The HomeBuilder Program 2020
HomeBuilder provides eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. HomeBuilder will assist the residential construction market by encouraging the commencement of new home builds and renovations this year. HOMEBUILDERSummary HomeBuilder is a time-limited grant program to help the residential constr...
Passing on Water Usage to Tenants
Information for landlords You can pass on water usage charges to your tenant provided all the minimum criteria have been met. Minimum criteria The minimum criteria for passing on water usage charges are: the rental premises must be individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle, such as those with water tanks on rural properties), and the charges must not exceed the amount billed...
Putting up the Rent
Information retrieved from www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au Information for landlords If you are considering increasing the rent there are rules you need to follow. When can rent be increased If the fixed term period of the agreement has ended and the tenant is on a continuing (periodic) tenancy you may increase the rent. Rent can be increased during the fixed term of the agreement only in certai...
Calming the Monkey Mind
The modern world is over-stimulated and hyper connected, it is easy to become victims to chronic stress and if undealt with can evolve to anxiety. Anxiety causes us to become stuck in a mindset of fret and inadequacy. It is this state of arousal and stress sensitivity that is known as the ‘Monkey Mind.’ In this state our mind switches to operate thoughts and behaviours in primitive ...
Moving in With Your Partner
“Love is blind”, a common phrase and sadly a more common reality particularly when it comes to our finances. Deciding to move in with the person you love is a big step forward in a relationship but have you had the money discussion? It is one thing to know your partners interests and personality but we avoid asking questions about finances, spending habits and savings as t...
Dealing with Divorce
In Australia around 50,000 marriages end in divorce every year and even more relationships break down. This can leave people emotionally, mentally and physically drained. Having to sell your family home at a time like this is just an added emotional stress and complexity. Since the introduction of the Family Law Act in 1975, there is no longer any fault associated with divorce. Grounds...
Reducing the Risk of Fire
Coming into the warmer seasons of the year we also see the beginning of fire season. Household fires, unfortunately are a common occurrence in Australia. Here is some information on causes of household fires and some tips to prevent fires starting in your home. Major causes of house fires: More than 11,000 residential fires occur in Australia every year. It is estimated that around 50...
Simple, Delicious Banoffee Recipe
Banoffee is one of my all-time favourite desserts but I struggle to find the time to make them. Well, for those of us who are time poor I have found a few simple ways to cheat and still create a scrumptious dessert. Ingredients: Pre-made tart base (available at most supermarkets) 300g dark cooking chocolate 2 x Banana 1 x can (395g) sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup brown sugar 100g but...
Keeping your Pets Flea Free
With Spring upon us, heading into Summer and the warmer months of the year, we start the prime time for fleas! Fleas are a pest not just for dogs but for cats and us as well. That’s right, fleas are not picky, they will also bite a human if they can. So how do we get rid of these pests? To get rid of these pests we need to understand their lifecycle. The Life of a Flea The major...
Time Management Tips for the Busy Bee
Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in a day or days in the week? I find myself always thinking that the day / week / year has gone by way too fast and I have not completed all those things I wanted to both at work and in my personal life. By reading many articles on time management I have created my own list of the 10 things that are vital in managing time to get the most out...
Zoning – What Does it Mean?
What is it? Zoning is one of the ways the governments regulate the use of land and buildings and control growth patterns. Every piece of land in Australia is subject to zoning regulations which outline what is legally permitted on each block of land. Each state has different zonings. If you are moving states, make sure to understand that states zoning as well. This blog focusses on th...
Getting Ready for Spring!
That’s right, Spring has sprung again! While Winter hits us with its final, chilly goodbye, we can look forward to the warmer months coming our way. It is now that we start to get a bit more energy or ˜get-up-and-go” and start to catch up on all those jobs we have been avoiding in Winter. Spring is also the time when we start to see increased buyer activity, ...
Downsizing
When your house is just too big! Often, we expand our homes as we have more kids, go through different phases of life, require spaces for functional needs, etc. This can often leave you at a time in your life when you just don’t need that much room anymore and it takes more time to clean and maintain then is available to you. The idea of downsizing appeals to you but the...
Putting In An Offer
Congratulations, the driving around weekend after weekend, rushing from property to property, researching online, arrange legal representation, getting approval for a bank loan and all the craziness of preparing to buy a property has finally paid off and you have found a home that you love and want to make your own! The problem now is, how do I submit an offer and how much do I offer? ...
Home Made Chai Tea Latte
In the middle of Winter, there is nothing more warming then a nice hot drink, and when you can make a warming drink in the comfort of your own home, it could be the perfect thing to warm and brighten your day! One of my favourite winter drinks is a Chai Tea Latte, but I am very fussy about the mix of spices and the way I like to drink it. So here is a very general way of making your ow...
Bathroom Blitz!
When looking to sell your home, the state of your bathroom is very important. In my experience, a buyer will often be open to renovating kitchens or to re-painting but no one wants to renovate the bathroom. This is the most used room in the house and it is important to have it in a clean and functional condition. To help you with the presentation of your bathroo...
Read more First Home Owner Scheme 2017
Buying a home for the first time can be scary to say the least. Entering a property market where prices have continuously risen and don’t seem to be falling, along with wages that are not changing to match the cost of living, can turn you off trying to buy your own home.By the time you finally save for that deposit, prices have risen so much that your savings are no longer adequate. Even ...
Whale Watching in Sydney
The final week of winter school holidays is upon us and just in time as the family fun ideas are running short and the kids are starting to go back to their i-pads, i-pods and online friends. So, with an attempt at one last final hoorah to get them outdoors and looking at life rather than a screen, why not take them for a day out Whale watching!? The annual Whale migration runs betwee...
Winter Gardening
If you are anything like me, you think of winter as a time to stay indoors rugged up in jumpers and blankets, next to a heater, cuddling your pets and watching movie after movie on Netflix. It’s a time to snuggle up and keep warm. Spending a whole lot of time outdoors or in a gym are not on my must do list. But, as the saying goes, “Summer bodies are made in winter. This is as true...
Winter Outdoor Entertaining
I love to entertain however I find it a lot harder in those colder months of the year to balance the warmth and comfort of my guests with avoiding stains and spills on the carpets inside. With little to no cover and a pool, my backyard is definitely more suited to entertaining in those warmer months. So, my question has been: how do I make my backyard more suitable for winter outdoor entertainm...
Presenting Your Home for Sale
How many times have you walked into a house for sale, seen a hideous couch or brightly painted wall and made a judgement call based on this feature? I know I do this all the time! Even just walking into a friends home I automatically compare their décor, style and cleanliness to my own home. It is human instinct to compare what we have with what others have and in the search for a new ho...