Guest Post by Aaron Campbell

The value of a home depends on several factors. Some of the common factors include location, bathroom size, number of the bedrooms, and parking size.

These obvious factors are not the only determinants of your home’s value.

According to Tulia Real Estate, less obvious factors can affect the value of your home be discrete when deciding whether to reveal the information or not.

Below is a list of such things:

Mature trees

It is common practice for developers to cut down trees to build a house.

Statistics by Forbes reveal that mature trees can increase your home’s value.

In the wake of global warming and deforestation, it is common to see an increasing number of real estate buyers who are environmentally conscious.

To such buyers, the presence of suitably sized mature trees in your compound is a sign of conservation, and thus they will pay a premium price for such a home.

Also trees give your home a fantastic appearance and provide shade, which can increase the value.

The National tree benefits calculator can help you to identify the best tree species to plant to enhance the value of your home.

So if you are planning to sell your home in the coming years, consider planting some trees to increases the value. . . .but make sure it doesn’t dwarf the house!

Proximity to Good Coffee

According to research by USA based, Realty Trac, proximity to Starbucks, and vibrant shops, can increase the value of a home by up to 40%.

Everybody loves food, and being near one of the best coffee outlets can have a significant impact on the value of a property.

Although Starbucks isn’t as common in Australia a good cafe with great coffee is likely to have a similar effect.

The ‘Starbucks effect’ has been explained by Harvard business school in two theories:

• The opening of a good cafe in a neighborhood increases the number of people in an area and  the increased traffic is a sign of growing customers.
• The changing demographics as a result of the presence of good cafes and popular shops. When a popular cafe opens, a diverse demographic of people visits the area, and this boosts the value of a home.

Yet, there is a downside to proximity to good cafes.

It could increase your property taxes after Starbucks setting up a store in their locality.

Same-sex marriages in the neighborhood

The legalization of same-sex marriages in 2015 in the USA had a tremendous effect on property prices.

In communities with a high concentration of gay couples like West Holywood, Castro District inSan Fransisco, the property prices sky-rocketed.

Experts have explained the gay effect in many theories.

• Since most gay couples have few or no children, they tend to have a high disposable income.
• With an increasing disposable income, gay couples can afford to live in high-end properties.
• Many gay couples are politically active andtend to lobby the government to provide social amenities when they move to a new neighborhood.

With two  incomes and few obligations, gay couples can afford to channel a considerable
percentage of their income in home improvement.

According to research by Harvard business school, an increase of same-sex couples by one
increases the property value by 1% in the neighborhood. Yet, there is a twist to this theory. In
conservative places, the presence of gay couples decreases the property value by a considerable
size.

Railway Station

The accessibility and convenience factor of the railway station nearby also affects the property value.

It was revealed, in a 2017 meta-analysis, that having railway station less than 1km increases the value of the property by 12%.

In Melbourne construction of the Sky Rail in the South East suburbs caused a drop in property prices due to local concerns, however prices quickly recovered after the project was completed.

Home owners do prefer avoid getting too close to stations as it can be too busy and noisy  during rush hours.

Death on the property

Some buyers will be put off if they become aware of a death in the property.

It could get worse if the cause of death was suicide often potential buyers, feel homes are ‘cursed,’ and this can be a deal-breaker.

If the death was tragic like suicide, murder, electrocution or death by fire, agents may suggest up to 20% discount on the property.

Death of older people from old age has less effect as death at an old age it shows a potential for a ‘forever home’.

Hence, whether you are buying or selling a property, these are some of the factors that might affect the house valuation in Sydney.

Be discreet when revealing the information to home buyers, unless you are sure that the information will increase the property value.

 

 

Guest Post by Hannah Jones

The mattress you select can influence your health in a lot of ways.

A good mattress can help you sleep better at night, allowing you to become more energetic and productive during the day.

A good mattress can also prevent you from developing allergies and keep your body safe from injuries and body pains.

To ensure that you’ll pick the right mattress, it’s best to consider all the necessary factors the best mattress should have before making a purchase. 

Suppliers that sell beds & mattresses can be found in different locations.

Regardless of where you live right now, you’ll have easy access to these stores. In picking the best mattress, make sure to thoroughly think about the following first:

Size

The market is bombarded with different kinds of mattresses.

