Who Should Pursue a Career in Construction

Guest post by Andre Smith

The world offers a seemingly limitless number of choices when it comes to choosing a career.

Some people know what they want right away, while others take most of their life to discover their calling.

Most places of employment require the usage of some sort of structure, so the world needs people who work in construction based careers.

A person who would enjoy construction will have a few different qualities.

One of the qualities a person in construction should have is an interest in buildings.

Without this, a person will likely feel stuck in the job and as if they have wasted their life.

When choosing to work in construction, a person should be satisfied with what their life will become.

People who like problem solving and pay attention to detail are people who may benefit from a career in construction.

There are many problems that may be present in construction.

For example, the plan for a building may not work out the way it was predicted, so a worker will have to work around this issue to complete the project.

This would also require an attention to detail so that the problem is solved without creating more problems.

Organized people who are motivated to meet deadlines would do well with a career in construction.

Deadlines are important to meet because construction projects can cause inconveniences for people.

By staying organized, a person will be able to get the job done efficiently because the person will already know what things are and where those things are needed.

A person who wants a meaningful career may also consider construction a nicely suited career.

People who work in construction build many places that are necessary for society.

Hospitals, political buildings, and houses are just a few of the things are person could build.

Without these buildings, society would have a challenging time functioning.

Without construction workers, these buildings would not be built.

People who enjoy traveling should consider a career in construction.

There are jobs all over the place for construction workers, so all a person has to do is secure one. after that, the person
gets to work in new place and experience a new culture.

There are not many other jobs that offer such a great ability to travel to far, diverse places, but construction is one of them.

Getting a job in construction is not necessarily hard, but there are things a person can do to improve their opportunities to get a job.

One of these things is taking a course to earn a Diploma of Building and Construction.

This can give a person a head start on earning jobs such as foreman or site supervisor.

To earn this diploma, a person can take an online course, giving people the ability to choose when to begin and study within the confines of their schedule.

The course will give students the skills needed manage, plan, supervise, and finish the construction of medium rise buildings.

As such, the course is relatively in depth to ensure students master the skills for these sorts of jobs.

The course will teach students skills that allow them to make cost estimates, manage different areas of construction jobs, and sustainable design techniques.

Additionally, the course will allow students to become licensed in many different countries and states.

While a career in construction is not for everyone, there are some people who will thrive in this career.

Organization, time management, and problem solving abilities are a few examples of
traits people who should consider construction may have.

The diversity of construction makes it an excellent career choice.

Home Haven

5 Secrets to Staying Safe in Your House

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

You may think that home burglary will never happen to you, but the unfortunate truth is that it’s a real possibility.

With most families embracing a tech-forward lifestyle in which they own many expensive devices, it’s easier than ever for burglars to enter your home and steal thousands of dollars worth of possessions in one hit.

Instead of putting yourself at risk of becoming a victim of crime, read these tips below to get some ideas on improving your home safety:

Beef Up Home Security

Not everyone knows that a low-end system is often not enough to stop a high-end burglar.

If your home security systems aren’t up to date or lack the necessary features to keep a burglar out of your home, you run the risk of them being a minor inconvenience for a thief rather than a complete deterrent.

Alongside a standard burglar alarm, you should also incorporate sensors, lights, and 24/7 monitoring by an alarm company to ensure maximum security.

You can even opt for a security system you can monitor from your smartphone that alerts you any time there’s unexpected movement in your home.

Light Up Your World

Using outdoor lighting can add a beautiful touch of ambiance to your property, but it can also boost your home’s security.

By eliminating dark spots around your yard and keeping your entire property well-lit, you can deter would-be thieves from entering your home.

When burglars know that they’re in full view of cameras and other people, they’re less likely to strike.

Given the alarming number of burglaries that occur each year, every little thing you can do to protect your property will help.

Spare Key Safety

If a burglar is trying to gain access to your home, the first place they’re going to look is under your doormat or flowerpot for your spare key.

Even if you have a home security system in place, a swift thief will be able to unlock the door, make a beeline for the closest item of value and run away.

In some cases, your insurance may not even cover your loss. Instead of leaving a key outside, give it to a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member that you can contact should you get locked out.

Lock Everything

When you believe you live in a safe neighborhood, it’s easy to get complacent and leave your children’s bikes on the lawn, the garage unlocked, and garden tools on the front porch.

