Written by James S.  

With population increasing in Australia there are more and more contractors and construction crews hitting the pavement and building homes.

However, what you might not know is that this process wouldn’t even be possible without a drafter and drafting services.

This probably leaves you wondering what exactly is drafting.

Well, drafting in the process of creating blueprints and drawings to help an architect create clear and precise diagrams of buildings, bridges, homes, interior design, and is ingrained in pretty much all aspects of building.

A drafter’s job is to ensure that everything is drawn up in precise details, all the buildings are represented in actual size in a scale format, and everything is designed to the exact right specifications.

That being said, drafters don’t just have to stick to the construction industry.

With the proper drafting knowledge, you can easily navigate in the aerospace, engineering design, electronic or home appliances industry with a little bit of guidance.

Drafting requires an extensive and in-depth knowledge of computer aided design (CAD) software, as this will be the drafter’s go-to tool.

Drafters use these CAD programs to create drawings that represent real life structures or buildings.

Educational Requirements

While there are some individuals that have jumped right into drafting services without training, it usually does require some kind of secondary education before entering the workforce.

Either a one-year certificate 4, a two-year stint at a technical college or a four-year degree at university can supply you with the knowledge or skills that you need to get your foot in the door.

Technical colleges usually only require a one or two-year attendance before graduation depending on the industry, because they tend to focus more on task-specific CAD operation.

For instance, they will teach you about the CAD software and how to properly utilize it.

Four-year universities on the other hand, will not only teach you these skills, but they will also provide you with a basic understanding of building materials and engineering practices.

If you are looking to go into drafting I suggest investigating the industry you are interested in and then doing a technical college one-year or two-year degree.

On the other hand, if I had my time again, looking for a job in the Perth drafting scene. I would call every company that has the need for drafters in my field and ask for a trainee ship for a year so you get paid while you learn.

I have heard of this happening many times before, so why not give it a go?

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

The cost of living is increasing at an alarming rate. So it pays to be on an active look out for ways that you can cut costs. And this cost-cutting should begin at home.

There’s lots you can do to limit the amount you spend.

You can adopt energy-savvy saving techniques like turning off appliances at the wall or setting your heating and cooling to certain temperatures.

Or you can air dry your washing instead of running the dryer.

But one thing many people don’t consider is their lighting.

Let’s look at a few ways that sun tunnels can save you some hard-earned coin.

Just What is a Sun Tunnel?!

You asked, right?

A sun tunnels is a special kind of skylight.

Essentially it lets in all the good light of the sun during the day, and then turns on a special LED globe when the sun sets.

That means your room is properly lit from the moment the sun rises to the moment until after it sets in the evening.

Bear the Cost of Installation

Sun tunnels will cost you some money to install.

This may make you hesitate at first, but trust us – the long-term savings will outweigh the initial cost.

Just make sure to pick a reliable installer.

Read some more below on exactly how these skylights an save you money.

No Money Spent on Lighting During the Day

A sun tunnel means that you don’t need to use electricity during the day to light your home.

If you install one in every room that’s a huge saving! You will definitely notice it when your power bill comes in for the quarter.

Sun tunnels can be especially useful if you work from home or have members of your family who spend a good deal of time at home.

In summer with daylight savings the LED light in them won’t even come on til the sun sets after 8 – meaning you’re only paying for a few hours’ worth of lighting.

Position Matters

You need to have a careful think about where you’re going to install your sun tunnel.

You can’t just bang it in anywhere and hope for the best. Ideally you want to place your new skylight in a south-facing or north-facing roof for the best results.

Also, if you have large shade-casting trees in your yard you may want to consider if you remove them or not – as the shade can block the sunlight for the sun tunnel and make the installation a wasted endeavour.

Heating Savings

A good sun tunnel lets in all that nice warm solar heat during the winter months.

If your latest gas bill made you hit the roof then you’ll be glad for a skylight up there next winter!

Think of what you can put that saved money towards – a holiday, a new gadget or toy or maybe towards some more renovations in the future?

Let There Be Light – A Conclusion

A sun tunnel is a skylight with an LED component that comes on when the sun sets.

It may cost a bit to install these innovative lighting solutions in your house at first but you’ll save money down the track.

You won’t spent a cent on lighting during the day, and you’ll spend less on your lighting at night with energy-efficient LEDs.

Just make sure that you install them in the right position and that you don’t have huge trees in your yard which may block out the sun.

You’ll also find that you save money on heating in winter, as the warm solar rays will provide a nice amount of natural heat during the cooler months.

Guest post by Hannah Jones

When you think about buying a new home, it usually means looking for the ‘forever house’ that your family can move into.

Finding a new house on sites like Gumtree Real Estate is undeniably
an exciting experience but it can also be pretty daunting — especially if you’re a first-time
buyer.

Sometimes, we get can get caught up with the spectacular views, even if the house needs more work.

Or, we could be drawn to ‘ancient feels’ despite an out-of-the budget price tag. Knowing what you want in a house and actually going extra lengths to make it happen are extremely important in the whole home buying process.