All furniture stores offer this product, making it challenging for you to choose one, especially if you’re buying a mattress for the first time.

To help narrow down your search for Australia’s #1 Mattress, start scouting for reputable suppliers and check the size of the mattress.

This is a vital factor to consider as the size of your mattress can affect the overall aesthetics of the room and the comfort of the person sleeping.

Here are some of the most common mattress sizes available in the market today:

• King-Size Mattress (Suitable for Couples): If you’re living with your partner or spouse, a king-size mattress is an appropriate option. King-size mattresses usually have 76 inches of width and are 80 inches in length, providing a lot of room for two people.
• Queen-Size Mattress (Suitable for Adults and Guest Rooms): Every hard-working adult deserves a good night’s sleep. How else can they prepare for more responsibilities and challenges if they can’t get some shut-eye? For guest rooms, a queen-size mattress is an excellent option. This mattress is 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, perfect for any adult who loves sleeping in different positions.
• Full-Size Mattress (Suitable for Kids and Teens): Sleep is vital for the development of kids and teens. School-aged children need around 9 to 11 hours of sleep, while teenagers need to sleep for at least 8 to 10 hours. If you’re buying a mattress for kids and teens, consider choosing a full-size mattress. These mattresses are about 53 inches wide and 75 inches long, allowing kids and teens to stretch and rest better.

Check out this video to know more about the features you should look for in a mattress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNEbOwQbqfs. 

Comfort Level

On average, you will spend an equivalent of 26 years on your mattress.

After a stressful day at school or work, you will usually look forward to relaxing and sleeping on your bed.

This is just one of the reasons why you should buy a mattress that provides the utmost comfort. Buying a cheap mattress but is too stiff for your preference can lead to back pain and other health issues.

When visiting any suppliers in your area, make sure that you’re buying a mattress that is appropriate to your comfort needs and try out the mattress in person.

Here are some tips to check if the product you’ll buy fits your comfort level:

• Pay Attention to Your Posture: Your postural alignment while being in the mattress is one of the most basic indicators of comfort. If your hips and pelvis are raised out of the alignment of your spine, the mattress you’re trying out might be too firm. If you notice your hips sinking, the mattress might be too soft. A comfortable mattress is one that ensures your hips and pelvis are in line with your spine.

• Watch Your Weight: Your body weight, along with your height and Body Mass Index (BMI), can affect the appropriate comfort level when looking for a mattress. Your support and comfort needs can significantly change if you recently lost or gained a few pounds. Generally, short and heavy individuals will require a firmer mattress, while taller people can experience body alignments and proper support from a softer mattress.

• Customize for Comfort: If you have browsed through different stores, and none fit your comfort needs, opt to customize a mattress. There are now suppliers that offer customizable mattresses fit for your unique comfort preferences. Some customizable mattress can even cater to two different comfort requirements, perfect for sleeping partners who have different comfort levels.

Consider Your Sleeping Position

While some sleep comfortably on their backs, others do it on their sides or lying on their stomach.

When buying a mattress, make sure that you consider your sleeping position. Buying one that doesn’t allow you to sleep in your preferred sleeping position can only compromise the quality of your sleep.

If you’re used to sleeping on your back and the mattress you bought is too stiff, you’ll end up tossing and turning and losing sleep every night.

Over time, sleep deprivation can put your health at risk.

For you to have a good night’s sleep, here are some tips to help you buy a mattress that perfectly suits your sleeping position:

• Stomach Sleepers: Sleeping on your stomach with the wrong mattress can strain your neck and push your spine upwards. To prevent this from happening, look for a mattress that provides extra support to your lungs and breasts. Memory foam mattresses that conform to your body are one of the best options for stomach sleepers. This type of mattress allows your body to sink down into the mattress. A memory foam mattress also forms a cushiony layer, perfect for supporting body parts that usually protrude when you sleep.