All it takes is an opportunist to pass by and swipe your belongings in seconds.

To prevent this from happening, make a point of locking everything up when you finish with it – that includes your front and back doors!

Even though burglary has been on the decrease in the United States since 1991, there are still on average 470 cases per 100,000 people each year.

This means that, unfortunately, you’re more at risk than you think you are.

Be Wary of Visitors

Burglars often want to make sure they’re visiting the best houses, so it’s not uncommon for them to sniff around before making their move.

Always be wary of those asking to use your phone, trying to sell you something at the door, or offering to do odd jobs around your home.

Never let a stranger into your house unless they can provide you with formal, valid identification.

Take the time now to check all your locks, remove that spare key from under the mat, and install outdoor lighting. These quick and simple measures are all it takes to prevent becoming a victim of burglary and most importantly, ensuring the safety of you and your family.

Classy Kitchens

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look Beautiful

Guest Post by Hubert Dwight

The kitchen is the heart of the home.

In addition to being the area where you prepare all of your meals, it’s also the ideal setting for catching up with family, entertaining guests, or brewing a pot of coffee to start your day off on the right foot.

Considering the kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in the home, it’s essential that it looks tidy and welcoming. Fortunately, making your kitchen look beautiful doesn’t have to involve costly, full-scale renovations; with the five useful tips and tricks below, you can have a kitchen that’ll be the envy of your friends in no time:

Upgrade Your Cookware and Utensils

If your pots and pans are scratched and rusting and your cutlery stained and bent, it’s time to consider an upgrade.

After all, it’s difficult to have a stunning modern kitchen when your tools don’t look the part!

There are plenty of beautiful cookware sets on the market that can replace your worn equipment and make the process of cooking easier – say goodbye to burned, unevenly cooked food and welcome in a new era of perfectly seared fish, steak and vegetables, while adding a gorgeous visual touch to the heart of the home.

Declutter Your Countertop

A cluttered counter top can detract from the appearance of your kitchen and make it appear untidy and disorganized.

Instead of storing all your appliances on your benchtop, keep your coffee pot, kettle and blender stashed away in cupboards.

Accentuate the counter with a beautiful wooden or marble chopping board to make it pop.

Not only will having a clutter-free benchtop make your kitchen look beautiful, but it’ll also give you more preparation space and streamline your cooking process.

Cut a Rug

While putting down a rug in your kitchen may seem counter-intuitive, it can help to bring your décor together and make the space seem homely and inviting.

To create a cohesive look, you can either match the rug to your cabinetry or choose a contrasting palette that will give your kitchen a bold, exciting look.

Additionally, if you’re renting your home and can’t update the flooring, laying down a rug is the ideal way to conceal scuffed, drab floorboards or tiles and refresh the area.

Plant Some Herbs

Nothing is as effective in livening up a space as the presence of greenery.

To add a splash of color to your kitchen, plant herbs such as basil, coriander, chives and oregano in small pots on your windowsill.

As well as freshening up your kitchen, having your own herb garden means that you’ll never be at a loss for garnishes and seasoning for your culinary creations again!

Just make sure to do your research on which plants will thrive in your kitchen’s lighting conditions before visiting the nursery.

Update Your Hardware

The hardware on your cabinets and cupboards can be thought of as the jewelry and accessories of your kitchen.

By simply switching outdated knobs and handles for current options, you can transform the look of your entire space and breathe new life into old cabinets and drawers.

Installing a sleek faucet can also assist in giving your kitchen a modern edge, especially if your current faucet is leaky and dated.

Creating a beautiful kitchen doesn’t have to be an expensive, time-consuming process.

With the five suggestions outlined above, you’ll soon be on your way to establishing a space you can be proud of in just a matter of days or weeks.

Happy updating!

Benefits of Using a Timber Wall System

Guest Post By Stephen Tasker

No matter what the type of building – residential or commercial – there are common needs that can lead you to consider timber wall systems.

Any home or business can be improved with the benefits of natural, sustainable and low-maintenance wood used to improve acoustics, meet code requirements, provide beauty and privacy, and enhance architectural details.

Let’s look at some of the many benefits architectural timber provides, and you’ll quickly appreciate how it will enhance your home or business.

Acoustical Control

There’s a reason that wood is used in musical instruments.