You have to make sure that you are in it for the long haul, or else, you’ll be stuck with an unwanted home until you have the financial means to purchase a new one.

While most homeowners don’t usually get exactly what they want in their new homes, it is still completely possible to ensure that you will enjoy your new house and avoid any potential pitfalls you may fall into during this process. To do that, here are some factors you should seriously consider before claiming the key to your new home.

Location

Deciding on which location you want to live in is critical in this whole home buying procedure.

This may sound easy to you, but you actually have to consider a lot of things such as the availability and accessibility of public amenities, the degree of traffic, the quality of schools, the proximity to public transport, and much more.

Your lifestyle, for instance, could be greatly affected by the location of your new home.

If you’re into shopping and nightlife, then you have to choose a place where such needs will be met.

It all depends on you. Some people may prefer a quiet and peaceful farmhouse as their first priority and others may want a place where schools for their kids are within walking distance or just a few-minute drive away.

The key here is to really assess what you need and think about how the location of your new home will affect you in any way.

Price

Have you thought of a budget for your new house?

Are all the qualities you look for in a home fit with your financial capacity?

Needless to say, your new property has to be within your budget.

Do not exhaust your funds because you want to buy a grand home only to be left with no choice but to sell your new home and look for a cheaper one.

Remember that you also have to consider other expenses like property and insurance taxes.

Be as comfortable as possible with how much you are paying for your home.

Adjust your expectations according to your budget and what payment you can afford without breaking your back to make ends meet.

Size

Before you move into your new home, you have to also think about the size that you and your family will need and want.

This includes the number of bedrooms and bathrooms the house has, and the size of your kitchen, living room, and any extra necessary space.

Some people want a huge backyard while others just want a standard-sized patio but a bigger space in the house.

Whether you want to build some guest rooms, install a swimming pool, or create a bigger master bathroom, it all boils down to one thing — and that is choosing the right size.

Transportation

Moving into a new house in a new location means that residents will have to adjust to how they will commute to work or school.

Is there public transport nearby and readily available in your new place?

You don’t want to live in an area where you have to go through the hassle of a multi-transfer commute to work every single day of your life.

If transportation is truly a big deal for you, then make sure to check if there are bus stops, or subway or train stations near you.

Noise and traffic

When you visit a potential house for a viewing or open house, then you may notice that the surroundings are quiet and peaceful.

While that may be the case, observe how the area sounds during peak hours and on the weekend.

Living close to the main road is a wonderful thing, however, if you’re the type that dislikes having to hear all those awful traffic noises, then this may be a deal breaker for you.

In addition, you also have to consider your neighbors because if you’re living in an apartment complex filled with students, then you may find yourself constantly filing noise complaints.

Conclusion

Shopping for a new residential property that you and your family will really feel ‘at home’ in is a matter of knowing what factors are most important to you.

If you’re unsure about doing this ‘house hunting’ on your own, then you can help from a real estate company in your area.

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

Victoria has a lot of great suburbs, so many in fact that it can be hard to choose which ones are right for you and your family.

A good way to get to know which suburbs are right for you is to make a wish list of what you are looking for.

• Where do you and your partner need to commute in the morning, how long are you willing to travel?
• Are schools important? Do you prefer beach or bush?
• Are you looking for a rental that will sustain you longer term or are you looking to buy to rent? . . . . If so will you look to live in the property in the future?

All these questions will help you to understand your parameters but also enable you to effectively communicate your requirements to a real estate agent or property manager.

To get an idea of the best rental suburbs we spoke to My rental a rental property management company in Melbourne to get the inside scoop.

We based our particular search on people searching for a safe and friendly neighbourhood that has good transportation links and reasonable rental prices.

The Suburbs below are a selection of what we found:

Brunswick East

Brunswick East one of the popular inner suburbs with it being around 6 kilometres from Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD).

It has a growing population with people flocking to the suburb for many years.

However back in 2016, Brunswick East had a population of under 12,000 residents.

Brunswick East is very popular with the artistic and creative types as well as the young and progressive professionals.

Some of the benefits include great transport links into the city, amazing bars and cafes, as well as a inclusive neighbourhood feel.

Parkville

Parkville is an up and coming suburb close to Melbourne’s CBD, the suburb is exceptionally close with it being only 3 kilometres north of the city.

This suburb is renown for its parks and recreation spaces which attractive a wide variety of people to the area.

Although the population size is approx 7,500 the traffic congestion is higher than Brunswick East just due to its proximity to the city, and the population predicted to grow to 9,500 by 2037.

Elwood

Elwood is a beautiful beach side suburb, which naturally makes it more expensive than over places 8 kilometres outside of Melbourne’s central business district.

However, the heritage building and active lifestyle this suburb grants you really does make up for the price hike.

Locals are happy and friendly which can make any new addition to the neighbourhood feel welcome straight away.

South Melbourne

South Melbourne is best known for its market which are a great sensory experience.

The smell of fresh produce and the early morning hustle and bustle of the South Melbourne Market getting ready on the weekend is an experience not to be missed.

South Melbourne is great for the foodies, with a plethora of cafes, restaurants and bars to choose from you’ll never be far away from a delectable bite to eat.