• Side Sleepers: Side sleepers need to use a mattress that can provide optimal support for their spine and neck. Using an incorrect mattress type for this sleeping position can only result in back and neck problems. If you’re a side sleeper who doesn’t want to experience any of these health problems, scout for a soft or medium memory foam mattress. Buying a mattress that is too firm can leave a space between your neck and the surface you’re sleeping on. This can cause neck and lower back pain. Choosing a mattress that is too soft, on the other hand, will not provide your body with the support it needs.  You can also choose to use a hybrid mattress. Because this type of mattress is made up of foams with different densities, the top layer can act as a plush memory foam while the underlying layers can provide support and density to your body.

• Back Sleepers: Out of the many sleeping positions, sleeping on your back is one of the most common and is the one recommended by doctors. If you sleep this way, you aren’t putting too much pressure on your neck and spine. This sleeping position doesn’t require you to stretch or bend, reducing any back pain or joint pains. For you to sleep well in this position, you need to find a cushioned and supportive mattress that is not too soft. A latex mattress can fit all of these requirements because it can give you the support you need without being too springy. If possible, buy a latex mattress that has orthopedic support for your back to avoid any back problems in the future.

Temperature

Temperature plays a vital role in your sleep.

It’ll be very hard for you to get some shut-eye if your bedroom is too humid.

With this kind of temperature, you’ll be fanning yourself for hours, which can lead to strained wrists.

The same is also true when your bedroom is too cold. Instead of getting long hours of sleep, you’ll be waking up in the middle of the night, freezing.

Regardless if you’re a hot or cold sleeper, there are mattresses that can suit your temperature needs.

If you’re a hot sleeper who consistently feels warm during the night, here are some tips to help you find the best mattress:

• Innerspring mattresses can help you sleep the coolest. This works because this type of mattress lacks density and heat-retaining foams. Innerspring mattresses have springs that allow more breathability.

• Hybrid mattresses can also be a great option because these types of mattresses have an innerspring paired with a padded topper or foam. These features reduce the heat retention of your body, helping you sleep more comfortably at night.

For cold sleepers who always find themselves waking up shivering in the middle of the night, the following tips can come in handy when choosing a mattress:

• A thick memory foam can be the answer to a cold sleeper’s sleeping problems. This kind of mattress is very comfortable and can capture and retain heat. If you choose to use thick memory foam, waking up in the middle of the night and feeling cold will become a thing of the past.

 

Choose Wisely

One of the biggest mistakes people commit in buying a mattress is solely looking at its price tag. Sure, the price can influence your buying decision, but it shouldn’t be the only factor you ought to consider.

The mattress you’ll end up using can impact your general health and life, so make sure to choose carefully. Use this article as your guide, so choosing the best mattress—one that can improve your health—can become a breeze!

 

Guest Post by Andrew Rothfield

Be Safe and Secure, Consult a Property Conveyancer

Owning a home is always exciting but first-time homebuyers will tell you that finding that perfect home is not as easy as it sounds. 

Buying a property is difficult for several reasons.

• First is that it puts a dent in your finances.
• Second is you have to do a lot of research on the background of the property you are buying.
• Thirdly you have to know which legal documents to prepare and when and where to give it. 

The first reason has a lot to do with your personal finances but the two other reasons do not have to make your property-buying experience difficult.

This is why you should hire a property conveyancer. 

Why Hire a Conveyancer?

A conveyancer is a professional who provides information on the properties you are interested in.

They are not necessarily attorneys but some solicitors can act as a conveyancer.

In Australia, conveyancers also aid in preparing and creating legal documentation necessary for the transaction.

If you are not familiar with the legal side of real estate, then you will find a property conveyancer very useful. 

They know what to look for.

Another reason why you should hire a conveyancer is that they become your representative in doing the transactions.

For example, you have to meet the seller of the property and you are unavailable. . . . A conveyancer can take those meetings for you. 

Lastly, conveyancers help you compute how much the property will be once taxes are incorporated.

Most of the time, buyers focus on the legal documentation while not being able to manage the expenses.

As a result, some taxes are not taken into account during the final computation.

With a conveyancer, you can make sure every tax is paid. 

 

Overall, hiring a conveyancer is worth it especially if it’s your first time to buy a property. 

When you move into a new house or if you have moved into a new home, you will want to make sure you can save as much money as possible.

With large loan payments each month you will have less to spend on the things that you need.

Being Eco Friendly isn’t just about protecting the environment it can save you money.

In this article, we will discuss some of the different ways that you can make your new home more Eco-Friendly and help you save money.