Its inherent qualities allow it to absorb and diffuse sound – and it does it with a warmer, softer result than metal or other substances.

Open floor plans and high ceilings can create an environment where everyday life – conversations, plumbing, kitchen noise, traffic can become distracting and unpleasant.

Timber feature walls and ceilings can help control the noise in your business or home – and do it attractively.

With the addition of a suspended timber ceiling and other features, the sounds stop echoing.

The noise flows between and behind the wood slats, shaping and diffusing the sounds, and letting you enjoy the calmer, quieter benefits.

In commercial applications, these same qualities give efficient and attractive results to theaters, restaurants, retail and office spaces.

Enhancing Architecture

In contemporary, rustic or other interiors, wood is a classic.

It can fit into any home or commercial design.

Architectural timber features can define areas in open spaces, emphasize a wall, soften a high ceiling, provide privacy, and add stunning accents to any kind of space.

Suspended timber ceilings give warmth to rooms and provide a background for light fixtures that ceiling tiles or plasterboard cannot match.

It works well for protected outdoor spaces, too.

A well-placed timber wall lets light flow through while giving you privacy.

Whether inside or out, timber features can be the perfect solution for updating your space while adding value and warmth.

Sustainability

Living green is an important part of adding timber ceiling systems or timber feature walls to your commercial or home space.

Finding a sustainable building product that uses woods like Western Red Cedar can be an important contribution to your green lifestyle and your commitment to the environment.

The Red Cedar used in Austratus timber ceiling and wall products, for example, is a certified sustainable product.

The growth and production methods help limit greenhouse gases, create less pollution of water and air, use less energy, and are highly renewable and sustainable.

Using a suspended timber ceiling means that the materials used are much friendlier to the environment and come from materials that don’t require mining.

You can feel good about a product that uses materials that are certified to come from a sustainably managed forest.

Code Compliant Construction

It might be surprising to learn that elements like timber ceiling systems and timber feature walls can be a beautiful way to complete your project while remaining code compliant.

Fire ratings for commercial spaces can be a headache.

The correct timber products can assist you to easily meet Building Code Level 3 requirements in your building.

Western Red Cedar is a wood with low fire spread and fire hazard qualities, and used with sprinklers, it is easier than ever to meet the building regulations.

Ease of Maintenance

The wood used in architectural timber features, suspended ceilings, and walls has another feature that you may not have considered – easy upkeep.

The maintenance is almost non-existent.

Keeping it clean will help extend the life of the finish, but many actually prefer the look that the wood takes on as it ages.

Woods like Western Red Cedar are filled with naturally occurring preservatives.

Problems like termites, decay and moisture damage are minimized, adding to the low-maintenance aspect.

The durability of wood has been proved over time.

Privacy

Timber feature walls can provide privacy without sacrificing the flow of air and light through your structure.

The slatted construction limits views from the street or another room while looking great.

Large spaces can be divided into smaller areas, and a well-placed timber wall can allow customers and diners to enjoy a sense of intimacy that might not be possible in a large undefined room.

The acoustic-softening effects of wood also enhance the feeling of privacy.

It’s clear that timber wall systems offer a broad range of benefits – some that you may not have known about.

These systems are easy care, with code-compliant construction features and sustainability built in.

Acoustical control, privacy, and beauty are some of the more obvious benefits.

With manufacturers like Austratus offering off-the-shelf modular solutions to installation, there is now an innovative and easy way to add suspended timber ceilings and walls – and do it more quickly, easily and affordably than ever.

How To Select Bathroom Furniture

Guest post by Stephen Tasker

It’s one of the smallest rooms in the house – and also one of the easiest to refresh and renovate.

Your bathroom can look totally different with new bathroom furniture.

Read on for our tips on how to change up the look of this room while minding your budget.

Bathroom updates don’t have to be scary or as expensive as you thought!

Look at your storage needs

Storage is probably the number one need listed by hopeful bathroom remodelers.

Even a single person can quickly overwhelm the space with all the things that just need to be in the bathroom.

How many can you think of, right now? Linens and towels? Of course,

Shampoo, conditioners, lotions, bath soaps, hair styling products? Definitely.

How about hair dryers, hair styling tools, and shavers? Makeup – all the makeup. Extra paper products. Every single dental hygiene product. Packs of razors, bars of soap, cotton? Candles, bubble bath? Cleaning supplies? What about the linen hamper?

