready to lay the turf

Step One – Kill the weeds Use a good quality herbicide and leave for at least 10 days for the weeds to die off.

Step 2 – Excavate and Fill Usually with a new house the ground surface will be different to the finished lawn surface you want to you need to move the subsoil. Aim for the finished subsurface to be around 150mm below the finished lawn level.

Step 3 – Check the pH The target soil pH for turf is between 5.5 and 6.5.

Step 4 – Spread the Topsoil  Spread a good quality topsoil and lightly compact. Aim for a finished level 25-30mm below finished lawn level.

You are now ready to receive your turf delivery!

Laying Turf

Keep off the grass for the first 4 weeks but make sure its adequately watered.

You should then be ready for regular mowing/