Create a Plan

If you are looking for ways to make your new home more eco-friendly then, the first step that you should take is to make sure you can create a plan.

Rather than just do things as they occur to you think about all the things you could do and then prioritise them.

Somethings might be free and just require a bit of effort, other things may have an initial cost but offer big savings.

Recycle

One of the ways that you can make your home more eco-friendly is by making sure that you recycle.

If you recycle it can make your home more eco-friendly because it means that you are reusing nonbiodegradable items instead of throwing them out.

You can recycle and make things, or you can recycle items to use them again or you can recycle them by putting them in the recycling bin.

When you recycle items, it means that not as many would have to be manufactured and there would be a lot less
pollution across the globe.

Use What You Need

Another way that you can make your home more eco-friendly is by buying only what you need.

This means that the amount of waste can be cut down and that things won’t be thrown out for no reason.

If you have a look and use only what you need, you will also be able to save money as you won’t be overbuying or spend money on the things that you don’t really need in life.

Smart Meter

Make use of your smart meter as modern smart meters  can  track how much  energy that you are using each day.

This also allows you to be able to see which appliances use a lot of electricity and just how much they use and from that, you can cut down on that amount and use the money that you save on other things that you need to spend your money on.

This way you will also be able to come up with other solutions to stop you spending more money than what you need to.

One of the appliances that use a lot of electricity is your washing machine, so if you do bigger washes  and use cold water settings then you will use less power and save money.

You should also air dry your clothes instead of using the tumble dryer so that you don’t have to spend money on drying your clothes.

Turn Items Off When Not Using Them

Another way that you can make your home more eco-friendly is by making sure that you turn off items when you are not using them.

When you turn the items off that you are not using you can minimise the amount out electricity that you are using and this great for the environment as it means there will be fewer greenhouse gasses in the environment.

You may not realise but even just TVs on standby and lights on, it can cost you money that you don’t have to be spending.

Energy Saving Household Items

The next way that you can make your home more eco-friendly is by making sure that you purchase energy-saving household items.

You can find many different household items and appliances that are made to be energy efficient.

When you buy energy-efficient items, you may find that they cost more however, it is worth it in the long run as you will save the price difference in 2-3 years.

One of the most lowest cost energy-efficient things that you can do for your home is energy-efficient lighting.

Modern lighting such as LEDs generates the same amount of lighting as a regular bulb however, it uses a lot less electricity to do so and they also last a lot longer, which means you don’t have to replace them as often.

Solar Panels

The next way that you can make your home more eco-friendly is by considering installing solar panels onto your home.

Solar panels create their own electricity from sunlight throughout the day and converting it into energy that can be used to power your home each day.

Even when you aren’t using the power you will get a credit for power fed into the grid which also reduces  greenhouse gasses being emitted from power stations.

Solar panels are used all over the globe and the more that are used the better it is for the environment.

In Conclusion

Overall, there are many different ways that you can make your home more eco-friendly and save you money.

You should also  do your own research so you can find out the many other ways that you could try.

Sponsored Post by Hannah Jones

Building a house from scratch will require a lot of things.

Aside from preparing a sufficient amount of money to afford the construction, you also have to work with a lot of people—and one of these is an electrician.

Hiring them is an essential step as their skills are required for your home to become functional.

You’ll also need their experience and tools to ensure that none of your family members will suffer any electrical accidents and injuries.

There are a lot of electricians operating today. While some work as emergency electricians Adelaide area, others also offer a wide variety of electrical products and services.

Make sure to ask the following questions before you hire an electrician:

1.     Are You Bonded, Insured, And Licensed?

People who are looking forward to living in a small or large house will require the professional help of an electrician.

Because of this demand, more and more unscrupulous people are tricking others in exchange for money.

Scammers are present in different parts of the world, advertising themselves as professional electricians.

Working with these people will not only burn a hole through your pocket, but the façade they create just to earn money can also lead to disasters and injuries at home. 

You should only work with an electrician who is bonded, insured, and licensed.

All of these documents can warrant that the electrician has undergone the required training for the job, and the state has allowed them to work as an electrician. 

If you hire an electrician who isn’t bonded and insured, you’ll be held liable the moment this person becomes injured while working in your home.