There’s a lot to wrangle – and fortunately, bathroom furniture is all about storage.

Once you’ve done a mental inventory of all your items, look for vanities and mirror cabinets that will help you tuck away all your linens, towels, and extras neatly.

Deep drawers can accommodate tall bottles, styling tools, and other bulky items, while under sink storage will help you organize your towel stacks and cleaning supplies.

A good bathroom furniture supplier will have the selection of styles and sizes that will help you organize it all, beautifully.

Consider your style

Bathroom furniture can make a huge impact in your space.

Are you yearning for a sleek, minimalist environment where you can feel calm and serene as you soak?

Does a more rustic look that will complement your plants and natural aesthetic sound like you?

Consider finishes and colour when deciding on your bathroom on a budget.

Wood or ceramic vanity tops offer completely different looks.

White is classic and can make a small space feel more spacious.

Even the size and shape of your vanity top can set the tone for your new bathroom look.

Fortunately, this is not something that you have to decide upon from tiny online pictures, at least if you live in Brisbane.

The Bathrooms On A Budget showroom is a great place to visit and see all these ideas in person.

It’s always a good idea to take some ideas along on your shopping trip by saving photos on your phone.

Likewise, take some snaps of your favorite designs while you’re there.

These will help you decide on the best look for your space once you’re back home.

Much Ado About Bedding

Guest Post by Hubert Dwight

Putting together a gorgeous bedroom set can be stressful and often quite expensive.

With that said, a couple of key pieces and quality purchases will result in a timeless creation generating the right ambience for your boudoir aiding a peaceful sleep haven.

Understanding the difference between down quilts, doonas, coverlets and comforters will help you ascertain what it is you are after, how to use it, what works best with what, all in the hope of helping you achieve a beautiful night’s rest in complete comfort.

Down Quilts

Goose down quilts are the ultimate in warmth and being premium – last for years and years.

Thanks to the count of goose down, warmth is assured providing superior insulation as their pocket like design keeps the down in place, simultaneously ensuring it settles naturally for the most wonderful, cozy feeling as you snuggle underneath it.

Chinese made quilts offer those on a budget value for money too, as they still provide warmth and durability.

Australian made woollen quilts are also a fantastic alternative and are perfectly suited to those who find goose down too warm.

To protect your down quilts (also known as doonas), ensure you purchase a quality bed topper or mattress protector along with a breathable cover.

Doonas

A doona is essentially the same thing as a down quilt.

Like down quilts, we recommend doonas are inserted into a removable cover, much like a pillow and pillow case.

Doonas with their covers are designed to be used alone (with no sheets) as the insert can be removed and dry cleaned/placed on a gentle wash cycle and obviously the cover can be laundered also.

In Winter, many choose to use doonas with sheets but most like doonas as they reduce the complexity of making a bed due to it being a single covering versus using a combination of bed sheets, blankets, quilts and other bed covers.

Coverlets

Fantastic for hot sleepers or perfect during Summer!

A coverlet is a lightweight, often non-reversible bedspread that is usually woven.

Designed as a decorative layer to go over thicker bedspreads, coverlets are quite thin, making them appropriate for use as stand-alone bed covering, depending on their weight and season.

They can also be used as throws on a bed or sofa.

A coverlet will often have matching pillowcases, but like any interior styling – it’s not mandatory that all pieces match.

Premium Egyptian cotton, silk or bamboo make wonderful coverlets and with classic, or colourful designs, enhance the feel of a room in an instant.

Comforters

Thick and sometimes quilted, a comforter differs from a quilt in that colours are generally dyed into the entire fabric and patterns are not ornately sewn in.

Typically, comforters are filled with layers of material ranging from polyester or synthetic fibres, down feathers, wool or silk.

The amount of filler, determines the amount of warmth comforters generate.

Comforters are stitched or quilted to ensure the filling is evenly distributed.

Comforters are intended to sit on top of bed-sheets, but those who want to create a layered look should let their creative juices run wild.

Scarves and throw blankets

For a splash of colour, contrasting pattern or texture – it’s amazing how a simple throw blanket or even a scarf can add to the overall look and feel of your bedroom’s design.

These can be placed along the foot of the bed, laid vertically or even placed along the bottom of pillows.

