Tag: country_au

Preparing for severe weather

Australians are no strangers to natural disasters with a KPMG analysis in September 2023 revealing 18 million were impacted by at least one natural disaster the previous year.  An El Niño event on the east coast this summer, plus a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event (IOD) on the west coast, resulted in a double whammy…
Read more

How to choose bathroom taps

Along with your kitchen, your bathroom is the most widely used and indispensable area in your house. It can also be the most expensive to update and repair as both electrical and plumbing work may be needed. So, choose fixtures and fittings such as tapware carefully and with an eye on your wallet. Let’s take…
Read more

Home window tinting saves energy

When you think of tinted windows, it’s usually cars, rather than your home, that come to mind. But your home can also benefit from the privacy, security, energy savings and value that tinted windows provide when used on your car. Window tinting film comes in different formats and price ranges; and you won’t lose sight…
Read more

Top tips on retaining walls

Keen green thumbs or those who enjoy spending their downtime outdoors will soon notice if the garden retaining wall has seen better days. As with all parts of a house or garden, these walls require regular maintenance to stay in the best shape. It is wise to remember that retaining walls are usually a safety…
Read more

Crazy laundry facts you didn’t know

It’s hard to believe households once managed without the modern simplicity of clothes washing machines. Yet washing machines as we know them have only been widely available and relatively affordable since the 1950s. Ancient times The Romans were the first people to recreate clothes washing into a commercial business with “fullone” men undertaking public clothes…
Read more

Growing your food at home

You don’t have to be a green thumb or have a big garden to experience the special joy of picking and eating homegrown produce. No gardening experience is needed to do this and both homeowners and renters can grow these gardens, even if you only have a balcony. Plus, with grocery prices higher than ever,…
Read more

Easy ways to improve home security

In a perfect world, people could leave their doors and windows wide open 24/7 without fear of unwanted intrusions. Those who live in remote areas may still be able to do so but, if you live in the suburbs, you will want to put security first. A surprisingly high number of thieves enter homes through…
Read more

Approvals show buyers on the march

The continuing strength in Australia’s property market has been underlined by data showing the value of new owner-occupier loan commitments rose 10.1% year-on-year in November 2023. And the number of these new home loans increased by 7.3%.  These numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate continuation of the strong sentiment that increased values by…
Read more

Decluttering in post-summer cleaning blitz

We can all enjoy a sigh of relief now that the busy holiday season is over for another year. But, in the aftermath, a few small tasks should always be carried out to keep your home in good order. One job is to do a big declutter and eject unwanted gifts, broken toys and old…
Read more

Home checklist after harsh summer

The long, warm summer days can offer time for homeowners to catch up on some maintenance issues, preventing bigger problems from occurring down the track. The extreme weather we’ve been experiencing this summer can take a heavy toll on your home. A mixture of heat and prolonged periods of rain can damage exterior paint and…
Read more