St Kilda

St Kilda is a very popular suburb to both buy and rent in.

It has the benefits of the beach, great nightlife and yummy cafes.

Therefore it attracts people of all walks of life and backgrounds creating a very vibrant suburb.

St Kilda has grown a great deal over the years and has a colourful history.  

Location wise it is only 6 kilometres from Melbourne’s central business district which could be part of the reason it is over to over 20,000 residents according to 2016 census data.

Guest Post by Trent Anderson

Electricity is an essential part of modern life.

It does more than give you heat and light.

Electricity is now essential to keep people connected, run financial institutes, pay for items and even drive your car into town. But, that doesn’t mean it is not dangerous.

In fact there are 15 Australians killed every year and 300 hospitalized due to electrical accidents at home.

You need to implement these tips to ensure you are not one of these people.

Get An Electrician

You probably had your electrics inspected when you bought your home and have done nothing to it since.

This is normal, but dangerous.

You need to use a service such as Tiger Electrical that will offer you a complete inspection of your current electrical installation.

They will be able to advise of any issues you have, particularly faulty circuits that could increase the chances of an electric shock or a fire.

The sooner you have an electrical inspection the quicker you’ll be able to resolve any issues.

It is also essential that you get any new electrical installation completed or verified by a qualified electrician.

Just because you got something to work doesn’t mean that it is safe.

Overloading

It is easy to add an extension, or adapter, in order to run all the gadgets you have.

However, this can cause an overload of the circuit.

Each circuit is only designed to carry a certain load; going past this will increase the chances of the circuit tripping or you starting a fire.

Also when electricity passes through cables it generates heat, too much of this heat can cause the wires to melt and a short can start a fire.

This is why you should never leave an extension cable coiled up.

Inspect Appliance Cables

An electrician will inspect your installation but they can’t check that your appliances are safe; only you know what you plug in on a regular basis.

You need to visually verify that all cables are not damaged.

Don’t be tempted to use the item if the cable is damaged; this could result in an electric shock or a fire.

Water & Electricity Do Not Mix

You probably already know this but you may not have realized that there are strict regulations regarding wiring in bathroom s and kitchens.

You should never touch an electrical item if you have wet hands.

You should also make sure that all electrical items stay dry; this will prevent them from becoming damaged and potentially shocking you.

Use Surge Protectors

A surge can happen at any time and damage your electrical items.

It can also give you a shock if you’re holding the appliance at that moment.

To help reduce this risk it is a good idea to use surge protecting sockets or even whole house protection.

Don’t Modify Your Systems

You may be tempted to modify the wiring in your home to suit your own needs but you should never adjust the pins on your plugs or the wiring in a socket.

This will simply increase the likelihood of an accident happening.

Guest Post by Hubert Dwight

Home ownership is a goal for many people. But it’s not accessible to everyone.

So if you’re one of the lucky ones count your blessings.

Even after you’ve reached the goal there’s still so much to do – pay off the mortgage, pay rates, maintain and repair your property and keep it up to scratch.

What if you’ve bought a smaller space and want to expand?

Now, the logical thing would be to go out to the sides or out the back – but not everyone has that space.

For those that don’t the way to add extra space is to install a second storey. . . . . but this is a bit more complicated than just deciding to add another level to your home.

Let’s take a look at how you can step up your game.

Work Out Your Budget

Large additions can get expensive and the size of the additional room will depend on how much you can afford.

While they may not cost as much as the initial purchase of your home, they still aren’t cheap.

If you don’t have the savings, then you will probably need to approach a financial lender.

You may be able to use the equity, the amount you own in your property, to leverage a loan.

Determine if You Can Go Up

Before you rush off to consider scissor lift hire and all the renovation plans, you need to determine if your house can actually manage having a second storey added to it.

Consult with a building engineer or someone who is similarly qualified.

They’ll be able to come and assess your property and figure out if it can bear the extra load, or work out exactly how a second storey can be added safely.

The next step is to obtain local council approval.

Different local governments have different rules about what you can and cannot do when it comes to modifying your dwelling.

Even when you’ve got the plans completed to meet the requirements of the council, your neighbours may still object, especially if your second storey is going to be overlooking their yard.

Hopefully it can all get passed  so you can start to move forward.

Pick a Builder

Builders are a dime a dozen, and they’re not all up to scratch.

Some may promise the world but end up cutting corners and using cheap material, labour and processes which can result in a substandard job that may end up costing you heaps more in repairs down the line.

The best thing to do here is to rely on word of mouth and referrals from friends, family and colleagues.

Chances are someone you know in your life has renovated in the not too distant past.

Pick their brains and you’ll eventually come across a recommendation for a good builder.

Summing it All Up

To conclude, first of all you need to figure out if you can go up a storey., which may involve hiring a professional engineer or assessor to have a look at your place.

Next you need to work out if you can afford the renovation including additional loan repayments.

Finally, it’s time to pick a builder, but take your time, you don’t want to be hasty and pick a bad one.

Now wait to enjoy your new space upstairs.