When it comes to bedroom interior designing and styling, if it looks good, is functional and feels right – it works.

Trust your instinct.

Just remember to always read the care instructions for all your bedding purchases.

Boom of Self Storage Units (Compactus Type Systems)

Sponsored post by Martin William

Self-storage facilities are experiencing unprecedented demand all over the country but putting possessions in these units long term can be expensive.

Research suggests that as more people than ever before are moving into functional yet compact apartments, intelligent storage solutions like the Compactus system are becoming an interesting alternative.

Growth of Self Storage

In terms of self-storage, current figures suggest that the number of units available across Australia is expected to increase by more than 10% within the next two years alone.

At least 30 new self-storage facilities are set to open their doors across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane over the next two years, of which many will be operated by completely new companies.

Just to put this into some kind of perspective, the typical annual opening rate for such facilities is no more than three per year.

As far as the experts are concerned however, this enormous growth in both demand and available inventory comes as no real surprise.

Apartment living and smaller homes have become something of a new standard across many of Australia’s most populous towns and cities, driving demand for intelligent and accessible storage solutions.

For example, between the years 2011 and 2016, the number of people living in apartments in Brisbane has increased by almost 26%.

During the same period apartment dwelling in Melbourne grew by more than 9%, while the number of
people living in apartments in Sydney increased by almost 19%.

“Urbis has observed a strong correlation between higher-density living and the demand for self-storage in areas such as Waterloo in NSW, Hawthorn in Victoria and Fortitude Valley in Queensland,” said director David
Blackwell. “Demand for self-storage will continue to grow in areas such as Macquarie Park in NSW which is undergoing higher density residential development and significant population growth.”

A Home Solution

Along with self-storage facilities, apartment dwellers are increasingly exploring the available options in terms of a dynamic and intelligent storage solutions to be used within their homes.

Flexible and scalable Storage Systems like the Compactus system have become extremely popular, as has furniture and
fixtures that double-up as convenient storage units.

Compactus mobile shelving living up to its name by effectively and efficiently compacting a much larger shelving system into the smallest possible installation with minimum requirement for floor space.

As far as most experts are concerned however, we’ve really only just begun to see the shape of things to come.

As available floor space in desirable locations diminishes by the day, developers and property buyers alike are finding themselves with little choice but to focus on increasingly compact apartments.

Intelligent storage solutions at home are making it easier and more comfortable for residents to make use of the limited space they have available to them.

Still A Place For Self Storage Companies

Self-storage facilities will provide lifelines for those looking to store larger and/or abundant items away from their property.

One of the key benefits of the wider availability of self-storage facilities across Australia being the gradual yet inevitable decline in associated costs.

Whether looking to store a few items of furniture or the contents of an entire household, doing so should become significantly more affordable over the coming years

Understanding Safety Switches

Out With the Old – Why Coal is Quickly Losing Public Support

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

Coal has long been used as a cheap and efficient energy source around the world.

China, the U.S., and Australia are currently the top three producers of coal.

With more awareness about the dangers of fossil fuel overuse and pollution, it is time to develop more alternative power sources to balance the environment.

Fortunately, solar power energy providers, as well as hydro and wind power sources are becoming more commonplace to help lower carbon emissions and produce cleaner energy.

Continue reading to learn more about the shift in public perception on the use of coal for energy resources.

Changing Attitudes Globally

Both the U.S. and China are both the biggest producers and the largest consumers of coal.

While public perception may be going against the idea of coal usage, it is likely to not be going away anytime soon.

However, there is a push towards renewable energy sources, because reliance solely on coal deteriorates the environmental balance.

A report from National Surveys on Energy and Environment, produced by Muhlenberg College and the University of Michigan shows the attitude towards coal has shifted in the last 10 years with the American public.

The study shows that coal decreased from 48% in 2008 to 30% in 2016, while natural gas increased from 21% to 34% in the electricity grid of the U.S.

Australia’s Changing Mindset

In Australia, there is a battle over the Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s bid to construct a new coal mine.

A public outcry against the project along with years of negotiations and court rulings mean the project is still no closer to a green light.

Adani claims the mine will supply India with much-needed coal. Interestingly enough, India’s coal minister says he wants to cut coal imports.

Solar power has become affordable and accessible for Indians, currently at an all-time low.

