It might be soft . . . but just make sure it is well tied down!
I found this photo on vi.sualize.us
Why Display Homes Are An Attractive Option For Home Buyers
Guest post by Hubert Dwight
Homeownership is something that many of us aspire towards, and something that offers us the opportunity to secure our future and the future of our family.
The only problem is that homeownership is becoming more and more expensive as property prices rise and the market becomes more and more crowded.
Thankfully, to meet the growing demands being placed on the market, there are a number of innovative solutions being created to meet this opportunity.
We’ve all seen the property estates that are popping up in cities with a range of beautiful brand new homes available to purchase, often for a greatly reduced price as compared to the established homes within the city.
These estates are usually located within commuter distance of the city – another key selling point of many buyers and investors.
Yes, developers are building their showcase display homes and are offering these for sale to prospective buyers as a savvy way to achieve a great return on a property from the very beginning.
A display home is an attractive option for home buyers and we’ve created a short list of points as to why.
Take a look here to find out why buying a display home might be a great option for you.
Secure Your Future
Buying an investment property is a goal for many investors as they seek to diversify their assets and to gain greater financial freedom.
An investment property that is a display home, means that you’re securing a great property which is landscaped and complete with fittings and furnishings.
How it works is that you purchase the display home, and the company then rents it back from you and continues to use it as a display home for a set period of time.
You can then use the rent to pay your mortgage.
This equates to a positive cash flow property with a very reliable tenant from the get-go!
During this time, the developer will also pay the outgoings like insurance, gas, rates and electricity.
When the rental period is complete, you’ll have the option available to you to move into your beautiful home; to sell it; or rent out the property to a tenant.
No Waiting Period
When you’re buying an off-the-plan home, the process is such that you pay a deposit on the home or land based on the price at the time, and then you make incremental payments during the life of the property as the building process continues.
Often, you’ll find that the property has already increased in value by the time your build is complete and you’ll be left with some equity – a huge bonus for any investor.
The only problem is that while you’re waiting for the build to be completed, you’re not obtaining any rental return on your property, so there is that to consider.
The perks of buying a display home is that you’re getting rental return immediately, and you’re also enjoying any capital gains that might occur on the property during the rental time.
Beautiful Home
A display home is the jewel in the crown of any estate.
It’s the house that prospective buyers are going to be seeing when they’re looking to buy, so it’s in the best interests of the developers to make sure that the display home is a stunning example of their best work.
What this means for you is that you’re going to be the proud owner of the best of the best as far as their houses go – which means that you’ll have a top-quality home with exceptional fittings, fixtures and coverings.
Well, these are just a couple of excellent bonuses that you’ll get when you purchase a display home, so perhaps take thee into consideration if you’re an investor looking to buy and seeking a positive cash-flow option for your portfolio.
Happy investing!
Power Tower
I just had to share this with you as it is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a kitchen for a while
See the kitchen power outlet?
Its that round stainless steel disk set into the counter.
Just press that disc and you can then pull up the power tower, which looks like this
It seems just the thing if you want a bench with waterfall ends, as you don’t want to spoil the ends with power outlets.
Disclosure: I have not been paid for this post I just thought it was a cool idea.
Six Thoughts On Basin Choice
Last week was ‘Bathroom Week’ on ‘The Block’ and all the contestants were out shopping for basins with the WOW factor.
Fine for the judges. . . . . but some of these design concepts don’t think about the splashing of soapy water that can mean constant cleaning is needed.
Here are some of the practical things I have learned about wash basins.
- Basins with a flat internal base, or that have a mixer that directs flow at the drain tend to cause more splashes than a bowl shaped basin.
- For basins on the vanity a straight back that can be sealed against the wall avoids having a hard to clean area behind the basin.
- A mixer set to the side, rather than centrally, allows you to lean lower over the basin minimising splashing outside the basin.
- Having a medicine cabinet in front of the basin can prevent you leaning lower over the basin, thus increasing splashing outside the basin.
- Square mixers result in water drying on the top surface of the mixer rather than running off, so they need cleaning every day.
- Splashes really show on mirrors so have at least a couple of rows of tiles between the top of the basin and the bottom of the mirror.
Tacky Facade
This house has just about the tackiest facade I have seen in a long time.
I don’t have a problem with people spending a bit of money on the front of the house. . . but this house breaks two of my rules for good design:
- Think about looking at the house from the side rather than just from the front. If you have a clear view of the side it needs a transition, or in this case a continuation of the white render along the side of the house.