This means that you’ll have to pay for the electrician’s medical and hospitalization bills.

Instead of hiring a professional who can make your life easier as a homeowner, an electrician who isn’t bonded and insured can even become the reason why you’ll lose a lot of money. 

2.     How Many Years Of Experience Do You Have?

Experience is still the best determining factor when it comes to electricians.

The longer an electrician has worked, the more experience they have in the industry.

Even if an electrician has topped the licensure exams, if they don’t have any experience in implementing th theories in practice, hiring them might not be the best idea.

When hiring an electrician, make sure that you choose one that has a proven track record in the industry.

An electrician who has been in the business for decades can prove that they are trustworthy and reliable.

After all, they wouldn’t be able to operate as long if they don’t have any satisfied customers.  

3.     Who’s Performing All Of The Work?

You were impressed by the credentials of the electricians you’re talking to.

You were convinced that they are the best persons for the job as they have been producing satisfied customers for years.

However, if you’re going to hire electricians who will do a major project in your house, it’s best if you ask who will perform all of the work.

The representatives you’re talking to might not be the same persons who will actually work on the wiring of your house.

If you don’t ask this question, you’ll end up being disappointed or surprised. 

Before deciding which electrician to hire, don’t forget to ask about the people who will actually work on the project. If the company will tap other contractors, ask if these people are also licensed, insured, and bonded.

They should also be experienced in the type of electrical work you need help with.

Your home isn’t a practice ground for electricians who don’t have any single experience in installing an electrical outlet.

 

4.     Who Have You Done Work For In The Past?

If an electrician is confident about their services, they will not be hesitant to provide you with references and customer reviews.

In fact, they will be proud of how happy their previous customers were. If you’re still unsure which electrician to hire, ask for their references.

Take the time to call some of their previous customers and inquire about their experience with the electrician.

Were the customers satisfied with the service offered by the electrician?

Were they treated with respect and courtesy whenever they communicate with the electrician?

Ask the electricians’ previous customers as many questions as you can.

The more you know, the easier it’ll be for you to assess which electrician is the perfect fit for your needs.  

Choose Carefully

Hiring the cheapest electrician from your area doesn’t guarantee the best services.

Price is important, but it’s best if you also consider other factors as well.

Use this article as your guide so you’ll be able to hire an electrician who can turn your dream house into a reality!  

Where does it come from and where will it go?

Guest Post by Stephen Pope

It’s constantly before you, you use it, put your feet on it, cover it with books and magazines, stain it will all sorts of drinks, but it never complains.

It’s that small furnishing element that we never think about, but is always very useful: the coffee table.

It’s one of those objects that always seems secondary in a home, because we feel we use the kitchen or the bedroom more, but we just need to think for a moment to remember all those moments spent in the living room around the coffee table. 

Let’s check out how it was invented and when it became a true piece of furniture.

The origins of the coffee table: did someone saw off a designer table? 

Often, great inventions are the result of errors or true follies, but the legend of the origins of the coffee table seems to come from a nagging wife and a husband with an easy saw.

An article published on AD examines the “fairy tale” where the chairman of the Imperial Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, F. Stuart Foote, to make his wife happy as she was organising a party, took a nice table and sawed its legs off to make a centrepiece. 

Since that day in the early twentieth century, F. Stuart Foote’s company started making and selling many low tables which the inventor named “coffee tables”.

Too bad this story’s a fake, perhaps peddled for advertising purposes, and the evidence is more than tangible.

The same article cites a statement by Sarah Fayen, assistant curator at the Milwaukee Art Museum, disproving the legend: “Tea tables have existed since the 1720s…Americans used tea tables and coffee tables for countless activities other than imbibing their namesake beverages”.

In the old continent, the origins of this piece of furniture seem more recent, probably dating back to 19th century England in full Victorian era.

It’s been a while since that first table, whether American or English, and today it is used not only for the five o’clock tea, but throughout the day and for many activities.

The modern coffee table, where we find it and how we use it today

The furniture item that was once designed solely for home use, is now used in public areas for a touch of originality, class and warmth. Italian furniture made by companies with extensive experience, such as Albaplus, is often chosen as it ensures high quality in the choice of materials and the classic style of the “Made in Italy” label.

