The world-first decision by the Australian Government to ban the use of engineered stone commonly installed in kitchens and bathrooms will have ramifications for homeowners and renovators. Engineered stone has become a go-to material for many renovators over the past decade. However, the silica dust emitted when cut has been found to be potentially fatal. …
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If you’ve been wondering whether there’s more you can do to help the environment, it’s worth considering buying a worm farm for your garden. Just the simple act of recycling your raw food waste will dramatically reduce what goes into your bin while creating a fantastic garden fertiliser. And it will stop your potato peelings,…
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Investors who keep a keen eye on property news headlines may have been surprised when researcher CoreLogic declared Brisbane had overtaken Melbourne in median dwelling values. But are the numbers what they seem? Digging deeper into the data is always a worthwhile exercise because it perfectly illustrates how property is never a static investment. These…
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Fire services across Australia respond to up to 60,000 reports of bushfires every year. That incredible number means that at any given time, there are literally dozens of bushfires raging in each state. It’s so common most of us don’t even think about it until the weather turns hot and blowy, and there’s a bushfire…
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A return to stable value growth suggests that a decision to sell your property in 2024 will deliver a predictable result, avoiding the boom-bust behaviours we’ve witnessed over the past three years. Predictions of price growth around 2% to 3% this year will deliver a good return on the back of a surprisingly strong 8.1%…
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Homeowners and investors looking to renovate will be delighted that fast-rising construction costs are coming under control. New data shows that during the three months to December, 2023, costs rose only 0.8% which was a significant fall from the 4.7% quarterly rise recorded in the third quarter of 2022. Construction costs rose 2.9% last year,…
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Do you have any “special features” in your home that may actually turn away buyers? Ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of how the market will receive your property and, if there are some problem areas, consider fixing them to optimise your sale price. Our handy checklist highlights some of the features…
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One of the most cost-effective ways to prepare your home for sale is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Many owners will take on this task themselves, and they’ll do an outstanding job. On occasion, however, their painting skills will let them down. Usually, the problem is all in the preparation. Be aware…
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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to reduce your power bills, it’s essential you understand which of your appliances are the most thirsty for electricity. We probably all know by now that leaving devices on standby doesn’t save much more electricity than if you were using them. Good examples are the TV, its…
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The summer break offers an excellent opportunity to assess plans for 2024 and beyond, including whether it’s time to seek a new opportunity in the real estate market. While the market has endured 13 interest rate increases since May 2022, most predictions suggest they will begin to fall around mid-year, although the Reserve Bank of…
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