Building? Here Are Mark Campbell's Lessons Learned
“My rationale for building new was threefold,” writes Mark Campbell, a working-class Aussie. “Firstly, it enabled me to have control over the end product and it made sense from an investment perspective because I could maximise depreciation and...
Read moreWhat Victoria’s New Tenancy Laws Mean For Landlords
Victoria’s new tenancy laws mean that landlords need to pay extra attention to basic standards, especially relating to health and safety. These include (but are not limited to) providing functioning heaters, stoves and even deadlocks. Furthermore, ...
Read moreFact - Termites Hate Good Building Inspectors
A good building inspector knows how to find termite issues. A bad building inspector, by way of contrast, is a termite’s best friend.
When Joe Blow (not his real name) bought a two-bedroom 1920s terrace in Sydney’s inner west for around $1 mil...
Read moreProperty Management and Smoke Alarms are Good Friends
Property management and smoke alarms are good friends. Or at least they should be. Worst possible scenario: Inaction can lead to deaths and a stint in prison.
It’s a familiar story, even in developed countries, however. From one BBC report: “A...
Read moreRe-stumping red flags
A guide to Re-Stumping
Re-stumping - or re-blocking as it's known in Victoria - is big business in Australia and can be a very costly exercise, particularly if you don't know what you're looking at and you don't understand what you've bought into....
Read moreThe Dirty World Of Termites
This summer it’s time to think pests. "Generally the soil moisture is high, that makes a big difference to termites. Termites are really just organised cockroaches," says Dr Ewart to The Age in an article titled: Hungry termites marching on Melbour...
Read moreHow To Avoid Renovation Traps
Renovations done right can pay off. Literally. That said there are some serious traps to avoid.
Potential problems from wiring to asbestos issues often come up especially in older houses, so it’s important to seek professional help. Jim’s Buil...
Read morePassing Your Next Rental Inspection With Mould-Busting Professionals
What’s one thing landlords despise? If you guessed mould, you’re right.
“The obvious things we look for are mould in the bathrooms/cupboards/bedrooms,” says one expert in the field. “This is usually an indication that the tenant isn’t ...
Read moreThe Dirt On Property Depreciation
What’s depreciation? In a nutshell, it’s an allowance under tax laws in Australia for investors. It means they can claim deductions for expenditures in their property investments.
Why depreciation? Even extremely well-built houses aren’t imm...
Read moreWhy 'The Block' Is More Than Just A Pretty Living Space
Sure, it’s pretty. No question. Her inner-city beachy location is also a big positive. But besides the prospect of rising property and house prices long-term there’s another reason why ‘The Block’ is more than just a pretty face on a reality ...
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