A coffee table can easily be found in nightclubs, bars, hotels and even restaurants.

Low seating where we can relax and drink a tall one requires a surface on which to place our beverage: what better choice than a nice, modern coffee table?

This furnishing element did not leave the home behind for a social life; indeed, it has sunk its roots even more in our living rooms. 

If, at one time, ladies used it to sip hot drinks and gossip, now the coffee table is the place where the children do their homework and play, or adults arrange the most beautiful ornaments, or prepare aperitifs for their friends before watching the game on the telly.

Let’s be honest… sometimes we even sit on the sofa and eat dinner with the plates on the table in front of us.

Perhaps it’s not something English lords and ladies would do, but it is fun.

Who knows, perhaps, in the future, the coffee table will be interactive with a touchscreen that will allow us to control all the devices in our home.

Guest post by Ella Marie

Buying new mattresses at retail stores is outdated.

There are now many online stores from where you can get high-quality mattresses.

One interesting aspect of shopping online for the best online mattress is that they are often offered in the form of “mattress boxes”.

One might wonder how to place a mattress in a box.

We will get there shortly. . . . In the first step, we will examine what is a mattress in a box, what are the disadvantages and advantages of a memory foam mattress and whether it is a good idea.

What Is A Mattress In A Box?

You buy a mattress online that is vacuum-sealed; each mattress in a box is based on the latest technology and new-patented materials, equipped with innovative design concepts.

The mattress is compressed in a small box so delivery can get to the door quickly and easily.

So, do not ever go to the mattress shop. In addition, the installation is very simple; no additional installation costs are needed.

This is an affordable and inexpensive mattress for those who are looking for comfort and relaxation.

Why Buy A Mattress In A Box?

It is not easy for us to come across a number of companies that sell mattresses online.

However, according to one source in the industry, the number is just too big.

However, the company shows that the number of large and largest mattress manufacturers is the number of mattress vendors in one box.

Ideally, mattresses are replaced every eight to ten years.

Actually, the price of the best online mattress is not expensive, but the mattress is a relatively affordable product, but is not often bought for most families.

Many families are prepared to spend considerably more for this product, even though they exceed it.

There are also many people who are willing to pay.

Because the mattress itself leads to high transportation costs and a long buying process, consumers are more likely to invest more money into buying a better and more durable mattress at a higher price.

Of course, this is tightly linked to the increase in current consumption.

Now most home industry professionals are starting to compress mattresses in portable boxes.

It is convenient for logistics and fast shipping as well as for perfect after-sales service and new technical upgrades that are cheaper than offline stores.

Mattress sales in boxes have increased. So buy a memory foam mattress in a box.

So Is It Worth It?

If you have the chance to try it before buying at a friend’s place or in a store, you should try it.

However, even if you do not try, if you have a limited budget, it is definitely worth it.

Conclusion

Buying the best online mattress is not an easy task.

You sleep about eight hours a night, which is about one third of your life.

Your bed must be comfortable and properly cared for.

If you have health problems or back pain, you must be very careful when buying a mattress.

Some of them can be quite costly, and if you can save money on the most comfortable options you can buy, why do you want to pay more?

It takes time to save money, but it is worth it.

Guest post by Bijoy Hembram

One of the major amenities you probably have in your home is water and waste water services.

They allows you to shower, cook, and carry out other things in your home.

When everything is working well, everyone takes it for granted, until it stops!.

Plumbers take care of everything that goes wrong with the house plumbing system.

To better understand how plumbers work, we have decided to explain a few things that you may not know about them.

There are far worse things than clogged toilets

A lot of people think that clogged toilets are the worst things that could happen in their homes.

While this may be true, plumbers face far worse things like clogged restaurant sinks.

The problem with such things that oil and grease gets down and solidifies in the drainage system.

Soap doesn’t usually work on such grease, and the smell is usually far worse than what you would expect.

They wish people would stop flashing cell phones down the toilet

Surprisingly enough, most people that drop their phones in toilets try to flush them away instead of removing them.

Is it because they think they are contaminated and don’t want to touch them?

What these people don’t know is that a cell phone cannot go down the drain.

It ends up blocking the drain, and the plumber has to unclog it.