- Make sure that the ends of the facade are well detailed. This looks so obviously ‘Stuck On’, but if it had been set between two projecting walls it would look much better.
For more thoughts see this link: What’s the Side View?
Don’t Forget Curtains!
With single glazing the Thermal Resistance, ‘R’ Value is 0.16.
Although they aren’t considered in energy calculations (see this link: Energy Rating) curtains can significantly decrease the heat loss from a window.
They also improve the feeling of comfort.
Insulation Value
With different materials its not possible to give a definitive value for the insulation value of curtains however there are some indicative values in this post.
An effective curtain can increase the ‘R’ value of the window to between 0.3 – 0.5.
Even with a double glazed window curtains will typically further reduce the heat loss. (‘R’ value increased from around 0.33 to around 0.6).
Effective Curtains
To be fully effective curtains must:
- Provide a ‘seal’ around the window to stop air movement at:
- Top – Pelmet
- Bottom – Overlap window sill by at least 300mm, or down to the floor
- Sides – Overlap edges of window by at least 300mm.
- Use heavy close weave material, preferably lined.
When Did Your Construction Contract Start?
If there has been delays in a house building contract the question of compensation comes up (see this link: Liquidated Damages )
A key factor in assessing damages is knowing when the construction contract started; as it isn’t written in the signed contract.
In order to avoid paying out damages many builders will dispute when the start date is!
They may argue about the date, or even try to say the start date is when the slab is constructed.
Here is some information to make you better informed about the start date.
Definitions
Well here are the definitions in the two most common forms of contract for new houses
Master Builders Contract (2015 Victorian Edition) :
“Commencement Date – means the date by which the Builder will commence to carry out works on the land” ( according to the standard contract the builder is supposed to advise you of the start date, but this doesn’t always happen)
Housing Industry Association HIA (2015 Victorian Edition):
“Commencement – means the day on which the Building Works commence on the Building Site”
To me that means ‘The day the builder erects a temporary fence, and installs a portable toilet’.
Recording the Date
Once you know the temporary fence goes up make sure this is recorded by:
- Taking a photo with a camera with a date stamp; or
- Taking a photo with a phone camera and Emailing it to your self.
It also doesn’t do any harm to Email the Builder saying you have noticed the contract started on a particular date. . . . This will put the builder on notice that you are aware of the issues relating to delays.
Delays
To check up about delays during the build follow this link: Contract Period
Taking A Good Hard Look At Yourself
If your friends and/or colleges think you need to get your act together perhaps you need to spend some time in this bathroom!
I think I might find it off putting using the toilet. . . . because it would feel as though there was a crowd in there with me!
I found this photo on the Hooked on Houses Website: hookedonhouses.net
For more Unusual House Photos, Wins, and Fails, have a look at: What the………………….?
Overflowing Drains
If you are unlucky you might even see a manhole ‘Pop It’s Top!’ like this one!
This is because the council drains don’t have the capacity to deal with these really heavy rains!
Why It Happens
The roof drainage to get the water off your roof will be designed for very severe storms.
This is because the risk to your property from gutters and downpipes not being able to cope is very high. (see this link: Roof Risk)
Some localised shallow flooding around the house, that will be drained away over an hour or two, however is low risk.
Council Design Considerations
To design the public drains to cope with extreme events would have huge costs. . . Even if the pipes were big enough downstream flooding of rivers would be made worse.
For this reason although the roof drainage will be designed for a storm that may occur only over every 20, or even more years apart; the public drains may be designed for no more than a storm that occurs every 5 years.
The difference in additional rainfall between a 1 in 5 year storm and a 1 in 20 year storm can be an extra 50%. (See this link: Rainfall Intensity)
This is the water that could cause short term flooding around your house.
What You Can Do
Basically the best advise I can give is to avoid buying blocks at the bottom of slopes (These will be the worst affected by temporary flooding)
If you do get some localised flooding in your garden that either
- Doesn’t drain away as the rain eases; or
- Occurs every time it rains.
You should contact the council as it could be a sign of a problem.
Roman Bricks
It’s known as Roman brickwork as it gives a similar look to the brickwork that was used in Roman Times.
The look also emphasises the horizontal lines in a structure.
A modern Australian Roman Brick is based on the standard brick dimensions (see this link: Brick Dimensions) but is only 50mm tall, rather than 75mm.
The ‘Working Dimensions’ are 230mm x 110mm x 50mm.
Additional Cost
Although the bricks are smaller don’t expect them to be cheaper; you will be paying premium brick prices.
The labour costs will also be between 150% and 200% of the cost of a standard brick wall.