While the large-scale Adani project promises to bring jobs, money, and products to both Australia and India, the politicians and the public are at odds and there is no resolution just yet.

The Need for Something New

Coal still provides about 75% of Australia’s electricity.

That is starting to change with shutdowns of older plants that would be too costly to refurbish.

Plants have about a 50-year lifespan, and many have or will soon pass that mark in the next decade.

This is why a push towards solar and wind energy has developed in recent years.

Politics and coal seem to go hand in hand these days. Jobs, economy, energy crisis, and global warming are all terms swirled around in parliamentary debates with political parties volleying terms back and forth without resolution.

The current political climate in the U.S. is essentially slowing the funding and support for renewable energy sources.

Cutbacks and restructuring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as President Trump’s promise to maintain and expand the coal industry are cause for concern, to say the least.

Coal is Losing Public Support

Fortunately, there are an increasing number of agencies and businesses that are rising above governmental delays and fossil fuel support to work towards the goal of more renewable energy sources.

Organisations like BASE in Switzerland have projects in developing countries all over the world to help implement renewable energy sources and innovation. In order to achieve success in their projects, they partner with public and private institutions.

While coal is still a large part of the energy industry around the world, with continued research and insistence on renewable energy sources by governments and its citizens, we can achieve a better environmental balance for future generations.

Benefits of Offset Accounts And Impact On Property Investors

Guest Post by Jelena Djurdjevic

Buying a house can be a stressful process.

Trying to find the right place to live, making sure the property isn’t going to end up costing you a fortune in repairs you didn’t know it needed and actually getting together the money you need to buy it in the first place.

While my husband and I are still trying to get on the property ladder, we’re already thinking ahead and doing our research to find out what kind of deals we could get that would help ease the financial burden.

We’ve even spoken to a financial advisor to figure out what we could realistically afford and when.

It’s not an easy process, and there’s a lot to get your head around, but what’s concerning is that the worry doesn’t stop once you’ve purchased your dream home.

In fact, mortgage stress is surprisingly common, with 29% of Australian households experiencing it.

What’s worse, mortgage stress is set to increase this year, along with defaults.

Offset Accounts

While there are plenty of ways you can minimise the risk of both, such as by sticking to your budget and only getting a place you can truly afford, taking potential interest rate hikes into consideration, and shopping around for the best loan, we’ve been quite interested to learn about the option of having an offset account.

Not heard of it before?

Don’t worry; neither had we.

The basic idea is that you keep your cash in an offset account, rather than a savings account, thereby reducing the total amount you pay on interest each month.

Say you owe $450,000 on your home loan and put $50,000 in an offset account, then you will only be charged interest on the $400,000 by your lender.

So, you can save money on interest, without actually having to pay money into the loan itself.

What you do instead is put that cash into what’s essentially a transaction account that is connected directly to your home loan.

While this may mean that you lose out on the interest you would get from a savings account, it’s still usually a better deal since you’re likely saving more on your home loanand, you don’t have to worry about paying tax on the interest you earn.

What we love about this is that it’s something that could end up saving us thousands in the long run but doesn’t really require much effort on our part.

Plus, it could allow us to pay down our loan faster, while still allowing us access to the savings we have built up in the offset facility.

Yes, you still have access to the money; it’s pretty much a win-win.

It’s ideal if you’re a disciplined saver, which I’m glad to say we both are. However, even if you’re a spender, it could still be a good idea.

If you get your salary to go straight into that account, then the money will immediately impact how much interest you pay, as it’s calculated daily.

Help with Investor Purchase

But what if you’re ahead of us and already own a home, but are looking to upgrade? Or what if you’re a property investor?

Well, there are further advantages of using an offset account

For instance, say you’ve outgrown your current home and want to upgrade to more of a ‘family home,’ while keeping the first property as an investment.

Well, in that case, it could be even more beneficial.

While you may not currently be able to get a tax deduction for interest payment on money borrowed against your existing residence to purchase a new property, you can claim a tax deduction for all interest payments on existing debt on the investment property.

If you take money out of the offset account to help pay for your upgrade, then this will increase the interest payable on your original mortgage.

Since the loan was taken out to acquire a home used strictly for investment purposes, all of this interest cost will be tax deductible.

Lesson learned? . . . . When it comes to money matters, do your homework.

You never know where you could end up saving a ton of money and generally make life a whole lot easier for yourself.