Most Plumbers have fixed rates

Most professional Melbourne plumbers will not just walk into a home and start pulling prices from thin air.

They usually have a process in place that determines the price of certain repairs, and when things change, they always discuss the reasons why the price has risen.

Professional plumbers don’t work slowly just to charge more on labour either, they would rather get on to the next job.

Even though some unscrupulous plumbers have hidden fees that surprise you, competent plumbers will be upfront
and transparent.

They try to get on site as soon as possible

Professional and competent plumbers will understand that plumbing emergency issues can cause damage in a very short time.

For this reason, they try to get to the site as soon as possible, especially plumbers that offer 24-hour services.

Regardless of what it is, they fix it is fast, and as efficiently as they can in order to get your home back to what it should be.

They wish people would stop using drain cleaners

Most chemicals formulated to break up clocks are usually not very effective.

Even if they are effective, its usually only temporary and they can cause corrosion in your drain system.

If used too much, the pipes would have to be replaced.

These chemicals could also hurt the plumber, when they start cleaning the drain, so if you have used them, you should warn the plumber beforehand.

They wish you knew that most things are not flushable

Most plumbers are usually just awed at how many clogged toilets are blocked due to hygiene products that simply don’t go down the drain.

Some of the things that are not flushable are wipes, in spite of what the manufacturers claim, because all they do is swell and clog the pipes.

Throwing away wipes in the dustbin usually solves the problem. 

Guest post by Reyhan Yesilnacar

Buying your first house can be a pretty daunting step in life, no matter who you are or where you come from.

Besides the task of getting the money together to pay for it, you also want your first house to be as livable as it is lovable.

Is it close enough to the things you need to do in your day to day life?

Does everything within the housework the way it should? and what sort of NBN has been designated to the neighbourhood?

Indeed, while there are dozens of generations of Australian homeowners before us who have known to double-check the functionality of utilities such as plumbing and power, the modern Aussie house-hunter also has to keep in mind that the location of a home may actually affect the quality of the NBN.

Not everyone is across this; indeed, not everyone’s fully aware that there are different versions of the NBN, and that’s perfectly all right given the networks cumbersome and complicated rollout history.

So if you’re looking to be a new homeowner, read on to learn how the NBN might affect your new home broadband.

THE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS

Whether you’re buying or renting, it’s worth doing a little bit of homework so you know exactly what sort of NBN connection you’re getting yourself into.

First of all,  contrary to the common misconception, the NBN (National Broadband Network) doesn’t consist of the one speed.

There are four different speed tiers on the NBN network.

While some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will offer all four in their choice of plans, others will only offer a select two or three.

Ranging from lowest to highest speeds, the four-speed tiers are commonly categorised as:

• Basic Evening Speed (no minimum)
• Standard Evening Speed (15 minimum Mbps)
• Standard Plus Evening Speed (minimum 30 Mbps)
• Premium Evening Speed (minimum 60 Mbps)

So if you want reliable home NBN, you can just fork out for one of the better speeds, right?

Well, yes, in theory, but the quality of your home NBN is also going to depend on where your house is located.

You see, just to make things complicated, besides the different speeds, there are also different NBN connections, predominantly…Fibre to the Curb, or FTTC, is so named because it is connected to a DPU (Distribution Point Unit) that is situated within a street curb, or sometimes a pit, close to your property.

It is typically seen as the second-best option; while the data only has a short distance to travel from the curb to your home, it is obviously not as quick as a connection that’s installed directly into your home.

Additionally, FTTC relies on old copper lines that are now seen as inferior.

Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial Cable (shortened to HFC) is a hybrid NBN connection that amalgamates coaxial cable with optical fibre.

It’s effectively a new technology slapped on top of the old Aussie Pay TV infrastructure, and it’s the ancientness of the latter that makes HFC a less than ideal version of the NBN.

Fibre to the Node, or FTTN, is the type of connection that runs from an old telephone exchange, through a fibre optic cable into a local node that’s located in close proximity to your property, which then connects to your residence via old copper wires.

Fibre to the Node is also generally reviewed as being as a lesser connection (some even claim it’s the worst of the lot).

Fibre to the Premises, often shortened to FTTP, is the NBN connection that’s connected all the way to your home or office.

It is also sometimes referred to as Fibre to the Home (in which case it is shortened to FTTH).

As the connection goes directly into your premises, it typically delivers optimal NBN speeds and is therefore considered by analysts to be the more advanced and efficient NBN infrastructure.

Ideally, FTTP is the version you want.

But unfortunately, homeowners can’t pick and choose which NBN connection they want; they get what they are handed. So it’s total luck of the draw.

This has been what’s referred to as the NBN Lottery

There’s currently nothing you can do about it unless you do some NBN research before you invest in a property.

The geographical difference between a property with good NBN and one without it can be as slight as one street.

You can find out what version of the NBN your residence has (or is soon going to have) by putting your address into the map here.

THE NBN CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT UPON PROPERTY PRICES

Will a high demand for better home broadband cause property prices to increase with the NBN?

It appears that might soon be the case, at the very least in more rural regions, where internet-savvy folk are preferencing FTTP areas to settle into.

In fact, up to 80 per cent of homebuyers have stated that a reliable home broadband connection was a primary factor when purchasing their property.

This philosophy not only applies to homebuyers, but also to those who are still renting.

Obviously, these consumer choices are bound to have an impact on the property market – in 2019, your postcode can not only affect your internet speed, but also your property value!

This may seem ridiculous to casual internet users, and though there are many who’d consider optimal home broadband an optional luxury, there are many more consider it an absolute necessity.

Especially as…

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME

Of recent times, there was a noted spike in residents of outer city fringe areas working from home, and it appears the trend has caught on elsewhere.

The ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) reported that the number of people working from home significantly rose from 20 per cent of the entire labour force to a staggering 30 per cent in a mere 15 years.

This should come as little surprise, given all the perks the work-from-home lifestyle offers. For small business owners, it eliminates the cost of renting an office space.

For working parents, it provides a better opportunity to be around their loved ones. And most obviously, for everyone, it allows flexible hours and cuts out both the stress and the cost of commuting to work.

This is certainly a boon to those who live in remote regions, but a coveted luxury to most regardless of where they may hang their respective hats.

As such, around 1.3 million Australians are opting for the work from home lifestyle, which means there’s an even greater demand for fast and reliable home broadband.

SO WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

Obviously, not everyone is in a position where they can choose a house that just happens to fall within an optimal NBN zone.

Fortunately, there are still ways to find a good service as well as curb those additional costs.

It’s advised that you narrow down which ISP and plan best suits your location, but also which best suits your budget and average data usage.

Keep in mind, we may only be a year or two away from a 5G revolution that may drastically change the ubiquity of the NBN.

Time will tell. . . Until then, happy home hunting!

Guest Post by Ann Zheng

As a durable and stylish flooring solution, laminate flooring has always been a popular choice for homeowners or residential property investors who want to increase their property value.

Although you may be surprised to find that it has only been around for a few decades, technology has driven tremendous advances in developing new generations of laminate flooring in recent years.

Today, we are going to show you the latest innovations in laminate floors.

Water Resistance

In the past, laminate flooring would be a disaster in high-moisture environments, and you would need to clean up a water spill right away to protect your laminate floor.

That is no longer the case.

In recent years, the latest laminate floorings, such as Quick-Step laminate and Krono Swiss laminate, have launched laminate products that are water proof and you can install in your kitchens or bathrooms. 

Easy Installation

With the development of click lock system, such as Uniclic Click system from Quick-Step, a lot of people can install their laminate floors by themselves.

The floor of an entire room can be finished in only a day. And this will largely reduce the cost of renovation.

Design

The use of super realistic printing technology has given laminate a new level of authenticity while avoiding pattern repeats. With the natural colouring and textures, customers can’t tell a difference between timber floor and laminate floor.

Stain Resistant

Thanks to the new water-resistant technology that is applied to the outer wear layer of the laminate flooring, it has become even easier to clean and maintain.

The surface of the laminate flooring is completely sealed, and the finish coating protects the floor from almost all stains and dirt, which can simply be wiped off with a damp cloth.

Scratch Resistant

Laminate flooring has always been durable compared to timber flooring, but modern technology is significantly increasing the laminate flooring’s resistance to scratches and indentation, keeping the floor looking newer and longer.